Minister puts focus on jobs for recovery

AN “immediate and quick” response will be needed to tackle unemployment when the furlough scheme ends, Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop has said.

Hyslop discussed the Scottish Government’s plans for an economic recovery with a committee of MSPs yesterday.

These included a commitment from the latest Budget for an additional £125 million towards employability schemes.

Part of this will be the £70m Young Person’s Guarantee, which aims to provide work, education or training for every 16 to 24-year-old across Scotland.

She told Holyrood’s Economy Committee: “In terms of the response – it’s not just Scotland, it’s not just the United Kingdom — globally, the response to this will not be something that can be dealt with quickly.

“I think what will need to be an immediate and quick response will be on unemployment.”

AN increase in the charge for single-use carrier bags has been backed by MSPs on Holyrood’s Environment Committee.

The cost is to be upped from the current 5p per bag to 10p from the start of April this year – with Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham saying this was a “reasonable and widely accepted move”.

Prior to charges being levied on single-use bags in October 2014, Scots used some 800 million of these each year.

That number fell by 80% the following the year – with the Marine Conservation Society noting in 2016 the number of bags found littering Scotland’s beaches fell by 40% two years in a row, with a further drop of 42% recorded between 2018 and 2019.

Cunningham stressed the charge applied to all single-use bags – not just plastic ones.

She also said doubling the cost to 10p would keep Scotland in line with the rest of the UK.

A PRISONER who slit the face of a fellow inmate with a homemade blade has been jailed for three years.

Craig Duffy, 27, pounced on William Cairns in Glasgow’s Barlinnie jail on New Year’s Eve 2019.

The thug struck after Cairns entered his cell while collecting rubbish.

Duffy later tried to hide the blade – which had a handle made of milk labels – in the bin.

He pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault to Cairns’ injury. Sheriff Andrew Cubie also put him under supervision for 12 months when he is freed. The court heard Cairns was allowed into the cell by a prison officer.

Prosecutor Hannah Sweeney said: “Duffy exited and slashed Cairns with a makeshift bladed weapon. He struck him on the left side of his face behind his ear and along his jawline.”

Cairns was taken to the prison nurse for treatment and his wound was glued shut.

He later refused to make a formal statement about the attack.

A CITY cat charity received a surprise donation over the Valentine’s weekend.

Cats Protection Glasgow Branch got a £2000 cash boost from the Support Adoption For Pets charity, started by Pets at Home.

Support Adoption For Pets charity manager Amy Angus said: “Our message was simple over Valentine’s Day weekend and it’s one that we’re really passionate about as a charity.

“We’re here to share the love and surprising Cats Protection Glasgow Branch with a donation of £2000 meant the world to them.”