I’ve written before about the more than 200 times that SNP ministers and others have met with possible economic partners to counter Tory Brexit damage. There was no better riposte to the inane ‘get on with the day job’ jibes from the likes of May and Davidson. In May 2018, I was able to report: ‘More than 200 engagements between Scottish Government ministers and European governments, institutions and organisations have taken place since the start of 2017. The ‘strong desire’ to connect with Scotland and listen to our views signals that the EU continues to see Scotland as an important … Continue reading Scots of the Arctic! Scottish Government forges ahead with Arctic links to help sustain our economy as Brexit looms

With almost all forms of crime in Scotland falling over the last ten to twelve years and now at levels below those across the UK, it would be interesting to know how the above forms compare. https://www.scotland.police.uk/assets/pdf/434027/526774/526824/19-2024-response?view=Standard A Freedom of Information request to police Scotland revealed the above. If such crimes were occurring with similar frequency across the UK, as they are in Scotland, then the figures for the UK would be around 12 times greater They are not. There were nearly 2 000 UK cases of FGM in just the first three months of 2019 suggesting a shocking 8 … Continue reading Honour Base Violence, Forced Marriage and FGM much less common in Scotland

On Friday, Alexander Burnett (SCAUP), asked the Scottish Government what efforts it was making or can make to ensure that electric-only supplied houses are provided a broad choice of suppliers and what steps it is taking or can take to increase the number of suppliers available to homes that are electric only. Seems innocent enough until you remember Burnett’s previous:  I see he has declared these in the Holyrood Register of Interests: I am an unpaid Director of Hill of Banchory ESCo Limited of Banchory Business Centre, Burn O’Bennie Road, Banchory, AB31 5ZU. Hill of Banchory ESCo Limited is a … Continue reading Millionaire Tory MSP standing up for his own businesses again?

From the University of Dundee last week: ‘We all know that food shopping when hungry is a bad idea but new research from the University of Dundee suggests that people might want to avoid making any important decisions about the future on an empty stomach. The study, carried out by Dr Benjamin Vincent from the University’s Psychology department, found that hunger significantly altered people’s decision-making, making them impatient and more likely to settle for a small reward that arrives sooner than a larger one promised at a later date.’ https://www.dundee.ac.uk/news/2019/dont-make-major-decisions-on-an-empty-stomach-research-suggests.php Though it’s been some time since our last celebration of Independence City, … Continue reading Dundee leads the way on a full stomach!

On Friday in Holyrood, Finlay Carson (SCAUP), fed the Scottish Government Minister by asking what work it had done to develop partnerships involving communities, public and private sector investors to plant more trees and create more woodlands since September 2017. What a pass! Open Goal! Veteran SNP Striker, Fergus Ewing, did score with a well-placed side-footer based on some serious data but seemed to miss the opportunity to burst the net with the news (below) that in 2018, Scotland did 84% of the UK’s total new tree planting despite having only 8% of the population! Click to access WA20190920.pdf Reported … Continue reading Scottish Tory MSPs, the gift that keeps on giving. Finlay Carson is an SNP Mole

Why can’t we take Tory MSPs seriously? Yesterday, Finlay Carson (SCAUP) asked the Scottish Government how much it had spent since September 2016 to make public sector buildings more energy efficient. A holding answer was issued. Click to access WA20190920.pdf And, the Brass Neck Award? See this from the BBC, but not the Scotland, website, in 2018: As the cold bites, a report says public investment in warm homes in England has been cut by 58% since 2012. It says Scotland now spends four times as much per citizen as England on energy efficiency. The report from the energy think … Continue reading It’s another Brass Neck Award for Scottish Tories as this one asks about public sector funding!

In Holyrood yesterday, Michelle Ballantyne (SCAUP) asked the Scottish Government what action it was taking to reduce waiting times for people with drugs and alcohol issues in NHS Borders. The answer: The latest published information from January to March 2019 shows the target (95%) for Borders was again exceeded, achieving 96.4% of clients being seen within 3 weeks and 100% were seen within 5 weeks. Click to access WA20190919.pdf Continue reading Tory MSP’s question reveals NHS Borders’ target-busting waiting times

‘ Universalism is progressive, redistributive taxation and seamless provision of social welfare for all in a linked social system. It is a social system based on the dual principles of ‘from each according to ability to each according to need’ and ‘from the cradle to the grave’. It has produced the most effective society civilisation has yet achieved. We undermine that system at our peril.’ (JRF, 2012) While some, mainly to the South, like to bemoan our free prescriptions as another example of how we are subsidised by them, I’ve long known that universal benefits are often cheaper than the … Continue reading Why Scotland’s free prescriptions may be saving money for the taxpayer