Good morning - here are the top 10 stories in Scotland this morning:
New RBS bonus storm (Independent)
Trump to bankroll Scots wind farm war (Herald)
Alex Salmond challenged to hold Scottish independence vote in 2013 (Guardian)
Scottish independence: Oil fund ‘raises budget questions’ (BBC Scotland)
Poor ‘less likely to receive NHS treatment’ (STV News)
Scotland making ‘good progress’ on heart disease (BBC Scotland)
Welfare changes ‘devastating’ for disabled people (STV News)
Falkirk MP Eric Joyce ‘arrested’ after allegedly sparking rammy in House of Commons bar (Daily Record)
Scottish universities avoid worst of cuts in courses (Scotsman)
Police jobs at risk from VAT (Scotsman)
Scottish Parliament highlights:
- 9.15: Richard Baker (Lab) will lead a debate on proposals to close 11 railway stations Glasgow, floated in the Scottish Government’s Rail 2014 consultation. An amendment to Baker’s motion from Transport Minister Keith Brown states that “there has never been an intention… to close railway stations in Glasgow”, and highlighting SNP investment in rail infrastructure
- 12.00: With a new push from unionist parties to move the planned independence referendum to 2013 (see above), process questions could make an appearance at today’s FMQs. Another highlight could be the response to a question lodged by Murdo Fraser (Con) asking about the economic impact of Rangers FC going into administration
- 13.00: Today will see a first for the Scottish Parliament, as a committee is convened to investigate the impact of a piece of legislation in another parliament – that is, Westminster. The first meeting of the new Welfare Reform Committee will select a convener and discuss its work programme – in future, it could become a focus of the referendum campaign as the SNP attack a controversial UK policy on a reserved matter
For a full roundup of Scottish Parliament events, check out the 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...