Scotland News Live: Swinney insists SNP 'firmly pro business' | University funding review announced | Rebus: Review
Follow along live as John Swinney faces first minister’s questions with our live blog.
Don’t miss a moment - keep up to date with news from across Scotland here.
The average household energy bill is set to fall by another 7% in July when the latest change to the price cap takes effect, according to experts.
Energy consultants Cornwall Insight said they expect the typical household's energy bill to fall from £1,690 a year currently to £1,574 on July 1.
This would be £500 less than the cap in July last year, when it was £2,074.
But it is slightly higher than the £1,560 the group previously predicted for July, while Cornwall added it expects Ofgem to increase the energy price cap in October, before dropping it again in January 2025.
Ofgem will announce the energy price cap for July to September on May 24.
A man is in serious condition in hospital after he was stabbed while walking in a field. The 30-year-old man was in a field behind Murroch Avenue in Dumbarton when someone came up from behind and assaulted him at about 10.30am on Thursday. He was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment to stab wounds. Medical staff describe his condition as serious. Police are appealing for information about the incident.
Aon rud nach eil na “h-adhartaich” ‘s e adhartach – sheall Padraig Harvie sin
Chan urrainn dhomh-sa a ràdh càite am bi Pàdraig Harvie a’ cur seachad ùine no ann an cuideachd cò, ach saoilidh mi gum bu chòir dha dol a-mach beagan a bharrachd na tha.
Read more here.
France’s Interior Ministry has said police have shot and killed an armed suspect who appeared to be planning to set fire to a synagogue in the Normandy city of Rouen
The family of a one-year-old girl who died after being hit by a Land Rover in a church car park have said they are “absolutely devastated”. The girl, who has been named as Ivy Mae Ross, died after the incident in a car park on Eigie Road in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, at about 7.45pm on Wednesday. Emergency services attended the scene and Ivy Mae was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. The 40-year-old man who was driving the Land Rover was uninjured.
Rebus: Why I dreaded new BBC Scotland series - but I actually love it, as 'terrifically morose' Richard Rankin shines
Nicola Sturgeon ‘not convinced’ equal marriage would pass in Scotland today
Nicola Sturgeon has said she is not convinced same-sex marriage would be legalised in Scotland today.
The former first minister said politics is now more toxic and polarised than in the past.
Read more here.
FMQs may be over, but there is still plenty to come later today in the Scottish Parliament.
At around 2.25pm Justice Secretary Angela Constance will make a statement on Scotland’s prison population.
This morning Wendy Sinclair-Gibeon, chief inspector of prisons, warned measures such as releasing prisoners early and not ending certain criminals to prison could be taken to help combat overcrowding. We’ll be watching that statement to bring you the latest.
After that Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC will be in parliament to give a statement on the Post Office Horizon scandal - that should keep the Scottish Conservatives happy, as they’ve been calling for her to come to parliament with an update on this for a while now.
SNP backbencher Rona Mackay is now asking about nuclear energy - as soon as she mentioned nuclear power, there was lots of clapping and table thumping from the Conservative benches.
She asks if Scottish Secretary Alister Jack spoke to Scottish ministers before announcing these plans, and says this should be opposed.
In response John Swinney said: “I am often lectured in this parliament about the importance of good intergovernmental relations.
“The Scottish secretary made no mention of this proposal to the Scottish Government.
“This is incompatible with good intergovernmental working and illustrative of the damaging and menacing behaviour of the secretary of state for Scotland.
“The Scottish Government will not support any new nuclear power stations in Scotland - we will have nothing to do with nuclear power.”
Lots of reaction now to John Swinney’s comments on housebuilding - the discussion was sparked by a question from Highlands and Islands Labour MSP on the lack of affordable housing for healthcare workers in rural areas.
Mr Swinney says Scotland has built 40 per cent more affordable homes than England, and 70 per cent mroe than Wales.
He said: “The government is determined to put resources in place to deliver houses for people and we have a formidable record of house building.”
The microphones are picking up a comment from the opposition benches: “That’s brave.”
Quick look back at what’s happened today down south - Labour MP Shabana Mahmood says the new deputy first minister Kate Forbes has suffered “disgraceful” abuse because of her faith.
Ms Forbes has been criticised for her socially-conservative views, particularly her opposition to single-sex marriage, abortion and having children outside of wedlock.
SNP MSP Bob Doris is now asking about whooping cough, after five young children died in England.
John Swinney said cases have since been confirmed in Scotland, and added: “Young, unimmunised babies are particularly at risk of severe illness, but that can be avoided with immunisation.
“I would encourage babies and pregnant women to get vaccinated.”
In response Mr Doris said vaccination rates have fallen in recent times, particularly in deprived areas, and the First Minister needs to work with NHS boards to support midwives and health visitors to increase the uptake of vaccines.
Mr Swinney said: “Immunisation is the most reliable way to protect babies in the early weeks of their lives.
“The chief midwifery officer has written to maternity services to encourage vaccination for pregnant women.”
SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed is now asking about sextortion, highlighting the death of 16-year-old Murray Dowey from Dunblane.
Murray took his own life after becoming a victim of sextortion.
John Swinney said: “I have watched with incredible admiration the courage of his parents in talking about their son Murray.
“I cannot, as a parent of a teenager, comprehend the scale of loss and unimaginable suffering they are experience.
“I commend their bravery in raising the threat of sextortion and continue to prioritise working with our partners to protect children and young people.”
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