I won’t be reading Sandesh Gulhane’s comments but I feel sure this evidence will be absent: 95.4% of the Scottish population were registered with an NHS dentist as at 30 September 2022. Nearly all adults living in the most deprived areas were registered with an NHS dentist in September 2022, compared to 91.9% in the least deprived areas. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/dental-statistics-registration-and-participation/dental-statistics-nhs-registration-and-participation-24-january-2023/ Meanwhile in England: Thousands of children in England facing ‘heartbreaking’ waits for NHS dental care https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/19/thousands-of-children-in-england-facing-heartbreaking-waits-for-nhs-dental-care The Scottish government said that more than 95% of the population were registered with an NHS dentist. It added that the dental workforce in Scotland (54 dentists per … Continue reading SNP ensures 29% more dentists, 95% registered with NHS dentist and 99% in deprived areas

On 3 May 2019, from Unite: Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, has written to the new defence secretary Penny Mordaunt urging her to take action in the Sea King asbestos scandal. This follows a new Freedom of Information release has revealed that the MoD’s records show that on at least 100 occasions workers had been exposed to asbestos. Last year it was revealed that thousands of workers who undertook maintenance on the Sea King helicopter between 1969 and 2018, when it was decommissioned could have been exposed to asbestos. The MoD has been forced to finally admit that … Continue reading Penny Mordaunt did nothing about ‘Victorian’ conditions risking workers’ lives

According to the above FT report: Less than three-quarters of England’s 424 bathing sites are deemed to be of excellent quality, according to England’s Environment Agency data. This contrasts with some of Europe’s stronger performers in terms of the number and quality of bathing sites, such as Greece, Denmark and Germany. All three countries have at least 1,000 bathing sites with at least 90 per cent granted “excellent” status, according to figures from the EU’s European Environment Agency. https://www.ft.com/content/c2ad7745-090d-4163-b7f8-86942189f255 Scotland has 89 officially designated bathing sites. In 2023 so far only 1 (Ayr South) has had a ‘poor rating.’ All … Continue reading Scotland has twice the number of clean officially designated bathing sites

Only months before the Portsmouth MP, Mordred’s ‘Rats with Rickets‘ Scotland campaign, the Portsmouth News had: MP Stephen Morgan criticises ‘Tory Sewage scandal’ as figures show 10 sewage spills per week in Portsmouth area 2022. Responding to data released by the Environment Agency which showed the extent of sewage spills last year, the Labour MP has asked for people to sign a pledge of support for his party’s plan to tackle the issue. Analysis of Environment Agency data shows that in 2022, raw sewage was discharged into Portsmouth’s waters for 1,809 hours, the equivalent of there being a continuous flow of sewage taking place for over … Continue reading Penny Mordaunt’s Portsmouth constituency’s Victorian sewers discharging more than her 450 000 rats can eat

B.C. Ferries passengers could face a jump in fares once the recent $500 million boost to the system runs out after four years unless fresh money comes in, says the B.C. Ferry Commission. Commisioner Eva Hage expects that without additional funds there will be a “very high price cap because fare revenues from users would have to make up for that money from the government.” https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/bc-ferries-fares-uncertain-after-500m-boost-runs-out-7525400 British Columbia is an affluent part of Canada with a population of just over 5 million compared to Scotland’s 5.4 million. BC’s GDP is $266 billion. Scotland’s is $205 billion. BC Ferries operate in … Continue reading Canadian ferries already far less subsidised than CalMac face a further ‘very high’ fare jump

From AP News last night: ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Travelers to Greece’s popular island destinations will face disruptions next week because of a 24-hour strike on Sept. 13 by ferry crews who cite safety and labor concerns. The PNO union said the decision was made Friday “on the occasion of the repulsive incident” this week in Greece’s main port of Piraeus, in which a tardy passenger drowned after being pushed into the sea by a ferry crew member. The union didn’t directly link the reasons for the strike with Tuesday’s drowning, which sparked anger and condemnation across Greece. A PNO statement deplored … Continue reading Greek ferry crews go on strike over conditions – Last CalMac strike was averted by Nicola Sturgeon

I’m a bit wary of league tables in education for the obvious reason than the wealthy always do better than the poor and you could probably change the order quite a bit if you foregrounded the level of inclusion based on the postcodes of disadvantage. However, remembering Talking-up Scotland’s purpose and the greater cause, it’s worth noting this success. Needless to say the media coverage in a very unequal society like the UK has focused on St Andrews triumph and missed the performance of 5 Scots universities making the top 20, more than twice the number had all things been … Continue reading 8% of the population but 20% of the top universities

Thanks to SB for alerting me to this: In the wake of her outburst on mike, suggesting she was the only one doing anything over RAAC in schools, BBC Scotland seems to have wind of her coming up to get things going on MacRAAC. Yesterday, they had: Earlier, during FMQs questioning by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Yousaf said a list of affected schools should be made available by the end of the week, with a ministerial statement to follow. The first minister said the government was working with local authorities and that discussions would be held with the … Continue reading English Education Secretary to get Scottish ministers off their a**ses over RAAC?

In the UK Government’s latest renewable auction, seven tidal stream projects, which harness the power of the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun using floating or sea-bed mounted turbines, have secured contracts: Scotland SAE Renewables, secured 21.94MW of capacity (Pentland Firth, MeyGen) Orbital Marine Power, secured 7.2MW (Orkney, EMEC) Magallanes secured 1.5MW (Orkney, EMEC) Wales Hydrowing secured 10MW (Ynni’r Lleaud) Verdant secured 4.9MW (Anglesey, Morlais) MOR Energy secured 4.5MW (Anglesey, Morlais) Magallanes secured 3MW (Anglesey, Morlais) https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2023/sep/08/uk-renewable-auction-contracts-offshore-wind-energy-stock-market-business-live This builds on the London School of Economics report in June 2023, reported as: Scotland ‘has more tidal stream capacity than rest of world combined’, LSE … Continue reading The tides are with Scotland