15 Most Recent Stories From External Source

Fri 4th Jul 2008:

Labour adopt lenient approach on alcohol.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Ross Finnie MSP has pointed out that Labour’s new approach to tackling alcohol misuse is more lenient than the current laws.

SNP dump First Time Buyer Grant.

Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson Jim Tolson MSP has condemned the Scottish Government for backtracking on its manifesto promise to bring in a grant for first-time buyers. Commenting after a Ministerial statement on Housing, Mr Tolson said: “Finally, the Scottish Government has come clean and admitted that it has dumped its promise to introduce First Time Buyers’ Grants. We’d suspected that this was the latest in a list of promises to be binned and the Minister didn’t let us down.

Due process must follow ruling on Alexander.

Commenting on the ruling by the Scottish Parliament’s Standards Committee that Labour leader Wendy Alexander broke parliamentary rules by not declaring donations in her leadership campaign, Liberal Democrat MSP and former Convener of the Standards Committee Mike Rumbles said:

Legality of grant award eligibility questioned.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Jeremy Purvis MSP has demanded urgent clarification that a bureaucratic foul up by the SNP will not come between students and their loans or grants.

SNP must not be complacent about credit crunch.

Following advice to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee that they should avoid economic forecasting, Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP urged the SNP not to be complacent about the credit crunch gripping the UK.

Introduce lockable covers for fire hydrants.

Liberal Democrat MSP for Glasgow Robert Brown has called for the introduction of lockable covers to limit the damage that vandals do to fire hydrants.

Governments must listen to young people.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Young People Hugh O’Donnell MSP has urged the governments in Holyrood and Westminster to listen to young people’s opinions when making policy.

SNP must clarify whisky promotion.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Ross Finnie MSP has called for urgent clarification from the Scottish Government on whether the understandable ban on cheap alcohol promotions also covers the promotional activity carried out by Scotch whisky distilleries.

SNP complacency on school meals.

Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson Hugh O'Donnell MSP has warned the Government against complacency as new figures showed a drop in the number of children taking a school meal and wide disparities between local authorities across Scotland.

Target resources to address alcohol misuse.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Ross Finnie MSP has called for the Scottish Government’s Alcohol Strategy to target resources to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland.

Investigation needed into NHS sickness figures.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Ross Finnie MSP has demanded the Health Secretary launch an investigation into sickness absence rates at NHS 24.

Reduce underage pregnancy.

Liberal Democrat Public Health spokesperson Jamie Stone MSP has expressed concern that the number of teenage pregnancies for under-16s is increasing.

Awareness key to cutting cancer.

Liberal Democrat Public Health spokesperson Jamie Stone MSP has called for action to raise public awareness of lifestyle choices that can lead to an increased risk of developing cancer.

DTTO figures need exploring.

Commenting on official figures showing almost half of all offenders discharged from custody or given community sentences, re-offend again within two years, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary Margaret Smith MSP said:

SNP must end dithering on transport projects.

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP has demanded the Scottish Government make the necessary decisions holding up work on key transport improvements.

Earlier Stories

Complete archive on the official site.

External Source.