Tag: news

6 Comments

Stunning US study makes clear the enormous wider benefits of building the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa ferries on the Clyde

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Washington State, USA, based Lynwood Times yesterday: A new independent study by Pennsylvania-based Martin Associates confirms the economic value of building the new Washington State Ferries hybrid fleet in-state, showing that each ferry constructed in the state would generate 1,298 jobs and $31.9 million in state and local taxes. Washington State Ferries, which operates the largest ferry system in the nation, solicited bids this spring to build five new hybrid ferries over a six- to eight-year period with a budget of $1.3 billion. The new hybrid electric ferries have 160-car capacity to support growing … Continue reading Stunning US study makes clear the enormous wider benefits of building the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa ferries on the Clyde

3 Comments

Crime confirmed as really continuing to fall, based on three sources, to remain at roughly 1 in 10 experiencing crime directly from 1 in 5 under Labour

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: May 2025, published today: Police recorded crime is down 1% since year ending December 2023, and remains below the position immediately prior to the pandemic. The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland in the year ending December 2024 was 298,308. This was 3,768 crimes (or 1%) lower than the level recorded in the year ending December 2023. Crime has fallen by 53% since 2008-09. Results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) show that around one in ten adults were victims of crime in … Continue reading Crime confirmed as really continuing to fall, based on three sources, to remain at roughly 1 in 10 experiencing crime directly from 1 in 5 under Labour

4 Comments

Social housing complaints in England between 40% and 155% higher than in Scotland

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC England today, the above and: Complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are more than five times higher than five years ago, according to the housing watchdog. Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway told the BBC an “imbalance of power” in the tenant-landlord relationship was leading to “simmering anger” among those living in social housing. He warned without change England risked the “managed decline” of social housing. Asbestos, electrical and fire safety issues, pest control and leaks, damp and mould are among the complaints, the watchdog receives. According to the ombudsman’s report, there … Continue reading Social housing complaints in England between 40% and 155% higher than in Scotland

5 Comments

What is this strange ‘Reforming’ collective epiphany that Tory councillors often have

johnrobertson834

By Liz S Vote Reform and chances are you are then voting Tory. How many ‘Scottish’ but really ‘UK’ Tory Councillors is that now who have defected to Reform UK ? What is this strange collective epiphany that they, as Tory Councillors, have all had, that as party defections , have far exceeded any other party also having their own politicians similarly defecting in large numbers to Reform UK as well ? Is anyone in the media investigating or speculating why this is ? Is the downward spiral of the Tory party and the reported ascension of Reform UK in … Continue reading What is this strange ‘Reforming’ collective epiphany that Tory councillors often have

9 Comments

Better together with the largest bombing range in Western Europe and the rotting radioactive submarine hulks?

johnrobertson834

stewartb ‘Why Scotland … Well “Scotland’s seas, lochs and coasts are apparently integral to the ‘British’ Royal Navy’s operations, training and trials”.’ – and the rest! From The Independent (May 31, 2018) Cape Wrath: What it’s like to go hiking on the largest bombing range in Western Europe. Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/cape-wrath-trail-walking-holidays-route-durness-bombing-range-uk-travel-a8376936.html ‘Cape Wrath sprawls over 50,000 acres and is home to the largest bombing range in Western Europe. UK and other European forces plus Nato jets and navy ships fire live shells (including, allegedly, uranium-tipped missiles) into the barren landscape as a way of fine-tuning their latest toys and gadgets. When they come out to play, they … Continue reading Better together with the largest bombing range in Western Europe and the rotting radioactive submarine hulks?

3 Comments

They’re never going to tell you about this – 100% seen within the target for years, more than 80% waiting less than half the target time and numbers well above pre-pandemic levels – Scotland’s IVF programme creating and saving live

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA I’ve been reporting this success story, unique to Scotland, for years and BBC Scotland never reports it. From Public Health Scotland today, we can see that of the 353 patients referred for IVF treatment in Scotland, in January to March 2025, 40.2 waited only 0-13 weeks, 40.5% waited 14-26 weeks, 4% waited 27-39 weeks and 15.3% wated 40-52 weeks. None waited over the 90% in 52 weeks target.1 And from Fertility Scotland: Scotland is proud to be the only UK nation to provide up to three full IVF/ICSI cycles on the NHS for eligible couples with some of the highest pregnancy rates and lowest multiple births across … Continue reading They’re never going to tell you about this – 100% seen within the target for years, more than 80% waiting less than half the target time and numbers well above pre-pandemic levels – Scotland’s IVF programme creating and saving live

5 Comments

The higher burn-up and radioactivity of UK Labour’s preferred Small Modular Reactor spent fuel make it more difficult to handle, transport, and store, safely

johnrobertson834

stewartb ‘Imagine how a ‘fleet’ of them will go down with the Nimbys already kicking up hell about pylons…‘ (Bob Lamont comment in TuS, yesterday) Indeed – and let’s add to their concerns. The website https://small-modular-reactors.org is a rich source of information on Small Modular (Nuclear) Reactors (SMRs). It has a noteworthy section on Waste Storage Solutions. ‘Challenges’ for SMR Spent Fuel Disposal include but are not limited to: ‘Higher burn-up and radioactivity: The high burn-up and radioactivity of SMR spent fuel make it more difficult to handle, transport, and store, requiring enhanced safety measures and additional resources.’ Regarding ‘higher burn-up’ – ‘By achieving higher burnup, SMRs can … Continue reading The higher burn-up and radioactivity of UK Labour’s preferred Small Modular Reactor spent fuel make it more difficult to handle, transport, and store, safely

17 Comments

Telegraph – Economics of Labour’s Small Modular [Nuclear] Reactors could prove hard to justify

johnrobertson834

stewartb ‘Reforms to planning rules will clear a path for smaller, and easier to build nuclear reactors – known as Small Modular Reactors –to be built for the first time ever in the UK.’ Just how many SMRs will be built in the UK…. and why? What will determine the number? From Nuclear Engineering International magazine (NEI, May 15, 2025): ‘Is the UK ready to give the SMR go-ahead?’ (https://www.neimagazine.com/analysis/is-the-uk-ready-to-give-the-go-ahead/ ) ‘The UK government wants to open the door to fleets of small modular reactors across the country. To achieve that, it has to sweep away some longstanding barriers created by electricity network rules … Continue reading Telegraph – Economics of Labour’s Small Modular [Nuclear] Reactors could prove hard to justify

3 Comments

Trump to ape Starmer in scrapping ‘red tape’ for new nuclear power and put all our lives at risk

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From The Hill two days ago: President Trump on Friday signed executive orders that seek to quadruple the nation’s nuclear power, including by cutbacks to health and environmental considerations.  In one such executive order, Trump laments that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) radiation safety standards are too stringent. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5316211-trump-executive-orders-nuclear-power/ From From PM Starmer via GOV.UK on 6 February 2025: More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales as the Prime Minister slashes red tape to get Britain building – as part of his Plan for Change. Reforms to planning rules will clear a … Continue reading Trump to ape Starmer in scrapping ‘red tape’ for new nuclear power and put all our lives at risk

Leave a comment

Suspensions 25 times higher and Permanent Exclusions 3 000 times higher in English Schools than in Scottish Schools

johnrobertson834

By JB According to the most up to date Gov.UK education statistics for England, in the 2023/24 spring term they ‘shockingly’ had 295,559 suspensions from schools, which is actually a decrease from the 2023/24 autumn term when the figure was a ‘controversial’ 346,300 suspensions. This newest figure calculates as 35 suspensions for every 1000 students in England. There were also 3,107 students permanently excluded from schools in England. Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Spring term 2023/24 – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK In Scotland for the term year 2022/23 (Scottish statistics are calculated biennially) we had 11 676 suspensions, … Continue reading Suspensions 25 times higher and Permanent Exclusions 3 000 times higher in English Schools than in Scottish Schools