Page 48 - Ben Macpherson News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Pressure is growing for urgent reform of immigration rules amid concern many EU students enrolled at Scottish universities face additional costs running to hundreds of pounds due to the Covid pandemic. Campaigners have warned first-year students will not qualify for pre-settled status if they arrive after the end of the transition period on December 31 – even though they may have opted to study online or could not move to the UK because of Covid-19 restrictions. This would mean they will need to apply for a student visa when coming here in 2021 to continue their studies, hitting them...

Mairi Gougeon appointed as public health minister Mairi Gougeon has been appointed as the new public health minister, taking on oversight of the COVID-19 testing programme. She is replacing Joe FitzPatrick, who resigned last week over a record number of drug deaths. Ben Macpherson is taking on Gougeon’s old role as rural affairs minister, while his old portfolio has been divided and re-integrated with other portfolios. Europe Minister Jenny Gilruth will now take responsibility for migration, while Trade Minister Ivan McKee will take on new budget and digital responsibilities. Angela Constan...

Submitting... The former minister for rural affairs and the natural environment takes up the public health and sport role after her predecessor quit on Friday. Mr FitzPatrick had faced persistent calls to resign after yearly figures released earlier this week showed a rise to a new record high of 1,264 drug deaths last year. A motion of no confidence was tabled against Mr FitzPatrick after the latest figures recorded 1,264 drug-related deaths across Scotland in 2019 – a record high and the worst toll in the EU. He confirmed he was quitting following a discussion with First Minister Nicola S...

Nicola Sturgeon announces mini reshuffle after sacking public health minister NICOLA Sturgeon has appointed a new public health minister after sacking Joe FitzPatrick, who previously held the role, last week. The First Minister moved Mairi Gougeon to the position as part of a mini reshuffle of her junior ministerial team.  She said the changes came "at a crucial time for Scotland".  Mr FitzPatrick lost his job in the wake of damning figures showing 1,264 drug-related deaths in Scotland last year.  Scotland’s drug-death rate is the worst in Europe and around three and a half ...

BBC News Published image copyrightGetty Images Mairi Gougeon has been named the Scottish government's new public health minister, with responsibility for Covid-19 testing across the country. The move comes after Joe FitzPatrick lost his post in the government over drug deaths hitting a new record level. Ms Gougeon moves across from the rural economy brief, which will now be filled by Ben Macpherson. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Angus MSP would play a "key role" in the team fighting the pandemic. She will report to Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who the government said was "taking ...