SNP MSP Bob Doris has welcomed reports that the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol is permissible in principle under European Union law.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon held talks with senior officials in Brussels this week, and has been assured that the principle of minimum pricing is compatible with EU law.

Kevin Stewart, SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central, has welcomed the introduction of the living wage of £7.20 per hour by Aberdeen City Council. 

The SNP has welcomed a report from the University of Sheffield that shows minimum pricing of alcohol will prevent hundreds of deaths and cut 3,600 crimes each year in Scotland.

The report measures the effect the policy is estimated to have on Scotland’s alcohol misuse problem. The key findings, based on a minimum price of 45p per unit, include:

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford MP has seized on a report published by the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) which warns that the UK Government’s Work Capability Assessment for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is not able to properly assess mental health.

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said there was increasing evidence that the welfare system should be devolved as the Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty and Rights Advice Scotland warned that UK welfare reforms will remove a safety net for hardworking taxpayers and their families.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon has written to NHS staff commending their hard work in delivering a successful 2011.

In her New Year message to Scotland's health workers, Ms Sturgeon reflected on dedication of NHS employees and highlighted their involvement in the year’s key achievements.

The revelation in the official files, released under the 30 year rule, which revealed that Margaret Thatcher vetoed plans for a multibillion-pound North Sea gas pipeline that could have created up to 15,000 jobs in the north of Scotland, make the case for Scotland taking responsibility of its own oil wealth says the SNP MSP for North East Scotland, Mark McDonald.

SNP MSP Bob Doris has welcomed the calls from the report by the Royal College of Physicians for the introduction of minimum pricing.

The RCP report is supported by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and calls on Westminster to follow Scotland’s lead to act to curb the cost of binge drinking by introducing minimum pricing.

Revelations that secret files, only just released under the 30 year rule, have revealed that Margaret Thatcher defied “desperate pleas from her senior Cabinet colleagues” when she vetoed plans for a multibillion-pound North Sea gas pipeline that could have created up to 15,000 jobs in the north of Scotland, underline how Westminster cannot be trusted with Scotland’s oil and the jobs and economic b

Glasgow SNP MSP, Humza Yousaf, has appealed for more members of the Black and Minority Ethnic communities to come forward and sign up to the organ donor register.