{"id":1608,"date":"2017-01-12T17:00:45","date_gmt":"2017-01-12T17:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=1608"},"modified":"2017-01-12T17:17:58","modified_gmt":"2017-01-12T17:17:58","slug":"scottish-news-not-being-reported","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=1608","title":{"rendered":"Scottish News……..not being reported"},"content":{"rendered":"

As there have been a few weeks of no positive news from Scotland I have decided to share some of the things that are happening here with links to the full stories.<\/p>\n

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New hospitals and health centres due to open in 2017-18<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nearly \u00a3500 million of new healthcare facilities, including two new hospital buildings, are expected to open to patients in 2017-18.<\/p>\n

Funded through Scottish Government investment, these new NHS and local council facilities will provide patients across Scotland with treatment in purpose-built, 21st<\/sup>\u00a0century settings.<\/p>\n

Ms Robison said: \u201cAs we enter a new year, it seems apt to reflect on the significant progress made in delivering some key new facilities, which are already beginning to transform the care thousands of patients receive every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking ahead, nearly half a billion pounds of hospitals and health centres will be completed in 2017-18 – making care more effective, efficient and safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur investment in these new facilities will help us to achieve our ambition of transforming the way health and social care services are delivered, keeping NHS Scotland at the forefront of delivering world-class care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Full story\u00a0 http:\/\/news.gov.scot\/news\/half-a-billion-pounds-of-nhs-facilities-to-go-live\u00a0 <\/a><\/p>\n

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Grants of \u00a31.65m to help homeless and vulnerable people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Organisations that work with homeless people and give housing support to vulnerable will benefit from \u00a31.65 million of Scottish Government grant funding.<\/p>\n

The Housing Sector Voluntary Grant Scheme helps third sector organisations to deliver housing-related projects and services.<\/p>\n

The 2017\/18 allocation will benefit 17 different organisations whose work includes helping older and disabled people to live independently, improving access to housing for homeless people and supporting refugee, asylum seekers and new migrant communities.<\/p>\n

Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a sad fact that many of Scotland\u2019s most vulnerable people are faced with anxiety over their housing situation and the possible threat of homelessness.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Scottish Government recognises the role that third sector organisations play in helping people who find themselves in housing need. Some of these projects are small in scale, but the benefits they bring to the individuals concerned are tremendous.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m delighted that, through the recent draft budget settlement, we have been able to invest in vital projects and organisations that can be a lifeline for so many across Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Full story\u00a0 http:\/\/news.gov.scot\/news\/funding-for-housing-projects<\/a><\/p>\n

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Candidates for the March Crofting Commission elections can now be put forward.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The process of nominating candidates opens today, with Scotland\u2019s 16,000 crofters able to put forward candidates or stand themselves for election to the Commission\u2019s board as commissioners.<\/p>\n

The Commission regulates and promotes the interests of crofting. March\u2019s postal election is to elect commissioners from the six crofting constituencies: East Highlands, Orkney and Caithness, Shetland, South West Highlands, West Highlands and Western Isles.<\/p>\n

Crofters can get a nomination pack from their local council returning officer. The deadline for returning nominations is Thursday 26 January and the deadline for returning ballot papers is Thursday 16 March. Results will be announced on 17 March.<\/p>\n

Full story\u00a0http:\/\/news.gov.scot\/news\/nominations-open-for-crofting-elections<\/a><\/p>\n

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Funding to support children and young people who go missing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are delighted that the Scottish Government has renewed its commitment to supporting vulnerable missing children and young people with this funding.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy building key partnerships with Police Scotland, other charities and local councils, the charity is committed to finding and supporting more missing children and young people across Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a child goes missing it is nearly always a sign that something is very wrong. These funds from the Scottish Government will help ensure that we can be here for free, 24\/7 without judgement at the end of the phone when a missing child needs to talk through their options or get help to stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Full story\u00a0http:\/\/news.gov.scot\/news\/lifeline-for-missing-people<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Keith Brown meets Consular Corps.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Giving a trade and investment briefing to the Consular Corps, Mr Brown highlighted that the Scottish Government firmly believes that EU membership delivers many social, economic and cultural benefits for individuals, business and communities.<\/p>\n

The paper published by the Scottish Government last month \u2013 \u201cScotland\u2019s Place in Europe\u201d \u2013 puts forward proposals to keep Scotland, and preferably the whole of the UK, in the European Single Market.<\/p>\n

The Scottish Consular Corps represent 57 countries, 15 of which are full diplomatic consulates while the others are honorary consulates.<\/p>\n

Mr Brown said :-<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the EU referendum result, we committed to explore all options to protect Scotland\u2019s national interests, in order to respond to the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland, and the national Parliament of Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur paper, \u201cScotland\u2019s Place in Europe\u201d\u00a0 meets that commitment and is the first, and only, detailed plan for dealing with the implications of Brexit to be published by any government in the UK.\u00a0 At its heart are proposals to keep Scotland, and preferably the whole of the UK, in the European Single Market of 500 million people and stop the disaster of a hard Brexit, which could cost 80,000 Scottish jobs within a decade and cost people an average of \u00a32,000 in wages.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeeping our place in the world\u2019s biggest single market \u2013 which is around eight times larger than the UK\u2019s alone \u2013 matters hugely for our economy and to jobs, trade, living standards and investment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Scottish Government is absolutely committed to maintaining our place in the European Single Market, and that is the message I reinforced to our European partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Membership of the single market has reduced barriers to trade with the EU by:<\/p>\n