Scot Gov News

Approval for Referendums Bill: Scottish Parliament 19/12/19

Posted on by

Scotland ‘closer to deciding its own future’

Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell has described the passing of the Referendums (Scotland) Bill today as an important step forward in allowing Scotland to choose its own future.

The rules approved by MSPs will ensure any future referendum covered by the Bill meet the highest international standards.

This is an article from the Scottish Government Website: https://www.gov.scot/news/approval-for-referendums-bill/

Mr Russell said:

“Today we are closer to giving the Scottish people a choice over the path our country should take. With this legislative framework in place, it only requires a short Bill for an independence referendum to be held once a transfer of power, which puts holding a referendum beyond challenge, is devolved to the Scottish Government.

“These robust regulations will allow debate to focus on the issues at stake in referendums, not procedure, and ensure that the results can be accepted by all parties.

“Legal changes are required to keep pace with the way campaigns are now conducted. To protect the space for rational, respectful debate, it must be clear who is behind online campaign activity, while those who break rules should be properly sanctioned. This Bill addresses both these issues.”

The Referendums (Scotland) Bill introduces tighter controls on social media campaigning and bigger fines for those who break the rules. It incorporates the Scottish franchise, meaning 16-year-olds and EU citizens will be eligible to vote.

Questions used in referendums will be tested by the Electoral Commission to establish they are clear, transparent and neutral. They will be valid for one parliamentary term, with a provision to extend the time limit with the Scottish Parliament’s approval. In addition, Parliament can ask the commission to review a question at any time.

Background

The Referendums (Scotland) Bill provides a legislative framework for the holding of all future referendums on devolved issues in Scotland.

It includes a requirement that online campaign material contains an imprint showing the name and address of the person responsible.

The maximum civil penalty the Electoral Commission can impose on rule breakers is increased from £10,000 to £500,000.

The Presiding Officer will submit the Bill to the Queen for Royal Assent. Once this is received, the Bill becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament and is part of the law of Scotland.

Calls for UK Gov to act and allow Scotland to address Drug Deaths Increase

Posted on by

Minister calls for consumption room approval.

New figures showing there were almost 1,200 drug-related deaths last year have been described as shocking by Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick.

The National Records of Scotland statistics reveal there were 1,187 drug-related deaths registered in Scotland in 2018, the largest number ever recorded.

Mr FitzPatrick has said that what Scotland faces in terms of drug-related deaths is an emergency. Earlier this month, he appointed Professor Catriona Matheson as chair of a new taskforce which will advise on what further changes, in practice or in law, could help save lives and reduce harm.

In addition, the Scottish Government’s refreshed alcohol and drug strategy, backed by further investment of £20 million a year, sets out a range of measures to prevent drug-related harm. This includes an eight point treatment plan which outlines ways of improving access to effective services and interventions. It also focuses on how we support those who are most at risk and treat the wider issues affecting them.




Commenting on today’s figures, Mr FitzPatrick said:

“The number of people who have lost their lives because of drug use is shocking. It is vital this tragedy is treated as a public health issue, and we are prepared to take innovative and bold measures in order to save the lives of those most at risk.

“Last week, I gave evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee and I asked for help in persuading the UK Government to either act now to enable us to implement a range of public health focused responses – including the introduction of supervised drug consumption facilities – or devolve the power to the Scottish Parliament so that we can act.

“I want to ensure that the work of the new taskforce which I have established is driven by strong evidence and the voices of those with experience of using drugs, and their families, are heard. I am determined to shape our services in every walk of life to prevent harm and reduce the appalling number of deaths.

“So I will give consideration to any proposals they bring forward which may help to tackle this issue and, ultimately, save lives.”

Chair of the Drug Deaths Taskforce, Professor Catriona Matheson said:

“My thoughts go out to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones.

“These figures bring the scale of the problem we face in Scotland into sharp focus. The need for urgent action is clear and the taskforce gives us a mechanism to do that.

“It is imperative that the taskforce identifies ways in which we can do more to save the lives of those who are most at risk and we will look carefully at what has worked in other parts of the UK and internationally to ensure we apply strong evidence-based practice.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: https://www.gov.scot/news/statistics-show-highest-ever-level-of-drug-deaths/

MORE LINKS: On drug deaths, public health minister @JoeFitzSNP has called on the UK Government ‘to either act now to enable us to implement a range of public health-focused responses… or devolve the power to the Scottish Parliament so that we can’.

https://stv.tv/news/scotland/1439277-drug-deaths-in-scotland-hit-record-high-of-more-than-1100/

Brexit: Statement from the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales

Posted on by

Statement from the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales
(28 Jun 2019 Article from Gov.Scot)

Joint call to UK Government ahead of British Irish Council.

Speaking ahead of the final British Irish Council before a new Prime Minister takes office, the Scottish and Welsh First Ministers have called on the future Prime Minister to rule out a ‘no deal’ Brexit under any circumstances.

In a joint statement, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford said both their governments would work together, and with others, to keep the UK in the EU.

The two First Ministers said:

“We are becoming increasingly alarmed by the increase in hard-line rhetoric about a ‘no deal’ Brexit and a debate focussed on policy proposals for leaving the EU which have no basis in reality.

“Severe economic damage is already being done as a result of Brexit uncertainty impacting economic opportunities as companies will be making decisions on their future on long-term competitiveness – as workers at British Steel, Ford, Honda, and elsewhere can witness.

“We believe leaving the EU without a deal would be disastrous for the economies within these islands and for the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people.

“A ‘no deal’ Brexit would deeply damage the reputation of the UK as a reliable international partner and undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process on the island of Ireland.

“The next Prime Minister must pull back from the brink of a ‘no deal’ Brexit and be honest with the public. If they continue on their current path, the UK looks increasingly likely to crash-out of the EU in just four months’ time.

“The EU will not simply cave in to demands to re-open the Withdrawal Agreement, and claims that we could both leave without a deal and still benefit from tariff-free trade with the EU have been disproved.

“The new Prime Minister must change course and rule out ‘no deal’ under any circumstances.

“It is now clear that, due to the deadlock at Westminster, there should be a new referendum on EU membership and both our governments would support remain. We will work together and with others who share that aim.”

Article Source: https://www.gov.scot/news/statement-from-the-first-ministers-of-scotland-and-wales/




Joint statement by the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales – EU Exit Debate

Posted on by

(Article 06/03/19) Scotland and Wales unite to voice dismay at UK Government’s approach.

“Today, for the first time in the 20-year history of devolution, the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament, voted simultaneously to oppose a damaging no deal Brexit.

Read Nicola Sturgeon’s opening speech at the debate: https://scottishpoliticsnews.org/2019/03/05/first-minister-speech-brexit-5-march-2019/

“The vast majority of Members across both Chambers voted in agreement that a no deal outcome would be completely unacceptable and that an extension to Article 50 is the best way forward to protect Wales, Scotland and the UK as a whole.

“No deal would mean not just probable short term chaos, but also very real and long-term structural damage to our economy. Damage which would mean fewer jobs, lower wages and less tax revenue.

“The motions in both the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales also re-iterated opposition to the deal negotiated by the Prime Minister which would do significant damage to both countries.

“This united and historic step was taken to send the clearest possible message to the UK Government and Westminster that this reckless course of action must stop now.

“We take little comfort from the sequence of votes planned to take place in the House of Commons next week, when a vote on extending Article 50 will be held only after another attempt to browbeat Members of Parliament into supporting the Prime Minister’s deal and a vote to support no deal.

“We are just 24 days away from crashing out of the EU. The Prime Minister’s attempt to run down the clock must be resisted at all costs.

“Today we have come together to set out our clear opposition to the actions being taken by the UK Government.

“Next week the Prime Minister and the UK Parliament must show they have listened, rule out no deal at any time and request an immediate extension of Article 50.”




Calls for EU nationals to stay in Scotland

Posted on by

First Minister: UK Brexit deal is ‘self-defeating.’

The Scottish Government will increase its efforts to encourage EU citizens to remain in Scotland, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will confirm in an address to the Assemblée Nationale, the lower house of the French Parliament, as she describes the UK’s decision to end Freedom of Movement as part of its Brexit deal as a ‘self-defeating measure.’




Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Committee after opening the Scottish Government’s new office in Paris, the First Minister will give her support to EU citizens currently living in Scotland. She will say:

“Those EU citizens of course include 13,000 French people, who are our colleagues, friends, neighbours and in many cases our family. The Scottish Government is proud that they have done us the honour of making Scotland their home.

“We will always stick up for their rights – in recent months we have lobbied successfully to ensure EU citizens would not have to pay a fee to obtain settled status in the UK. And we will always make it clear that EU citizens are welcome. In fact in the coming months, we plan to step up our efforts to encourage EU citizens to stay in Scotland.”

Discussing the impact on Scotland of the UK Government’s proposed Brexit deal she will go on to say:

“For me, this is one of the saddest parts of Brexit. The UK Government is proclaiming the end of free movement as a victory – instead, it is a self-defeating measure. It removes opportunity from millions of people.

“It is an approach which is especially damaging to Scotland. Without freedom of movement there is a danger that our population will start to decline. We could face workforce shortages in rural areas, in our universities, in our care and health services. European nationals are not only very welcome in Scotland. They are crucial to our well-being.

“All of this is down to the red lines that the UK Government has chosen to draw. Given the existence of those red lines, I understand why the European Union believes that the deal agreed in November is the best which could be achieved. And I appreciate that many people in France and across the EU would like the UK to just get on with it.

“But no government of Scotland which has the interests of this and future generations at heart could possibly support the current deal.”

Article Source: https://www.gov.scot/news/calls-for-eu-nationals-to-stay-in-scotland/




Brexit threat to jobs

Posted on by

Warning that ‘no deal’ will harm Scotland’s economy.

The UK Government must agree to extend Article 50 and rule out ‘no deal’ Brexit, which risks imposing severe economic damage and rising unemployment on Scotland, Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell said.

Article Source: https://www.gov.scot/news/brexit-threat-to-jobs/




The Scottish Government will continue to act wherever possible to minimise and mitigate the impact on Scotland. However, it will not be possible to avoid the major economic costs of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

Speaking after delivering his latest Ministerial Statement at the Scottish Parliament, Mr Russell said:

“In 38 days the UK is scheduled to leave the EU and the economic impact will be felt across the country.

“Today’s labour market statistics show that the Scottish economy and jobs market continue to strengthen. But Brexit, and in particular a ‘no deal’ Brexit, will put this at risk.

“Later this week the Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will provide economic detail on the stark reality that a ‘no deal’ Brexit will have. We estimate it could result in an increase in unemployment in Scotland of around 100,000, more than doubling the unemployment rate.

“Of course, the Prime Minister could change this course of action by extending Article 50 and ruling out ‘no deal’. The best outcome is to remain in the EU, in line with the wishes of the people in Scotland, as even the UK Government’s current deal will remove Scotland from the European Single Market – which is eight times the size of the UK alone – hitting our economy hard. As weeks go by there is still no clarity whatsoever about the future relationship with the EU.

“As a responsible government we will do all that we can to ensure that the people of Scotland get a clear, consistent message about the work that is being done and what actions they need to take.”




Brexit: Joint statement by First Ministers of Scotland and Wales

Posted on by

Last week, the Scottish and Welsh Governments were invited to attend a UK government cabinet committee for the first time.

We have repeatedly pressed the UK government to engage fully with us on its preparations for the UK leaving the EU and we will continue to contribute as fully as possible to the work of the European Union Exit and Trade (Preparedness) Committee over the coming weeks.

We are particularly keen to do so to press home the point that all the evidence we have seen to date suggests that the UK is simply not prepared for a ‘no deal’ Brexit in less than 2 months’ time. Our firm view is that such an outcome to the Brexit negotiations would be a catastrophe which would cause significant short-term disruption to the lives of ordinary citizens as well as to businesses and long-term harm to our economy.

And while a longer period to prepare for ‘no deal’ as proposed by some Conservative MPs might reduce the risk of people in Scotland and Wales being unable to access the medicines that they need or the range of foods they want to buy, it would do nothing to mitigate the longer-term economic damage that such a radical rupture with our EU neighbours would cause. The jobs lost at Shaeffler in Llanelli and the cancelled investment at Nissan in Sunderland are just a foretaste of the future. The CBI has estimated a no deal Brexit could cost the Scottish economy £14 billion a year by 2034.




The House of Commons, National Assembly for Wales and Scottish Parliament have all rejected the Prime Minister’s deal. It would make the UK as a whole poorer and would open the door to a “blind Brexit” with years of difficult negotiations on the future relationship and no guarantee a trade deal will even be concluded.

Alarmingly at this late hour, following its defeat, the UK government still appears unable to identify the “alternative arrangements” to the Irish backstop which it says would allow the House of Commons to vote for the deal. In addition the EU remains totally committed to the backstop, which it says will not be re-negotiated.

The point has been reached where there is now no time to waste. We therefore renew our call for the Prime Minister to make clear that she and her government will ensure ‘no deal’ is taken off the table. This should include putting forward secondary legislation now to remove 29 March 2019 as exit day from the EU (Withdrawal) Act.

The Prime Minister must also request an extension from the EU of the Article 50 deadline. We call on the Prime Minister to request such an extension immediately to put an end to the threat of the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal in only 8 weeks’ time.

The EU has made it clear that in terms of negotiations on the future relationship, it would respond favourably if the Prime Minister was to drop her “red lines”. We therefore further call on the UK government to abandon those red lines, which the EU has repeatedly said, severely restrict the possible outcomes of Brexit.

Article Source: https://gov.wales/newsroom/firstminister/2019/190207-Joint-statement-by-the-first-ministers-of-scotland-and-wales/?lang=en