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Speech at IoD annual convention in London. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has described membership of the single market ‎as the “obvious consensus position” among leave and remain voters in the EU referendum – and said that the UK-wide result was not a mandate for a hard Brexit. The First Minister was reiterating the benefits of staying in the single market to 2,000 business leaders at the Institute of Directors’ Annual Convention in the Royal Albert Hall. Ms Sturgeon said: “EU membership is now part of Scotland’s sense of itself. We…

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Speech To Institute of Directors by Nicola Surgeon (27/09/16) It is a pleasure to speak here today. The Institute of Directors has demonstrated, over many years, an unswerving commitment to improving the quality of business leadership in Scotland and across the UK. Three hundred people a year in Scotland currently use your director development courses. You work closely with the Scottish Government to increase the number of women on public and private sector boards. And you will be an important member of Scotland’s Post-Referendum Business Network. That’s the new forum…

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Scotland’s manufacturing future By David Livey (snp) Nicola Sturgeon officially re-opened the Dalzell Scottish steel plant in Motherwell today. This follows decisive action taken by the Scottish Government earlier this year to secure a new owner, which safeguarded full manufacturing capability for the plant in the future. This isn’t the first time the Scottish Government has stepped up to protect a key national asset. With government assistance a new buyer was found for the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow. Under new ownership, the yard is winning public contracts and expanding…

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Extra funding to boost A&E resilience ahead of winter. Health boards across Scotland are sharing an additional £9 million this year for emergency departments, hospitals and primary and social care teams to get ready for winter. The funding supports dedicated multi-disciplinary teams to improve patient flow in A&E, across the hospital and in the community. By enhancing staffing cover over winter, providing the same level of discharging at weekends as midweek or providing treatment in the community, patients will get the best care in the most appropriate place, preventing unnecessary…

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Former first minister Alex Salmond has suggested a second referendum on Scottish independence could be held in two years time. In a column in the National newspaper, he said he has “little doubt” the “next test is coming”. He said that his “guess” on timing is that “it is likely to be the autumn of 2018”. ARTICLE SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37395261

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SNP Growth Commission (By Alex Aitchison) In 2014, Scotland voted to remain in a UK that was part of the European Union. However, the result of the June 2016 referendum raises the prospect of Scotland being taken out of the EU against the stated will of the Scottish electorate. The resultant economic and social upheaval and damage to our international relationships is a material risk to the economy and the wellbeing of our citizens. Independence is one of the options open to the people of Scotland to choose a different…

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Scotland must remain in the EU single market The importance of Scotland remaining part of the European Union’s single market was a key theme during the first in a series of parliamentary debates on the implications of Brexit. The debate was led by Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, Michael Russell, who also announced he will meet with the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, in London tomorrow. Mr Russell outlined the single market, stakeholder involvement and the importance of Scotland’s…

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