BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today revealed new figures showing almost ten times as many patients are now waiting over 12 weeks for hospital dental treatment as there were four years ago.

Figures acquired by the Scottish Parliament Information Service (SPICe) for the Scottish Liberal Democrats reveals that at the end of March 2019, 1,139 patients were waiting over 12 weeks for inpatient and daycase dental treatment, up from just 120 patients in March 2015. The health board with the most patients waiting over 12 weeks was Greater Glasgow and Clyde (340 patients), followed by Grampian (263 patients) and Highland (191 patients).

On the back of the Scottish Liberal Democrat-Nil by Mouth investigation into secret sectarianism data compiled by the SPFL and withheld from the public and the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood's justice committee has today written to Chief Executive of the SPFL, Neil Doncaster, calling for the report on sectarianism at football to be published.

Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Willie Rennie today questioned the First Minister after a new report on the uptake of free early learning and childcare for two-year-olds living in poverty showed that, five years into the policy, only a third of eligible families are taking up a place - less than half the rate in England.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has today expressed concern that plans for a second consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act will lead to no legislation being passed in the current parliament.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

"The Liberal Democrats asked for reform of the GRA in the last parliament because it was harming trans people then just as it is harming them now.

Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP has today revealed new figures showing that councils and bus operators spent more than three quarters of a million pounds paying non-domestic rates bills for bus shelters in 2018-19, warning the SNP Government's "Bus Stop Tax" was discouraging local authorities from investing in facilities.

Commenting on the publication of the Electoral Franchise Bill, which will give prisoners sentenced to a term of 12 months or less the right to vote in Scottish elections, as well as extend the right to vote to citizens of all nationalities legally resident in Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP commented:

Scottish Liberal Democrat rural economy spokesperson Mike Rumbles has welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government has convened a group of independent representatives from consumer, producer and environmental organisations to help design a new bespoke system for rural support after 2020.

In January, Scottish Liberal Democrats worked with the Scottish Government to pass a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for the creation of a new independent policy group to look into rural support if the UK leaves the Common Agricultural Policy, after Brexit.

Congratulating the CAAT on their successful case against the Conservative government's arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Jo Swinson said:

"Saudi Arabia is an enemy of British values, including human rights and the rule of law. Their repeated violation and disregard for human rights should have ruled them out as an arms trading partner long ago.

"Instead the Conservative government have continued to export arms and equipment to this brutal regime. The situation is inexcusable and cannot continue.

"This court ruling is monumental.

"It is now clear for all to see: the UK arms sales to the Saudi regime are unlawful. The Liberal Democrats are clear that the only acceptable course of action by the Tory Government is to suspend them immediately, rather than continuing to allow arm sales to a country which is targeting innocent civilians."

Commenting on Scotland's Chief Economist's warning that the economy will remain subdued until "the fog of Brexit has lifted", Scottish Liberal Democrat constitutional affairs spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said:

"This report makes for truly worrying reading. Our economy is faltering as the Tories selfishly air their deep divisions and argue over even more extreme forms of Brexit.

Scottish Liberal Democrat connectivity spokesperson Mike Rumbles has today warned that no more IT projects must be allowed to spiral out of control as a new report warned of "a significant skills gap" and that "the Scottish Government has not had enough staff to share common lessons learned" from previous projects.