Dundee Liberal Democrats - www.dundeelibdems.scot

Responding to new figures today showing the £899 million cost required to bring those parts of the NHS estate not currently in satisfactory condition up to scratch, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"The NHS is our most precious public institution yet some health boards have a significant proportion of facilities not classified as being in a good condition. This is an eye-watering sum of money required to get them up to scratch.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott has today revealed that at the start of the latest school term, almost 100 head teacher and deputy head teacher positions were still being advertised.

Figures obtained under freedom of information laws from 26 of Scotland's 32 local authorities show 92 senior leadership roles vacant, including 17 in Aberdeen and 12 in Glasgow as well as more than 500 class and principal teacher vacancies.

Responding to the SNP's latest Brexit proposals, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"The First Minister should have recognised by now that there is no compromise Brexit deal as good as the deal we already have.

"She ought to be leading the charge for a People's Vote and an exit from Brexit, not pushing for yet another variant of Brexit that puts our economy, security and environment at risk."

Responding to the Scottish Independence Convention setting up a new national Yes campaign organisation, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"I was under the impression that there was already an organisation devoted full time to campaigning for Scottish independence and it was this Scottish Government.

Responding to Nicola Sturgeon's speech on Brexit, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"There is no "common sense" Brexit so Nicola Sturgeon's comments are not helpful in the slightest.

"Now the SNP have signalled grudging support for a People's Vote, perhaps they'd consider campaigning for that, rather than a soft Brexit which they'll still use to try to break up the UK with."

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP today called for the expansion of throughcare after it was revealed that thousands of people leaving prison have nowhere to live and are having to register with councils as homeless, despite the well-established link between reoffending and the lack of a stable and affordable home.

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has today called for protecting jobs to be the first priority in the recently announced sale of Johnston Press, owners of the Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News.

Bosses at the company have launched a formal sale process with the aim of securing a positive future for the newspaper group in the face of decline in the industry.

Commenting on reports that 7 Scottish health boards will need to seek new chief executives in the coming months due to staff moving on or retiring, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"There is a recruitment crisis at every level of the NHS. Staff are run off their feet on every shift, Nicola Sturgeon's cuts to training places have caused real damage, spending on agency staff has doubled, and each year thousands of staff feel the need to formally report their concerns over staffing levels.