News.Scotland.Org

November, 3

Law is after all law no one is above that, this is proved in a incident in which a minister has to bear a fine for his offence. This may be an eye-opening incident for those imprudent people who use their mobile phones while driving. It was noticed that yesterday the immigration minister Liam Bryne has to face a fine for using his mobile while driving. Showing an act of modesty the 37-year-old minister in his letter to Sutton Coldfield Magistrate’s Court mentioned his offence and felt guilty of breaking the law. This cost the minister a fine of £35 and a £15 victim surcharge, he was charged under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1998.

In the letter Mr. Byrne wrote to the court stated that he was attending an important call on a deportation matter while driving. He also expressed his guilt over the act and accepted that it is not an excusable offence. Later considering the guilt plea by Mr Byrne the magistrates gave him a relaxation in the fine. The counterparts of Mr Byrne were pleased by the self realization of the minister for the crime he committed and later accepting the mistake before the court, it has also send a strong message out to those erring drivers who breaks such laws regularly.

It was known that the whole incident occurred on July 6th this year, while Mr. Byrne was driving along Tyburn Road in Birmingham, he was using a hand-held mobile phone, which comes under an offence. Stating his views on this incident, Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson, a former Labour minister whose private member’s bill raised a ruckus over the outlaw of using mobile phones while driving expressed happiness on the way Mr. Byrne accepted his offence and felt guilty over it.

All are mostly aware of the hazards and risks involved on talking in mobile phones while driving. The law strictly is enforced to keep a check on such offences and will also help to bring down the rapidly increasing road accidents. But the important factor is how people will accept this law for their betterment.

Scotland, Nov 3: The official survey conducted by the council shed light on to the fact that one among ten schools in Edinburgh are below the recommended standard. The report based on this survey revealed that at least 12 primary and secondary schools are functioning with low standard. This list excludes Portobello or James Gillespie’s high school that was considered as having adequate standard at the time of survey. The teachers and Councillors are planning to exert pressure on the Scottish Government to get financial aid for the up gradation of these schools.

Grading from A to D was given to schools on the basis of the information gathered in 2003, but the ratings were recently published. Two high schools were given “C” grade or poor rating. As part of the PPP2 plan Craigroyston and Tynecastle schools will get new buildings. It is expected that Castlebrae will get £30 million for its replacement. No other plans are proposed for other such primary schools. The city council tagged the St Cuthbert’s, Hillwood and Westburn for shutting down in August.

The Edinburgh Secretary of EIS, Colin Mackey said: “If the condition of the building is bad it will have a discouraging effect. I would be surprised if there was no link between malingering rates and the deprived state of the building. We are totally backing the council in its efforts to improve the standards of the schools.”

The Tory Education spokesman, Councillor Jeremy Balfour while commenting on this said: “There has been a need of financial aid for our schools over the years and the real test for the administration is to wield pressure as possible on Scottish government to renew the buildings. We all want the best for our children.”

Meanwhile Marilyne MacLaren, the city’s educational leader said: “We constantly upgrade the schools and have already hinted to the Scottish government our wish to replace three secondary, one primary and a special school.”

The ultimate decision is left to Scottish government and based on that crucial decision the fate of the schools included in the closure list will be decided upon. A standard school will produce standard students; the correction measures taken now will bear fruit in the future and by in future generation.