Nine in ten Scots 'living off state's patronage'

UK Telegraph

Almost nine out of 10 Scottish households take more from the public purse than they contribute in taxes thanks to a “rotten system” of state patronage, the Tory party conference will hear on Monday. 

Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, is to highlight official figures showing that only 283,080 households north of the border – 12 per cent of the total – pay more in tax than they receive in public services.

She will tell delegates that, because the public sector is seen as the key provider of everything from housing to employment, state spending now accounts for more than half Scotland’s wealth.

She will blame Alex Salmond, the SNP First Minister, and his Labour predecessors for nurturing a “corrosive sense of entitlement” among voters that has prevented her party making a comeback in Scotland.

Miss Davidson will argue this Left-wing “stranglehold” suits Labour and the SNP but has made it difficult for the Tories as so many voters are reliant on the public sector for their household income.-[Full Article]

BIOMETRIC ID CHECK ON SCOTS SCHOOLCHILDREN AS YOUNG AS FOUR

DOZENS of Scottish schools have introduced “intrusive” biometric systems, such as fingerprinting, to identify pupils as young as four.

New figures show 68 schools are now using technology to manage meals, control library books and even allow access to toilets.

Almost two-thirds are primaries, where fingerprinting and palm recognition can be used to identify young children.
And another 10 schools in Midlothian have the capability for biometric ID but are not yet using it.

Yesterday, critics said the extent which the technology was being used in Scotland’s schools was “worrying”...

"Figures show 68 schools are now using technology to manage meals and even allow toilet access."

[Full Article]