The UK Government is failing to take the issue of child poverty seriously, an SNP MP has claimed.
24.01.2023 - 07:47 / dailyrecord.co.uk
The Scottish Government has been accused of allowing millions of pounds to be wasted during the battle to bring down drug deaths.
A damning study claims large grants have been channelled to the same organisations again and again, despite previous failures to improve death rates.
Dr Iain McPhee and Barry Sheridan, of the University of the West of Scotland, claim that the defunct Drug Deaths Task Force was hampered by the inclusion of people who were already running drugs initiatives.
This, they claim, led to a lack of criticism within the drug field – amounting to a “placebo policy”.
The paper published in the Drugs Habits and Social Police journal states: “The creation of the Drug Death Task Force, while a legitimate policy response to rising drug deaths, meets the requirements of being described as a placebo policy.
“The announcement of a task force allowed the Scottish Government to avoid tackling the ‘wicked problem’ of intergenerational deprivation as a risk factor for drug-related death and a considerable policy trap.”
The Task Force was formed in 2019 with Professor Catriona Matheson as chair while Joe FitzPatrick was public health minister.
He stood down the following year and the task force disbanded last year amid claims it was moving too slowly. Matheson and her deputy, former deputy chief constable Neil Richardson, resigned after being told to speed up.
The paper also recommends a rethink on how cash is constantly recycled to the same “policy communities”. It states: “Financial decision-making should, in our opinion, be more transparent.
“It would be highly beneficial to have drug policy monies solely administered by public sector bodies to improve accountability.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Policies to
The UK Government is failing to take the issue of child poverty seriously, an SNP MP has claimed.
Robbie Neilson paid tribute to the near-4000 Hearts fans who made the Friday night trip to Hamilton for a Scottish Cup clash - and admitted they deserved a more entertaining display.
Lewis Capaldi has announced that he will play a second date at Edinburgh after the original date sold out in seconds.
Perth and Kinross Council has expressed "extreme displeasure and frustration" at being threatened with financial sanctions by the Scottish Government rather than being given "adequate" funding.
A suburb in Greater Glasgow might not be the first place you would expect to find the remains of a Roman bathhouse.
Something felt very wrong in the room that evening when Jennifer Stratton went to check on her baby, half an hour after putting him down.
New research has revealed the most romantic hotels in the UK, and three Scottish destinations are included.
A family facing an electricity bill of nearly £12,000 from Scottish Power are demanding answers about why they are being charged as much as £1500 per month for electricity.
Only two of the Scottish Cup last 16 ties will have VAR in operation this weekend – despite four of them being played at Premiership grounds.
A Scottish recycling scheme could create an unlawful trade barrier with the rest of the UK, a leading lawyer has warned. The flagship SNP/Greens initiative is aimed at increasing recycling via a 20p deposit on single-use drinks bottles and cans.
Vicky Pattison was left red faced today after TV presenter Lorraine Kelly reacted to her Scottish accent.
New research will show how coastal litter from the ocean has changed over the past 50 years on the Isle of Skye.
Scottish MP Stewart McDonald has claimed his emails have been hacked by a Russian spy service. The Scottish National Party (SNP) MP for Glasgow South told the BBC his emails were stolen and he feared they would be made public after he fell victim to a phishing scam.
The Scottish Government has been forced to fund a "personal fire service" for a massive apartment complex in Glasgow after developers failed to make improvements in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The Scottish SPCA has warned pet owners to be vigilant of dodgy breeders following a BBC documentary exploring extreme dog breeding.
Scots folk rockers Peat & Diesel are set to be exposed to a new global audience of millions after their tune was picked up to soundtrack a new Disney+ series. The trio said they were "delighted and privileged" to have their track featured in new superhero show Extraordinary.
A rape crisis centre has closed its waiting list for victims amid a row over SNP/Green Government funding coming to an end. Edinburgh has a backlog of nearly 300 survivors and has stopped putting any more people on their books.
Plans for dramatic changes to one of Scotland’s first onshore windfarms have been lodged with the Scottish Government.
Private landlords are mounting a legal offensive against the Scottish Government over a rent rise cap.
The UK Government is to fund a new lifeline ferry service for a remote Scottish island.