SNP’S MODERN LANGUAGE FAILINGS REVEALED

Daniel Johnson – Labour 

The scale of the decline in pupils studying modern languages under the SNP has today been revealed by Scottish Labour.

In 2007 there were more than 56,000 entries at what was then Standard Grade, but by 2016 that had fallen to just over 23,000 – a 59 per cent decline.

The number of pupils at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5 sitting exams in French – the most popular subject – has dramatically fallen by two-thirds since 2007, while German has fallen by 76 per cent.

Scottish Labour said more must be done to encourage youngsters to learn modern languages, to ensure they are equipped for the global nature of the employment market in the 21st century.

Scottish Labour’s shadow education minister Daniel Johnson said: 

“Learning a foreign language is such a valuable skill for Scotland’s next generation. Whether for travel, employment, or just breaking down barriers between people from different countries, a new language can open up the world to a young person.

“It is therefore incredibly worrying to see such a huge decline in the number of pupils sitting modern language courses since the SNP came to power.

“The SNP talks about connecting Scotland with the world, but that can only happen if people are equipped with the languages they need.

“In the 21st century, the workforce is becoming more global and economic growth here in Scotland depends on interaction with our European neighbours.

“We need to reduce as many barriers to economic growth as possible, and these figures show how important it is for SNP ministers to get back to the day job of improving standards in our schools.”

NOTES 

Figures include all entries to levels 3, 4, and 5. That includes the following:

• National 3, National 4, National 5

• Intermediate 1

• Intermediate 2

• Standard Grade

• Access 3

		2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Change since 07	%
TOTAL (SCQF levels 3,4,5)		57,700	56,090	54,622	50,658	48,037	46,971	44,719	41,628	29,192	25,660	23,032	-33,058	-59%
TOTAL (non-Gaelic)		57,059	55,466	53,896	50,029	47,383	46,332	44,114	41,033	28,677	25,306	22,634	-32,832	-59%
TOTAL (SCQF levels 3,4,5)	Chinese Languages	–	–	21	55	200	206	183	189	145	202	187	+187	–
	French	39,595	38,832	38,413	35,926	33,934	31,680	29,749	27,617	18,052	15,535	12,898	-25,934	-67%
	Gaelic (Learners)	429	440	482	437	435	420	370	362	293	159	211	-229	-52%
	Gàidhlig	212	184	244	192	219	219	235	233	222	195	187	+3	2%
	German	12,326	11,574	10,120	8,704	7,850	7,532	6,612	5,754	3,743	3,148	2,810	-8,764	-76%
	Italian	868	741	814	640	734	368	674	399	494	306	491	-250	-34%
	Russian	25	6	4	9	19	24	26	32	22	6	–	-6	-100%
	Spanish	4,115	4,164	4,389	4,592	4,528	6,410	6,778	6,939	6,139	6,029	6,159	+1,995	48%
	Urdu	130	149	135	103	118	112	92	103	82	80	89	60	-40%

Source: http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/57518.4241.html

SNP’S FALSE CLAIMS OVER WASPI SCANDAL EXPOSED

Jackie Baillie – Labour 

The SNP’s claims that it cannot provide assistance to WASPI women have been exposed as false.

A Freedom of Information request to the Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that Scottish ministers have the power to introduce ‘discretionary payments’, should they wish.

But SNP Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman claimed in parliament in February that she could not provide assistance for WASPI women.

According to the correspondence from Tory Pensions Minister Guy Opperman, Ms Freeman has since ‘acknowledged’ in a letter to the DWP in June that ‘there are powers available to the Scottish Government that could be used before they reach state pension age’.

That appears to fly in the face of a claim made by SNP MP Mhairi Black, who this month said it was a ‘myth’ that additional payments could be made.

Over 2.5 million women born in the 1950s have had their state pension age changed without fair notification, leaving many in poverty. Scottish Labour believes these women deserve both recognition for the injustice they have suffered, and compensation for their losses. Around 253,000 Scottish women have been affected by this change, as highlighted by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign.

Ahead of the 2016 Holyrood election, Labour campaigned to use the social security powers of the Scottish Parliament to support some of the WASPI women.

Scottish Labour’s economy spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP said: 

“Thousands of women born in the 1950s have been left facing real financial difficulty because of the lack of notice given by the Tory government about changes to the state pension. Women in Scotland should not have to bear the brunt of Tory mismanagement – and now there is proof that they don’t have to.

“Ahead of the 2016 Holyrood election Labour campaigned to use the social security powers of the Scottish Parliament to support some of the WASPI women who were losing out because of the Tories.

“Time and time again, SNP politicians have claimed they don’t have the powers. Those false claims have now been exposed.

“Jeane Freeman has serious questions to answer about her previous comments which appear intended to deliberately mislead parliament.

“But what is vital now is that action takes place to end the hardship faced by women who have worked all their lives and find that they cannot retire as planned.”

 

NOTES 

The responses issued under a Freedom of Information request from Neil Lovatt can be read here:https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/discussion_and_analysis_of_the_r#incoming-1013941

 

Jeane Freeman in the Scottish Parliament on February 1, 2017:

“Section 28 of the Scotland Act 2016, on exceptions to reserved areas, says that top-up does not include pensions assistance or assistance “by reason of old age.” https://www.theyworkforyou.com/sp/?id=2017-02-01.17.0

 

Mhairi Black in The National on July 15, 2017:

“What I’ve also started to pick up is the nonsense that the SNP Scottish Government can wave a magic wand and provide additional payments and pensions to those who fall under the WASPI banner. This myth has been debunked time after time.”

http://www.thenational.scot/politics/15412879.Mhairi_Black__A_week_of_good_news_for_Scotland_has_left_Unionists_exposed_on_the_UK_s_failings/

 

Richard Harrington, then-Pensions Minister, April 15, 2017:

“One such option, however, could be for you to legislate to introduce new discretionary payments using section 26 of the Scotland Act 2016.”

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/409971/response/1013941/attach/3/2317%20Jeane%20Freeman%20WASPI.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

Guy Opperman, Pensions Minister, July 16, 2017:

“It is to be welcomed that you acknowledge that there are powers available to the Scottish Government that could be used to support people before they reach state pension age, including those who may be affected by the equalisation of the state pension age.”

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/409971/response/1013941/attach/4/2317%20Minister%20for%20Social%20Security.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

LABOUR DEMANDS ROLL-OUT OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT IS HALTED

Alex Rowley – Labour

Scottish Labour has demanded that Tory plans to roll-out Universal Credit are halted amid growing concerns that families are being pushed into poverty and debt.

Deputy leader Alex Rowley has written to Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson to challenge them to halt the roll-out. He has also contacted every MP in the UK to seek support for a delay.

Mr Rowley highlighted particular concerns about the six-week waiting period for payments at the start of the process. Evidence from Citizens Advice Scotland suggests this is resulting in people ending up with rent arrears and forcing them to rely on crisis grants and foodbanks. (See notes to editors)

Universal Credit, which will replace six existing benefits, is supposed to make access to social security payments less complicated. It has been rolled out in parts of Scotland and is due to be introduced in full across the country by the end of 2018 – starting this October.

Scottish Labour’s summer campaign, For The Many, will this week focus on tackling inequality.

A Labour government would act immediately to end the worst excesses of the Tory government’s changes, and would rebuild and transform our social security system.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley said:

“I have heard first-hand some of the issues around the roll-out of Universal Credit and there is a very real concern that the system is leaving many in poverty and debt.

“Universal Credit is supposed to make access to social security less complex, and to further support people into work. This cannot be the case if it is leaving people without the vital support they need and drives some to foodbanks simply to survive.

“The six-week waiting period for payments at the start of the process is particularly concerning, resulting in people ending up with rent arrears, and forcing them to rely on crisis grants and foodbanks for the very basic necessity of feeding themselves.

“The accelerated roll-out of Universal Credit must be halted until these problems can be resolved. If the system puts more people in poverty or debt, or even increases the risk of these, then it should not continue in that form.

“A Labour government working for the many, not the few, would act immediately to end the worst excesses of the Tory government’s changes, and would rebuild and transform our social security system.”

NOTES 

It is projected that when full service roll-out is complete in 2022, there will be 652,500 households in Scotland claiming Universal Credit.

Citizens Advice Scotland evidence in initial roll-out areas shows that since Universal Credit was introduced bureaux have seen:

• A 15 per cent rise in rent arrears issues compared to a national decrease of 2 per cent.

• An 87 per cent increase in Crisis Grant issues compared to a national increase of 9 per cent.

• Two of five bureaux in impacted areas have seen a 40 per cent and a 70 per cent increase in advice about access to food banks advice, compared to a national increase of 3 per cent.

Source: http://www.cas.org.uk/news/press-release-citizens-advice-scotland-calls-halt-universal-credit

 

The letter to David Gauke MP in full:

Dear Secretary of State,

I am writing to you regarding the accelerated roll-out of Universal Credit.

I have been in contact with organisations in my area, and have met with many constituents at local job clubs and heard first-hand some of the issues around the roll-out of Universal Credit. There is a very real concern that the system as it is operating is leaving many in poverty and debt.

The intention behind Universal Credit is supposedly to make access to social security less complex, and to further support people into work. This cannot be the case if it is leaving people without the vital support they need and drives some to have to rely on foodbanks simply to survive.

Of particular concern is the six week waiting period for payments at the start of the process. This is resulting in people ending up with rent arrears, increased reliance on crisis grants and relying on foodbanks for the very basic necessity of feeding themselves. The evidence to show all of this is now available from the pilot roll out areas as highlighted by Citizens Advice Scotland in a recent publication.

People have also reported that they are finding the process particularly complicated, which is resulting in more time spent ensuring that the bureaucratic process has been followed to avoid sanctioning, and less time actually available to look for work, or to develop the skills needed for work. There are also serious problems with individuals struggling to manage their claims online due to lacking digital skills or access to a computer.

It is for these reasons that I am asking that the accelerated roll-out of Universal Credit be halted until these problems can be resolved. If the system as it is operating puts more people in poverty or debt, or even increases the risk of these, then it should not continue in that form. Universal Credit must operate in a manner that helps individuals who need that support. Surely it cannot be right or acceptable that it hurts the very people it is designed to help.

Any changes to social security must be designed and implemented to support those individuals who rely on it. It can’t simply be a rigid administrative process, it must look beyond the process itself and see what impact it is having for the lives of those that use it. With this roll-out of Universal Credit we are seeing the impact it is having on people’s lives, and it is raising serious concerns.

I look forward to your response on how the DWP intend to resolve these worrying problems and I do hope in the meantime you will delay the roll out until assurances are in place that these concerns which are driving people into poverty are resolved.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Rowley MSP

The letter to Ruth Davidson MSP in full:

Dear Ruth,

I am writing to ask you, and the Scottish Conservative Party, to support the calls I have made on the UK Government to delay the accelerated roll-out of Universal Credit until such time as the concerns being raised by Citizens Advice Scotland, supported by many anti-poverty groups and local community organisations across Scotland, are addressed.

I hope you and your party recognise the very real concerns that are being voiced in communities across Scotland about the impact of the move towards Universal Credit.

There are severe concerns over the six week waiting period at the start of the application process, the complexity of the process itself, and problems with individuals managing claims online due to lacking digital skills or access to a computer. Indeed Citizens Advice Bureau evidence, in initial roll out areas, shows that since Universal Credit was introduced bureaux have seen:

•             A 15% rise in rent arrears issues compared to a national decrease of 2%

•             An 87% increase in Crisis Grant issues compared to a national increase of 9%

•             Two of five bureaux in impacted areas have seen a 40% and a 70% increase in advice about access to food banks advice, compared to a national increase of 3%

I have met with many community organisations and the question that keeps coming up is: why would any government introduce changes to a system when they know that they will cause hundreds of thousands of people widespread poverty, drive people into debt, rent arears and dependent on charity just to be able to eat.

This cannot be, indeed it is not, right. If these issues are not addressed it will impact people in every constituency in the UK. I have written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions asking him to address these problems before moving forward with the accelerated roll-out of Universal Credit. Further to this I have also written to every MP to ask them to support a delay in the roll out. I am now asking you to join the campaign to get the Government to stop the roll-out and instead address the issues and concerns being raised by poverty groups all over the country.

In changing our social security system, we must always bear this in mind that this is not about numbers, but people’s lives. We can and must do more to stop people suffering the effects of poverty arising as a result of problems with Universal Credit. I hope you would agree that it is not acceptable for the Government to simply proceed regardless, and that you will lend your party’s support to address this problem.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Alex Rowley MSP

POSTCODE LOTTERY OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR PUPILS

Monica Lennon – Labour

New data from Scottish Labour has revealed a postcode lottery of mental health support available to pupils in Scotland.

The findings have emerged despite claims by the SNP Government that a mental health link worker is available to every school.

The figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveal that 14 councils in Scotland do not employ this position in schools, and a further 12 do not hold any information on the role.

Six out of 14 regional health boards also confirmed that they do not hold the position, which is supposed to be a named employee.

Scottish Labour has put forward a plan for school-based counselling, supported by children’s organisations, which would give our young people access to support when they require it.

The party is this week focusing on the next generation of Scots as part of its summer campaign, For The Many.

Scottish Labour inequalities spokesperson Monica Lennon said:

“The SNP claims that every school has access to a mental health link worker, but there is utter confusion over what this role looks like in practice and who is supposed to fulfil it.

“A majority of councils in Scotland have revealed they either don’t have a mental health link worker or don’t hold information on it.  How can we trust SNP ministers when they claim support is in place, when education authorities and health boards say that it’s not?

“If schools don’t hold information on who is supposed to be their mental health link worker, children and young people are simply missing out.

“Meanwhile, there is a crisis in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), with thousands of children waiting several months for treatment – often, in the end, only to be turned away. If young people get early support, we know a mental health problem can avoid becoming a crisis.

“That’s why Labour has a plan for school-based counselling, supported by children’s organisations, that would give our young people access to support when they require it.

“SNP ministers must act urgently to explain what support exists and that they will give serious consideration to putting our school counselling plan in place.”

  

NOTES 

On January 12, 2017, SNP minister Maureen Watt wrote to the convener of the Health and Sport Committee. In her letter, she states that all schools have access to a mental health link person:  http://www.parliament.scot/S5_HealthandSportCommittee/Inquiries/20170112_Letter_from_Minister.pdf

FOI request: Mental Health Link Workers:

Please provide details of the total number of mental health link workers who are either employed or contracted by the NHS Board and who have responsibility for primary and secondary schools.

Please include in this information (i) the total number of workers, and/or the Full Time Equivalent figures, ii) how many schools take up these services in each year since 2010, iii) the job title of the workers and iv) a brief description of their role.

RESPONSES:

 

Council
Aberdeen City	None – info held by NHS Grampian
Aberdeenshire	Mental health link workers not available
Angus	Not employed or contracted
Argyll and Bute	Not employed or contracted
Clackmannanshire	–
Dumfries and Galloway	Not held
Dundee	Not held
East Ayrshire	Not held
East Dunbartonshire	None – work with Health and Social Care Partnership to provide mental health services.
East Lothian	Matters referred through CAMHS.
East Renfrewshire	None
Edinburgh City	Not held – info held by NHS
Falkirk	Not employed or contracted
Fife	None
Glasgow City	43 Educational Psychologists
Highland	10.2 FTE Band 6 Primary Mental Health Workers (PMHW) 1 Band 7 PMHW Team Lead – each school is allocated a worker and how to contact them
Inverclyde	None
Midlothian	Not held
Moray	None
Western Isles	Not held
North Ayrshire	None
North Lanarkshire	Not held – linked to educational psychologist service
Orkney Islands	None employed
Perth & Kinross	None employed – referred through NHS
Renfrewshire	None employed
Scottish Borders	3 Community Mental health workers delivered by NHS
Shetland Islands	0.5 FTE primary care worker based in CAMHS team
South Ayrshire	None
South Lanarkshire	None – info held by NHS
Stirling	None
West Dumbartonshire	Not held
West Lothian	Not held

 

NHS board
Ayrshire & Arran	6 Primary Mental Health Workers and 2 Clinical Applied Assistant Psychologists – accept school referrals
Borders	3 Community Mental Health Workers, responsibility for 9 secondary schools
Dumfries & Galloway	None – Mental Health Link workers have links to school clusters but only as part of their role
Fife	None – but does employ 4 CAMHS Primary Mental Health Workers to provide specialist support to all agencies, including shcools
Forth Valley	None – but employ a small team of Primary Mental Health Workers (5.2 WTE)
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	None
Grampian	None
Highland	Employed by Highland Council Argyll and Bute – 4 x 0.5 WTE workers covering 11-16 years.
Lanarkshire	Not employed/not held
Lothian	–
Orkney	None
Shetland	1 WTE Primary Mental Health Worker
Tayside	5 WTE Primary Mental Health Worker staff with responsibility of the Mental Health Link Worker role as part of their Primary Mental Health Worker Role
Western Isles	–

CBI/PEARSON REPORT MUST SERVE AS ‘WAKE-UP CALL’ TO SNP

Only one-third of Scottish businesses are confident of being able to source the high-skilled workers they need for the future, according to the annual CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey.

Rod Bristow, Pearson’s president, UK and Core, said today: “Scotland’s education system needs to better meet the needs of Scottish business.”

Scottish Labour recently published a new industrial strategy, which is designed to ensure that people are equipped with the skills they need to compete for the jobs of tomorrow.

Commenting on the survey, Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson Iain Gray said:

“This report must serve as a wake-up call to the SNP. Nicola Sturgeon promised to make education her top priority, but instead we have had a decade of destructive and divisive cuts from the SNP.

“We need education policies that improve the outcomes for young people when they leave school and enter the world of work, which is why Labour has an industrial strategy that would equip people with the skills they need to compete for the jobs of tomorrow.

“We need to inspire a new generation of world-leading scientists and innovators to give our country the skills we all need to succeed.

“That starts in our schools, which is why we need investment in education to address the skills shortages – particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and coding.

“Under the SNP there are 4,000 fewer teachers and £1.5billion has been cut from local services, including schools, since 2011. If SNP ministers are serious about improving life chances for the next generation, they will listen to Labour and invest in education and take on board the proposals in our industrial strategy.”

NOTES 

The tenth CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey was conducted between February and April 2017, with responses received from 344 organisations of which 120 operate in Scotland.

Read more about Scottish Labour’s industrial strategy here: http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/blog/entry/scottish-labour-unveils-industrial-strategy

THOUSANDS OF APPRENTICES PAID LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE

Jackie Baillie – Labour 

Thousands of apprentices in Scotland are being paid less than the National Minimum Wage, according to new research highlighted by local MSP Jackie Baillie.

A total of 14 per cent of apprentices across the country get less than £5.55 per hour – while 2.2 percent are earning less than £2.67 per hour.

Low pay is particularly endemic in certain professions, with 42 per cent of hairdressing apprentices earning less than the minimum wage.

Scottish Labour called on the SNP government to not certify Modern Apprenticeships through Skills Development Scotland if they are found to be paying less than the National Minimum Wage.

The National Union of Students Scotland has also raised concerns about the issue.

Jackie said:

“It is deeply troubling that thousands of apprentices are not being paid the National Minimum Wage, while some are earning less than £2.67 an hour.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to get young people into work – but that work should pay a fair wage.

“The SNP government should ensure no Modern Apprenticeship schemes are recognised unless they pay people at least the minimum wage.

“Anything less than that is simply letting young people down.”

Notes

Table 3.13 – Proportion of all apprentices in each pay / compliance band

	£0.00-£1.50	£1.51-£2.67	£2.68-£3.29	£3.30-£5.29	£5.30-£6.69	£6.70-£7.19	£7.20-£9.00	Over £9.00
Compliant	N/A	N/A	N/A	19.3	18.0	6.2	23.9	17.8
Non-compliant	0.2	2.0	4.4	4.5	3.0	0.5	N/A	N/A

2.2 per cent earn less than £2.67

14.6 per cent are in a non-compliant pay band

Apprenticeship Pay Survey 2016: Scotland (BEIS)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630087/apprenticeship-pay-survey-2016-report-scotland.pdf

“The survey comprised 9,422 telephone interviews with apprentices, conducted from 9 June 2016 to 25 July 2016; 1,552 interviews were conducted with Level 2 and Level 3 apprentices in Scotland.”

“Looking only at Level 2 and 3 apprentices in Scotland for whom compliance could be assessed, 14 per cent were paid below the appropriate NMW or NLW.”

Comment on headteacher recruitment crisis

Commenting on the report in Tes Scotland that Scottish schools are spending up to three years trying to recruit headteachers, Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson Iain Gray said: 

“This is the latest evidence of the teacher shortage all across Scotland, and the crisis in headteacher recruitment in particular.

“There are 4,000 fewer teachers under the SNP and we know that it will now take up to three years to deal with the shortage.

“John Swinney has been told there is a problem with teachers’ pay generally and for senior posts especially.  Many teachers already feel the headteacher’s role means too much responsibility for too little return.

“Not only is the Education Secretary not listening, he is proposing to pile yet more responsibilities onto headteachers, with no additional resources or salary rise.

“Mr Swinney’s governance review also appears to want to normalise the idea of headteachers managing several schools, instead of addressing the issue.

“This will only worsen a situation which is the result of years of SNP mismanagement of education, with a government that has been too distracted to get on with the day job.

“Only Labour has a plan to stop the cuts and invest in education, building a country for our youngsters that works for the many, not the few.”

NOTES 

The Tes Scotland report can be read here: https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/scottish-schools-spending-three-years-trying-recruit-headteachers

Comment on warning over funding of health and social care integration

Alex Rowley – Labour 

Commenting on the warning from Scottish integration authority chief finance officers about the ’emerging evidence of limited resources available to support the integration of health and social care in Scotland’, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Alex Rowley said:

“This is a very serious warning that SNP ministers must take seriously.

“We have a staffing crisis in our NHS, and a funding crisis in local government. The SNP has cut £1.5billion from local services since 2011, including £170million this year alone.

“That has a major impact on services such as social care.

“The SNP needs to stop passing on Tory austerity and support Labour’s proposals to invest in our communities.”

Response to Kenny MacAskill’s comments about Police Scotland

Commenting on former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill’s comments about a ‘leadership gap’ in Police Scotland, Scottish Labour’s justice spokesperson Claire Baker MSP said: 

“Kenny MacAskill is right to point out the leadership gap in our police force.

“We have had the chair of the Scottish Police Authority forced out, the chief executive under pressure, and now the chief constable under investigation. The SNP Government needs to urgently convince the public that policing in Scotland is under control.

“But Kenny MacAskill has a cheek to accuse opposition politicians of ‘political point-scoring’. He is the man responsible for the creation of Police Scotland, and was responsible for one of the most outrageous attempts at political point-scoring in Holyrood when he attempted to claim that opposition to his plans to abolish corroboration in the courts was part of an anti-independence conspiracy.

“Raising valid concerns about the SNP government’s handling of justice matters is not ‘grandstanding’ – it is doing the job that voters expect of us.”

NOTES 

Kenny MacAskill’s comments on Police Scotland can be read here: https://stv.tv/news/politics/1394517-kenny-macaskill-warns-of-police-scotland-leadership-gap/

Kenny MacAskill’s comments during a debate on corroboration can be read here: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/kenny-macaskill-sparks-fury-claims-3190987

Scottish Government confirms GP cuts still on the table

Jackie Baillie – Labour 

The Health Secretary, Shona Robison, has confirmed that the health board’s review of GP out-of-hours services is still going ahead in a letter to local MSP Jackie Baillie.

The SNP minister stressed that “it is important to note that no formal decisions have yet been made on the provision of services”.

This contradicts the Leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, Jonathan McColl, who claimed recently that he had received assurances from the Chair of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that cuts to the Vale of Leven Hospital’s GP out-of-hours services have been rejected.

In her letter to Jackie Baillie, Shona Robison also said that she had assurances from the Chair but this only amounts to making the continued provision of primary care services a “key priority” for the health board, with no specific commitment to maintaining the Vale’s out-of-hours service.

The letter was in response to the Dumbarton MSP’s request to arrange another date for Hospitalwatch campaigners to present the bedsheet petition to Nicola Sturgeon, following the SNP’s no-show at a parliamentary reception in June, but the Health Secretary failed to offer a meeting.

Jackie said:

“Cllr Jonathan McColl has been put in his place by the Health Secretary. After the health board distanced themselves from his earlier claims, there can be no doubt that cuts at the Vale of Leven Hospital are still on the cards.

“It is clear now that the SNP Council Leader’s attention-grabbing statement was ill-judged and premature. Maybe if he started attending health board meetings to fight for our local hospital he would know more about what is really going on inside NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“Shona Robison’s recount of the health board chairman’s assurances is really just a bland and meaningless commitment to making the Vale of Leven Hospital a “key priority”, with nothing to say about keeping our local GP out-of-hours service. That’s simply not good enough and I will keep fighting alongside local campaigners and Hospitalwatch until we get a clear statement from the health board and the Scottish Government that there will be no cuts to our local health services.”