Jackson Carlaw MSP has welcomed a Conservative proposal to deliver radical change in education by breaking the current state monopoly and creating a new raft of state funded independently run schools.

The Conservative MSP for West of Scotland said:

"Despite the education budget having doubled over the last decade new research shows Scottish voters believe our schools are not delivering. The Lib/Lab pact, and now the SNP, have presided over a country where education standards have flat-lined or even fallen.

"We need radical change. To drive up standards we must break the state's monopoly on education, give teachers more control and give parents more choice. We need to take power away from politicians and start trusting teachers and head-teachers.

"This can be achieved by allowing the direct state funding of independently run schools. These schools would be free to operate alongside local authority run schools, with the resulting competition helping to drive up standards. They would not be allowed to charge fees or to become selective. They would remain subject to the same rigorous HMIe and Care Commission inspection processes. In some cases, they could even be run by educational charities, not for profit trusts or other philanthropic bodies.

"This is a radical proposal, but it's increasingly clear that the status quo is not an option. Taking the bold step of breaking the state monopoly and giving power to parents and teachers is the obvious solution to Scotland's education problems."

Courtesy Daily Express 

Labour wants to tax every home owner with 10 per cent death tax 
 
By Sarah O'Grady  

LABOUR wants to hammer every home owner in Britain with a spiteful 10 per cent death tax, it emerged yesterday.

The levy would be charged on all estates up to the current inheritance tax threshold of £325,000.

Any amount above the existing threshold is already taxed at 40 per cent. But the extra charge would add a huge £32,500 on top of the tax bill for such properties.

It means people with an estate valued at £500,000 would find their relatives hit with a bill of £102,500 after their death.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham raised the spectre of the additional levy at a debate on social care funding yesterday.

He said: “This is not a flat fee and would enable people to protect 90 per cent of their homes and savings.”

Mr Burnham also claimed that the levy would be “progressive” since the millionaire would pay more than the ordinary pensioner.

He said an earlier idea to charge a flat rate on people’s estates once they die – thought to be around £20,000 – was still being considered.

But critics last night accused the Government of treating people “like fools”.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “Everyone knows that Labour wants to impose a death tax on grieving families but yet again Andy Burnham refuses to be straight with the British people about his plans.

“It is incredible that the Government is set to publish a White Paper outlining their death tax policy within the next three weeks and yet the Health Secretary claims he is still weighing up various options. He is treating people like fools.”