Paediatric inpatient services in St John’s Hospital will begin to be restored in March, it was announced yesterday. NHS Lothian will reinstate the service from Monday to Friday each week to provide 24-hour services to children in West Lothian. Continue reading Partial reinstatement of children’s services at St John’s
The SNP government’s Finance Bill is facing defeat tomorrow unless Finance Minister Derek Mackay can negotiate a last ditch deal with the Scottish Greens. Continue reading Scotland’s Budget: Greens hold the key as Government defeat looms large
Cities have borne nearly three-quarters (74%) of all real-terms local government funding cuts in the last decade despite being home to just 54% of the population, according to Centre for Cities’ annual Cities Outlook 2019 report – the Centre’s annual health check on UK city economies. Continue reading Austerity: Council spending has fallen by half since 2010
A Holyrood Committee has supported a Bill to reduce fuel poverty in Scotland – but the Committee has called for additional measures to put an end to thousands of people lacking the means to keep their homes warm. Continue reading Holyrood committee backs beefed-up Fuel Poverty Bill
Deidre Brock MP welcomed the official launch of the 2019 Year of Indigenous Languages, which is taking place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris yesterday. Continue reading Deirdre Brock welcomes Year of Indigenous Languages
Finance Secretary urges MSPs to back the Scottish Budget
In its Budget report published yesterday, Holyrood’s Finance and Constitution committee warns Scotland’s finances are already exposed to volatility and risk through the way in which the Fiscal Framework operates. Continue reading No deal Brexit would damage Scotland, says Holyrood committee
Risk of Results Data Being ‘Invalidated’
Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has called on the Scottish Government to listen to the experts, after the Scottish Parliament’s Education Committee heard a number of concerns regarding the Scottish National Standardised Assessments at its session yesterday.
In response to a question from Mr Greer, Professor Lindsay Paterson confirmed that the differential in the age of Primary one pupils being tested – between four and six – ‘invalidates’ the use of this data beyond the level of the individual pupil, particularly given the shortage of staff who have sufficient statistical experience within local councils.
On the issue of these staff having been cut from councils over recent years, Dr Keir Bloomer of the Royal Society of Edinburgh said: “Local authorities have a declining capacity to offer support to schools.”
The committee also heard from Professor Louise Hayward that the test are extremely narrow, and do not yield a wide range of information.
Ross Greer said: “The already thin evidence base for the government’s Primary One tests is falling apart under the most basic of scrutiny.
“There is a huge difference between a four and a half year old child taking this test at the start of the school year and another pupil who takes it late in the year, by which point they could be six years old.
“Professor Paterson was clear that this significant difference and an inability to control for it when using the data, for example at school level, would simply invalidate it.
“An evidence-led approach in the first place would have avoided so many of these problems but the SNP ploughed on without one. It’s time that they listen to experts, to teachers and to parents, like any responsible government should.”
Santander bank has confirmed that it is to close 140 branches across the UK. Three branches in Lothian are to close: Morningside Road and Leith Walk in Edinburgh and George Street in Bathgate. Continue reading Politicians urge Santander branch closures rethink
North and Leith MP Deirdre Brock has welcomed the Tory government’s sudden U-turn on imposing a £65 fee on EU citizens for settled status applications. Continue reading Brock welcomes U turn on Settled Status Scheme
