Paisley Daily Express - 21 May 2012

Children’s Hospice

In Renfrewshire we are blessed with Accord and St Vincent’s, two fantastic hospices which provide a caring and essential service to those who are terminally ill. Last week in the Scottish Parliament I put my support behind a motion supporting the work of the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS). CHAS is a charity that provides the only hospice service in Scotland for children and young people who have life shortening conditions for which there is no known cure. CHAS runs two hospices in Scotland, one in Kinross, and one in Balloch. CHAS also provides a home care service. Every year CHAS supports over 250 families with children who require palliative care. As well as its highly skilled and dedicated staff, CHAS like other hospices, relies on the support of volunteers and the wider community. CHAS volunteers donated over 78,500 hours in 2010-11, a truly remarkable commitment. It is heart breaking for any family to watch a child die. CHAS makes a remarkable contribution in helping children and families at a distressing time. Thank you to the staff, volunteers and supporters who make this all possible.

Neilston Scout Hall

Scouts Scotland have achieved a growth in numbers for the sixth consecutive year. Indeed Scout numbers in Scotland has outpaced the rest of the UK for the third consecutive year. The Scouts are no longer a boys only organisation and now one in seven of the 41,261 youth members are girls. The Scouts provide enjoyable and exciting opportunities for young people locally, nationally and internationally. Many employers take a positive view of scouting experience when considering job applications. Participation in scouting helps to build confidence, responsibility and leadership. In Neilston, local Scouts have had to do without a Scout Hall for many years, after vandals burned down the old building. I was recently delighted to attend the opening of the new Scout Hall in the village. It has been a long hard slog for the local committee to raise the substantial funds to build the new hall. Not only have they done this, but they have built a magnificent hall which will be a real asset to local Scouts and to Neilston. Congratulations to everyone concerned.

REMPLOY

REMPLOY provides employment and training opportunities for disabled people. In the current economic climate, it is hard for anyone who is unemployed to find a job. For disabled people the problems are even greater. It’s at times like this that we need organisations like REMPLOY. It’s cruel that the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has decided to cut back on support for REMPLOY. Even worse are the cruel and uncaring comments from the Tory Minister, Iain Duncan Smith, that REMPLOY staff should “get a proper job”. It might be easy for well off Tories to find a “proper job”. For REMPLOY staff the prospects are pretty bleak. Same old uncaring Tories, this time helped by unprincipled Liberal Democrats.

Granny Tax

The Tories and the Liberal Democrats have decided to give tax cuts to the super-rich. 18,000 top tax payer will receive a tax cut worth £10,000 per year. Unfortunately someone has to pay for this tax cut for those who don’t need it. The Tories and the Lib Dems have decided that pensioners will pay for this unfair tax cut. New information obtained by the Labour Party shows that in Scotland, 420,000 pensioners will face average tax hikes of　£83 per year by 2015-2016. This is 60,000 more than George Osborne admitted to at the time of the budget. Pensioners who have　 worked hard all their lives for a modest works pension will be outraged at this tax grab to help the rich.　 Why should decent hard working people have to pay for a tax cut for top earners?

Network Computer Services

Congratulations to Network Computer Services in receiving £6,900 from the Big Lottery Fund. Computer services support can be a real problem for small organisations, particularly charities and voluntary organisations. They often don’t have the money or expertise to access the latest computer technology which can make a real difference. Eddie Hart and his team at Network Computer Services are there to help provide this expertise and the lottery grant will help to develop and expand services. If you think your organisation could benefit from their advice, give them a call on 0141 876 9535. The Tories and the Liberal Democrats have decided to give tax cuts to the super-rich. 18,000 top tax payer will receive a tax cut worth £10,000 per year. Unfortunately someone has to pay for this tax cut for those who don’t need it. The Tories and the Lib Dems have decided that pensioners will pay for this unfair tax cut. New information obtained by the Labour Party shows that in Scotland, 420,000 pensioners will face average tax hikes of £83 per year by 2015-2016. This is 60,000 more than George Osborne admitted to at the time of the budget. Pensioners who have worked hard all their lives for a modest works pension will be outraged at this tax grab to help the rich. Why should decent hard working people have to pay for a tax cut for top earners?

Paisley Daily Express - 7 May 2012

Media Influence

The media plays an important and powerful role in our society. It’s right that we have a free press which is not dictated to by Government or politicians. But equally the press has to behave in a responsible and indeed legal way. The stories of phone hacking by Rupert Murdoch’s News International are shocking and sickening. If others have done this, they need to be exposed. It’s time for politicians of all parties to stand together to say that what happened at News International is just not acceptable. The report last week from a House of Commons Committee presents a damning indictment of Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and their senior executives. It also now transpires that Alex Salmond was a cheerleader for Rupert Murdoch taking full control of BskyB. Even now, despite all the revelations, our First Minister, refuses to say that Rupert Murdoch should not be allowed to control BskyB.


This is not just about politicians. The Levenson Inquiry has shown that thousands of people from all walks of life have had unacceptable intrusion of their privacy. Even after all the disgusting stories about the hacking of the phone of Milly Dowler, Alex Salmond invited Rupert Murdoch for tea. Alex Salmond is demeaning Scotland by continuing to cosy up to Rupert Murdoch, Surely it’s time to do the right thing?

Cystic Fibrosis

Last week the Cystic Fibrosis Trust was in the Scottish Parliament to highlight their campaign to raise awareness. They also want better care and support for people with the condition. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition affecting primarily the lungs and the pancreas. Those with the condition find it difficult to breathe and digest food. On a day to day basis individuals have to perform physiotherapy and take many tablets, to combat infection and digest food. Tragically for those with this condition, the median life expectancy is only 41.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust does a fantastic job campaigning for and supporting those with the condition. If you need any information about the work of the trust, go to www.cftrust.org.uk

Police and Fire Reform

We currently have eight Police Forces and eight Fire Services across Scotland. There is one Police Force for Strathclyde which covers nearly half of Scotland, and seven for the rest of the country. The same applies to Fire Services. We have far too many organisations for a small country the size of Scotland.


I welcome the proposals to reduce the number of Police Boards and Fire Services. I believe it is still possible to build in local accountability. I do however have concerns about the way the Scottish Government is handling this. The way Scottish Ministers propose to set up the new bodies will mean that VAT exemption will be lost. This will result in Scottish taxpayers having to fund an extra £36 million in VAT, leading to cuts in services.

Ministers were warned this would happen yet they have still pushed ahead. There is an option to avoid this, which would mean less Ministerial influence and even better local accountability. It’s wrong to cut budgets and services just to give the Scottish Government more influence. This is yet another example of Alex Salmond centralising control in Edinburgh.

University Fees Dodge

European students receive free University tuition in Scotland, while students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland have to pay. The Scottish Government promised a solution to this problem, but so far has failed to deliver. Now we hear that students from Northern Ireland can qualify for free University tuition if they apply for an Irish passport, as they are entitled to do. It’s already costing us over £75 million per year to provide free University education for European students. Now this cost is likely to rise. Alex Salmond’s Ministers have cut funding to Colleges like Reid Kerr to pay for this. It’s time they kept their promise to sort this out.

Organ Donation

We recently heard the good news that the number of people on the Organ Donor Register in Scotland is now over two million – a record high. At the same time more than 600 people in Scotland are still waiting for life saving transplants. Signing up to the register takes a couple of minutes, but it could mean the difference between life and death for those waiting for a transplant. If you want to know more, go to www.organdonationscotland.org

Paisley Daily Express - 23 April 2012

Bus Services

Many communities throughout Renfrewshire rely on reliable and affordable bus services. Bus operators rely on a grant from the Scottish Government to keep these services running. Alex Salmond has decided to cut the bus operators grant which has led to a number of operators threatening to withdraw services and increase fares. Some operators, including those serving Renfrewshire are worse affected than others. Even those who qualify for concessionary travel are affected as a cut in services will hit them too. Many people will end up trapped in their local community, having to rely on expensive taxis if they can’t afford a car.
Scottish Labour has been calling for the regulation of bus services, to guarantee reliability and quality, at fares which the public can afford. Alex Salmond used to support regulation of buses until the owner of one of the biggest bus companies gave the SNP £500,000. Last Thursday in the Scottish Parliament, in a Scottish Labour sponsored debate, we heard of problems from right across Scotland. Alex Salmond needs to reverse the cuts to the operator’s grant and he should support the calls for Scottish bus services to be properly regulated.

Renfrewshire Child Protection

It’s heart breaking to hear of children who are at risk because of the failings and negligence of their parents. Many of these youngsters are damaged for life, even before they get a proper start. Tragically in some cases, the neglect results in death, as in the widely reported case of Declan Hainey. It would be wrong and foolish to say that such tragic cases can always be avoided. Equally we need to learn from mistakes and failings to ensure that everything humanly possible is being done to protect vulnerable children.

Recent press reports have highlighted “systemic failures” in child protection procedures in Renfrewshire Council. The press has reported that there were problems even before Declan Hainey died. So far no one in Renfrewshire Council has taken any responsibility for the series of tragic mistakes. Did senior Councillors compromise child protection by cutting budgets and staffing levels? Why were identified failures never reported to the full Council? How can Councillors hold the Council to account if no information is disclosed? Why have senior officials not implemented a policy of openness and disclosure where there has been a failure? We need answers. We need to know if there has been a cover up, with senior Councillors and officials covering for each other. We need a full independent inquiry into the “systemic failures” in Renfrewshire. Why won’t Alex Salmond order an inquiry? Is it because the SNP runs Renfrewshire Council? We cannot allow senior Councillors and officials to continue as though nothing has happened. Anything less would be a disgrace.

Linwood Tesco – stay vigilant

I welcome the recent announcement by Tesco that work is to start on its planned development at Linwood. It’s good to see the fences go up along with the notices of impending demolition. People in Linwood have waited a long time to see the town centre demolished. After refusing to meet with Councillor Anne Hall, Jim Sheridan and myself, Tesco has finally agreed to a meeting. We will continue to demand assurances about early demolition to finally rid the community of what has long been an eyesore. But the community needs to stay vigilant. We have heard these promises before from Tesco, but seen little action. Was it a coincidence that the sudden flurry of activity coincided with a possible Westminster investigation by the Scottish Affairs Committee which had been requested by Jim Sheridan MP? 

Tenant Protection

In recent years, I have started to receive more and more complaints about private sector tenancies. Sometimes it’s about anti social behaviour by tenants who drift in and out of short stay tenancies. They often don’t care about the effect their behaviour has on families who have lived there for years. The problem can be made worse by unscrupulous landlords who play the system. They allow complaints to build up and only act at the last minute to avoid legal action. They then bring in another lot of bad tenants and the process starts all over again, to the annoyance and frustration of decent neighbours.

I welcome the announcement last week, of a consultation to identify ways of helping tenants and dealing with the minority of rogue landlords. We certainly need to find ways to give local authorities the powers they need to tackle this problem. Private sector tenants need better protection, but so too do their neighbours. And above all it’s time to deal with those landlords who only care about their profits, and don’t care about the misery they cause.

Paisley Daily Express - 09 April 2012

School Buses

Many of you may have forgotten that SNP and Liberal Democrat Councillors removed school buses from almost 1,000 school pupils in Renfrewshire. Many pupils have to walk up to 3 miles each way per day. It can take a 13 year old up to an hour each way, some arriving at school wet, cold, and tired. One Liberal Democrat Councillor whose child benefitted from a school bus, voted to deny the service to other pupils who lived in her area, after her son left school. In Elderslie, Johnstone, Glenburn and Foxbar, SNP Councillors turned their backs on local families who relied on school buses.

Not everyone has forgotten. Last week I joined with parents who are determined not to give up the fight for their children. On a freezing, wet morning, I experienced just what it is like for youngsters who have to trudge 3 miles to school. It can’t be easy for them. I am backing these parents who want to make this an issue for the Council elections. Ask your candidates if they will do the right thing for our children and restore the school bus service to its previous level.

LMEG

Congratulations to the Lochwinnoch Millennium Events Group (LMEG). The Group recently made a successful application to the Climate Challenge Fund and has received an award of £442,499. The aim of the Group is to enable householders in Lochwinnoch and 3 neighbouring villages to reduce energy wasted in their homes. The project will also develop car clubs and lift sharing schemes, expand local food producing initiatives and provide better access to information about climate change.

There is a lot that each and every one of us can do to reduce the carbon emissions which damage our environment. I know from having spoken to members of LMEG just how enthusiastic and committed they are to making a difference. I look forward to seeing what nearly £500,000 can do to help their work in local communities.

Reid Kerr Funding

I recently joined staff and students at Reid Kerr College to protest about the funding cuts being imposed by the Scottish Government. Reid Kerr College has a fantastic record and gives many young people from Renfrewshire a chance in life that otherwise would be denied to them. I was told that across Scotland 592 academic staff have been made redundant and colleges are cutting courses. Staff told me that at Reid Kerr and additional 800 students places are having to be cut. I put this to Alex Salmond in the Scottish Parliament and he says that “the figures show an encouraging trend.” Try telling that to staff and students at Reid Kerr College.    

Keep Scotland Beautiful

We live in a beautiful country and often we take it for granted. All too often it takes a visitor from abroad to remind us of what we have. Unfortunately too many people are careless and thoughtless when it comes not just to our wonderful countryside, but also to the towns and villages where we live. The litter, waste and dog dirt is a real disgrace and it blights too many areas. Keep Scotland Beautiful is an environmental charity which campaigns to encourage individuals and communities to take ownership of their local area.

They are now running National Spring Clean 2012, which ends on 31st May 2012. They are looking for local people and groups who want to make a difference to the local area. Last year they worked with 100,000 Scots and this year they have a target of 200,000. If you want to help, visit their website www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/springclean.

Tax rises for elderly and disabled

No one likes to pay more tax. It would be great if we could keep everything we earn. Of course for many multi millionaires who can afford the best tax advice, this is the reality. Some pay next to nothing in tax. The latest UK budget announced tax cuts for the highest earners, but ordinary low and middle income pensioners are being asked to pay for this. They are losing the additional tax free allowance they received at 65 to give a tax cut to those earning over £150,000 per year.

Locally we all benefit from the freeze in Council Tax. Except that this is not quite true. Because Councils have less money to spend, charges for services to the elderly, sick, and disabled have been increased. Services to these groups are also being cut and I have a regular stream of enquiries from constituents who are worried about their elderly parents, or their adult child who is disabled. As one constituent reminded me last week “If you are elderly, sick, or disabled and need help, you are facing a number of tax rises. You are paying more for home helps, for alarm services, for wardens and more. Remember that these vulnerable people are paying for your Council Tax freeze.   

Paisley Daily Express - 26 March 2012

WRVS

Last week I received news of another blow to Paisley Town Centre. The WRVS Information Centre and Community Café is to close from 30 June 2012 because of the increasing financial deficit. I know the centre well and I have held a number of surgeries there. It is a welcoming environment and is a real asset to the town centre. I know how hard WRVS and the dedicated staff have worked to make the centre a success. WRVS invested a lot of money and it’s a real shame that there was not sufficient support to help keep the centre open.

This is the latest blow, coming hard on the heads of the decision by the Paisley Daily Express to move its offices to Glasgow. Despite the promises of the last few years from the Council, Paisley now has one of the worst records in Scotland for empty shops. It’s not just the people of Paisley who suffer as a result. All the neighbouring communities which I represent need a vibrant and healthy Paisley.

RAH blanket problem

My colleague Jackie Baillie MSP is Labour’s Health spokesperson in the Scottish Parliament. She also represents Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven. So when she was contacted by constituents with complaints about the lack of blankets at the RAH, she had every reason to act. Unfortunately some members of the SNP tried to make this a Party political issue and weighed in to defend the Health Board instead of standing up for their constituents. Indeed local MSP George Adam said that my colleague Jackie Baillie should apologise for making “false statements”.

Well the readers of Paisley Daily Express know who was making “false statements”, and it certainly wasn’t Jackie Baillie. Readers have spoken out about their experiences and they all back Jackie Baillie. Indeed this is just the tip of the iceberg. And it’s not just a problem about blankets. Neil Bibby, the Paisley based MSP, quizzed Alex Salmond about the experience of Maureen Leckie from Glenburn. Because no clean towels were available, Maureen had to dry herself with pillowcases.

Johann Lamont, the Scottish Labour Leader was asked by George Adam to apologise for what Jackie Baillie had said. Jackie Baillie has nothing to apologise for. She was doing her job speaking up for patients at the RAH.

And above all, my thanks to the readers of the Paisley Daily Express who did us all a favour by speaking out.

SNP Tax Cover Up

Alex Salmond spent £103,000 of your money trying to keep secret his local income tax plans. Just before last year’s elections, Labour said that Alex Salmond’s tax plans would raise taxes by 4.5p in the pound to try to fill an £800 million blackhole. Alex Salmond refused to publish the details despite being ordered to by the Information Commissioner. Indeed he went to court to delay publication until after the elections. Documents now released, show that Alex Salmond and his Ministers decided just before the election to go to Court to prevent the information from being published. I am told that civil servants told Alex Salmond and his Ministers that their appeal was unlikely to succeed but still they pressed ahead squandering your money.

Finally, with the election over, our First Minister decided it didn’t matter if the damaging information was published. But even at that stage, one document shows that Alex Salmond interfered to rewrite the press release in a way that suited him. It’s bad enough when the SNP use the courts to hide their tax plans. What’s worse is when they use our money to do so.

Tesco won’t meet

Councillor Anne Hall from Linwood has been working with myself and Jim Sheridan MP, to try to force Tesco to start work on the Linwood Town Centre. We asked Tesco for a meeting with ourselves and Renfrewshire Council to try to resolve issues of ownership and responsibility. We also wanted guarantees about when the work would start. Tesco decided that they couldn’t meet with us and the Council. Now we find out that in fact they did meet with the Council and community members from the Linwood Community Development Trust (CDT). I have a high regard for the CDT, but why did Tesco refuse a meeting with elected representatives? Yet more excuses and more delays. It’s not good enough.

Consultants’ Benefits

Nicola Sturgeon has gone back on her word to tackle excessive bonuses paid to top NHS consultants. In 2010 she said she would freeze the value of all awards, and block bonuses for new entrants. Now we find the system has remained almost untouched. Distinction awards can give a consultant an annual top up of between £31,959 and £75,880. Remember, this is over and above their annual salary. Front line nursing jobs are being cut yet Nicola Sturgeon can still find money for those at the top. Yet another promise made to get elected, and quickly broken afterwards.

Paisley Daily Express - 7 March 2012

Abusive Marriage Slur

Domestic Abuse is abhorrent and unacceptable. Too many women from all walks of life have to contend with abuse in various forms in the home. Last week Alex Salmond’s parliamentary aide compared the United Kingdom to an abusive marriage. Now we know we will have a referendum at some point, but a decision whether or not to separate from the rest of the UK, needs to be based on facts and figures, and not on inflammatory and inaccurate rhetoric. To suggest that Scotland is somehow abused by the rest of the United Kingdom is insulting. It’s also insulting to the thousands of women who suffer from domestic abuse, to trivialise and distort their experience to try to make a cheap political point. Alex Salmond should be ashamed of himself for allowing such nonsense to be published.

Insulin Pumps

Diabetes can affect young and old. Last year a survey claimed there were almost      28,000 people in Scotland living with Type 1 diabetes, which means the pancreas can’t ever make insulin again. Someone who has Type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin through regular injections or an insulin pump, just to stay alive. Scotland has the third highest incidence of Type 1 diabetes in the world, yet we have a very low pump usage in comparison to other countries in the developed world. Access to insulin pumps can transform the life of those with diabetes, yet here in Renfrewshire access to insulin pumps is limited. I have been proud to support the work of local campaigners such as Rosalind Carr who is the parent of an insulin pump user.

I was pleased to hear that we are now going to see a programme to increase the number of people in Scotland who are being given access to insulin pumps. However concerns remain about the number of pumps that will be available to adults. It’s not clear whether children with pumps will have them renewed when they grow into adulthood. So while progress is being made, the fight still has to continue. If you want more information about the Insulin Pump Awareness Group email contact@ipagscotland.org.

McMaster Centre

I was delighted to read in the Paisley Daily Express that Lottery funding has been awarded to refurbish and re-open the McMaster Centre. Renfrewshire Leisure pulled the plug on the centre, but Mark McGee and a team of local Johnstone people have worked hard to bring this valuable asset back into use. Well done to all those local people who will make sure that this will once again become a well used community resource.

Tax Cuts for Rich

Rupert Murdoch has hinted that he might support Scotland separating from the rest of the UK. And just as he and his company are being vilified for phone tapping and intrusion into the lives of thousands of people, our own Alex Salmond has decided now is the time to cosy up to Rupert. Alex Salmond and Rupert Murdoch recently had a cosy meeting. Now it has emerged that they discussed cutting Corporation Tax for big businesses. Someone who has been close to Rupert Murdoch says that Alex Salmond is giving this serious consideration. So is this the deal? If Alex Salmond cuts Corporation Tax, will Rupert Murdoch and his papers support Alex Salmond’s plans to break up the UK? At a time when public services are being cut and unemployment is rising. Alex Salmond’s priority seems to be tax cuts for the rich. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.   

Curriculum for Excellence worries

Teachers and parents from across Scotland have been contacting me to express fears and concerns about the new exam system which is being introduced along with Curriculum for Excellence. Teachers are telling me that schools are not ready for it, and that preparation for new exams is patchy and varies from authority to authority and even school to school.

The teachers unions, the EIS and SSTA have spoken of their concerns. I raised these concerns with Mike Russell, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, and I was told I was being negative. Why am I being negative when all I am doing is raising concerns of parents and teachers? Surely that is my job?

I asked Alex Salmond if Scotland’s teachers are wrong, and he said “That is not the view of stakeholders throughout Scotland”. Despite what teachers are saying, the Scottish Government says that the new qualifications are on track. Both can’t be right. My concern is for the pupils. We can’t afford to gamble with the future of our children. We need guarantees and if they can’t be given, then the Scottish Government needs to explain what it is going to do.

Paisley Daily Express - 21 February 2012

Tesco action needed

The eye sore of the shopping centre at Linwood continues to anger Linwood residents. For years local people have had to put up with a series of excuses from developers while having to live with the decay and blight. Local Councillor Anne Hall, along with myself and Jim Sheridan MP and the Linwood Development Trust, met with Tesco. We all made it clear to Tesco that further delay was unacceptable and we wanted immediate action.

Tesco yet again, said work would start “soon”, although we have heard that before. Now we hear that Tesco has started to clear their site at Wallneuk in Paisley, despite plans for Wallneuk being approved AFTER a commitment was made to Linwood. The local community in Linwood deserves to see something better that the current eye sore. Linwood is a proud community and it deserves better. It’s time for Tesco to get the finger out.

Chinese currency?

Alex Salmond used to say that an independent Scotland would ditch the pound and join the Euro. He said this because he wanted no control from the Bank of England or influence from the UK Government. Now he tells us that he wants to keep the pound, but with no influence over monetary policy or the pound. A strange kind of “independence” surely? Now a senior SNP MSP has said that an independent Scotland could adopt the Chinese yuan as its currency. Now I know that China is an economic power house, but are the SNP so desperate to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK that they would allow the Chinese authorities to control Scottish monetary policy? Why for the SNP, are currency links to China a better option than staying in the UK?

It would appear that senior SNP members seem to be making up policy on the hoof. Unfortunately it’s the rest of us who would pay for their determination to break up the UK.   

Education victory for parents and teachers

Last year the Paisley Daily Express reported on plans by Renfrewshire Council to replace teachers with unqualified staff for up to 10% of the school week.

SNP Councillors and the Director of Education missed no opportunity in promoting this as the way forward for Scottish education. Local parents and teachers saw this as a crude cost cutting measure which would damage the education of Renfrewshire’s children. Their fury was channelled into the most effective community campaign seen in this area for many years. Using Facebook and Twitter, as well as traditional methods of communication, the campaign culminated in a packed rally at Paisley Town Hall with hundreds left standing outside.

Such was the scale of the protest, that local SNP councillors were forced to pull these daft ideas. But Renfrewshire Council and the local SNP did not give up. They submitted proposals to a Scottish wide review of education, called the McCormac Review. They wanted the Renfrewshire model imposed across Scotland so that Renfrewshire would not be left isolated to face the wrath of parents and teachers.

But the Renfrewshire campaign did not go unnoticed. SNP Ministers realised what they could face across Scotland if they attempted to impose this unpopular proposal. I welcome the recent announcement from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning that he was ruling out the Renfrewshire proposal or any variant of it. This is a real victory for parents and teachers, and a slap in the face for Renfrewshire Council, its Director of Education, and Derek Mackay MSP, who was then the Leader of the Council and the leading advocate for the most destructive proposal to face Scottish education in a generation.

It’s still not too late for an apology from those concerned for causing such fear and anxiety to Renfrewshire’s parents and teachers.

Domestic Violence

When I was a Justice Minister, I was involved in the decision to set up a specialist domestic abuse Court in Glasgow. Far too many woman and children suffer violence and abuse in the home, and any initiative to speed up the justice system is to be welcomed. I am pleased that the Scottish Government is now running a similar one year pilot in Edinburgh.

But women and children need more than specialist Courts, welcome though they are. They often need an immediate refuge and support to help them through the crisis. Women’s Aid across Scotland do a fantastic job in providing accommodation, advice and counselling. It’s depressing to hear that local Women’s Aid are having to cut service because of budget cuts. Vulnerable women and children need the support of Women’s Aid.