Good morning – here are the top 10 stories in Scotland this morning:
Cameron ‘not fussy’ about timing of vote (Press & Journal)
Benefit reforms paint ‘bleak picture’ for Scotland’s most vulnerable (STV News)
Helicopter flights to resume, says company (Press & Journal)
Total gas leak operation begins at Elgin North Sea platform (Guardian)
Scottish independence: MoD ‘will want out’ of separate Scotland (Scotsman)
Tory peer says independence will happen even if SNP lose referendum (Daily Record)
Labour reach agreement with Tories to run Fife Council as minority administration (Daily Record)
First Minister acclaims 500 oil jobs boost (Herald)
Weeks to wait for full figures on council elections turnout (Guardian)
Second World War Arctic convoy veterans should be rewarded with own campaign medal, demands Keith Brown (Daily Record)
Today’s Scottish Parliament highlights:
- 9.30: The Local Government and Regeneration Committee will hold a session on the Local Government Finance (Unoccupied Properties etc.) Bill, taking evidence from groups such as the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers, Shelter Scotland, and the Scottish Property Federation
- 10.30: The Finance Committee will hear from a panel of witnesses on improving employability, including representatives of the STUC, Universities Scotland, and the Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development Group
- 14.15: Children’s Minister Aileen Campbell will lead a government debate on Scotland’s National Parenting Strategy, welcoming the wide-ranging consultation process already undertaken. Neil Bibby (Lab) has lodged an amendment calling for kinship care to be a key element of the strategy, and for the Scottish Government to honour a pledge for £10m to be spent on kinship care allowances. Nanette Milne (Con) also has an amendment recognising the role of schools
For full details of all current and upcoming Scottish Parliamentary business, 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...