Good morning – here are the top 10 stories in Scotland this morning:
Mass strike ‘will close down 99% of schools’ (Scotsman)
Thousands of strike day operations postponed (Herald)
MoD given deadline to clear radioactive beach (Herald)
Government coastguard decision ‘an unacceptable risk to lives’ (Press & Journal)
Children eating ‘alarming amount’ of junk food, health experts warn (STV News)
Crackdown on sectarian chants to be law by spring (Scotsman)
‘Serious concerns’ with EU oil and gas safety regime (Press & Journal)
Ageing workforce threatens NHS with Scots midwife crisis (Scotsman)
Leveson Inquiry: Scots mother critical of press (BBC Scotland)
Independence vote uncertainty ‘damaging the UK economy’ (BBC Scotland)
Scottish Parliament highlights:
- 9.30: The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee will meet for the first time with Murdo Fraser (Con) amongst its number, following the Tory shadow frontbench reshuffle after Ruth Davidson’s leadership victory that saw previous convener Gavin Brown (Con) promoted to finance spokesman. Selection of a new convener is a formality, as Fraser is guaranteed the role. The committee will hear from a number of witnesses on the state of Scottish tourism
- 10.00: The Finance Committee – with Gavin Brown in attendance for the first time – will hear from Renfrewshire’s Children’s Services Partnership and the Social Research Unit at Dartington on the topic of early intervention in children’s services
- 17.00: Jim Eadie (SNP) will lead a member’s debate on the Act of Settlement, welcoming changes at the recent Commonwealth heads of government summit equalising the rights of female and male heirs to the throne, but condemning the lack of progress on removing the bar on Catholics becoming monarch
For a full breakdown of Scottish Parliament business, check out today’s official Business Bulletin
Paris Gourtsoyannis
Paris joined Holyrood in September 2011, and became education correspondent in May 2012. Born in Canada into a Greek family, and raised in Belgium, he came to Scotland in 2005 to study at the University of Edinburgh, where he was involved with award-winning student publication The Journal. Before working at Holyrood, Paris contributed to the Edinburgh Evening News, the Guardian and Guardian Local, and interned at think-tank Demos. His beat takes in all areas of Scotland's education and skills sector, including early years, adult learning, and employability...