Baillie welcomes delays in RBS branch closure
MSP Jackie Baillie has welcomed a stay of execution handed to Helensburgh’s RBS branch this week. The banking giant has been forced into a temporary u-turn on plans to axe the Colquhoun Square branch on September 25th. It comes amidst concerns over new Financial Conduct Authority rules guaranteeing access to cash in communities. Now the […]
Programme for Government | Scottish Parliament debates
No. [Interruption.] That will impact on front-line services and staff. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance said that essential staff would be protected. Why, then, are vacancies for nurses and consultants frozen? I did not get an answer from her yesterday, so maybe she can try again, because that is going on under her nose. As […]
Programme for Government | Scottish Parliament debates
Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. Waiting lists are now at a staggering 864,000 people, or one in six of our fellow Scots, which is the highest number on record, although the Scottish Government promised to bring down waiting lists in the previous programme for government—another SNP failure. Delayed discharge is also at a record […]
Programme for Government | Scottish Parliament debates
—and on everything from the failure to close the attainment gap to the removal of hundreds of teachers from classrooms. The First Minister also told us about changes that he is making to the ministerial code in the context of the secrecy and lack of transparency that he was responsible for during the Salmond inquiry. […]
Programme for Government | Scottish Parliament debates
I say as gently as I can to the health secretary that he should spend more time listening and reflecting than on trying to interrupt me. [Interruption.] Pam Duncan-Glancy highlighted the paucity of thinking by the SNP on education—[ Interruption .]
Programme for Government | Scottish Parliament debates
Presiding Officer, it is safe to say that it has been a long summer—one that should occasion a period of reflection for the SNP. We would, of course, expect to see recognition of that in the programme for government. The SNP went from 48 members in the UK Parliament to now having only nine MPs. […]
