Responding to the news that the number of police officers in Scotland has fallen to its lowest level since the start of 2009, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP commented:
"Police officer numbers are at their lowest in almost a decade. However, these statistics only tell half the story. They fail to take into account the fact that around 2,000 skilled civilian staff were lost in the SNP's centralisation and officers had to cover for them.
After new statistics revealed a 17% year-on-year increase in the number of people on delayed discharge for health and social care reasons, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:
"It is intolerable that on any given day well over 1,000 people are stuck in hospital unnecessarily. Medical staff have told them they are ready to leave hospital but they can't because the care they need in the community simply isn't there. The cost to the NHS is huge and critical opportunities to enable to patients rebuild their lives are lost.
Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has led a group of Liberal Democrat MPs in writing to the Foreign Secretary, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, regarding the Chinese Government's policy of repression against the Uyghur community in the Xinjiang province in North West China. In the letter, the group of 7 Liberal Democrat MPs called on the Government to condemn the "re-education camps" before the upcoming UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of China in November.
Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today warned that slashing staff numbers would be the "worst possible lesson" for beleagured NHS Tayside, following reports over that one in ten will be cut.
The Audit Scotland report NHS in 2018 reported that Tayside had:
Met only one of the eight main NHS targets, including reporting the worst figures for CAMHS patients seen within 18 weeks, the second worst figures for 18 weeks referral to treatment time and being one of only four health boards to fail to see 90% of Drug and alcohol patients within three weeks.
Received tens of millions of pounds in brokerage loans in 2017/18.
The highest percentage of backlog maintenance is classed as significant or high risk (74%) of any health board.
Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today revealed that children waited up to two years for the mental health treatment they need in 2017/18, describing the new figures as "dreadful".
New statistics acquired by the party through freedom of information requests have shown Ayrshire and Arran, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Lothian all recorded cases of children waiting over a year for CAMHS before being treated in 2017/18.
Responding to the announcement that more Commonwealth soldiers will be able to join the Armed Forces without living in the UK first, Defence Spokesperson Menzies Campbell said:
"Soldiers from around the Commonwealth have played a crucial role in our military history, particularly during the two world wars. We should celebrate their service and encourage more to follow their example.
Responding to reports that another of ScotRail's new Hitachi 385 trains broke down this morning, causing travel chaos and a backlash to ScotRail's announcement that two more of the trains entered service today, Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP said:
North East MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles has demanded to know which minister was responsible for signing off the contract for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, after the Scottish Government announced yesterday that a 31.5km of completed road between Cairbstone and Stonehaven cannot be opened because of an agreement with the contractor.
Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles has today pressed the First Minister over ScotRail's performance falling to its lowest level since the current franchise began and the news that unrefurbished trains will be dumping waste on to the tracks triggering an outcry from rail unions.
Responding to the Scottish Government's statement on delays to the opening of sections of the AWPR, Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP said:
"The Scottish Government has made a mess of this contract and now miles of completed bypass are going to be sitting empty.
"Ministers need to take responsibility and stop blaming contractors, the weather or public safety concerns, when the road is physically ready to go.
