Latest news from George Foulkes in Parliament.
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Foulkes urges reopening of Lockerbie Bomber Enquiry George Foulkes MSP has urged that the enquiry into the release of the Lockerbie bomber be reopened. In light of the increasing speculation, on both sides of the Atlantic, that BP was involved in the decision to release Al-Megrahi, George Foulkes believes it is essential that there is a thorough re-examination of the detail surrounding his release. In his letter to Bill Aitken, Convener of the Justice Committee, he asserted ‘an inquiry is necessary due to the ill-informed speculation in the London media and US Congress’.The Lothians MSP has persistently asked the Scottish Government and the local authority responsible Mr... |
Edinburgh Forensics under threat again
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Foulkes raises fresh police lab fears
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Anger as principals' pay keeps on rising
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Registration of Property Factors Comes a Step Nearer As Maryhill MSP Publishes Bill
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Lothian and Borders Police Gets Results After Drugs Ban
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Police forced to fight cuts over crime
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Its time to act now - Earth Hour 2010
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George Foulkes urges the nationalisation of Edinburgh private schools.
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Credit Union to Branch out across the Lothians A community-based credit union is extending its low cost loans and savings scheme to almost 50,000 people. Craigmillar Credit Union has increased the area it covers to include Duddingston, Portobello, Craigentinny, Willowbrae and Restalrig. The non-profit organisation, which was started in 1995, has opened a new collection point in Portobello for a two-month trial. People who lives or work in the area are eligible to join. Volunteers who run the credit union want to double its membership over the next three years. The CCU also gives free life insurance to members so that, in the event of death, their would... |
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SNP Class size policy is hit again The Scottish Governments handling of Scottish education has come under fire again after it was reported that the Scottish government legislation to enforce maximum class sizes of 25 will not be ready in time for the next school year. It has also emerged that many Primary 1 children in Edinburgh schools are likely to be in class sizes of 30 next year. This is the latest set-back for the Scottish Governments manifesto promise that all P1-3 children would be in class sizes of 18. That pledge had already been drastically scaled back by Education Minister Mike Russell following the of... |
Over 40% of Community Service orders are breached in the Edinburgh City Council area.
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George Foulkes MSP calls for support for student parents
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City Council drop attempts to tender out Care Services
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Save Edinburgh Leisure Creches
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George stands up for Forth Crossing residents
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Foulkes calls for Scottish Boiler Scrappage Scheme
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Foulkes calls for FMQ Shakeup
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A Well Deserved Reward for the Sick Kids
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George Backs Bus Bill
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NEW fears about the future of Edinburgh's police forensic crime laboratory were voiced today as staff awaited the publication of a report on whether services were to be centralised.
Forensic scientists who have helped solve cases like the Vicky Hamilton murder could be uprooted from the Capital and relocated to Lanarkshire, depending on decisions made on the back of an options paper published today.
The Edinburgh lab at Howdenhall, which employs about 60 people, is one of four police forensic centres in Scotland that is now under threat again, as one of the options is to centralise Edinburgh and Aberdeen Lanarkshire...
LOTHIANS Labour MSP George Foulkes yesterday voiced renewed fears about the future of Edinburgh's police forensic laboratory.
The Evening News revealed last year that staff feared the Scottish Police Services Authority planned to concentrate forensic work for Edinburgh and Glasgow at new laboratories at Gartcosh, Lanarkshire.
Now, in answer to a parliamentary question from Lord Foulkes, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has said the provision of forensic services is an operational matter for the SPSA.
He added: "The SPSA is currently undertaking a forensic modernisation project looking at all aspects of the service provided to police forces across Scotland. This could have impact...
MOST of the elite group of university principals in Scotland are still accepting enhanced salary packages at a time when higher education finances are under extreme pressure, Scotland on Sunday can reveal.
Despite calls by Scottish ministers for restraint, documents released under Freedom of Information legislation show 14 university principals and vice-chancellors in Scotland received more than £3 million in the 2009-10 financial year.
The wages for the heads of the institutions, which received around half of their funds from the taxpayer, included more than £2.7m in basic salaries and more than £300,000 in pension contributions and other payments. total...
A Bill to require Property Factors to comply with a code of conduct and be registered has been published by Patricia Ferguson MSP. The Property Factors (Scotland) Bill will make it an offence for a property factor to operate without being registered, and will also introduce an accessible form of dispute resolution.
The legislation will lead to the establishment of a code of conduct setting minimum standards of practice expected of registered property factors, and will afford greater protection for homeowners from rogue factors.
The publication of the Bill follows several years of campaigning by Mike Dailly, Principal Solicitor at Govan...
Mephedrone and related cathinones are now controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. From the 16th April 2010, they became classified as Class B drugs, meaning that they are illegal to be sold and illegal to possess. The consequences of Class B classification are now a maximum penalty of 5 years in jail and an unlimited fine for possession and 14 years and unlimited fine for supply. The importation of these substances into the country has already been banned.
Mephedrone overstimulates the nervous system, which can lead to fits, and it also overstimulates the heart and circulation. Its use even...
It is welcome news that crime has dropped significantly in Lothian and Borders, with violence, dishonesty and vandalism all down in the last year, however, with ongoing Local and Scottish budget cuts this progress is now under threat.
Figures released yesterday revealed 6,000 fewer crimes in total.
Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Allen said: "An 8.3 per cent drop in overall crime figures means that less people were victims of crime last year. Fewer became the victims of anti-social behaviour and there was a drop in the number subjected to violent attacks. This is a clear indication that our prevention strategy where...
Earth Hour 2010 - organised by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) - is set to be the world's largest mass participation event ever recorded. In a symbolic act intended to raise awareness of climate change, 120 countries - over 1700 towns and cities - will turn off their lights for an hour this Saturday 27th March at 8:30pm.
In 2007, the 2.2 million people of Sydney participated in the largest collective action of all time when they switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008, the simple belief in small actions went global. 50 million people off...
George Foulkes, MSP has caused a stir by putting down a motion at the Scottish Parliament calling for conversation to begin with private schools to start turning them into state schools.
This is an old concern of George’s, as he first tried to nationalise Edinburgh’s private schools when he was a councillor on the Lothian Regional Council. This attempt was to come to an end when a Conservative government was elected nationally in 1979.
George Foulkes says he came back to the idea when he heard that Conservatives south of the Border were considering encouraging private schools the...
PROBATION ORDER BREACHES HIT 5 YEAR HIGH UNDER SNP.
Foulkes says plans to extend community sentencing are ‘DANGEROUS AND STUPID’
George Foulkes MSP today reacted to new statistics that show breaches for both probation orders and supervised attendance orders have increased in the last year. The new figures are another blow to Kenny MacAskill’s plans to scrap six-month jail sentences and replace them with non-custodial disposals.
There were 4,100 breaches of Probation Orders in 2008-09 across Scotland, a 19 per cent increase compared to the total of 3,400 in 2007-08. The most recent Official Scottish Government figures show that a third of...
George Foulkes, MSP for the Lothians, today backed calls from NUS Scotland for greater support for parents to help them study at college and university in Scotland.
The costs of childcare can be a huge barrier to parents entering and staying in college or university education. However over the last few years the childcare funding system in Scotland has been stretched to breaking point. A number of colleges have run out of funds in the past, meaning student parents losing crucial financial help half way through their courses.
The current system is discretionary meaning student parents cannot be sure level...
Edinburgh City Council have today announced that following an independent review, they are to abandon their ill advised attempts to tender out the city's care services.
Volunteer groups and service users across Edinburgh will be thrilled to hear that their long fought campaign has been successful. With more news to follow, the key points of the news released today are:
· No Care and Support contracts will be awarded.
· All tenders have now ceased.
· The Deloitte report found that there were problems in the tender award process
· The Deloitte report found that that ranking of bids were changed in the assurance...
Thank you to all those who have contacted me regarding Edinburgh Leisure’s decision to close the remaining four crèches. The "Save our Creches Campaign" has been run extremely well and I know a great deal of pressure has been placed on Edinburgh Leisure and council officials to ensure money is secured to keep these facilities open.
I fully support the campaign and agree that these crèches provide a very valued resource that allows parents and carers to maintain a healthy lifestyle while feeling confident that the children are being well looked after. This much needed ‘me’ time is also opportunity...
On Friday 15 January, George Foulkes MSP joined local community groups in visiting the site of the new proposed Forth Replacement Crossing.
Local residents are extremely concerned about the lack of consultation regarding the new bridge and feel like they've been left in the dark with many questions unanswered.
George Foulkes today tabled 14 questions to the Scottish Government regarding the lack of consultation. He said:
"I'm very grateful to the local community groups for inviting me out for a site visit. I completely understand their concerns regarding the proposed site, particularly as there are big questions over the use compulsory...
One of a number of things that the Chancellor announced in his recent pre-budget report was a scheme designed to help hardworking families reduce their heating bills. With a grant of £400, it is now easier for families to upgrade their boilers to a more efficient system ensuring that they can stay warm in these wintry months and reduce their heating bills.
Unfortunately, this scheme is only for England and Wales because the powers needed to do it are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and we have yet to hear whether the Scottish Government plans to introduce a similar Lothians...
Lothians MSP George Foulkes has written to the Standards and Procedures Committee asking them to consider changes to First Ministers’ Questions.“A number of MSP’s, constituents and people in the media have said to me that First Minister’s Questions has become less relevant, less spontaneous and less interesting than in the past” says George Foulkes.Following this Lord Foulkes has written to the Clerk to the Committee proposing three major changes:1) Reverting to an afternoon session to be preceded by General Questions.2) More opportunity for spontaneous supplementary questions so issues which arise can be pursued.3) Powers to the Presiding Officer to long...
Each year, the Forestry Commission very kindly donate a Christmas tree to each MSP, who can choose an organisation or place to put their tree. This year, George’s choice was the Sick Kids in Edinburgh, who have had a roller coaster of a year. From worries of securing funding in their existing building, to putting in every effort to raise £15 million for their new home, they have been working tirelessly to stand up for some of the most vulnerable children in our community, and their tree is well deserved! George said, “The Sick Kids have constantly been battling for against...
Labour MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Charlie Gordon, has brought a Bill to the Scottish Parliament calling for the re-regulation of Scottish Buses. Such a move would result in a big change from the way our buses have been run since 1986, as it would give council across the country far more power in services, as it would allow them to step in and stop market forces running down the service.
The Regulation of Bus Services (Scotland) Bill will also extend free bus travel around the country for those on the lowest forms of Disability Living Allowance, giving travel to who...Tag Cloud
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