Talking-up Scotland

 

Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2017-18, contains several pieces of evidence suggesting progress in Scotland which Humza Yousaf’s equivalents in the non-Scottish parts of the UK would sell their grannies for, yet ignoring the above dramatic good news and many other trends reported below, Reporting Scotland found a way to extract and construct a bad news story out of this extensive report:

Yesterday, Jackie Bird told us:

‘Almost 80% of people jailed in Scotland received sentences of less than a year according to new figures. That’s despite government plans to ask courts not to impose such short prison terms and instead use community sentences such as unpaid work.’

You see how they did this. They decided that all sentences up to 12 months, rather than those up to 3 months were ‘short sentences’, found less progress there and snuffled out this wee truffle they could selectively foreground:

Of course, we cannot see what proportion of those sentences were in the 6 to 12-month range. Do we actually want those reduced? Are they short sentences at all? Not to my mind, they’re not.

The report is 106 pages long and stuffed with other headline-worthy news, all ignored. Here’s my extract:

Handling offensive weapons:

Oh how, the ministers in London, England and Wales would drool over the above. Of course, RS would feel able to just report the last year and ignore the unwanted trend. You’ll remember many other times when they have preferred the longer view just to get a bigger headline percentage.

Overall convictions trend, still ongoing:

Convictions for crime continued to fall steady in the years since the SNP came to power. Multiple factors will be contributory, but the government of the day and its policies must take some of the credit just as, surely, they’d take any blame.

Average length of sentences:

The average length of sentences goes up and this is good news because it means fewer and fewer are going to prison for minor offences especially where violence is not involved. The average is now based on a smaller number serving longer terms thus increasing it. This trend shows the Scottish system encouraged by the Scottish Government has learned the key lesson that very short sentences are both ineffective and often make things worse by exposing minor offenders to the malign influence of those who have committed more serious crimes.

Fewer younger people convicted:

Though convictions for all groups have declined over the last ten years, the decrease has been most dramatic for the youngest group (under 21) and, less so, for the second youngest group (21-30). This is, of course, particularly good news as these are the groups most likely to be involved in crime. Similarly, the rate for males has declined dramatically from 46 per 1 000 population in 2008 to 28 in 2017-18. The rate for females has declined from 8 per 1 000 population in 2008 to 6 in 2017.

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics-publication/2019/01/criminal-proceedings-scotland-2017-18/documents/criminal-proceedings-scotland-2017-18/criminal-proceedings-scotland-2017-18/govscot%3Adocument

Spread the real news!

 

In Insider today:

A fast-growing construction and fit-out business has started the New Year in employee ownership. The deal saw 55 workers at Glasgow-based Pacific Building Ltd become joint owners of the business. An employee ownership trust will hold 100 per cent of the shares in Pacific – which is headquartered in Hillington Park on the outskirts of Glasgow – on behalf of the staff. All the workers will share equally in the company’s success every year via a bonus scheme, as long as it continues to operate profitably, and they will have a say in the day-to-day running of the business. The move by Pacific – whose turnover last year was £22 million – mirrors one taken almost exactly a year ago by Auchrannie resort on the isle of Arran, which transferred its ownership to its employees.’

https://www.insider.co.uk/news/pacific-building-ltd-becomes-employee-13919909

This is just another example of a strengthening trend in Scotland:

Employee-ownership far more common in Scotland

Once again, it’s the ‘8% of the UK population but much more of something good’ meme. This time it’s 33% of employee-owned firms in the UK

 

In Business Green today:

‘New report from Cornwall Insight suggests plummeting offshore wind costs and strict onshore planning rules could see the cheapest form of new power move offshore. Onshore wind is currently thought to be the cheapest form of new generating capacity available in the UK, but could its crown soon be challenged by its offshore cousin? That is the question posed by a new analysis by influential energy research specialist Cornwall Insight, which suggests offshore wind is likely to surpass onshore wind power to become the new cheapest source of new energy in less than 10 years. The assumption has long been that the costs associated with installing and maintaining turbines at sea will continue to more than offset the higher yields enjoyed as a result of stronger and more reliable winds, meaning onshore wind farms would continue to offer the more cost- effective option. However, Cornwall Insight’s new projections suggest the emergence of a new generation of giant offshore wind turbines coupled with on-going planning restrictions for onshore turbines could see offshore projects undercut their onshore equivalent on a levelised cost of energy (LCOE) basis by around 2028.’

https://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news-analysis/3070028/could-offshore-wind-soon-prove-cheaper-than-its-onshore-cousin

You probably know already that Scotland has an incredible 25% of all of Europe’s wind energy:

https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Facts

and has already begun to exploit that potential:

Scottish offshore expertise at the fore, again

Scotland’s world-first offshore wind farm electricity to cost less than half that of Hinkley Point C nuclear and has ability to withstand hurricanes.

Scotland’s offshore wind electricity generation capacity could be five times greater by 2030

Scotland is at the heart of a globally important offshore renewable energy sector

A monstrous offshore wind-farm is planned for the Moray coast, to power 750 000 homes and create 2 000 jobs. More evidence we need the Union to survive?

£530 million boost for Scottish economy from Beatrice offshore windfarm

£5 million Scottish Government investment helps Peterhead Port win major offshore wind contract

Scottish Government invests a further £1.5 million in offshore wind technology as our renewables energy generation booms.

 

In Market Watch today:

‘Total SA said Tuesday that it made a significant gas and condensate discovery on the Glengorm offshore prospect in the U.K.’s [sic]North Sea. Recoverable resources are estimated at around 250 million barrels of oil equivalent, Total said. The companies now plan to conduct further drilling and testing to assess the reservoir’s productivity.’

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/total-makes-significant-uk-offshore-discovery-2019-01-29-24852257

I know many readers favour a carbon-free future, but I feel obliged to use any weapon available in talking-up the case for independence:

Those who know are betting on high prices for Scottish oil in 2019

Another Trillion dollars plus in new oil field West of Shetland

Cameron’s Great Scottish Oilfield Cover-up of 2014

$2 trillion in Scottish oil still to be extracted just from North Sea!

Scottish oil heading for $41 billion profit in 2018 alone, BBC Scotland? Yes, yes, BUT, BUT what about rising costs?

Of course, much of this revenue is currently being given away in sugar-coated tax deals by a government keener to damage our cause than to gather useful tax revenue to fund their own struggling public services:

As Scottish oil heads for $100pb will the UK Treasury tax this massive revenue?

‘Scottish oil and gas sales saw an 18.2% increase to £20billion in the last financial year.’ but we get diddley!

 

 

Homicide in 2016: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

In 2016, Scotland already had one of the lower homicide rates in Europe but by 2018, it had fallen even further to become one of the lowest and is below that for England & Wales. I can’t find 2018 figures for all of those above but, assuming no major changes downward, Scotland now has a level only bettered by Norway, Iceland and Ireland.

The homicide rate for Scotland in 2018 was 0.91 per 100 000 putting it lower than globally low-crime Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Even in 2016, the rate for England & Wales was higher at 1.22 per 100 000 but this seems likely rise again for 2018 with a massive 14% rise being reported in the media. The 2018 rate for Sweden, also, seems likely to have risen dramatically in the wake of frequent fatal attacks between organised criminals from different minority groups.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/homicide-scotland-2017-18/pages/2/

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/18/homicide-rate-in-england-and-wales-highest-since-2008

https://www.thelocal.se/20180327/swedens-lethal-violence-stats-for-2017-detailed

 

Welsh ambulance late after taking too long to ask police for directions to Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch

A report in the usually trustworthy, often Blairite, Guardian, on Saturday 26^th January 2019, has been described by former TV health correspondent, Elaine Betfred, as ‘classic propaganda.’

Betfred points out that the report seems to be largely based on the opinion of ‘one Welsh coroner’ and is devoid of reliable statistics upon which to base their, ‘frankly hyperbolic headline.’ The Guardian reported:

Ambulance and A&E delays are putting patients ‘at risk’

Patients’ lives are being put in danger by long delays for vital NHS care, a coroner has warned, following the death of a 93-year-old woman who waited 10 hours for an ambulance and another two to get into A&E. Ambulance hold-ups, staff shortages and the difficulty of getting speedy A&E care have contributed to “numerous” deaths and may claim more lives, according to John Gittins. He outlined his fears in a formal legal warning detailing a number of recurring flaws in care that he sent to the NHS after investigating the death of Gladys Williams. She fell and broke her spine in Wrexham in Wales last April, but it took 12 hours and six minutes after the first 999 call was made before A&E staff began treatment.

Betfred, echoing TuS Health Correspondent, Dr J W Robertson, said:

‘Using a single extreme example is neither useful nor is it tasteful. The Guardian reporter is clearly hostile, even if they have repressed the emotion, toward the Welsh Labour Government.’

Betfred was reportedly ‘disgusted’ by the report’s account of the 86-year-old dementia patient who broke her leg at her care home in Swansea on Sunday 27^th but an ambulance did not arrive until 5.30pm on Tuesday. The patient’s relative said:

‘My mother was screaming in pain. I am fuming about the wait she had to endure, although that is not at all directed at the paramedics or hospital staff or staff at the care home.’

Betfred describes this as:

‘A form of morbid titillation for readers which does not meet the Guardian’s own editorial guidance on informing them.’

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/26/ambulance-accident-emergency-delays-patients-at-risk-wales?CMP=share_btn_link

However, readers in Scotland may not be able to relax. On January 4^th 2019, BBC Scotland was able to report ‘exclusively’:

Concern over ambulance response times in rural areas. Scottish Ambulance Service figures show the average time taken to attend a 999 call in Turriff between January and October last year was 18 minutes. The national target time is eight minutes. North East Scotland MSP Peter Chapman said more needed to be done. The Scottish Ambulance Service said the most serious calls were prioritised. The average time was 15 minutes in Aboyne and the Mearns. However, the average for Grampian was under seven minutes. Chapman said: “These figures highlight once again the poor level of cover experienced by parts of the north east.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-46757820

Bedford is thought to have advised on the above report and is satisfied that it makes use of numbers. However, TuS Health Correspondent, Dr JW Robertson, is less happy:

‘What is the point in extracting and reporting the figures for the only (?) two small towns where they diverge noticeably from the average? Must all patients, regardless of the severity of their condition and distance or type of road access from the nearest hospital, be guaranteed the same response time? Perhaps if NHS Grampian had thought to buy, and then modify, the decommissioned Harrier Jump Jets a few years back?’

Aberdeen to Turiff in 38 seconds! Landing space clearance, air to ground missiles on board.

Finally, readers of TuS will not be surprised to hear that Chapman is a Tory MSP and that BBC Scotland were not able to find any statistics for response times in England where his party is ‘in government’, if we can call it that.

Late News: Despite genetic evidence, secretly ‘gathered’ by a TuS staffer known only as ‘Monica’, Scottish Labour have denied that they are related to Welsh Labour.

Footnote: Dr Robertson is not a medical doctor but can recommend a good book on Critical Theory which is most effective for insomnia.

(c)MOVEHUT

From Insider yesterday:

The return of UK investors to the market helped the Scottish commercial property sector deliver one of its strongest years in 2018. More than £2.5 billion was invested in offices, retail, industrial and specialist property in Scotland, above the £2.46 billion average seen since 2014. Investments made by UK funds increased by 58% to £771m and up 255% on 2016’s low of £217m. But overseas investors were the most prolific purchasers in Scotland, accounting for £920m (36.8%) of the overall figure. Around two-fifths, or £1 billion, was spent on offices across Scotland, with Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen taking up the lion’s share (£897m). Investment in retail dropped from £665m in 2017 to £550m last year, mirroring trends seen across the UK.’

https://www.insider.co.uk/news/commercial-property-scotland-knight-frank-13905079

This is, of course, objective evidence of the kind, unlike the GERS estimates, reported here before:

Scottish labour market outperforms UK revealing more evidence of health in economy

Umpteenth post on underlying strength in Scottish economy: Property investment up 19.8%!

Scottish business confidence well above UK average

SNP blamed as private businesses experience too much demand and overcrowding with new staff second only to Labour-mayored London.

Scottish business confidence stays high…Ah but!..Oh shut up Revoking Scotland!

63% fall in large business insolvencies as Scottish economy reveals strength

See this Douglas? Business investment in Scotland up 250%!

Scottish Business Strength No.77: Small Scottish construction firms’ growth up 17%

Scottish small businesses still more confident than those in non-Scottish parts

Business activity soars to four-year high across manufacturing and service

Business confidence in Scotland soars by 24% while it sinks 29% in non-Scottish parts of UK

Scottish businesses more likely to be stable than those in rest of UK: News from a parallel universe unknown to our mainstream media

Scottish Government supports economy with new business rates unique in UK

 

On Good Mourning Scotland and then repeated by Reporting Scotland, one of ‘Scotland’s best-known architects’, Malcolm Fraser said, based presumably on his years of training and practice in the design of large complex buildings, that the new Southern General is not ‘a happy building’ and that bigger places tend to ‘cut corners’. In my own four years as very junior laddie in an architect’s office, we’d all have laughed our heads of at that ‘happy building’ waffle and reflected on the corner-cutting we’d seen in virtually all contracts of any size at all.

Then, revealing awesome insight, he said ‘In this case it appears to be an issue with the mechanical ventilation and a gap that’s been left that pigeons can get in.’ Oooh, wish I’d thought of that.

He then said that hospitals tend to be built with mechanical ventilation, but that it was possible to design them with natural ventilation. Is he saying natural ventilation wouldn’t have gaps where pigeons can get in? What as in cathedrals and castles? No birds inside those.

When you read that stuff, alarm bells ring about Fraser. Is he a credible expert for the BBC to use? Did they approach someone who had built a giant hospital elsewhere? Did they approach a ventilation engineer, expert in such systems? Why just Malcolm?

You’ll see above that Fraser’s business collapsed in 2015. According to his own website, He doesn’t seem to have built anything at all of note since the quite modest ‘Scottish Story Telling Centre’ in 2006. He appears to have been recognised for designs for the quite large Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow but seems not to actually won the contract. There’s no evidence of him having designed or managed the construction of anything remotely as big or a complex as the ‘monster hospital’.

http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/malcolm-fraser-architect

So, BBC Scotland, why him? Another pet ‘expert’? In September 2018, on the GSA fire, he told the Guardian:

‘Malcolm Fraser, one of Scotland’s leading architects, accused the school of prioritising “flashy new buildings” ahead of “the jewel at the heart of its estate”, in a combative hearing of evidence from invited experts on Thursday morning.’

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/sep/20/glasgow-school-of-art-accused-of-systemic-failings-over-fire

‘Flashy new buildings?’ You can’t buy that kind of expertise.

Footnote: Is Malcolm Fraser another cog in that scary anti-independence, multi-tentacled, crime syndicate involving Douglas, Murdo, the Fraser of Allander Institute, the late House of Fraser, the late Mad Frankie Fraser and Putin? See this for more:

House of Fraser implicated in Putin / Murdo Fraser ‘botplot’ to weaken Union

 

 

 

You’ve seen the disgusting but all-too-predictable front cover of the Daily Record. BBC Reporting Scotland, RS, also predictably, have joined the pile-on, though in a subtler form. Last night’s broadcast was, contrary to their charter of course, partial and uninformative.

Even if we ignore, for the moment, the fact that RS should really just be saying nothing at all about a live case, for fear of inappropriate influence on any potential judge or jury, the report itself requires comment, having been broadcast.

First, we heard: ‘The Russian broadcaster RT is being criticised for continuing to broadcast and promote the Alex Salmond show’. As it turns out, we discover that only one named member of the Scottish Conservatives, list MSP Annie Wells, can actually be found to evidence this criticism. No other named source is offered. Ofcom, we hear later, are not interested in commenting. So, already this looks like an inadequate evidence base for telling a story and so clearly just an excuse to keep up the pressure on Alex Salmond with any old RS report.

Second, we hear that unnamed Conservative and Labour sources think RT’s actions are ‘inappropriate’ in the light of the charges of ‘sexual offences’.  That’s the ‘sexual offences’ reminder in but no explanation of what they mean by ‘inappropriate’.

Third, we’re informed that Salmond’s involvement with RT was always ‘controversial’. That’s left unexplained and the opportunity to be impartial and informative missed. Why did Salmond accept the RT invitation? Was it because no Scottish broadcaster would give him a platform to make his arguments? To accept an invitation from another broadcaster operating legally in the UK was legitimate surely in a democracy, for a prominent political figure? What was he to do? Just accept that his voice is deemed, by unelected media practitioners, ‘inappropriate’ in this debate? RT have given Salmond complete editorial control. Would BBC?

Fourth, still no balance, and we get Annie Wells telling us that Salmond should reflect on whether it was the ‘right thing to do’ to go on RT in the first place. She was neither asked to explain what she meant nor to justify why many Tory politicians do appear on RT.

Fifth, we hear again that unnamed Scottish Labour sources, when asked by RS, also thought RT’s actions didn’t seem to be ‘appropriate.’

Finally, Ofcom, presumably after being badgered by RS, tell us they think it ‘not appropriate to intervene.’ Well, this seems important doesn’t it? Why do you think they think it ‘not appropriate to intervene?’ Is it because there’s a live court case going on and any responsible, impartial journalist would do the obvious thing, to avoid contaminating any witnesses or judges with reporting which perhaps demonises the accused?

So, inappropriate in the first place and then entirely devoid of the balance and impartiality claimed.

 

JANE BARLPOW/PA

Miles Briggs clearly needs help. He asked a question of the Scottish Government, so stupid that nine out of ten 4^th Year Modern Studies students, on hearing of it, would have fallen off their chairs laughing.

http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&DateChoice=3&SortBy=DateAnswered&Answers=OnlyQuestionWithAnswers&SearchFor=AllQuestions&ResultsPerPage=1000

Do the Scottish Tories have a research officer? If not, is it because they won’t pay a decent wage or is it because no self-respecting graduate would dream of working for them? Surely at least one of them is on the board of one of the private companies which actually does charge and fine nurses?