Latest news with #ScottishTories
Scotsman
24-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Food standards cuts leaving Scots 'sick to their stomach'
The Scottish Tories accused SNP ministers of putting food safety at risk Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Almost 1,000 fewer food business inspections took place in Scotland last year due to budget cuts which are making Scots "sick to their stomach", it has been warned. The Scottish Conservatives accused SNP ministers of putting food safety at risk by reducing the budgets of local authorities and Food Standards Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The party said the quango had suffered an 18 per cent cut in real terms since 2022/23, with employee numbers falling each year since 2021. A plate of fried food | PA The number of food business inspections dropped from 20,409 in 2023 to 19,466 last year, according to figures provided by the Scottish Government. Meanwhile, detections of campylobacter, the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning, increased by nearly 7 per cent between 2022 and 2023, with detections of salmonella up by almost 9 per cent. Tory MSP Liam Kerr said: 'We know the damage SNP cuts are doing across Scotland, but it looks as though these ones are literally making Scots sick to their stomach. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The work of Food Standards Scotland is vitally important, yet SNP ministers are failing to give them the resources they need. That is leading to fewer food inspections being carried out and a lack of prosecutions for food crimes. 'At the same time, shockingly yet predictably, the number of food poisoning-related illnesses has sharply increased in Scotland. 'SNP cuts to Food Standards Scotland and local councils across the country are putting food safety at risk in our communities. These cuts must be reversed to protect public health and ease the pressure on staff who are being asked to do more with less.' He made the comments ahead of a scheduled meeting between SNP public health minister Jenni Minto and Food Standards Scotland next week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Geoff Ogle, chief executive of Food Standards Scotland, said it had experienced a decline in resources and staffing. He said: 'Protecting public health through safe food is, and always will be, our top priority. 'The figures quoted reflect challenges we've been highlighting for several years. Our joint annual report with the Food Standards Agency has consistently shown a decline in resources, staffing, and sampling capacity across the system. These are not new concerns - we've been clear that reductions in budgets have affected our ability to carry out some functions. 'However, more resource alone won't solve the problem. That's why we're working closely with the Scottish Government and local authorities on a wide-ranging programme to reform how food law is delivered in Scotland — to make it more resilient, risk-based and fit for the future. 'It is also important to note that the cause of fluctuations in public health data is a complex issue. Increases in campylobacter and salmonella, for example, are influenced by multiple factors — including consumer behaviour, global supply chains, foreign travel and climate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are not complacent about the risks, and we continue to take them very seriously. But it's important to recognise that these challenges are long-standing, and addressing them requires not only funding, but structural change to how the system works.'
Rhyl Journal
23-07-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Government-backed scheme to transition oil and gas workers opens
The pilot will help about 200 current or former workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with support and funding for training courses, in a move energy minister Michael Shanks said would 'help deliver a fair and prosperous transition'. Both Governments have pinpointed the north east as being crucial to the planned transition away from fossil fuels, with £900,000 made available for the first raft of applicants. But the Scottish Tories criticised the plans as 'frankly embarrassing', claiming the funding was not enough. 'Aberdeen has been the energy capital of Britain for decades and while oil and gas will be with us for decades to come, we are determined to make sure that workers are supported to access the thousands of jobs in industries such as offshore wind and carbon capture,' the energy minister said. 'This funding will help deliver a fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea, unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and reaping the economic benefits from the skills and experiences of Aberdeen's workforce.' Scottish Tory net zero spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: 'It's frankly embarrassing that Labour and the SNP are boasting about this scheme. 'This support for 200 workers amounts to a drop in the ocean when compared to the projected 400 jobs a fortnight being lost thanks to their decimation of the oil and gas sector. 'Both parties shamefully opposed Rosebank and Cambo (oil fields) and have said they're against North Sea drilling altogether. 'This sector drives £14 billion into our economy and supports 83,000 jobs, but John Swinney and Keir Starmer have sold it down the river.' But Scottish Secretary Ian Murray described the announcement as 'good news' for the area and the industry, claiming it will 'ensure there is a key role for our offshore workers in delivering our net zero future'. And Scottish Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: 'The north east of Scotland has long been a titan in the oil and gas industry and the expertise within our workforce must be at the heart of driving a just transition to new fuels and sustainable energy. 'This new oil and gas transition training fund will support offshore workers to take on roles in the sustainable energy sector and has been designed and developed by the Scottish Government, supported by funding from UK Government's regional skills pilot for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland. 'Through initiatives such as the just transition fund and the energy transition fund, the Scottish Government has already invested £120 million in the north east's transition to net zero to help create green jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.' The programme will be run by Skills Development Scotland.
Leader Live
23-07-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Government-backed scheme to transition oil and gas workers opens
The pilot will help about 200 current or former workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with support and funding for training courses, in a move energy minister Michael Shanks said would 'help deliver a fair and prosperous transition'. Both Governments have pinpointed the north east as being crucial to the planned transition away from fossil fuels, with £900,000 made available for the first raft of applicants. But the Scottish Tories criticised the plans as 'frankly embarrassing', claiming the funding was not enough. 'Aberdeen has been the energy capital of Britain for decades and while oil and gas will be with us for decades to come, we are determined to make sure that workers are supported to access the thousands of jobs in industries such as offshore wind and carbon capture,' the energy minister said. 'This funding will help deliver a fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea, unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and reaping the economic benefits from the skills and experiences of Aberdeen's workforce.' Scottish Tory net zero spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: 'It's frankly embarrassing that Labour and the SNP are boasting about this scheme. 'This support for 200 workers amounts to a drop in the ocean when compared to the projected 400 jobs a fortnight being lost thanks to their decimation of the oil and gas sector. 'Both parties shamefully opposed Rosebank and Cambo (oil fields) and have said they're against North Sea drilling altogether. 'This sector drives £14 billion into our economy and supports 83,000 jobs, but John Swinney and Keir Starmer have sold it down the river.' But Scottish Secretary Ian Murray described the announcement as 'good news' for the area and the industry, claiming it will 'ensure there is a key role for our offshore workers in delivering our net zero future'. And Scottish Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: 'The north east of Scotland has long been a titan in the oil and gas industry and the expertise within our workforce must be at the heart of driving a just transition to new fuels and sustainable energy. 'This new oil and gas transition training fund will support offshore workers to take on roles in the sustainable energy sector and has been designed and developed by the Scottish Government, supported by funding from UK Government's regional skills pilot for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland. 'Through initiatives such as the just transition fund and the energy transition fund, the Scottish Government has already invested £120 million in the north east's transition to net zero to help create green jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.' The programme will be run by Skills Development Scotland.
South Wales Argus
23-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Government-backed scheme to transition oil and gas workers opens
The pilot will help about 200 current or former workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with support and funding for training courses, in a move energy minister Michael Shanks said would 'help deliver a fair and prosperous transition'. Both Governments have pinpointed the north east as being crucial to the planned transition away from fossil fuels, with £900,000 made available for the first raft of applicants. But the Scottish Tories criticised the plans as 'frankly embarrassing', claiming the funding was not enough. Michael Shanks said the fund would help deliver a 'fair and prosperous transition' (Peter Byrne/PA) 'Aberdeen has been the energy capital of Britain for decades and while oil and gas will be with us for decades to come, we are determined to make sure that workers are supported to access the thousands of jobs in industries such as offshore wind and carbon capture,' the energy minister said. 'This funding will help deliver a fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea, unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and reaping the economic benefits from the skills and experiences of Aberdeen's workforce.' Scottish Tory net zero spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: 'It's frankly embarrassing that Labour and the SNP are boasting about this scheme. 'This support for 200 workers amounts to a drop in the ocean when compared to the projected 400 jobs a fortnight being lost thanks to their decimation of the oil and gas sector. 'Both parties shamefully opposed Rosebank and Cambo (oil fields) and have said they're against North Sea drilling altogether. 'This sector drives £14 billion into our economy and supports 83,000 jobs, but John Swinney and Keir Starmer have sold it down the river.' But Scottish Secretary Ian Murray described the announcement as 'good news' for the area and the industry, claiming it will 'ensure there is a key role for our offshore workers in delivering our net zero future'. And Scottish Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: 'The north east of Scotland has long been a titan in the oil and gas industry and the expertise within our workforce must be at the heart of driving a just transition to new fuels and sustainable energy. 'This new oil and gas transition training fund will support offshore workers to take on roles in the sustainable energy sector and has been designed and developed by the Scottish Government, supported by funding from UK Government's regional skills pilot for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland. 'Through initiatives such as the just transition fund and the energy transition fund, the Scottish Government has already invested £120 million in the north east's transition to net zero to help create green jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.' The programme will be run by Skills Development Scotland.
Glasgow Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Government-backed scheme to transition oil and gas workers opens
The pilot will help about 200 current or former workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with support and funding for training courses, in a move energy minister Michael Shanks said would 'help deliver a fair and prosperous transition'. Both Governments have pinpointed the north east as being crucial to the planned transition away from fossil fuels, with £900,000 made available for the first raft of applicants. But the Scottish Tories criticised the plans as 'frankly embarrassing', claiming the funding was not enough. Michael Shanks said the fund would help deliver a 'fair and prosperous transition' (Peter Byrne/PA) 'Aberdeen has been the energy capital of Britain for decades and while oil and gas will be with us for decades to come, we are determined to make sure that workers are supported to access the thousands of jobs in industries such as offshore wind and carbon capture,' the energy minister said. 'This funding will help deliver a fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea, unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and reaping the economic benefits from the skills and experiences of Aberdeen's workforce.' Scottish Tory net zero spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: 'It's frankly embarrassing that Labour and the SNP are boasting about this scheme. 'This support for 200 workers amounts to a drop in the ocean when compared to the projected 400 jobs a fortnight being lost thanks to their decimation of the oil and gas sector. 'Both parties shamefully opposed Rosebank and Cambo (oil fields) and have said they're against North Sea drilling altogether. 'This sector drives £14 billion into our economy and supports 83,000 jobs, but John Swinney and Keir Starmer have sold it down the river.' But Scottish Secretary Ian Murray described the announcement as 'good news' for the area and the industry, claiming it will 'ensure there is a key role for our offshore workers in delivering our net zero future'. And Scottish Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: 'The north east of Scotland has long been a titan in the oil and gas industry and the expertise within our workforce must be at the heart of driving a just transition to new fuels and sustainable energy. 'This new oil and gas transition training fund will support offshore workers to take on roles in the sustainable energy sector and has been designed and developed by the Scottish Government, supported by funding from UK Government's regional skills pilot for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland. 'Through initiatives such as the just transition fund and the energy transition fund, the Scottish Government has already invested £120 million in the north east's transition to net zero to help create green jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.' The programme will be run by Skills Development Scotland.
