Updates

Finnie calls for drug deaths inquiry

Thu 14 Mar, 2019

Green MSP John Finnie has today (14 March) called on the Scottish Government to instruct a statutory public inquiry into drugs deaths in Scotland.

Mr Finnie, who is the Co-Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Drug and Alcohol Misuse, questioned the First Minister on the rising number of drug deaths in Scotland, in parliament this afternoon.

Scotland saw a record 934 drug deaths in 2017, in comparison there were 146 road traffic deaths in the same year.

It is feared the figure for 2018 could be significantly higher.

John Finnie MSP said:

Poll reveals increased majority in favour of 20mph

Thu 14 Mar, 2019

Mark Ruskell MSP has today (14 March) revealed polling which shows that a clear majority of people support his proposal to change the default speed limits on the streets where we live, work and play to 20mph.

A poll conducted by Survation shows that once those who neither agreed nor disagreed with the policy were removed, 72% of people said they support the introduction of 20mph default speed limits. This has risen from 65% in 2017, excluding those who neither agreed nor disagreed. 

Tory bid will allow beaver killing to continue

Tue 12 Mar, 2019

Green MSP Mark Ruskell has slammed Tory MSPs on the Parliament’s Environment Committee for trying to block moves to protect beavers from indiscriminate killing.

Tory MSP John Scott this morning said that his party would attempt to annul amendments to conservation regulations, which will make beavers in Scotland a European protected species and ensure that culls can only happen under licence and after other steps have failed.

Johnstone secures fair work win

Tue 12 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP has this afternoon (12 March) won the support of the Scottish Parliament to improve Scotland’s approach to fair work.

In the amendment, which won the overwhelming support of MSPs, Alison welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to apply fair work criteria to every type of grant, funding stream and business support programme, a measure the Greens have campaigned for over many years.