Scottish GPs are still facing a crisis according to the latest figures released yesterday. Continue reading Slight increase in GP numbers “too little, too late”:
Tag: Politics
Safeguarding Scotland? Budget to support ‘transformation of essential public services’.
The 2019-20 Scottish Budget will seek to strengthen Scotland’s economy and deliver long term investments to transform public services, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said. Continue reading Safeguarding Scotland? Budget to support ‘transformation of essential public services’.
Edinburgh faces social care financial crisis
Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board have reported an overspend of 4.7m for the period to the end of July 2018, and that this is projected to rise to £11.9m by the end of the financial year. Scottish Conservatives are urging the Scottish Government to step in ease the pressure on Edinburgh’s IJB. Continue reading Edinburgh faces social care financial crisis
Music tuition: Greer challenges Swinney on private subsidy
Green MSP Ross Greer has challenged Education Secretary John Swinney to justify his Government’s long-running subsidy of around £1.2 million to the fee-paying St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, at a time when many councils are axing free music tuition in schools due to budget cuts passed down by the Scottish Government. [1]
In an exchange during a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee, Mr Greer argued that by grant funding a small number of places at a private school, the Government risked exacerbating a deep sense of inequality – highlighting the evidence previously given by one young person who said the situation was ‘approaching Victorian levels’ of inequality. [2]
Scottish Greens Education spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP said: “We’ve heard countless stories about how cuts to council budgets are driving young people from less privileged backgrounds away from learning an instrument, with one young woman telling us this is approaching Victorian levels of inequality.
“So I just can’t see how the government justifies giving over one million pounds of public money every year to a small private school, without any clear assessment of whether that is value for money. Instead, for example, it could increase funding for the four centres of musical excellence that serve local authority schools.”
[1] http://www.parliament.scot/par
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Green Concern As Edinburgh Council Breaks Law On Homelessness
Green councillor Susan Rae has expressed serious concerns that Edinburgh has a long way to go to in tackling the homeless B&B crisis. Continue reading Green Concern As Edinburgh Council Breaks Law On Homelessness
Scottish Parliament rejects Brexit deal
May tells Sturgeon: “Listen to the voices”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged Prime Minister Theresa May to change course to avoid an “utterly disastrous” no-deal Brexit if the Prime Minister’s plans are rejected by MPs in a crunch vote on 11 December – but Theresa May says the First Minister should listen to Scotland’s business leaders. Continue reading May tells Sturgeon: “Listen to the voices”
Hundreds of teacher posts in Lothian re-advertised in last three years
Research by the Scottish Conservatives has shown that almost 500 jobs in Lothian have been re-advertised over the last three years and almost 3,000 across Scotland. Continue reading Hundreds of teacher posts in Lothian re-advertised in last three years
Scottish Conservatives unveil strategy to reduce drugs deaths
A “second chance” plan for drug users and a target to slash drug deaths in half are at the centre of a new drugs strategy unveiled by the Scottish Conservatives today. Continue reading Scottish Conservatives unveil strategy to reduce drugs deaths
Ben Macpherson: City Council is stepping in to support Universal Credit recipients failed by UK Government
Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson has renewed calls for an immediate halt to Universal Credit after it was revealed that Edinburgh council is spending millions of pounds attempting to undo the damage of this failed Tory policy. Continue reading Ben Macpherson: City Council is stepping in to support Universal Credit recipients failed by UK Government