Home News Five things you need to know today

Five things you need to know today

July 5, 2016 6:00 am

First Minister holding EU summits
EU students given reassurance
Girlguiding Scotland joined the Holyrood Big Day Out
Edinburgh boy will play Oliver at The Playhouse
At the Fruitmarket Gallery

The First Minister is to hold a meeting today with key business organisations to discuss the EU fallout.

Diplomats will be invited to Bute House to discuss how the government in Scotland can reassure the EU citizens already living here.

Keith Brown the Economy Secretary will join Nicola Sturgeon at a roundtable discussion with the following organisations:

CBI
Institute of Directors
Federation of Small Businesses
Scottish Council for Development and Industry
Scottish Financial Enterprise
Scottish Chambers of Commerce

Speaking ahead of the meetings, the First Minister said:

“I have made it very clear that citizens of EU countries who have decided to make Scotland their home should receive an absolute guarantee from the UK Government that their status here is safe and secure.

“I have already written to the Prime Minister and the potential candidates to succeed him, calling for that assurance to be made without delay – and that is just one of the issues I will be discussing with Consuls and diplomats at today’s summit.

“I will also be making the case more widely that the Scottish Government is determined to explore every possible avenue to protect and maintain Scotland’s EU status.

“My visit to Brussels last week was an important first stage in that process – and I found a great deal of understanding there for the situation Scotland has been placed in.”

The First Minister added:

“We are faced with a decision that this country did not take or want, and we must now respond to something not of our making. But all options to protect Scotland’s place in Europe are on the table and will remain there.

“Scotland’s economy is fundamentally strong, but continued EU membership and our place in the world’s biggest single market is absolutely vital when it comes to protecting jobs, investment and long-term-prosperity.

“Clearly there is now uncertainty for business, so we need to protect Scotland from that as much as possible. Today’s meeting with leading business organisations is a vital step in that process, as Scotland’s business community has a great deal to play in this – by coming together today they can start to map out a united response, which will be crucial in protecting Scotland’s interests.”

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said:

“They key message I and other Ministers have been relaying is that we are still firmly in the EU and business and trade should continue as normal. On that front, nothing has changed.

“We know that Scotland is an attractive place to do business and we are continue to be open for business with European partners and further afield.

“What we’ll be discussing with business leaders is how we preserve and strengthen those links, and what steps we can collectively take to ensure Scotland’s strong economic position is maintained.”

In common with other universities in Scotland, the principal of Edinburgh Napier University Professor Andrea Nolan has reassured EU students and applicants that their fees will be covered if there was a change in funding.

She said: “I recognise that the outcome of the EU referendum may have caused uncertainty among our EU students as well as those holding offers for entry this coming academic year, or considering applying to come and study with us in 2017/18.

“I want to reassure all current EU students as well as those EU students beginning undergraduate and postgraduate study in the academic years 2016/17 and 2017/18 that nothing will change immediately as a result of the referendum.

“We value the contribution of EU students to our university community, and to provide further reassurance, I can confirm two things: first, tuition fees for such EU students will not be increased during their studies above the level of Scottish students.

“Second, should there be a change in SAAS funding during the course of their study, the university will cover the cost of EU students’ tuition fees to allow them to complete their degree studies.”

Girlguiding Scotland members joined the Riding on Saturday following the opening of the Scottish Parliament.

One hundred members joined the parade and waved at the First Minister and other leaders of the political parties as they paraded down the Royal Mile to go and have lunch at Holyrood.

Maisie,10, of the 101st Edinburgh Brownies, said: “It was really exciting to be part of such a big event and show everyone watching fun and exciting things Brownies get to do.”

Rosalie, 10, of the 72nd Edinburgh Guides, added: “This is the first time I’ve ever been in a parade and I’m really proud to represent Girlguiding Scotland at the opening of Parliament.”

Zoe, 18, from Stenhouse Senior Section, added: “Being part of Girlguiding Scotland has taught us that it is really important to use our voice and speak up on the issues that matter for us.

“For many of us in the Senior Section the most recent Scottish Parliament election was our first chance to vote so we organised sessions to learn more about the different political parties and their policies.

“We were really excited to represent Girlguiding Scotland at the official opening of parliament and to show that girls and young women’s voices matter.”

Sue Walker, Girlguiding Scotland’s Chief Commissioner, said: “I am delighted that one hundred of our members took part in the Riding to Parliament, joining with community groups from across Scotland to open the fifth session of the Scottish Parliament.

“We empower girls and young women to use their voice to campaign on the issues that matter to them and to be a force for good so it’s fantastic to see our young members represented at the opening of Parliament, as well as enjoying a fun-filled day out in the capital city.”

An eleven-year-old Edinburgh chorister has won the lead role in this summer’s production of Oliver!

Taylor Torkington, a chorister with the Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh and a pupil at St Mary’s Music School, will be playing the famous young orphan Oliver during a four-performance run at the Edinburgh Playhouse in July.

Taylor has been a chorister at St Mary’s Music School since 2013. As well as singing in daily services at St Mary’s Cathedral, he has taken part in the Choir tour to Germany in 2015 and sung in many concerts and broadcasts including with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and a recent recording of Stravinsky with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Taylor said: “I was very surprised to be cast as Oliver and I can’t wait to get started.”

Dr Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher at St Mary’s Music School, said: “Taylor is a talented young chorister who loves to sing. We are delighted for him that he has won the lead role in Oliver! His choral and music training will stand him in excellent stead to sing the well-known songs from the famous and much-loved musical”.

Oliver! will take place at the Playhouse Theatre on Thursday 21 July, Friday 22 July and Saturday 23 July (matinee and evening performances). Tickets are available from: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/oliver-by-lionel-bart/edinburgh-playhouse/

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Later this week there will be a new exhibition at the Fruitmarket Gallery on Market Street.

Born in 1967 in Mexico City, Damián Ortega is one of the most prominent artists of the new Mexican generation. His work prioritises action over object, seeking to call attention to the dynamism of the world around us, and the hidden poetry in the everyday.

For The Fruitmarket Gallery’s summer exhibition, Ortega will make new sculptures focusing on how the forces of nature – wind, water, earth and fire – act on the earth both independently of and in relationship to humankind.