10 Most Recent Stories From Our News

Wed 17th Mar 2010:

Lib Dems reveal cost of mandatory knife sentences.

A six month mandatory sentence for carrying a knife would cost the taxpayer almost £21 million, while a two year mandatory sentence would cost nearly £84 million, Liberal Democrats can reveal. Liberal Democrat research shows that an extra 1,345 offenders would be sent to prison under Labour and Tory proposals, potentially costing around £31,106 each. Labour proposes a mandatory sentence of at least 6 months and the Conservatives propose a minimum sentence of 2 years. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesman Robert Brown said: “Labour and Conservative proposals are pie in the sky. “Scotland’s jails are overcrowded as it is. If an extra 1,345 offenders were sent to prison, we’d need to build another Barlinnie just to house them all. And all the evidence suggests most of them would come out of prison worse than they went in, and a more serious danger to the public. “Our research shows that sending 1,345 extra offenders to prison for six months, as proposed by Labour, would cost £20,918,785. To send them to prison for two years, as the Conservatives want would cost £83,675,140. “Liberal Democrats think this money would be better spent keeping knives out of young people’s hands and battling against gang culture. “Mandatory sentences are unworkable, ineffective and completely unaffordable. “Possession of a knife in public is already rightly a serious crime, for which people can expect to go to jail. “The appropriate sentence in individual cases must be a matter for the courts, not politicians.”

Lib Dems: Government need to sort out priorities.

Commenting on the Minister for Public Health’s photo op with sprinter Darren Campbell to launch National Sport week, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesman Ross Finnie said: “It would be better if the Minister spent more time on trying to support children to get more active by sorting out the SNP’s P.E targets instead of attending photo ops. “Childhood obesity is a ticking time bomb. Recent figures show that a fifth of P1 children are overweight and eight per cent are obese.”

Government not preparing properly for years ahead: Purvis.

The number of people employed in public sector bodies in Scotland has increased since the SNP took power in 2007, despite the fact that the number of public bodies has fallen. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Finance spokesman Jeremy Purvis said: "With the profoundly difficult financial environment the focus of Government should not be on creating more civil servants. "Private sector employment continues to get worse. I really don't think the Government is preparing properly for the years ahead."

For once the Government has done what Parliament told it to.

Commenting as the Scottish Government drops its plans to publish all public notices online, Liberal Democrat Media spokesman Iain Smith said: "This is a welcome about-face from the SNP. "Keeping public notices in local papers ensures that they will be read by those they are intended for. "Local newspapers need the valuable finance that public notices provide. "I am pleased that the Government has for once done what Parliament told it to."

Brown: New focus needed for SPT.

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown has called for an independent Enquiry into SPT in the wake of the controversy over the organisation cutting evening and Sunday services. Commenting he said: “SPT is vital to the transport provision of the West of Scotland but in light of recent difficulties it is necessary to chart a new way forward. "An independent enquiry could clear away the myths and negativity which has surrounded SPT recently and set it on a new course as a vital part of the city's transport infrastructure. “The heart of the problem is the declining usage of the subway and the Park and Rides which has been obvious for some months. It may well be due mainly to the recession but the result is a financial black hole. “The enquiry could look at the state of the subway's finances, the opportunities for increasing business and the urgent requirement for investment for the future. “Some people seem to be using recent events to try to get rid of SPT altogether but the alternative is not particularly attractive. “A top rate - but affordable - public transport system is vital to the economy and the life styles of people in the greater Glasgow area. It is already the biggest network of its kind outside London - but it needs a modern vision to take it forward."

Lib Dems: Students must be able to finance their studies.

The number of students in Higher Education Institutions in Scotland has increased by 2.8% in 2008-09, compared to a 4.3% increase in England. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Margaret Smith said: “At a time of economic downturn we expect the number of students to rise. “However I query why student numbers aren’t rising as much as South of the border. “Student support is central to attracting more students. “Liberal Democrats want to see a minimum income guarantee for students. Students are unwilling to start courses if they cannot finance their studies. “I welcome the slight percentage increase in the number of students from the most deprived areas of Scotland. But we still need to do more to widen access.”

Brown calls for zero tolerance approach to domestic abuse.

Commenting on the new support service for men who are the victims of domestic abuse, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesman, Robert Brown said: “The damage done to individuals, families and often children who are innocent bystanders or victims of domestic abuse is enormous. “Although women are most often the victims we mustn’t forgot that men suffer damaging abuse as well. “Domestic abuse figures for both men and women are still far too high in Scotland. This helpline is a good first step, but I want to see a true zero tolerance approach to domestic abuse for both men and women.”

Brown: Diageo need to explain their decision.

Commenting ahead of evidence given to MSPs by the head of drinks giant Diageo after the firm’s decision to axe 900 jobs last year, Glasgow Liberal Democrat Robert Brown MSP said: “We were hugely disappointed when Diageo rejected an alternative to restructuring plans and announced that 900 jobs would be lost at the Port Dundas Distillery in Glasgow and the Johnnie Walker Plant in Kilmarnock as a result. “The head of Diageo needs to be called to account as to why he rejected the government backed restructuring programme. “He must explain how Diageo are going to support regeneration for these affected communities in Glasgow and Kilmarnock as they struggle with massive job losses in a very difficult financial time. “We also need real action from the Scottish and UK Governments to get people in Glasgow and Kilmarnock back into work as quickly as possible.”

Tue 16th Mar 2010:

Retail figures demonstrate extreme fragility of Scottish Economy - Purvis.

Commenting on Scottish Retail Consortium figures that show February 2010 was the worst February since the survey began in 1999, Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson Jeremy Purvis MSP said: “These figures demonstrate the extreme fragility of the Scottish economy. “We are still waiting for official Government figures that show whether or not Scotland is in fact out of recession, but these figures reflect the muted confidence amongst the public that the Government has the right strategy for growth.”

Committee backs Lyon over farm penalties.

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has welcomed the European Agriculture Committee’s backing of his amendments to the CAP Simplification Report that ensure the criteria and penalties for non-compliance are applied in a proportionate manner. Mr Lyon put down the amendments after numerous complaints from Scottish farmers that the Scottish Government was punishing producers with large fines for relatively minor transgressions. George Lyon MEPCommenting after the vote in Brussels, Mr Lyon said: “I welcome the Committees backing of my amendments to the CAP simplification report. “While farmers recognise that penalties must be a part of any effective animal control system, these penalties must be proportionate and transparent. “It is absurd that farmers who had two or three passports errors are being fined thousands of pounds for what is a minor mistake. “These harsh penalties handed out by the Scottish Government in this regard undermine the legitimacy of the penalty system. The European Agriculture Committee has sent a clear signal to the European Commission that this heavy handed approach must end.” The Committee also backed Mr Lyon’s amendments calling for a moratorium on penalties for EID breaches. Mr Lyon added: “The three year moratorium granted to sheep farmers will go some way to repairing the damage that was done by introducing this unnecessary and unwanted measure. “Continued reliability issues with the tag readers also makes EID largely unworkable and a period a grace before penalties are handed out is the only sensible way forward.”

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