Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 81, 27th August 2001
SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK
Parliament is in recess. Session 2001 / 2002 begins next week.
SECTION 2 - NEWS
A new fund to improve Scotland’s crumbling schools has been launched by First Minister, Henry McLeish, and Education Minister, Jack McConnell.
The First Minister said the fund was a key element in delivering the Executive’s National Priorities for Education.
"Our National Priorities aim to raise standards, not just of achievement but also within the school environment. If the environment in which teaching and learning takes place is attractive, we can maximise the opportunities for our children to achieve their full potential.
"Good books, a good and flexible curriculum and professional teachers are essential for creating those opportunities. But good school buildings are also important. The £12 million fund I am announcing today will help deliver those opportunities."
Mr McConnell added:
"This is a Fund for continuous improvement which will make an immediate impact.
"The poor state of repair of many of Scotland’s schools is a situation which needs to be tackled both immediately and with an eye to the future.
"From my visits around the country’s schools I have seen there is pressing work that needs to be done now.
"The creation of the Fund and the money announced today for its first year is a major part of our commitment to helping with those immediate repairs to roofs and windows. We will also work with schools, councils and other key stakeholders to tackle the long-term problems and build schools for the future.
"Providing high quality education is about more than what is delivered in the classroom. It is about creating a positive learning environment where children have the chance to prosper."
The School Buildings Improvement Fund will total £12 million for the year 2001/2002. This money is made up of cash already allocated in the Spending Review and Budget Consequentials.
Inverclyde's schools will receive £225,000 from the fund.
£30 MILLION INVESTMENT TO BOOST LOCAL FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES
More NHS frontline staff in the community, such as practice nurses, GPs and other primary care professionals, are to be recruited as part of a £30 million package of extra investment to deliver better and faster care in Scotland’s 1,000 GP practices and health centres.
90% of all patient contacts with the NHS take place in the community – in people’s homes, in local health centres and GP practices. There were 16 million visits to GPs in Scotland last year, and millions more contacts with practice nurses, health visitors and other primary care professionals such as pharmacists and community physiotherapists.
Outlining a renewed emphasis on developing and improving local NHS services in the community, Health Minister, Susan Deacon, announced a £30 million boost for primary care services targeted towards:
SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS
Parliament is in recess. Session 2001 / 2002 begins next week.
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