Acceptances from Scotland’s most deprived areas at highest ever level.

A record number of Scottish students have secured a place at university, with university entries from the most deprived areas also at the highest ever level, according to UCAS statistics published on A-level results day.

Compared to this stage last year, the number of Scottish applicants accepted to Scottish institutions increased by four per cent from 29,120 to 30,400 and acceptances from the 20 per cent most deprived areas in Scotland (SIMD 20) increased by 5 per cent from 4,060 to 4,280 individuals.

Minister for Further, Higher Education and Science, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said:

“Firstly, I want to congratulate all students who have received results recently and secured a place at one of the many great universities in our country.

“Scotland has a world class higher education system and one that will always be based on the principles of being free, fair and funded. The latest UCAS figures show a really positive picture for Scotland’s students, with a record number gaining entry to university.

“It is also extremely heartening to see record levels of individuals from more deprived areas in Scotland gaining access to university. This is really positive news and this Scottish Government will continue to do all that we can to widen access and ensure all of our young people get an equal chance to go to university.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Record-number-of-Scottish-students-gain-university-entry-2900.aspx

FM pledges to take concerns of Scotland’s EU citizens direct to UK Government.

Employment, social protection and the continued right to live and work in Scotland, as well as freedom of movement to live and work across Europe, were among the themes raised by EU nationals from 24 member states during a dedicated event hosted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today (Wednesday).

In the first gathering of its kind to be held in the UK, the First Minister and senior cabinet members listened to questions and concerns from the audience following the UK-wide vote to leave the EU.

During the Ask the FM event, which took place following a special European Cabinet meeting in Edinburgh, the First Minister pledged to take issues raised directly to the UK Government at the earliest opportunity, and promised that the interests of EU citizens will be ‘centre stage’ in the Scottish Government’s concerted efforts to protect Scotland’s interests.

The First Minister said:

“Today’s event underlines just how important it is to me and to the Scottish Government to do everything we can to protect Scotland’s relationship with Europe – and equally it demonstrates the huge level of interest and concern among EU nationals living in Scotland.

“Our resounding message to those who attended today is that we are determined to protect their place and their future in Scotland. As I said on the morning of the EU referendum result, those people from across the EU who have done us the honour of making Scotland their home are welcome here. We understand that diversity makes a significant contribution to our economy, our society, our culture – and we would be poorer without you in many different ways.

“While Scotland voted decisively to remain in the EU, I was saddened, concerned and frustrated by the UK-wide vote to leave. I can only imagine the impact on those who are living here but who come from other EU countries: suddenly, having been being denied any say in the matter, entire families faced uncertainty about the future.

“That is why it is imperative the UK Government now gives the guarantees sought by all EU citizens, not just here in Scotland but across the UK, about their continued right to live and work here. And I will raise the issues aired here today directly with the UK Government at the earliest opportunity.

“However, my guarantee to EU citizens here in Scotland is this: I promise that the interests of all of you who already play such a big part in the success of our country, will be centre stage.

“The Prime Minister has committed to fully involving the Scottish Government in preparations for negotiations and the detailed discussions which will follow once Article 50 is triggered. But no one should be in any doubt – our involvement in that process will be with the intention of protecting Scotland’s place in Europe and the interests that are now threatened by the UK vote to leave.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/EU-nationals-Ask-the-FM-28d9.aspx

EU funding in limbo: what the Tories aren’t telling you
By David Livey

The UK government has announced limited measures to plug the gap in EU funding left in the wake of Brexit.

The Brexit campaign’s claims about the £350 million the UK would claw back from the EU each week to spend on the NHS have been exposed for the lies they were – with the Treasury announcement falling short of the required amount to protect even existing funding.

No comprehensive, long-term guarantee has been provided to Scotland’s farmers, fishing industry, or those communities that rely on EU funding. The limited measures announced – for a small number of schemes and for a few short years at most – mean that £750 million of funding is not yet guaranteed.

Here’s what the UK government isn’t telling you.

Funding for Scotland’s farmers faces an uncertain future.

The Common Agricultural Policy – “CAP” for short – provides a system of support for farmers throughout the EU. CAP is split into two Pillars. Pillar 1 covers direct payments and is worth about £0.5 billion a year to farmers in Scotland. Pillar 2 covers sustainable economic growth in rural areas and is available to a much wider range of businesses and organisations.

The Treasury’s announcement means that Pillar 1 funding will be guaranteed up until 2020, and only Pillar 2 funding with contracts in place by the UK Autumn Budget Statement will be guaranteed. This means vital EU funding, worth hundreds of millions to Scotland’s rural economy, might be lost.

The Scottish Government Rural Secretary, Fergus Ewing, has written to Andrea Leadsom, the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling for a guarantee over these funds.

Find out more about CAP here.

Funding for Scotland’s fishing industry has been given no guarantees at all.

The European and Maritime Fisheries Fund – or the EMFF – is an EU funding programme open to fishermen, processors, fishing communities and Scotland’s aquaculture sector.

For those European Maritime Fisheries projects beginning after the UK government’s Autumn Statement, no guarantees have been provided.

Find out more about the European Maritime Fisheries Fund here.

Funding supporting Scotland’s communities, jobs and investment has been left in limbo.

Beyond the Autumn Statement later this year, no guarantees have been given for key EU funds worth hundreds of millions and supporting jobs and infrastructure projects in communities across Scotland.

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://www.snp.org/eu_funding_in_limbo_what_the_tories_arent_telling_you

Derek Mackay calls for real certainty from Treasury.

Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has urged the UK Government to guarantee crucial EU funding streams to end uncertainty and help bring stability to the economy.

Mr Mackay said the failure to provide comprehensive, long-term guarantees left farmers, fishermen and communities across Scotland facing significant threats to critical investment and jobs.

Mr Mackay has written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, acknowledging the partial commitments from the UK Government announced late last night. These commitments, however, do not go far enough and still leave almost £750 million not yet guaranteed.

Commenting on the Chancellor’s approach to EU funds, Mr Mackay said;

”We will study the detail but what is already clear is the Chancellor’s approach falls far short of what fishermen, farmers and communities across Scotland need.

“A limited guarantee for some schemes for a few short years leaves Scotland hundreds of millions of pounds short of what we would receive as members of the EU.

“Major funding stream such as contracts for EU structural funds and European Maritime Fisheries projects beginning after the Autumn Statement have no guarantee of continuation at all. That simply isn’t good enough.

“Scotland has taken a sensible approach on funding commitments to ensure value for money and maximising outcomes. The uncertainty caused by the UK Government delaying decisions could lead to the financial exposure of many millions of pounds if this is not addressed.

“It puts significant investment and jobs at risk, revealing the reality of Brexit. Scotland didn’t back Brexit and doesn’t want Brexit. We certainly should not now see funding and investment in communities hammered as a result of Brexit.

“Since the outcome of the EU referendum, we have urged the UK Government to provide clarity and certainty on these vital funds. Yet, all that is clear with this announcement is that the uncertainty will continue. We will of course engage urgently with the Treasury to seek a way forward, and provide what reassurance we can to proposed beneficiaries.

“The best way to guarantee the jobs, investment, services and projects all over the country which depend on this funding beyond 2020 is by maintaining Scotland’s relationship with the EU.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Clarity-sought-over-EU-funds-28b4.aspx

Our action to protect Scotland’s economy post-Brexit
By Liam Furby

Nicola Sturgeon has today announced a package of measures to stimulate Scotland’s economy following the result of the EU referendum.

Action includes bringing forward government spending on infrastructure and providing fresh support for businesses.

Here’s what you need to know.

An additional £100 million of capital spending will be brought forward this year.

This will be in addition to planned capital spending for 2015-16 and will include spending in health and other key infrastructure sectors. Details of funding for future years will be announced in due course.

Projects worth almost £6 billion are already under construction as part of the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan.

A new Business Information Service will be launched to provide support and reassurance to businesses in Scotland.

This service will be a single point of contact for individual businesses to provide up-to-date information, answer questions and address business concerns about the future. This is something that was requested by business organisations in Scotland in the wake of the EU referendum.

A new Post-Referendum Business Network will help shape policy and support for businesses.

The network will allow the Scottish Government to work more closely with the main business bodies, the STUC and the Scotland Office on business support and policy.

The UK government must take action to get the economy moving.

The UK government has not taken any meaningful action to alleviate uncertainty or boost confidence in our economy since the EU referendum. It must give assurances about Scotland’s EU funding, and bring forward a UK-wide stimulus package that would further enable the Scottish Government to accelerate capital spending.

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://www.snp.org/action_to_protect_scotland_economy_post_brexit

First Minister challenges UK Government to prove the worth of the Union

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on the UK Government to prove the importance they place on Scotland’s role in the United Kingdom as they progress EU exit negotiations.

In a major speech to members of the Institute for Public Policy Research in Edinburgh earlier today, Nicola Sturgeon said the UK’s negotiating position must allow those parts of the UK that voted to leave the EU the option of doing so, while those parts which voted to stay should have the option to remain.

Condemning the lack of planning for a Leave vote by those who proposed the referendum, the First Minister warned that the UK appears to be heading for a ‘hard’ rather than a ‘soft’ exit from the EU – including leaving the single market – which the people of Scotland overwhelmingly did not vote for.

She said that if Scotland’s interests cannot be protected then Scotland must have the right to consider another independence referendum.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“We don’t yet have any clear idea of what a Leave vote means in practice – while ‘Brexit means Brexit’ is intended to sound like a strong statement of intent, it is in fact just a soundbite that masks a lack of any clear sense of direction.

“If we can read anything from the early signs, whether from government appointments or initial pronouncements, it is that the UK is heading towards a hard rather than a soft Brexit – a future outside the single market, with only limited access, and significant restrictions on free movement.

“Scotland didn’t choose to be in this situation, and our vital interests are at stake with potential consequences that will affect all of us – so I have a duty to do all that I can to protect those interests.

“We can seek to find – or create – a solution that enables Scotland’s distinctive voice to be heard and our interests to be protected within the UK. Or we can consider again the option of independence.

“I don’t underestimate the challenge of finding such a solution – but to those who want to rule out the possibility of success before we even try, I would say two things.

“Firstly, we live in unprecedented times. When Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty was drafted, it would have been considered inconceivable that any country would ever vote to exercise it. But that has now happened and, beyond a few lines of text, there are no rules for what happens next. The territory is uncharted, the page is blank. That gives us an opportunity to be innovative and creative – an opportunity to shape the future.

“The second point I would make to those – particularly in the UK government – who are at pains to say how highly they value the union, is this:

“Now is the time to do more than just assert – against the evidence to the contrary – that the union works for Scotland – it is surely time now to find ways to demonstrate that Scotland’s voice can be heard, our wishes accommodated and our interests protected within the UK.

“It seems to me that the UK government now has a responsibility – indeed a vested interest – to do so.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Options-to-protect-Scotland-in-EU-276e.aspx

First Minister speech on protecting Scotland’s interests.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will give a major speech in Edinburgh tomorrow, one month on from the EU Referendum.

As well as reflecting on the campaign and the lessons of the result, she is expected to outline the key Scottish interests that are at stake and why they matter. She will also talk about the way forward in negotiations to ensure Scotland’s relationship with and interests in the EU are protected, following the overwhelming vote, by a 24-point margin, from people across Scotland to stay in the European Union.

She will address an audience made up of business leaders, charities, and public sector organisations at the Institute of Public Policy Research conference.

The First Minister is expected to say:

“I am determined that we find or create the options that best preserve the five key interests that depend on our relationship with the EU.

“Our democratic interests – the need to make sure Scotland’s voice is heard and our wishes respected.

“Our economic interests – safeguarding free movement of labour, access to a single market of 500 million people and the funding that our farmers and universities depend on.

“Our interests in social protection – ensuring the continued protection of workers’ and wider human rights.

“Our interest in solidarity – the ability of independent nations to come together for the common good of all our citizens, to tackle crime and terrorism and deal with global challenges like climate change.

“And our interest in having influence – making sure that we don’t just have to abide by the rules of the single market but also have a say in shaping them.

“Democracy, economic prosperity, social protection, solidarity and influence – these are the vital interests that we now seek to safeguard. They are not abstract. They are real and they matter – for jobs, the economy, trade, investment and living standards.

“That’s why my task today and tomorrow and throughout the length of the coming negotiations will be to protect Scotland’s relationship with and interests in the European Union, and to explore every avenue and every option for doing so.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Scotland-s-future-in-the-EU-276d.aspx