Tag: Nicola Sturgeon

First Minister meets Prime Minister – no meeting of minds but progress made

First post-election talks are ‘constructive and helpful’

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon greets Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron as he arrives for their meeting in Edinburgh

More powers for the Scottish Parliament and tackling austerity were on the agenda as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon met Prime Minister David Cameron at Bute House yesterday.

During their first face-to-face talks since the general election, the First Minister welcomed a commitment by the Prime Minister to look at proposals from the Scottish Government to extend Holyrood’s power beyond the plans outlined in the Smith Commission.

Ms Sturgeon also welcomed the Prime Minister’s agreement that legislation currently being drafted to take forward further devolution would implement in full the Smith Commission proposals and also take account of the report published by the Scottish Parliament’s Devolution Committee earlier this week.

The discussions, described by the First Minister as “constructive and helpful”, also covered her desire to tackle austerity, with further proposals on how this could be achieved within the UK Government’s own fiscal mandate now to be submitted by the Scottish Government and considered by the Prime Minister in due course.

To take forward these points, the First Minister and Prime Minister also agreed to much closer contact between their respective governments, with a commitment to increasing the number of bilateral meetings between the pair.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I was pleased to welcome the Prime Minister to Bute House for what were constructive and helpful talks on a range of issues following the outcome of the UK general election.

“During the meeting, we had a productive discussion about the Smith Commission proposals and where we might go beyond them. From that, two things of importance were agreed. Firstly, there was a commitment from the Prime Minister that the legislation being drafted will fully implement the Smith Commission proposals and take account of the conclusions of the Holyrood committee report that was published yesterday.

“Secondly, the Prime Minister agreed that he would look at proposals the Scottish Government will bring forward on how we go beyond the Smith Commission in various important areas. There was no agreement on the substance of that, but the Prime Minister has said he will consider our proposals and there will be a meeting, in the first instance, between the Deputy First Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland to look at how we take that further forward.”

cameron_sturgeon_meeting

The First Minister continued: “The Prime Minister and I have agreed to meet more regularly, which is a good step forward. We have also agreed to much closer contact between Ministers in the Scottish and UK governments to discuss issues of common interest and policies that impact on Scotland at a much earlier stage – that’s all very positive.

“David Cameron and I are a world apart politically but, where we can, I’m determined that we do business in the interest of people in Scotland and across the UK and I’m determined to have a constructive and business-like relationship.

“I hope that the Prime Minister can now show he can respond and deliver a better deal for Scotland, with an empowered Scottish Parliament with the powers over business taxes and employment law, the minimum wage and welfare that enables us to grow our economy, get more people into jobs, and lift people out of poverty. Because, ultimately, that is what this process is all about.”

The First Minister confirmed that discussions had also covered austerity and public spending across the UK. She said: “The Prime Minister has a fiscal mandate, but even within that that I believe there is enough flexibility to ease the pain of austerity, invest in the things that matter while still getting the debt and deficit down. We have agreed to send our analysis and proposals to the UK Government and he has agreed to look at them. I have a duty as First Minister of Scotland to stand up for the things I believe the people of Scotland want and I will not shy away from doing that.”PM David CameronThe visit came within a week of the election result, and the Westminster government says this underlines the Prime Minister’s commitment to renewing and refreshing the United Kingdom and the importance he places on the respect agenda.

Speaking before the meeting, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I am here today to underline my commitment to our United Kingdom and Scotland’s important place within it.

“That means remaining true to the promise we made to implement the all-party Smith agreement to make Scotland one of the most accountable and powerful devolved parliaments in the world.

“It also means recognising those things which unite us in these islands: the achievements we have made together, the institutions we have built together, our great social history, the common economic challenges we face today, and the strength which comes from pulling together for the common good in the future. This is our one nation agenda in action.

“Scotland has two governments and it is the duty of the First Minister and myself to respect each other’s roles and responsibilities and to work together for the benefit of all the people of Scotland.

“As more powers are devolved to Scotland, it is time to move beyond the debate about processes and focus on those bread and butter issues that affect every family in our United Kingdom – jobs, homes, good schools and strong public services, and dignity and respect in retirement. These are the building blocks we need to provide a brighter future for people in every part of our country.”

First class? More Referendum information’s heading your way

There was a brief lull in hostilities during the Commonwealth Games, but normal business will be resumed next week: the Referendum’s back.

Both Westminster and Holyrood governments will be keeping your postie busy … 

s300_AC_at_postbox Second UK Government information leaflet to be sent to Scottish households ahead of Scottish independence referendum

People across Scotland will receive a second information leaflet from the UK Government through their letterboxes next week, setting out the five main benefits of remaining part of the UK.

It will be sent to each Scottish household and follows a booklet sent out in June which made the positive and detailed case for Scotland remaining part of the UK. The move comes in response to the public’s frequent requests for more information ahead of the referendum vote on 18 September.

The latest leaflet will explain the five main benefits Scotland gains as part of the UK.

They are:

  • Keeping the UK pound – one of the strongest and most stable currencies in the world.
  • Cheaper bills – with the UK’s financial standing keeping interest rates lower than they would be otherwise and energy bills up to £189 lower each year
  • More jobs – hundreds of thousands of Scottish jobs are connected to borderless trade as part of the UK
  • More support for public services – Scotland currently benefits from public spending per person that is around 10% higher than the UK average
  • With less than 50 days to go until the referendum, the UK Government is ensuring people have as much information as possible to allow them to make an informed decision

The leaflet also accompanies the UK Government’s YouDecide online tool which allows people in Scotland to explore how being part of the UK benefits their home, work and family life – www.youdecide2014.uk

The leaflets will cost around 12p each, with a total cost of around £300,000.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: “We are only weeks away from the most important decision we will ever make as a country. A decision to leave the UK is forever and cannot be reversed. We need to make sure we get it right. People in Scotland need to have the facts before they vote on 18 September.

“With every passing week it becomes ever clearer the Scottish Government has not thought this through properly. They are blinded by their passion for independence. They have no plan on currency, no plan on pensions and no idea how much it would all cost.

“People want credible and reliable information to help them make their decision on independence. Our new leaflet highlights the five main benefits for Scotland of remaining part of the UK.

“We hold on to the pound. We keep bills lower as part of a larger UK. Public spending per person is ten per cent higher in Scotland than the UK average. Two-thirds of our trade is with the rest of the UK because we have no international border and that helps protect Scottish jobs.

“We have a Scottish Parliament that makes decisions on things like health and education. From next year, the Scottish Parliament will be getting even more powers to set tax rates and decide if and when to borrow money. Devolution brings very clear benefits that would end with independence.”

NicolaSturgeonMSP20110510[1]The Scottish Government will also send out their own short guide to the opportunities of independence.

The  new 12-page guide, which will outline the opportunities of independence, is being posted out to all 2.5 million households in Scotland from next week.

From tomorrow (Monday 4 August) every household in Scotland will receive their own copy of ‘Scotland’s Future – What Independence Means for You’, which sets out how the wealth of Scotland can be used to benefit the people who live and work here.

The short guide will also be translated into fifteen languages – with braille and audio versions also being produced – and will become available online from Sunday.

The distribution of this guide to independence follows the publication of the 670-page Scotland’s Future, which has now been ordered by over 140,000 people.

The guide will explain how:

• Scotland can more than afford to be independent – we have generated more tax per head than the UK for each of the last 33 years.
• New job opportunities can be created in an independent Scotland by tailoring economic policy for Scotland’s needs.
• Different spending decisions – such as scrapping Trident – could save £600 million a year.
• Independence will bring greater financial security for families – for example, by increasing the Minimum Wage and transforming childcare.

A separate guide will also be posted from Monday to residents of Scotland’s islands next week – setting out the opportunities of independence to empower our unique island communities.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured above) said: ““Independence is not a magic wand – but it is undoubtedly the greatest chance we will ever have to shift the balance of opportunity in Scotland’s favour and make our wealth work better for everyone who lives here.

“We are one of the richest countries in the world, with a higher GDP per head than France, Japan and the UK. But for far too many people in Scotland it doesn’t feel that way. This guide sets out why we’re better off with Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.

“It is crucial that everyone in Scotland is armed with the facts and has a clear picture of the opportunities to change their lives for the better with independence.

“There is certainly an appetite for this information – with over 140,000 orders for Scotland’s Future already received – and our new guide makes it even easier to get the key facts quickly and easily.

“Scotland has the people, skills and resources to be a strong independent country, and this guide will set out how we can build on that.

“With independence we’ll have an economic policy that will put Scotland first – with a plan to reindustrialise Scotland, use the tax system to provide business with the incentives to create jobs and take advantage of our increased international profile to benefit the economy.

“The economic tools and powers to transform our employment and social policy will make it easier for parents to balance work and family life. For too long our hands have been tied by decisions made at Westminster – often by governments with no majority in Scotland.

“No one else will do a better job of running our country than the people of Scotland – because no one else has a bigger stake in its success. It is essential that all voters have the chance to make an informed choice on September 18 and this guide will help to ensure that this is the case.”They're here!

They’re here!

 

Legionella latest

No new cases have been confirmed in the Edinburgh Legionnaires’ outbreak for the sixth day in a row. The total number of confirmed cases remains at 50, the number of suspected cases is 49 and the total number of overall cases remains at 99.

At noon yesterday, of those cases being treated in hospital, there were two patients in intensive care and seven on general wards. Twenty cases are being treated in the community, 59 have been discharged from hospital and three people have sadly died.

Ten cases are being treated outwith the NHS Lothian area. The ages of the confirmed cases ranges between 32 and 85, with more males than females affected.

Investigations into the source and cause of the outbreak continue.  Lothian and Borders Police and the Health and Safety Executive are jointly investigating the circumstances of the deaths under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) Health and Safety Division.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am pleased to see that no further cases have emerged for the sixth day in a row, and the evidence continues to suggest that the outbreak has peaked. NHS Lothian are maintaining high quality care for patients who remain unwell and work to identify and deal with the source of the outbreak continues.”

NHS Lothian