14 Mar 2017

A series of parliamentary questions have been tabled to establish the extent of a Scottish Government minister “ring around” following Nicola Sturgeon’s referendum announcement.

It was reported today that ministers spent the day contacting companies and trade bodies to discuss the new break-up plans.

This is despite the SNP saying it is focused on the day job, and that areas like education and health are its “priority”.

According to reports, one recipient of a phone call said the minister in question was keen to “allay fears” surrounding a new vote, and that it might not happen until after Brexit was concluded.

On the same day, it emerged a school in education secretary John Swinney’s local area was appealing to parents to come in and help with maths tuition, such was the shortage of teachers.

And today, figures have revealed accident and emergency departments across the country – including at Scotland’s newest flagship hospital – continue to miss targets.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said:

“This is a farcical use of government ministers’ time when they are supposed to be focused on the day job.

“Schools are having to ask parents to come in and fill teaching gaps, people are waiting too long at A&E and Police Scotland is in crisis.

“Yet the SNP thinks the best use of senior ministers’ time is to embark on a ludicrous ring around of businesses to put down a marker on independence – surely more appropriately a job for SNP party apparatchiks?

“Nicola Sturgeon’s statement that her government’s priority is matters such as education is now exposed as a lie.

“The SNP should reveal exactly who spent time on these calls, who they were to, what was said, and exactly what the nationalists thought would be achieved by making them.”

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Reports of the ring around are here:

https://order-order.com/2017/03/14/snp-ring-around-played-down-referendum-chances/

Below is a list of questions submitted today by Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont:

TATSG to publish a record of all phone calls made between Scottish Government Ministers and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, CBI Scotland and other business organisations in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to release all correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, CBI Scotland and other business organisations in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all meetings between Scottish Government Ministers and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, CBI Scotland and other business organisations in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all minutes of discussions between Scottish Government Ministers and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, CBI Scotland and other business organisations in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all phone calls made between Scottish Government Ministers and financial organisations in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to release all correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and financial organisations in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all meetings between Scottish Government Ministers and financial organisations in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all minutes of discussions between Scottish Government Ministers and financial organisations in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all phone calls made between Scottish Government Ministers and the NHS, Royal Colleges and other medical stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to release all correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and the NHS, Royal Colleges and other medical stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all meetings between Scottish Government Ministers and the NHS, Royal Colleges and other medical stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all minutes of discussions between Scottish Government Ministers and the NHS, Royal Colleges and other medical stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.   T

ATSG to publish a record of all phone calls made between Scottish Government Ministers and the SPA, Police Scotland and other justice stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to release all correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and the SPA, Police Scotland and other justice stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all meetings between Scottish Government Ministers and the SPA, Police Scotland and other justice stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all minutes of discussions between Scottish Government Ministers and the SPA, Police Scotland and other justice stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all phone calls made between Scottish Government Ministers and colleges, universities and other education stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to release all correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and colleges, universities and other education stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all meetings between Scottish Government Ministers colleges, universities and other education stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all minutes of discussions between Scottish Government Ministers and colleges, universities and other education stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all phone calls made between Scottish Government Ministers and farming organisations, rural affairs bodies and other agricultural stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and farming organisations, rural affairs bodies and other agricultural stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all meetings between Scottish Government Ministers and farming organisations, rural affairs bodies and other agricultural stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all minutes of discussions between Scottish Government Ministers and farming organisations, rural affairs bodies and other agricultural stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all phone calls made between Scottish Government Ministers and charities and third sector stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and charities and third sector stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish a record of all meetings between Scottish Government Ministers and charities and third sector stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017.

TATSG to publish all minutes of discussions between Scottish Government Ministers and charities and third sector stakeholders in the week leading up to – and including – 13 March 2017