Scottish news bulletin: 28th January 2009
- Reform Scotland
- 28 January 2009
All newspaper references refer to Scottish editions. Where there is a link to a newspaper’s website, the relevant page reference is blue and underlined.
Economy
Shipbuilding Campaign: The Scottish Executive yesterday announced the launch of a campaign to revive Scotland’s shipbuilding industry. They plan to train more than 1000 recruits to work specifically on a multi-billion-pound Ministry of Defence contract but hope that the effects of this will broaden business for the industry north of the border. (The Scotsman pages 1 & 4, The Courier & Advertiser page 1, The Sun page 4, The Daily Express page 27)
Motor industry package: Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, yesterday announced a £2.3 billion support package to help to limit job losses within the car industry. (The Scotsman page 5, The Herald page 2, FT pages 1 & 2, The Guardian page 8, The P & J page 5, The Courier & Advertiser page 14, The Daily Telegraph page 1, The Daily Express page 10, Daily Record page 1, The Daily Mail page 12)
SNP budget: Discussions on the Scottish budget were still taking place late last night after opposition parties threatened to vote it down. The SNP had yesterday failed to win the support of any party, with Greens, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives all claiming it does not promise enough. (The Scotsman page 8, The Herald page 8, The Courier & Advertiser page 11, Alan Cochrane in The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph page 8, The Daily Express page 4, Daily Record page 1)
Crime
Open prison debate: The Scottish Prison Service is refusing to allow convicted paedophiles and rapists into open prisons for fear of re-offending but concerns about this were expressed by Dr Andrew McLellan, the country’s chief inspector of prisons, who believes that without this gradual transition, public safety could be compromised. (The Scotsman page 9, The Herald page 11, The Courier & Advertiser page 1, The Daily Telegraph page 10, The Sun page 17, Daily Record page 10)
Transport
Train Crash: Trains were cancelled yesterday following the crash of a freight train and partial collapse of a bridge south of Stewarton in Ayrshire. No-one was injured in the accident but the line is expected to remain shut until at least next week. (The Scotsman page 17, The Herald page 5, The P & J page 9, The Courier & Advertiser page 1, The Sun page 6, The Daily Express page 4, Daily Record page 6, The Daily Mail page 2, The Daily Mirror page 17)
Local Government
Edinburgh Tramway: Transport leaders in Edinburgh last night announced plans to close Princes Street for at least eight months from the 21 st February while they conduct works on the new tram line.
(The Scotsman page 18)
Health
Waiting time targets: Over 100,000 more patients can expect to be treated within 18 weeks after the Scottish Government yesterday announced it was extending NHS waiting time targets.
(The Herald page 6)
Education
Scots language: Culture Minister, Linda Fabiani, wants to encourage the Scottish language to be taught in primary and secondary schools following the results of a government commissioned report. (The Scotsman page 14, The Courier & Advertiser page 3, The Daily Telegraph page 5, Daily Record page 17)
Politics
Sheridan charge: The Crown office yesterday served indictments on former Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan and his wife Gail to appear in court on 26 th February under charges of perjury, following their legal battle with the News of the World. (The Scotsman page 3, The Herald page 1, The P & J page 8, The Daily Telegraph page 1, The Sun pages 1 & 5, The Daily Express pages 1 & 2, Daily Record page 1, The Daily Mail pages 1 & 5, The Daily Mirror page 7)
Scottish divorces: Some Scottish lawyers claim to be witnessing a rise in English clients seeking to file for divorce north of the border, seemingly because laws on divorce in Scotland often work out less generously towards wives than in England. (The Scotsman page 7)
Scottish spending: A survey announced today showed that almost one third of English people think that Scotland receives more than its fair share of government spending and 61% believe that Scottish MPs should have no say on English legislation. (The Scotsman page 12)
Reform Scotland is an independent, non-party think tank that aims to set out a better way to deliver increased economic prosperity and more effective public services based on the traditional Scottish principles of limited government, diversity and personal responsibility.