I WOULD encourage everyone who supports independence (and those who don’t – yet) to visit reservebank.scot – the newly launched website for the Scottish Reserve Bank. It contains a wealth of information on Scottish currency in an independent Scotland as well as sections like “Scotland’s economy – the true position” and ‘“Economic assessment of an independent Scotland”.
Currency was regarded as something of an Achilles heel during the 2014 independence campaign, so this time we really do have to get it right.
Thanks largely to economist Dr Tim Rideout, SNP members forced a change in the party’s policy from using sterling for the foreseeable future following a successful independence vote to introducing a Scottish currency as soon as possible thereafter.
READ MORE: Meet the men backing Boris Johnson who stand to win from Brexit
The reasons for this are made very clear at reservebank.scot and the information provided highlights that not only would Scotland be the holder of the largest foreign currency reserves of many states including the UK’s Bank of England, but that introducing a currency that works for the people rather than the bankers is not that complicated at all. Indeed, more than 100 countries have done exactly this over the past 60 years. Not doing so, on the other hand, would allow the rUK government to effectively sabotage a newly-independent Scottish state.
Nothing can be taken for granted even with the implosion of the British political system and the very real threat to democracy in these islands as a result.
However, Scotland has a lifeboat. We simply need to persuade those who are still sceptical to get on it and websites like reservebank.scot are an excellent place to refer them for reassurance and the truth rather than the myths about Scotland’s true position as propagated by the Unionists.
The Scottish Reserve Bank/reservebank.scot is not legally a bank ... yet.
Peter Jeal
Dalbeattie
THIS Mental Health Awareness Day, Thursday October 10, NSPCC Scotland wants to increase awareness that babies have mental needs too.
We are calling on the Scottish Government to invest in the infant-parent relationship as part of our Fight for a Fair Start campaign.
Babies’ healthy development depends entirely on the relationships around them. Many new parents experience challenges that can affect their relationship with their baby.
Up to one in five mums and one in 10 dads experience mental health problems during pregnancy and after birth, but getting the right support at the right time isn’t always guaranteed.
The Scottish Government recently announced increased investment in improving perinatal mental health services across Scotland. We welcome these investments, however funding and improvements in this area need to be sustained in the long term, and we must not lose sight of infants’ support needs.
We are calling on the Scottish Government and health boards to make specialist infant mental health services available to all babies and families who need them. We would like them to ensure each maternity unit has access to support from a perinatal mental health midwife and for an additional Scottish Government investment to be spent on transforming perinatal and infant mental health services.
NSPCC Scotland believes that all vulnerable babies and their families should be able to access the infant mental health support they need for a healthy and happy start to life. Our Fight for a Fair Start campaign aims to ensure that all parents across the UK have fair and equal access to mental health support at the right time.
With early and effective support, most mums, dads and their families can recover from their mental illness problems, giving them their children the best start in life.
We invite people to write to their MSPs in support of our campaign.
Joanna Barrett
Policy and Public Affairs Manager, NSPCC Scotland
NORTH Ayrshire Council’s Community Wealth Building Commission has laid out its programme.
Enhancing the procurement process to help local business secure contracts. Working with local and regional anchor organisations to review workforce fair work practices. Building on work to harness land and assets to serve the common good. Building on already successful model of enterprise support for other forms of ownership. A Community Bank owned by its members.
I think this is ground-breaking for a local authority. Is anyone else doing this, and if not why not?
David Ritchie
North Ayrshire
HAS anyone noticed how apt is the name for emergency Brexit measures? The yellowhammer’s song is usually transcribed as “a little bit a bread and no cheese”.
EW Duncan
Birnam
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