25 Sep 2018

The Scottish Conservatives have accused the Scottish Government of threatening to abandon mental health waiting times without putting in place any alternative monitoring procedures.

The SNP’s new mental health minister Claire Haughey provided a progress report on the SNP Government’s mental health strategy to the Scottish Parliament this afternoon but failed to address this point.

Scottish Conservative Mental Health spokesperson Annie Wells highlighted that Scotland currently has the worst waiting times for children’s mental health on record, with those services also being described as fragmented.

The Scottish Conservatives have therefore called on the SNP to outline concrete plans on how they intend to deliver real improvements for patients.

Annie Wells MSP, Scottish Conservative mental health spokesman said:

“The SNP has totally failed to outline how they plan to improve mental health services across the country.

“Right now patients, especially our children and young people, are being let down by a lack of a coherent strategy.

“While many of the commitments to mental health are welcome, we need to hear more on how the plans for counsellors in our schools will be fully delivered.

“If the SNP wants to move away from waiting times statistics, they must clearly outline how they will monitor how quickly vulnerable patients are being treated.

“The SNP is responsible for the longest ever waiting times for children needing to access mental health support. They cannot simply dismiss these damning statistics.”

21 Sep 2018

Ruth Davidson has given her backing to Prime Minister Theresa May following Brexit talks in Austria.

The Scottish Conservative leader welcomed the fact she was “unequivocal on the importance of the integrity of the United Kingdom” and that she was committed to negotiating in “good faith”.

She also praised Mrs May for giving assurances to EU citizens living in Britain that their rights will remain intact, even in the event of no deal.

Ruth spoke to the Prime Minister this afternoon, and urged EU countries to “reciprocate” that good faith as the negotiations go on.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:

“The Prime Minister has been unequivocal on the importance of the integrity of the United Kingdom and stated that no measures should be allowed to effectively divide our country in two. I agree.

“She has reaffirmed her commitment to negotiating in good faith and respecting our friends and allies in Europe.

“As we seek to find a way through the current impasse, I hope such good faith and respect will be reciprocated.

“It is in everyone’s interest for a deal to be agreed between the UK and the EU, to facilitate free trade and mutual co-operation.

“I do not wish for the UK to leave the EU without such a deal.

“However, I am pleased that the Prime Minister has given categorical reassurance to EU citizens living in Britain that, should such a scenario come to pass, their rights remain intact.

“I have spoken to the Prime Minister following this afternoon’s statement, and welcome her commitment to continue working to resolve this impasse ahead of October’s European Council.

“There is still time to agree a deal on the future relationship between the UK and the EU. My wish is for all sides to return to negotiations in order to deliver one.”

21 Sep 2018

Richard Leonard, Labour’s leader in Scotland, has been challenged to stand-up to Jeremy Corbyn’s policy of handing the SNP another independence referendum.

Yesterday, Mr Corbyn said he’d be happy to grant the nationalists another separation vote if he was Prime Minister.

That’s a direct contradiction of Labour’s 2017 manifesto, and now Mr Leonard has been told to distance himself from the comments, and stand up for Scotland’s No voters.

It’s not the first time Mr Corbyn – who failed to campaign to keep Britain together during the 2014 referendum – has been weak on Scotland’s place in the UK.

The Scottish Conservatives said this concession was another opportunity for Mr Leonard make a stand against the UK party leader, especially after he failed to speak out on anti-semitism.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said:

“Jeremy Corbyn’s weak admission that he wants the SNP to have another independence vote is a direct contradiction of Labour’s 2017 manifesto.

“Richard Leonard has to now clarify what his party’s position on this vital matter is.

“Is he going to stand up for the majority of Scots who want to keep the UK together, or is he too afraid to go against the wishes of his boss in London?

“Richard Leonard’s silence on anti-semitism was embarrassing – he cannot afford to repeat that mistake when it comes to keeping Scotland in the UK.

“He needs to get on the phone to Jeremy Corbyn, and tell him to toughen up his stance straight away.”

20 Sep 2018

Figures have emerged that in 2016 thousands of women in Scotland were not sent breast screening invitations as a result of an ‘adverse event’ within the National Services Division.

This is despite SNP assurances in May 2018 that no Scottish women had missed breast cancer screening and the subsequent reassurance, in September, that only 1,800 women had, indeed, missed the screening last year.

In December 2016 a report published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland identified that 3,831 women had not been sent a routine invitation for breast screening.

It states: “The report reviews the management of adverse events, which included the identification of 3,831 women who had not been sent a routine invitation to be screened.”

Jamie Greene MSP asked the First Minister in Holyrood today about the identification of the error, and the recommendations from the review, one of which was better oversight of the new IT system.

Mr Greene asked; “So can I ask why was the 2016 recommendation ignored? And what reassurances can she give that the screening programme IT system is fit for purpose?”

The First Minister responded that these were unrelated issues.

Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene said:

“The SNP clearly doesn’t have a grip on this situation.

“The former Health Secretary assured the Scottish Parliament and the public that no Scottish women had missed crucial breast screening appointments.

“Four months later we were assured that only 1,800 women had in fact been missed, and now we find out that a further 3,800 were not sent screening invitations in 2016 due to computer error.

“This will not reassure women across Scotland.

“The SNP must now ensure the system is fit for purpose and ensure that no other women have missed these vital screenings.”

20 Sep 2018

Changes made to the curriculum have cost Scottish pupils hundreds of thousands of qualifications, Nicola Sturgeon was told today.

Experts said in Holyrood this week that, since 2013, the number of subjects youngsters are able to take has dwindled significantly.

That coincided with the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence, and means pupils missed out on taking 622,000 courses, according to Dundee University’s Professor Jim Scott, a former headteacher.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson challenged the First Minister on the issue today, demanding to know why her SNP government hadn’t acted, despite being told of the problem previously.

However, Ms Sturgeon merely argued that critics were “talking schools down”, and dismissed the formal evidence given to the Scottish Parliament’s Education Committee.

Just 11 per cent of schools in Scotland offer s4 pupils eight subjects to take.

Indeed, more than half offer just six, a clear restriction of choice.

Of the problem, Prof Scott told MSPs: “I actually struggle to say that in a public forum. It’s almost unbelievable.”

And the limitations makes it even harder for pupils in poorer areas.

Stirling University’s Dr Marina Shapira told the same committee: “The reduction <in subject choice> is larger in schools in higher areas of deprivation and the reduction is larger in schools where there are more children on free school meals.”

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:

“The impact of the SNP government’s education policy has been more than 600,000 pupils missing out on courses they would have taken otherwise.

“That’s a shocking restriction, and does huge harm to their education and career prospects, especially for those in poorer areas.

“And this is a symptom of a wider malaise – caused by the chaotic introduction of Curriculum for Excellence.

“Under this SNP government we have seen reduced subject choice, teachers left in the dark, the Higher pass rate falling, and attainment in National exams down by a third compared to old Standard Grades.

“But the nationalists show absolutely no sign of listening to the evidence of the experts, teachers or parents.

“The solution is a complete overhaul of the Curriculum for Excellence, and that’s something the SNP has to embark on before any other children miss out.”