Public Wireless Internet Access

So last week several companies responded to San Fransisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's call to get all San Franciscans online be they at home, in a park or in a cafe and be they rich or poor.Newsom set a goal of...

Gaelic Language Bill Revisited

So I said that giving Gaelic official language status was a bit of a waste of money. Stuart (at Scottish Independence) disagreed and his post generated some comments which have prompted me to consider my thoughts a little more. I...

Gaelic Language Bill

I'm sure that I am just being thoroughly ignorant here but... why does Gaelic need official recognition?The bill will give the Gaelic tongue official status across Scotland and includes the creation of a Gaelic development board - Bord na Gaidhlig...

Scotland bans Smoking

Following the lead of California, New York and Ireland, Scotland has announced plans to ban smoking in public places.Ministers unanimously agree on ban on smoking in public places in ScotlandLegislation to be launched before Christmas and fully in force by...

Is the answer to encourage bigger families?

The declining population of Scotland presents long term challenges for the economy and society, an interesting article in The Scotsman asks, "Legislate to procreate: solution to birth crisis?"Pro-natalist policies have ranged from urging people to procreate (the call on Jews...

Scottish Executive Budget 2004

Andy Kerr, Scotland's Finance Minister, this afternoon set out his "enterprise, opportunity and fairness" budget. Key pledges include [via BBC]; £650m of annual efficiency savings by 2007-0830% increase in spending in further and higher education by 2007-088 ½% increase in...

SNP Leadership Race

Following the resignation of John Swinney as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), the nominations have today closed for leader and deputy leader of the Scottish National Party. Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Mike Russell and Alex Salmond MP are the...

Parliament rivals Forth Rail Bridge

Jonathon Glancey, the Guardian's esteemed architecture critic, says that the Scottish Parliament Building rivals the Forth Rail Bridge.Today, given their curmudgeonly approach to Miralles's masterpiece, it is unlikely that Scottish politicians and newspapers will make the comparison with the costly...

MSP's rated 1 year in

Via martinlittle: Somehow (probably because I try to avoid the Scotsman) I missed "Political piglets are a poor litter" - the Scotsman's ritualistic beration of the new Members of the Scottish Parliament. It's just an excuse for them to have...