The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Gilruth promises greater clarity on overseas spending
International Development Secretary Jenny Gilruth says the Scottish Government will look again at tying Scotland’s modest aid budget with development goals around better health and education opportunities for women and girls.
The promise comes after questions were raised on our Election Hub Live digital newscast about why the Scottish Government had committed this week to spending an extra £5 million on coronavirus relief, earmarking some funding for Pakistan.
The South-Asian country has an estimated 11 billion US dollar budget this year for defence spending and has allocated just $155 million to health care.
Speaking on Election Hub Live, Ms Gilruth said: “Our spend in Pakistan is focused on scholarships for women and girls so I wouldn’t agree with that assertion [that it’s an ill-advised spend].
“Our investment with regard to international development in Pakistan is limited to those scholarships.”
In terms of spending in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia, that is also focused in areas supporting women and girls.
When asked if there was a disconnect between giving funding to Pakistan, which has a nuclear stockpile and significant defence budget, and the SNP, who oppose nuclear weapons, Ms Gilruth said the manifesto includes a commitment on “policy coherence”.
She pointed to the example of Sweden, which has strongly linked its foreign policy with its aid policies and has been vocal on calling out countries with poor human rights records.
The SNP candidate for Mid Fife and Glenrothes added: “What we will look to do in the next parliament, if re-elected, is to try to make sure there is greater coherence with regards to our policies across every portfolio area.
“Not just for international development but trade links, all parts of government, and I think that’s hugely important.
“Sweden have done really good work on this but without that example, setting it aside, I’ve raised it with a number of other international development ministers.
“I don’t think any other countries are further ahead on where we might be at this moment in time, but it’s a challenge for all countries.”
The SNP have said they will increase the International Development Fund by 50%, from £10 million to £15 million, and commit to further increases in line with
New teachers should be given longer contracts to help fill vacancies across the north and northeast, Lib Dems claim.
The party makes the call in its Holyrood election manifesto, we can reveal.
The new contracts would include the option of extending from one to three years for probationers.
Lib Dems also say they
would expand remote teacher training opportunities, if they were in power at the Scottish Parliament.
Regions including the Highlands and Aberdeenshire have struggled to fill all posts and keep people in the communities once the contract is over.
Rosemary Bruce, a party candidate in the North East region, said: “Our plan for new three-year packages will remove the normal
end-of-probation precariousness that many new teachers dread.
“It will also give people a better opportunity to build a life in that community, which should encourage more people to make their posting long-term.
“At the same time, if someone is settled in a community and could be persuaded into a career as rewarding as teaching, they shouldn’t have to relocate to take that up.
“The pandemic has
shown the possibility and opportunity of remote working.
“We want to make the most of that, by setting up more remote teacher training opportunities.
“From our Education Bounce Back plan to our ambitious plans to fix the jobs crisis and tackle the climate emergency, Scottish Liberal Democrats have a positive plan to put recovery first. There is a chance for change, if we work without distraction.”
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats in the Northern Isles have set out what they want from the next government.
If in power, the party would set up a universal public transport ticket system for buses, trains and ferries across Scotland. And they want to extend free bus travel for young people to include ferry links.
They would also scrap car parking charges at Sumburgh airport.