Politics – Page 199 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Referendum questions? Ask Danny!

Danny Alexander will answer your Referendum questions during a live Facebook chat on Thursday (21 August) from 6pm.

The referendum on 18 September 2014 is the most important decision to face Scottish people in 300 years. You have a right to know what it will mean for you.

To help you get the information you need to make a decision, Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will be on hand to answer your questions in a live Facebook chat on Thursday 21 August at 6pm.

Thursday’s ‘chat’ with Danny Alexander will be hosted on the YouDecide Facebook page and will last for thirty minutes.

Try the UK Government’s online tool – explore how Scottish independence could affect your home, work and family.

Join the conversation on Facebook

Follow @youdecide2014 on twitter

GO ON, ASK DANNY!

Scottish employment hits record levels

Both UK and Scottish governments have welcomed news that employment in Scotland is at the highest level since records began – but they disagree over what’s best for Scottish jobs and the economy: the union or independence.

Figures published today by the Office for National Statistics show that total employment increased in Scotland by 63,000 over the year to reach 2,594,000 – the highest level since records began in 1992. 73.5 per cent of people are now in employment in Scotland.

Female employment has also reached a new record high with 1,250,000 women in Scotland in employment, an increase of 36,000 over the year.
The figures also show that Scotland’s youth unemployment rate has decreased by 2.9 percentage points over the year and now has a youth employment rate of 55.6%.

The overall employment level has now increased over the quarter for 18 consecutive monthly releases – the longest ever unbroken run of increasing quarterly employment.

Over the year the number of people unemployed fell by 21,000, with the unemployment rate now standing at 6.4 per cent. The number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance has fallen by 35,500 – or 27.6 per cent – over the last year.

Separately, the Scottish Government has today published its latest Quarterly National Accounts statistics for Scotland, which demonstrate the continued strength of the economy. Over the latest four quarters, total GDP including offshore activity has reached nearly £148 billion, and at around £27,700 per person is 10 per cent higher than the equivalent UK figure.

Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women’s Employment Angela Constance said: “We know that Scotland’s economy has returned to pre-recession levels and these figures show that our recovery is continuing to gain momentum, with unemployment down and employment at its highest level ever.

“I am pleased to see that youth employment has increased and that fewer young people are now unemployed in Scotland compared to a year ago. It is so important that our young people have the chance to get a foothold in the labour market and we want to see this figure continue to decrease.

“That is why we have extended the Youth Employment Scotland Fund, which now helps employers seeking to recruit those aged 16 to 30. In particular this will help those most at risk of being cut off from the labour market such as young working mums, care leavers and disabled people.

“Our ambitions are greater than this – that’s why we are taking forward the commitments set out by the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce to reduce youth unemployment in Scotland by 40 per cent by 2020.

“Female employment continues to increase and now sits at the highest level since records began and the female unemployment rate is at its lowest since May-July 2009.

“This government will always do everything we can to ensure women have the same opportunities in the labour market as their male counterparts, and have access to quality sustained work in careers they choose.

“As part of our recovery we must ensure that everyone is able to benefit from a growing economy. For example, our transformational plans for childcare will not just be good for children, but also their parents, giving them greater opportunities to enter work or training.

“These figures show that Scotland has the economic potential to be an independent country. With the full powers of independence we could do more to get people into work and give employers access to the skills they need to grow their business, strengthening our economy and creating jobs.”

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael also welcomed the latest statistics – but drew different conclusions, of course!

Mr Carmichael said: “Today’s figures show we have a new record high in overall employment. Over the last 12 months Scottish employment has increased by 63,000 and unemployment has fallen by 21,000. This shows that working together as part of the UK with its larger market, stronger and growing economy and stable currency is creating more jobs and better opportunities for Scotland.

“It is also good to see the number of people claiming Jobseekers allowance continues to fall. It is now at its lowest level since October 2008 and is 35,500 lower than one year ago.

“Each one of the figures today represents another person or household getting back into the labour market. It also represents the certainty, stability and security we are creating for businesses by being part of the UK. We will continue with our long term economic plan to ensure that these positive figures are reflected in communities across the length and breadth of Scotland and our business have the confidence to grow and employ more Scots.

The Minister made the comments as he visited Frolick, a Dundee based family run company that specialises in healthy alternatives to frozen desserts. Over the past few months the company has greatly expanded its range.

They have benefited from the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), an initiative which offers expert mentoring and financial support to people on Jobseeker’s Allowance, lone parents and people on sickness benefits who want to start up their own business. Since its launch in 2011, 3,300 businesses in Scotland have been established thanks to the NEA.

Mr Carmichael added: “It was great to visit this thriving family run business in Dundee. Across the country the New Enterprise Allowance is helping thousands of jobseeking Scots build a career and fulfil their ambitions. The great ideas of these entrepreneurs today may transform into successful Scottish companies which will be the major employers of tomorrow.”

Blackhall St Columba’s to host referendum hustings

Yes? No? Don’t know?

Craigleith/Blackhall Community Council is holding a Hustings meeting in Blackhall St Columba’s Church (Large Hall) on Queensferry Road tomorrow evening (Thursday 14 August) from 7 – 9pm.

Still undecided about the Referendum? This is the opportunity to have your questions answered directly by a panel of four politicians, two from each side and all from different political parties. Each will make a short presentation followed by questions from the audience.

All welcome.

Greens: Citizen’s Income would reduce inequality

Green Yes, the Scottish Green Party’s campaign for a Yes vote in the independence referendum, has published a paper showing how a Scottish Parliament with responsibility for welfare could implement a Citizen’s Income to reduce inequality.

The Greens have worked with Dr David Comerford, research fellow in economics at the University of Stirling, as well the Citizen’s Income Trust, to model the impact of the policy on household incomes.

One of the aims of the policy is to reduce the incredible complexity of the tax and benefits system, which penalises those with unreliable work or insecure housing. A longstanding Scottish Green policy, the Citizen’s Income would sweep away almost all benefits and the state pension and replace them with simple, regular payment to every child, adult and pensioner.

The paper is the latest in a series produced by the Green Yes campaign showing how independence opens up possibilities for progressive change in Scotland. Other papers have covered jobs, wages and the economy, local democracy, banking reform and digital rights.

CITIZEN’S INCOME – 70% CENT OF HOUSEHOLDS BETTER OFF

Under the model detailed in the paper:

– Weekly payments are proposed of £50 to children, £100 to adults and £150 to pensioners.
– 70 per cent of households would be better off than presently.
– Those in the lowest income bracket would benefit the most.
– Measures of inequality would be brought in line with some of the most equal countries in the world.
– Income earned in addition to the citizen’s income would continue to be taxed progressively.

Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said: “This is a policy to recapture and renew the idea of a welfare state that looks after everyone. Scotland is a wealthy country, and we should be able to choose a different approach to austerity and the harmful attitude which pits people on poverty pay against those on benefits.

“A Citizen’s Income would ensure everyone’s basic needs are met. It’s a simple idea that could transform this country by reducing inequality and allowing each of us to make our own decisions about working, caring, learning and creating, without ending up on the breadline.”

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and member of Holyrood’s Economy Committee, said: “The referendum debate allows us to imagine what sort of Scottish welfare system we could design after a Yes vote, and this is the Greens’ vision for a simpler and fairer approach. A Citizen’s Income would be an especially positive policy for women as it would make it easier to combine working and caring roles.”

MP urges constituents to have their say on organ donation

Edinburgh North & Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz is calling on local people to make their views known on organ donation.

Mr Lazarowicz attended a public consultation in Leith on Labour MSP Anne McTaggart’s draft Bill in the Scottish Parliament which would introduce a new opt-out system of organ donation in Scotland, and he is now urging constituents to contribute to the consultation on the Bill which lasts until 25th September.

Under the Bill, in the event of someone’s death it would be presumed that the person consented to the use of their organs for transplant unless they had expressly stated otherwise or their family knew of an objection.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “I congratulate Anne McTaggart on her initiative and and I urge people in Edinburgh North and Leith to contribute their views to the consultation so that it can be properly debated and achieve its purpose in giving more people the chance of an organ transplant.

“Under the current opt-in system around 40% of Scots are on the organ donor register and this sign of quiet concern for others is something to be proud of – but that still leaves well over 600 people anxiously waiting for a transplant each year.”

Details of the Bill and public consultation including how to contribute can be found at

http://www.annemctaggart.co.uk/organ-donation-bill-consultation-launched

Last year the Welsh Government introduced a Bill to introduce an opt-out system which became law with the new system to become operational from 1st December 2015. It was influenced by evidence that suggested that an opt-out system could increase the number of organ donors by 25 – 30%.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland, the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland and the British Liver Trust have all called for Scotland to follow suit.

Jury’s still out after referendum debate

A record TV audience of 1.3 million viewers watched the referendum debate in Scotland on Tuesday evening. Better Together leader Alistair Darling went head-to-head with First Minister Alex Salmond in the two hour debate and – here’s a shock – both camps claim victory for their man!

The two-hour live programme aired on STV after the broadcaster secured the first televised referendum debate between the leaders of the respective campaigns.

The debate,presented by John MacKay and moderated by STV’s political editor Bernard Ponsonby, was held at Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before a studio audience of 350 voters.

The politicians clashed on a range of issues – currency, EU membership, poverty, and political sovereignty were all debated in a series of sometimes heated exchanges.

With the stakes so high, it was little wonder that both men ‘wobbled’ during the session – Mr Salmond when pressed by the ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer on whether an independent Scotland would be able to reach a sterling-sharing agreement with the rest of the UK, and Mr Darling when repeatedly asked by the First minister to clarify whether he thought Scotland could succeed as an independent nation.

A poll conducted by ICM for The Guardian immediately after the debate found 56% of voters declaring Mr Darling the winner, with Mr Salmond trailing on 44% – a view generally shared by the media.

However the Yes Scotland campaign heralded polls showing their share of voters intentions picked up by 4% following ‘Scotland Decides’, with more undecided voters seemingly inclined to vote Yes.

Better Together said Mr Salmond had been ‘skewered’ by Alistair Darling in the TV debate, and added that the First Minister’s failure to map out his Plan B on currency means more Scots are saying No Thanks to separation.

Earlier, ahead of the debate, leaders of the three major unionist parties signed a joint letter supporting the devolution of further powers to Scotland, including in “fiscal responsibility and social security”.

Labour’s Ed Miliband, Conservative David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg all signed the letter, as did their Scottish leaders Johann Lamont, Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie. Plans for these powers, which would be drawn up fully following a “No” vote.

The letter reads:

Power lies with the Scottish people and we believe it is for the Scottish people to decide how Scotland is governed.

We believe that the pooling and sharing of resources across the United Kingdom is to Scotland’s benefit in a partnership of nations in which distinct national identities can flourish and be celebrated.

We believe that Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole have been strengthened since the advent of devolution.

We support a strong Scottish Parliament in a strong United Kingdom and we support the further strengthening of the Parliament’s powers.

The three parties delivered more powers for Holyrood through the Calman Commission which resulted in the Scotland Act 2012.

We now pledge to strengthen further the powers of the Scottish Parliament, in particular in the areas of fiscal responsibility and social security. We believe that Scotland should have a stronger Scottish Parliament while retaining full representation for Scotland in the UK Parliament. That can bring people together from all of Scotland, from civic society and every community.

The Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have each produced our own visions of the new powers which the Scottish Parliament needs.

We shall put those visions before the Scottish people at the next general election and all three parties guarantee to start delivering more powers for the Scottish Parliament as swiftly as possible in 2015.

This commitment will deliver a stronger Scottish Parliament in a stronger United Kingdom.

That commitment doesn’t go far enough for everone, however, and the Scottish Greens are among those to argue that only self-government will create a fair Scotland.

Green Yes, the Scottish Green Party’s campaign for a Yes vote in the independence referendum, welcomed comments by the First Minister on the opportunity to create a more just society during the TV debate.

Commenting on the debate, Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood’s economy committee, said: “None of the arguments was new to those of us who’ve been on the campaign trail for the past two years but so many people are only now switching on. Alex Salmond highlighted the opportunity to end austerity and improve our democracy.

“I was also pleased to hear the First Minister highlight the opportunity we have to adopt a more welcoming immigration policy, retaining skilled workers instead of kicking them out as the three big UK parties would have us do.

“Alistair Darling – my MP – highlighted what he called the risks of independence, failing to acknowledge that a No vote also contains risks. He kept referring to strength and security, which probably sounds attractive if you’re well off but is simply meaningless if you’re one of the many Scots struggling to make ends meet.

“As our political system demands a winner and a loser we have an adversarial debate that isn’t best suited to those seeking information. I hope we hear a wider range of voices and visions over the remaining six weeks.”

Did you watch the debate? Impressed? Will it change the way you vote?

Let us know!

Green MSP: ‘ immigration is good for our economy and society’

MIGRATION: GREEN MSP WELCOMES STUDY SHOWING ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood’s economy committee, is welcoming new research showing that the Westminster consensus to reduce migration risks harming the economy.

A new report by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) shows that a cap on migration would create an economic shortfall. NIESR warn of “a reduction in the pool of talent available to businesses.”

Earlier this year a poll for the Scottish Green MSPs showed two-thirds of Scots want Holyrood to have control over immigration policy. None of the parties campaigning for a No vote has offered to devolve it.

A recent study by the Centre for Population Change also showed that local authorities in Scotland view migrants as positive but don’t always have the resources needed to welcome them.

Alison Johnstone MSP said: “This latest research supports the Green view that immigration is good for our economy and society. Our local authorities need better resources and greater control to get the best results, and Scotland needs the power to set its own policy.

“The debate being played out at Westminster, stoked by fear and hostility, bears little relation to the situation in Scotland and risks throwing away so much potential. I’m for a welcoming policy, and I want Holyrood to have the ability to secure the benefits of immigration for our communities.”

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 …

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.”

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!

Nicola Sturgeon to take questions at Craigmount

Deputy First Minister to take part in public question and answer sesssion at Craigmount High School

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP will attend a public question and answer session at Craigmount High School, Craigs Road, Corstorphine from 7 – 8.30pm on Monday (4 August).

This is one of many public question and answer sessions conducted by the Deputy First Minister across Scotland in recent months.

The public meeting will be chaired by local Edinburgh Western constituency MSP Colin Keir. This event has been arranged in order to allow those who have still to make up their minds on the referendum to ask questions of one of the leading campaigners for a Yes vote.

Colin Keir MSP said: “I’m delighted that the Deputy First Minister has accepted the invitation to come and participate in this event at Craigmount High School.

“Although it’s clear that support for a Yes vote on 18 September is steadily growing there are still a fair number who are undecided and want to know more. This is their chance to come along and ask the questions they require answers to before they get to the ballot box. It’s my hope that many locals who are still undecided will take the opportunity to come along and hear from one of Scotland’s leading political figures.”

Westminster and Holyrood pledge more aid to Gaza

Greening: ‘the situation in Gaza is dire’

Police Scotland calls for demonstrators to protest ‘within the law’

Both the UK and the Scottish governments are to increase their aid to Gaza, it hsa been announced. The UK has announced £3 million in new funding so the World Food Programme can get emergency food to more than 300,000 people in Gaza, while Holyrood will provide a further £500,000 to aid stricken civilians there.

And as tension rises Police Scotland today warned protestors that while peaceful demonstrations are acceptable, illegal actions will not be tolerated.

News of the increased aid comes after reports of further bloodshed in Gaza – the UN says that Israel has attacked a UN-run school housing refugees in Gaza despite warnings that civilians were there, killing fifteen people and injuring many more.

The UK is stepping up its humanitarian response to the Gaza crisis with an additional £3 million for the World Food Programme’s emergency appeal to help deal with food shortages, Prime Minister David Cameron announced today.

This £3 million boost will provide emergency food for more than 300,000 people for one month, and the latest commitment from the UK brings to £10 million the amount released to help Gaza since the latest crisis began.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:”After more than three weeks of fighting, the death toll in Gaza is rising and more than 200,000 people, many of them children, have been displaced from their homes. We urgently need to stop the bloodshed: we continue to call for an unconditional and immediate humanitarian ceasefire to prevent any more needless suffering.

“The situation in Gaza is dire. The UK is helping to meet immediate needs, including with this latest contribution of £3 million which will get food to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.

“All sides must adhere to International Humanitarian Law, all feasible precautions must be taken to avoid harm to civilians, and all sides must allow aid agencies unimpeded access to get to those in desperate need.”

Displacement of families from their homes is a huge problem that is affecting more than 200,000 people at the latest count. This has a significant impact on all aspects of day-to-day life as people rely on UN shelters and aid agencies for all their needs.

Access to food is an increasing issue of concern in Gaza. The latest reports from the UN show that food shortages are being reported in Gaza, with sharp increases in the prices of certain products.

To address the humanitarian needs in Gaza the UK government is pushing for better humanitarian access so that aid agencies can get supplies and personnel into and out of Gaza and a sustainable political solution, which must include the gradual lifting of the economic restrictions.

The UK is the third biggest donor to UNRWA’s General Fund, contributing £107 million between 2011 and 2015. UNRWA is a crucial service provider to the 70 per cent of the Gazan population who are Palestinian refugees. Our support is enabling UNRWA to continue providing basic health services during this conflict through 19 of its 21 clinics.

The Scottish Government has also pledged more support for the beleaguered people of Gaza – it is providing half a million pounds to help people affected by the crisis, External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf announced today.

The funding, which will be routed through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Gaza Flash Appeal, will help support the immediate needs of people in Gaza.

Mr Yousaf also reiterated his backing for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and called on the UK Government to take more urgent action with international partners to bring a cessation in violence. He also highlighted that the Scottish Government is continuing to work with relevant governments and local agencies to help some of those injured in the current conflict who might benefit most from treatment in Scotland.

Mr Yousaf said: “The escalating violence in Gaza has already caused far too many lives to be lost and people to be injured. The UN has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and it is crucial that this is delivered.

“Rocket attacks being fired by militants in Gaza is wrong, and must stop, however, the Israeli response has been heavily disproportionate as demonstrated by the unacceptable and mounting loss of civilian life.

“There is also increasing evidence that the humanitarian situation is continuing to deteriorate and that is why the Scottish Government is providing £500,000 funding to help the United Nations provide the water, food shelter and medical assistance people in Gaza need.

“The Prime Minister has described Gaza as “an open air prison”. He and the international community must do more in order to stop any further loss of innocent lives. There must be an immediate lifting of the blockade and siege of Gaza which is tantamount to collective punishment.

“The Scottish Government has already made clear to the UK Government that we stand ready to help where we can and we have offered medical treatment in the Scottish NHS for those who would benefit from that, as well as offering to house refugees from Gaza in Scotland.

“We will continue to work with others and support efforts to help people affected, however an immediate end to the violence and lifting of the blockade are needed to resolve the situation and we will continue to press the UK Government to do more to try to achieve this.”

Senior police officers understand the anger caused by the conflict, but they have asked those members of the public who choose to demonstrate to keep their protests within the law.

Police Scotland’s Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, who is Edinburgh’s Divisional Commander, said today: “We are aware that ongoing issues with the Gaza conflict have understandably raised concerns within our community. There have been a number of incidents reported to Police Scotland involving people using legal and illegal means to show their frustration at the humanitarian crisis.

“We are aware that people may wish to demonstrate and we will facilitate peaceful demonstrations, balancing the needs and rights of protesters with those impacted by the event in Edinburgh and beyond. Our communities will rightly expect that we will not tolerate criminal activity and deal appropriately with anyone engaged in such acts.

“Police Scotland are committed to keeping all communities safe and will continue to work with partners to uphold the law, maintain public order and protect life and property, maintaining confidence and the high reputation of policing in Scotland.

“Police Scotland are proud of the strong links we have with our communities, our local officers will be available to communicate with businesses and community groups in order to pass on any relevant information and help alleviate any concerns.”

Yesterday marked the start of Eid,but instead of the usual day of celebration Gaza’s children woke up to an Eid marked by death and destruction, with no apparent end in sight.

Twenty one days into this conflict, children in Gaza are still paying the highest price. One in four Palestinians killed in the conflict are children, and a child is killed on average almost every hour. Instead of playing in the streets as they normally do when celebrating the end of Ramadan, thousands of children in Gaza are mourning their parents at the graveyards, hundreds are buried with their families. Instead of experiencing the joy of Eid, these children are now facing uncertainty and despair.

At least 194,000 children in Gaza now need specialised psychological support, many having witnessed family deaths, injuries and displacement.

More than 100,000 children have been displaced with their families, the majority of them in schools. A total of 130 schools have been damaged and 22 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed. For Gaza’s estimated 45,000 pregnant women of whom 5,000 have been displaced, access to maternity care is extremely restricted. Local organisations report premature births doubling because of the women’s trauma.

Thousands of explosive remnants of war are left in civilian areas in Gaza, posing a further major threat to children and their families. Save the Children and local partners are taking every opportunity to reach as many of the affected families as possible, but with no clear commitment for a ceasefire, distributing aid on the ground puts our staff at serious risk.

“Children in Gaza and Israel are paying the price of political failure,” said Save the Children’s country director David Hassell. “The international community has so far failed these children, through its inability to use all its diplomatic influence to bring about an immediate end to the bloodshed. Ending the violence, as called for by the UN Security Council, is the first and immediate priority. A sustainable solution, ensuring the wellbeing of both Palestinians and Israelis, will require agreement by the parties to long-term measures that address the legitimate grievances of Palestinians, including an end to the blockade.

“Children never start wars, yet they are the ones that are killed, maimed, traumatised and left homeless, terrified and permanently scarred.”

“Save the children will not stop until innocent children are no longer under fire and the root causes of this conflict are addressed. If the international community does not take action now, the violence against children in Gaza will haunt our generation forever.”