The SNP has outlined ambitious plans to tackle the climate crisis and build a fairer country in its Programme for Government 2019-20. Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson has welcomed the bold proposals set out by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on…
NEW BOWEL SCREENING TEST BOOSTS UPTAKE AMONG MEN
Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson has welcomed news that the number of men being tested for bowel cancer is at its highest ever level in Scotland. NHS statistics show 61.6% of men invited to take part in home screening returned…
MATHESON CONGRATULATES PUPILS AND TEACHERS ON SQA RESULTS
Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson has congratulated local pupils and teachers on this year’s SQA results. The Scotland-wide pass rate for National 5 increased by 0.7 percentage points to 78.2%, with a 4.4% increase in passes for English and a…
ANTI-POVERTY PAYMENT SET TO BENEFIT 12,300 CHILDREN IN FALKIRK DISTRICT
An estimated 12,300 children from 7,400 families across Falkirk district are expected to benefit from the Scottish Child Payment, it has been revealed. The Scottish Government’s groundbreaking anti-poverty measure will be introduced for children under six by early 2021, before…
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMMES GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
More than 28,000 people in Scotland started apprenticeships last year, including nearly 1000 in Falkirk district, as the number of apprentices benefiting from work-based learning increased for the eighth year in a row. The latest figures from Skills Development Scotland…
SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME DOWN IN FALKIRK DISTRICT
Serious violent crime in Falkirk district has fallen by 9% in a decade, official figures show. In 2008-09, police recorded 133 serious assaults or attempted murders in the Falkirk Council area, or 8.7 cases per 10,000 residents. In 2017-18, that…