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.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott has today warned that the burden on headteachers is "soaring" as new figures showed that the number of schools with shared headships has risen by two thirds since 2010.

The Headteacher Recruitment Working Group Report concluded:

• Head teacher recruitment is a "serious concern"
• 412 (FTE) teachers hold the standard for headship but are not in headteacher roles
• There are 151 more primary schools with shared headteachers from 2010 to 2017.
• Headteachers now work an average of 55.3 hours per week.
• Headteachers are not being paid enough for the work they are doing, especially those who serve as headteacher for more than one school.

Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government's Strategic Environmental Assessment on fracking for consultation, Scottish Liberal Democrat energy spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

"Last year, Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament "fracking is being banned in Scotland, end of story". Within months the Court of Session ruled that there wasn't an effective ban in place and ministers extended a fracking license.

North East MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Mike Rumbles has called on the Scottish Government to implement a long-term plan of investment for ferry services, providing transport security for island communities for decades to come.

During an opposition day debate in the Scottish Parliament today, Mr Rumbles highlighted the potential dangers of an aging fleet and the snowballing cost of planned and unplanned maintenance.

Responding to comments from Pete Wishart MP on a People's Vote, Scottish Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Tavish Scott MSP said:

"The First Minister said SNP support for a People's Vote was "unequivocal". Her colleagues ought to be backing the campaign, not throwing up more roadblocks."

Responding to new figures from campaign group Fair Funding For Our Kids, showing that 68% of local authority nursery places for three to five-year-olds are for half days only, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott MSP said:

"High quality childcare lasting though the day can be an enormous boost for children and parents alike. These figures show that is not available in many places and half day places don't work for many parents.

North East MSP and digital connectivity spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Mike Rumbles, has called on the Scottish Government to keep to promises made by the SNP in 2011 and 2016 and deliver superfast broadband to every home in Scotland before the next Scottish Parliament election in May 2021.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today warned that efforts to tackle obesity and boost exercise are "stuck in the slow lane"

Statistics published today showed:

• In 2017, 65% of adults aged 16 and over were overweight, including 29% who were obese.
• In 2017, 26% of children were at risk of overweight, including 13% at risk of obesity.
• At the end of 2016, there were 257,728 people recorded as having Type 2 diabetes, with prevalence continuing to increase steadily.
• In 2017, 65% of adults aged 16 and over met the current moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guideline. There has been no significant change to this proportion since 2012.