Tag: food

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Return of the Creepy Uncle

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Jim Draper for alerting me to this. On STV News at 6 last night: An eight-week-old baby is in critical condition after he was given ten times the correct dose of paracetamol at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. The Shadow Health Secretary is Sandesh Gulhane MSP but, as often before, Anas Sarwar is wheeled out to suggest a crisis in one hospital on the basis of one dosing mistake. Find a Scottish hospital, a baby made very ill or dying, one will do, and he is by magic quickly onscreen to imply … Continue reading Return of the Creepy Uncle

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Old ferries for travellers but luxury cars for ministers: A government’s blatant hypocrisy

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Malta Independent yesterday: Taxpayers’ money funds public services, yet the government’s priorities reveal a striking disparity between its investments in essential transport for Gozitans and its lavish spending on luxury vehicles for ministers and persons of trust. The Gozo Channel vessels, the lifeline for thousands of commuters, continue to age well past their optimal years of service. The government spares no expense in providing brand-new high-end cars for its officials while refusing to allocate funds for new ferries in the yearly budget estimates. Ministers travel in comfort in the latest BMWs, Mercedes, Toyotas, Volvos, … Continue reading Old ferries for travellers but luxury cars for ministers: A government’s blatant hypocrisy

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Police investigate 90 ‘suspicious’ hospital deaths but the Health Secretary is not even mentioned

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser closing on Friday, primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS  Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: In the Guardian yesterday, this shocking report, above, and: The number of patient deaths being investigated as possible manslaughter at a … Continue reading Police investigate 90 ‘suspicious’ hospital deaths but the Health Secretary is not even mentioned

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Why Scottish police officers have good reason to be annoyed when lumped in with English forces scandals

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By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS From STV today: Police in Scotland are being placed under “stress”, and public perception of them is changing due to officers in England such as the killer Wayne Couzens, the leader of the Scottish Police Federation has said. David Kennedy said claims by the force’s former chief constable that Police Scotland is institutionally racist and sexist also had a “negative impact” on officers. Mr Kennedy told a fringe event at the Scottish Labour conference that officers had the “relentless task” of dealing with the “constant barrage of issues” stemming from forces south … Continue reading Why Scottish police officers have good reason to be annoyed when lumped in with English forces scandals

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Jackie Baillie unable to travel to Wales for fear of arrest

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 14 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS In the Guardian yesterday: Elected politicians who deliberately lie could be forced from office under proposals designed to put Wales at the forefront of the “global challenge” to restore trust … Continue reading Jackie Baillie unable to travel to Wales for fear of arrest

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Major Canadian privatised ferry company persisting with far older fleet because it needs to pay bonuses and dividends, had to spend far more on maintenance than CalMac

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Thanks to JB for this link. From BC Ferries (Canada) January 31st 2024, the above aging fleet. CalMac has no large ferries over 50, only the about to be retired MV Isle of Arran at 41. All of the others are less than 40 and only five are over 25. There are six new larger ferries, built on the Clyde and in Turkey, due in service within the next year or so. BC Ferries will have none before 2030. BC Ferries has spent more than $130m on maintenance in the last 5 years, so perhaps $260m in the 10 years … Continue reading Major Canadian privatised ferry company persisting with far older fleet because it needs to pay bonuses and dividends, had to spend far more on maintenance than CalMac

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Latest – Alcohol consumption plummets in last 17 years

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From The Scottish Health Survey 2023 – volume 1: main report, published today, the above, graph showing a steady but limited fall in average alcohol consumption in the early years of the devolved Scottish Government (Labour/Lib Dem) then a sharper fall under the SNP from 2008.1 The Minimum Unit Pricing legislation came into effect from May 2018. Research by Newcastle University published in May 2021 found that alcohol sales dropped by 7.7% in Scotland following the introduction of a minimum price, when compared to north-east England. A study published in 2021 found reductions in overall purchases of alcohol, largely … Continue reading Latest – Alcohol consumption plummets in last 17 years

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8% of UKthe population but 16% of the meat exports – 8% of the UK population but 31% of total UK food and drink exports

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Many thanks to Cuckooshoe for alerting me to this, from Meatex on 16 October 2024, but of no interest to BBC Scotland: Scotland’s red meat and offal exports beyond the UK have experienced a significant rise, reaching a value of £137 million, according to the latest survey by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). The report highlights a remarkable recovery in the sector, with a 26% increase in export value compared to previous years.1 From ADHB on 1 October 2024: The latest figures from HMRC show that from January to June 2024, total UK red meat exports were up 2% in volume … Continue reading 8% of UKthe population but 16% of the meat exports – 8% of the UK population but 31% of total UK food and drink exports

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Giftgate – Sarwar and Ross get freebies worth 20 times those of any SNP politician!

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Under the headline What expensive gifts have Scotland’s politicians declared? and the above image, BBC Scotland report: In the wake of a row over gifts received by high-ranking members of the Labour party, people are now scrutinising the freebies accepted by politicians in Scotland. These items, sometimes worth thousands of pounds, have to be declared on a public record. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar declared the highest value of gifts, at £10,117.48, closely followed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross’ £10,028.72. Clearly disappointed, BBC Scotland leave this till well down their report: Health Secretary Neil Gray, whose remit also includes … Continue reading Giftgate – Sarwar and Ross get freebies worth 20 times those of any SNP politician!

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Mussel-bound – Scotland’s shellfish industry booms

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From the Scottish Government today: In 2023, 10,311 tonnes of common mussel were produced for the table market, this is the highest level of common mussel production recorded in Scotland; During 2023, 3.9 million Pacific oyster shells were produced for the table market; Common mussel and Pacific oyster remain the main species produced in terms of value and tonnage. Common mussel production increased by 13%; The Scottish shellfish farming sector is estimated to be worth approximately £14.1 million at first sale value, an increase of 36% on the 2022 value. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-shellfish-farm-production-survey-2023/documents/ Continue reading Mussel-bound – Scotland’s shellfish industry booms