The NHS will receive a further £32 million to help reduce waiting times.
The investment is in addition to £70 million funding announced by the Health Secretary in April and brings the amount being spent on the Waiting Times Improvement Plan for 2019-20 to £102 million. The £102 million is part of the £850 million set aside to support the delivery of the plan over a three-year period. Continue reading NHS to receive a further £32 million to reduce waiting times
SEVEN projects across Scotland have been awarded a total of £600,000 funding through Screen Scotland’s Film Education Partnership Fund towards Film Education programmes.
Among the successful projects is Pilton-based Screen Education Edinburgh, formerly known as Pilton Video. The project, based in Ferry Road Avenue, receives over £200,000. Continue reading Funding support for Screen Education Edinburgh
First Minister highlights risk of Brexit.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to the new Prime Minister to set out the potential impact of Brexit and urge a change in course to protect Scotland’s people and economy.
Full text of the letter:
Congratulations on your appointment as Prime Minister.
I will be shortly writing to you, along with the First Minister of Wales, to set out jointly our position on a range of urgent matters that require consideration by a meeting of the Heads of Government. Such a meeting should be convened as soon as possible.
However, I am writing to you today to draw your attention to work carried out by the Scottish Government which details the likely specific impact of Brexit on Scotland. Given the gravity of the potential damage to jobs and livelihoods, this material should be at the top of your in-tray.
You will be aware that people in Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union. Subsequent Scottish Government analysis shows that a no-deal outcome could cost 100,000 Scottish jobs. Even a free trade agreement could see a fall in Scottish national income of around £1,600 per person compared with continuing EU membership. I urge you to study this analysis closely so that you understand the implications for Scotland of the policy you are pursuing on Brexit and why it is therefore imperative that you change course immediately to avoid causing lasting harm to the people of Scotland.
However, given your public comments about leaving the EU on October 31 with or without a deal, “come what may” and “do or die” , it is now – more than ever – essential that in Scotland we have an alternative option.
In line with the democratic mandate given to us in 2016, the Scottish Government will continue to make preparations to give people in Scotland the choice of becoming an independent country.
The right of the people of Scotland to determine their own future is a basic democratic principle that must be respected.
Similarly any decision of the Scottish Parliament on whether to give people that choice must be respected. The Parliament will consider the necessary framework legislation for a referendum after the summer recess, and I look forward to taking this matter forward with you once MSPs have had the opportunity to debate the issue further.
NICOLA STURGEON
Legislation to introduce an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation for deceased donors will come into force in Autumn 2020. Continue reading Autumn next year for organ donation opt-out system
City Council responds to Government consultation
The City of Edinburgh Council has published its response to the Scottish Government consultation on the regulation of short-term lets in Scotland. The consultation closes on MONDAY.
Continue reading Time’s running out to have your say on short-term lets
An additional £9 million of funding will be provided to local authorities to prevent homelessness and help people into more permanent accommodation. The investment will increase the local authority funding being provided for Rapid Rehousing from £15 million to £24 million over three years.
This will help transform services so people facing homelessness can either immediately, or as quickly as possible, be placed into permanent, stable accommodation with the support they need.
The money is part of the Scottish Government’s £50 million Ending Homelessness Together fund.
Announcing the funding following a visit to an Aberdeenshire shared accommodation service, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Temporary accommodation provides an important safety net in a crisis, but we know it is not the solution.
“The evidence shows what most people need is a settled place to stay where they can rebuild their lives. Where additional support is required, it will be most effective when people are living in a stable home, in mainstream housing.
“This additional funding will help reduce time spent in temporary accommodation and get people experiencing homelessness into appropriate and sustainable housing as quickly as possible.”
Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee, Cllr Anne Stirling said: “We are pleased to see some additional funding coming forward to help us tackle homelessness.
“We are committed to ensuring the right mix of housing options across Aberdeenshire and to reducing poverty and inequality across our communities. Our shared accommodation model helps us to ensure there are temporary affordable housing options for those who need it most.”
COSLA Vice President Graham Houston said: “Tackling Homelessness is a key issue for Councils across Scotland.
“We welcome the extra resource to help local authorities begin to move towards Rapid Rehousing. We will continue to work in partnership with Scottish Government to ensure Councils have the resources needed.”
A programme of improvement measures has been put in place to ensure patient safety at the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) – but Conservative politicians are calling for a parliamentary inquiry to get to the bottom of what has gone wrong with the beleaguered project.
There is speculation that new checks could now delay the opening of the new hospital until March or April next year. Continue reading Tories call for inquiry over New Sick Kids ‘scandal’
Applying a charge of at least 20p to 25p on every disposable cup is one of the recommendations put forward by an expert panel to encourage more use of reusable alternatives. Continue reading Proposal to tackle the throwaway culture
Views are being sought on new national priorities for policing in Scotland.
The priorities set the long-term overarching framework for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. They are being updated to reflect significant developments and progress in operational delivery, emerging threats and the changing needs of communities. The priorities also focus on anticipated future demands of the service. Continue reading Have your say on future police direction
New figures showing there were almost 1200 drug-related deaths in Scotland last year have been described as shocking by Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick.
The National Records of Scotland statistics reveal there were 1,187 drug-related deaths registered in Scotland in 2018, the largest number ever recorded. Continue reading “Shocking”: Statistics show highest ever level of Scottish drug deaths
