Holyrood

The European Union’s age verification app is ready for roll-out, Ursula von der Leyen has said. The UK Government is consulting on a raft of measures aimed at protecting children and young people online. The Growing Up in the Online World consultation has six more weeks to run and seeks feedback on steps including a minimum age threshold for social media, AI chatbot safeguards and curbs on certain design features aimed at hooking users in.

The Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland has announced two new appointments as it moves to strengthen its team. The Edinburgh-based social enterprise is expanding its work across skills development, incident response and organisational resilience, supporting businesses, charities, and public sector organisations across Scotland.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has pledged to put the NHS at the centre of his plans for government as he promised to fix the “mess” left by the SNP. The party will launch its manifesto today ahead of the 7 May election, promising to cut waiting times in the health service and offering a GP appointment within 48 hours for anyone who needs it. There is also a pledge to top up tax-free childcare to £3,000 per child, create 9,000 new apprenticeships and build 125,000 new homes.

Private renters will be given a period of “first refusal” to purchase the property they live in under measures being set out by the SNP. First Minister John Swinney said his party would introduce new legislation to give renters priority to buy their home at a fair market price. Other measures being promised by the SNP include help of up to £10,000 for first-time buyers and the delivery of 100,000 affordable homes by 2032.

Mandy Rhodes, editor of Holyrood, has been shortlisted in the Interviewer of the Year category at this year’s Scottish Press Awards. Rhodes, a past winner of Columnist of the Year, was recognised by the judges for her interviews with former Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, Labour MP Zubir Ahmed and solicitor Naomi Cunningham. Now in its 47th year, the Scottish Press Awards recognises journalists working across Scotland’s print media.

The following is a Q&A with Labour Lawrence Fitzpatrick, leader of West Lothian Council. The Public Sector Reform strategy is a key mission of the Scottish Government, what does that mean for you and your council? I think everyone would agree with the broad ideals of the Public Sector Reform Strategy. It’s clear that positive action is required to improve public services for everyone, with early preventative action a key part of this.

The following is a Q&A with Labour Martin Rooney, leader of West Dunbartonshire Council. The Public Sector Reform strategy is a key mission of the Scottish Government, what does that mean for you and your council? Year-on-year underfunding by the Scottish Government has been the biggest driver of change in local government and we have streamlined operations and reduced overheads.

The following is a Q&A with Labour Joe Fagan, leader of South Lanarkshire Council. The Public Sector Reform strategy is a key mission of the Scottish Government, what does that mean for you and your council? Public sector reform is about more than efficiency – it’s about effectiveness. The drive for efficiency can be counter-productive if it is solely a means to reduce spending.

The following is a Q&A with Independent Brian Connolly, leader of South Ayrshire Council. The Public Sector Reform strategy is a key mission of the Scottish Government, what does that mean for you and your council? We hope it means a fairer budget settlement, which considers our demographic pressures.

Our geography, maritime heritage and natural resources place us in a strong position as we seek to expand energy infrastructure deployment, world-class tourism and increasingly complex supply chains. Yet, now more than ever, it is execution — not aspiration — that will determine whether Scotland realises its full potential. Scotland’s ports are far more than gateways between land and sea.