BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Responding to the publication of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"Moves to enshrine safe and sustainable staffing levels in law must be paired with action to support existing medical staff and attract new ones.

Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Connectivity, Mike Rumbles MSP, has welcomed new advertising regulation for broadband providers, ensuring that publicised speeds are available to at least 50% of customers at peak times.

The North East MSP said:

"This is a welcome step forward for broadband customers. Fast and reliable internet access is no longer a luxury, it is absolutely essential for many homes and businesses.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie will use a speech to a gathering of pro-European activists to call on United Kingdom and Scottish independence supporters to come together to stop a damaging Brexit.

Speaking at a public meeting in Haddington tonight (Wednesday), Willie Rennie will say he wants pro-Europeans to set aside their differences on the Scottish constitutional question and back a People's Vote on the final Brexit Deal.

Responding to comments from BMA Scotland about the importance of European doctors, Scottish Liberal Demcorat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"Senior professionals are warning that staff are facing serious uncertainty and feeling unwelcome. For doctors and nurses to be put off from working in the UK as a result of Brexit would be a medical catastrophe.

Speaking at this morning's meeting of the Scottish Parliament's Health & Sport Committee, senior medical professionals warned that "there is something not right" with existing efforts to tackle children and young people's mental health. They were backed by Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton who called for more investment in services and a step change in mental health treatment.

Responding to today's announcement of the latest Scottish Attainment Challenge projects, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott said:

"Scottish Liberal Democrats pressed the Scottish Government for six years to introduce pupil equity funding but SNP parliamentarians kept on rejecting these proposals. If they had listened at the time we could be much further on in narrowing the attainment gap and tackling poverty and deprivation.

Commenting on new employment figures compiled by the Scottish Government and released today, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Carolyn Caddick said:

"Scotland's economic performance has been sluggish and mediocre for the better part of a decade.

"Brexit is hitting the UK's economic performance but this analysis shows that the Scottish Government cannot simply point the finger elsewhere. On their watch job creation trails behind every other part of the UK.

Following the ministerial statement on police call handling, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

"I recognise the work carried out by those in C3 division in response to the serious concerns surrounding call handling within Police Scotland. Despite his talk of the need for 'continuous learning', however, the Cabinet Secretary fails to recognise the part played by the SNP government's botched centralisation in creating these problems in the first place.

Following the news that 500 uniformed police officers will be equipped with a taser from next month, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP commented:

"This rollout needs to be proportionate, the training must be robust and there needs to be rigorous scrutiny after each use of a taser.

Responding to Ruth Davidson's speech to the Policy Exchange thinktank, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"The speech was about the importance of unity but did not have a word about the deep divisions within the 13 Scottish Conservative MPs about whether the single market is a good thing or not.