Tag: art

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8% of the population but 25% of the top universities and all of the safest campuses*

johnrobertson834

From the Guardian’s The best UK universities 2025 list – rankings, published today, pro rata, per head, Scotland might be expected to have 2 of the top 20 universities in the UK but has 5. In 2019*, we had: Scotland’s university cities the safest in the UK by a very long way From the Complete University Guide 2019, we can see that the overall fall in crime in Scotland in the last ten, or so, years is reflected in the relative safety of university campuses. Of particular interest is the level of crime (incidents per 1 000 residents) reported in Glasgow, … Continue reading 8% of the population but 25% of the top universities and all of the safest campuses*

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The power and influence of ‘facts’

johnrobertson834

By stewartb I don’t watch BBC Question Time anymore. I do occasionally watch clips posted on social media when there is something specifically about Scotland – usually regretting my decision! Just watched a clip of Stephen Flynn on the latest episode striving hard to communicate facts and provide perspective in a discussion about the NHS in Scotland. Multiple individuals sitting at the ‘top table’ were intent on rubbishing his claims and I lost count of the number of times he was interrupted. Can’t permit a BBC audience to hear a coherent, reasoned rebuttal from an SNP MP! My wider point … Continue reading The power and influence of ‘facts’

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Factcheck – CalMac at 98% reliability for last 7 days with more than 500 sailings a day and 54 sailings just from Largs to Millport on time yesterday

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson In the last seven days, Calmac ran more than 500 sailings every day. Reliability was: 25th Apr 99%26 99.627 93.128 99.729 97.130 99.21st May 98.4Average 98% on time On 1st May, 4 of the 10 Arran and 4 of the 22 Portavadie to Tarbert sailings were cancelled. That’s all. The other 33 services were at 100%. On the same day, there were 54 sailings from Largs to Cumbrae (Millport) on a sunny Wednesday for tourists. If there were 4 hour delays for cars, why didn’t some of those just get the bus from the Cumbrae slip … Continue reading Factcheck – CalMac at 98% reliability for last 7 days with more than 500 sailings a day and 54 sailings just from Largs to Millport on time yesterday

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More news you won’t hear – New £49 million, Scottish Government-funded terminal to enhance island life and economy

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson From the Scottish Government today and, of course, utterly ignored by ‘your’ media in Scotland: A Scottish Government-backed deep-water terminal which will support future renewable energy developments and cruise ship opportunities on the Western Isles has been officially handed over to operators by Deputy First Minister Shona Robison.  Ms Robison toured the new Stornoway deep-water terminal to mark the end of the construction phase. It has delivered a new terminal with a cruise ship berthing facility capable of accommodating vessels more than 1,000 feet long (330 metres) and a new deep-water dock for large cargo vessels, … Continue reading More news you won’t hear – New £49 million, Scottish Government-funded terminal to enhance island life and economy

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Why is Scotland’s cancer rate significantly higher than that in England – nuclear waste, nuclear power and nuclear weapons placed as far from London as possible?

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson In Scotland: In 2021, the rate, or risk, of new cancers also increased to 644 per 100,000 [around 700 for men and 600 for women (an increase of 3.1% compared with 2019). In England, in 2020, the rate for men was 590 and for women, 487. These are significant differences. There are several explanatory factors including smoking (England lowest 13%, Scotland next at 13.9%, N Ireland at 14% and Wales at 14.1%) and better NHS detection services but you have to wonder about the Sellafield reprocessing plant, the most toxic nuclear plant in Europe, seeping pollutants … Continue reading Why is Scotland’s cancer rate significantly higher than that in England – nuclear waste, nuclear power and nuclear weapons placed as far from London as possible?

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Using Labour’s ‘Drunkford’ method Scotland’s A&E hits 86% seen in 4 hours

johnrobertson834

‘A message from my mum – thanks for not doing a wealth tax.‘ Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ In 2022, Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said the A&E figures, obtained by the party through freedom of information requests, were “shocking” NHS Scotland, though always far better than the other 3 nation’s NHS system, has not met the 95% within 4 hours target since the early days of 2020: But yesterday, the Labour leader in Wales, who shares the … Continue reading Using Labour’s ‘Drunkford’ method Scotland’s A&E hits 86% seen in 4 hours

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Injury after collisions involving HGVs and Buses with bridges fall dramatically

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Published yesterday as part of a Freedom of Information request, by the Scottish Government, the latest data reveal a big decline in the number of incidents where people were injured after a bus or an HGV vehicle hit a bridge, in Scotland. Not the biggest of Talking-up Scotland scoops, I know, but one more area where Joe Public might be forgiven for thinking the trend goes the other way, based on media reporting. Who … Continue reading Injury after collisions involving HGVs and Buses with bridges fall dramatically

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Channel 4’s Ciaran Jenkins on NHS Scotland cancer waiting times fails to mention referrals (demand) soaring by 24%

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ He asks, How much better or worse is the NHS in Scotland compared with ten years ago? and claims it is: x3 worse cancer treatment within 31 days x7 worse cancer treatment within 62 days Here are the data: So, from 100% of patients seen on time in 2012 to 94.9% and 72% by the end of 2023. You can clearly say 5.1% and 28% worse but how do you come up with 3 … Continue reading Channel 4’s Ciaran Jenkins on NHS Scotland cancer waiting times fails to mention referrals (demand) soaring by 24%