I've been working as a journalist for two and a half years, after starting out as a trainee on the Sunday Herald. I now cover general news for The Herald and Sunday Herald. Also interested in Scottish science news.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which has 20,000 members in Scotland, has written to the Rt Hon Lord Gill, chairman of the Scottish Courts Service (SCS) board, arguing that the court estate reforms – which will also affect five Justice of the Peace courts – will damage footfall and hit jobs in the areas where the courts are due to close.
The change will come into effect from 2015, bringing the NHS in Scotland into line with current practice in England and Northern Ireland.
It follows recommendations published today by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC), a panel of cancer and public health experts, that evidence surrounding the effectiveness of screening supports increasing the age when women are first invited for a smear test from 20 to 25. Wales – the only other UK country which currently begins screening at 20 – is also expected to increase its threshold to 25.
