A daily snapshot of the morning headlines and Parliamentary business
Good morning – here are the top 10 news stories in Scotland this morning:
Scottish budget to focus on growth, pledges John Swinney (BBC Scotland)
Benefits for older Scots ‘tearing society apart’ (The Herald)
Scottish independence: Iain Duncan Smith warning on welfare bill ‘irrelevant’ (The Scotsman)
North-east poised for Scottish Open boost (Press & Journal)
Scottish independence: referendum details finalised next month (Daily Telegraph)
Three-quarters of people ‘believe trend of pub closures will continue’ (STV)
North Lanarkshire Council announces ‘worst-ever’ cuts that could see 1300 jobs axed (Daily Record)
£10.7m to make Edinburgh a “super-connected” city (Holyrood)
Watchdogs ‘disappointed with progress’ at Strathclyde Police Authority (STV)
‘Constrain or shame’ food producers over unhealthy products, MSPs are told (The Scotsman)
Today’s Scottish Parliament highlights:
12.00: Today’s FMQs comes against the backdrop of feuding between the SNP and UK Government over comments made by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith on the costs of welfare in an independent Scotland.
14.30: Finance Secretary John Swinney will present his draft budget for 2013-14 to Holyrood this afternoon amid promises jobs and growth will be at the centre of the spending plans.
For full details of all current and upcoming Scottish Parliamentary business, check out the official Business Bulletin.
Alan Robertson
A graduate in Politics and Journalism from the University of Strathclyde, Alan joined the Holyrood team as a reporter in May 2012 fresh from finishing his studies. Alan spent four years in student media, the last of which helping to launch the award-winning Glasgow Journal as Managing Editor, and continues to work part-time as a sub-editor in sport for the Sunday...