Road disruption

I am only getting back to driving this week after the C section I had with my twins. But I have recently ventured out with my husband and children to visit relatives on the weekend. Even on a Sunday we faced delays because of the work being carried out at the White Cart Viaduct.

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Fine Food

As a soon-to-be new mum I have a special interest these days in the welfare of young children. I am therefore pleased to report that the Scottish Executive has recently unveiled new guidance for nurseries, playgroups and childminders on providing nutritious meals and snacks for under-fives. The plan builds on the ground-breaking Hungry for Success programme in schools. 

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Support for Sport

I have discovered that no Paisley North sports groups have taken advantage of a scheme called “Sportsmatch” which gives cash to local sports groups which have succeeding in attracting some commercial business sponsorship. The scheme is funded by the Scottish Executive and administered by Sportscotland.

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Today’s motion is fascinating because, for the first time in a decade, the Tories have had the courage to offer their previous economic record for debate.

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Powerpoint presentation from Wendy’s lecture to the Royal Socitey of Edinburgh

Royal Society of Edinburgh Lecture

On any basis Labour has been a successful and a progressive Government. 

• 2 million more jobs and long-term youth unemployment virtually eliminated
• the only Government of any major developed nation investing more public money in health and education every year as a proportion of national income
• an end to the worst pensioner poverty
• leading the world on fighting poverty in Africa
• and a host of seminal changes from nearly trebling numbers of women MPs, the first black Cabinet Ministers and Muslim MPs and gay rights
• the minimum wage
• House of Lords reform and,
• devolution

Most of these advances would alone justify a Labour Government. Together they add up to a massive advance for progressive politics.  

Let me turn to Scotland.  

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I am delighted to be here.

At a lunchtime speech one usually dispenses with the jokes that are de rigueur for their after dinner equivalent as if to prove that lunch is not for wimps which is a pity since KPMG has offered some fertile territory in the last year on tax law suits – far enough away to be entertaining – but when I opened my newspapers yesterday I rather thought the last laugh was yours since UK income is up an average of 20%. 

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Powerpoint presentation on Scottish Education - Staying Ahead

University of Strathclyde

Education lecture

I am grateful for the chance to speak in the debate at this early stage in the policy process.

Like others, I welcome the Executive’s determination to modernise Scotland’s planning system.

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One of the easiest quips to make about the Scottish Parliament is that it simply isn’t connecting with the business sector – it’s also one of the laziest.

As a general rule of thumb you’ll find anyone using this line is increasingly out of touch with what’s actually going on in and around Holyrood.

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