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A decision by a Government NHS appeals panel to allow a commercial Pharmacy in Tarves – and withdrawing rights for a local doctors surgery to dispense medicine was described by Aberdeenshire Councillor as ‘Just plain nuts’
The National Appeals Panel [NAP] grant a licence to Central belt based firm Semple and Semple to open at Tarves in [...]
Local Councillor and Drinks industry commentator Paul Johnston, has backed a CAMRA call for people to press their MPS to sign a House of Commons Motion urging the Chancellor to back local pubs in his tax decisions.
Next Tuesday, the 22 June, the Chancellor will announce the Budget. There is a [...]
Aberdeenshire Councillor Paul Johnston has told local people that tomorrow’s meeting of the National Appeals Panel (NAP) is critical for the future of health services in the parishes of Methlick, Tarves and Udny.
“I have had many representations from local people and it has been frustrating not being able to make local views [...]
In a statement this evening an Independent Councillor and Liberal Democrat Paul Johnston has asked for the Scottish Liberal Democrats to investigate a breach of trust by an anonymous member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats in Aberdeenshire.
Councillor Paul Johnston said: “A person has breached confidentiality by spreading stories in the press to [...]
In a statement this evening an Independent Councillor and Liberal Democrat Paul Johnston has asked for the Scottish Liberal Democrats to investigate a breach of trust by an anonymous member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats in Aberdeenshire.
Councillor Paul Johnston said: “A person has breached confidentiality by spreading stories in the press to disrupt the proper internal [...]
A study for the The Scotch Whisky Association has shown that whisky is worth £4 billion annually in additional value to the Scottish economy. The industry is spending upwards of £1.1 billion a year with Scottish business.
The Economic Impact of Scotch Whisky Production in Scotland – by Verso Economics, also revealed the industry’s annual [...]
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Paul's Blog
- Exams and Scottish Higher Education
August 5, 2010 | 7:21 pmOn the day that Scottish Exam results drop through the letterboxes of expecting students, there remains the unresolved debate about the future of higher education that underlies all the comments that will flow forth from the great and good.
My concerns that commentators will rubbish the results again, as they do when any increase in pass rates are announced. The requirements of any qualification change with time. It does not mean it gets easier – it can, but there is no evidence that it actually has. But there is evidence it has changed in another way.
Change in the the topics covered by exams have always happened. How many doing Maths now would be able to handle a slide rule? In my day, it was part of the exam. Now students would no know what a slide rule was.
For all those who are tempted to suggest the utter nonsense of advising students not to go to further Education but study things that industry bosses want now, could I enter the thought that we are really teaching people for occupations in technologies and systems that have not even been invented yet. Such is the challenge of the future.
Congratulations to all students in your results. I just hope that the generation currently making decisions about your futures, your higher education places and the very sustainability of the Country, will not indulge in the short term thinking of ‘government spending’. I hope they will have the courage for the investment in peoples’ futures and not our selfish present.
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Welcome
- Welcome to Cllr Paul Johnston’s Web Pages
July 20, 2010 | 11:46 pm Local Councillor Welcome to the web pages for Councillor Paul Johnston. Paul was elected as a Liberal Democrat on Aberdeenshire Council. Currently he sits as an independent as part of a non-aligned, liberal Independent group on the Council known as the Democratic Independent Group. He is currently co-ordinator. Paul continues to work and support the Liberal Democrats but is not presently part of the Group under that banner on Aberdeenshire Council.
Paul represents the Mid-Formartine Ward, which includes Balmedie, Potterton, Methlick, Tarves, Udny, Daviot and Oldmeldrum. over 13,000 people. First elected in 1995 he is one of Aberdeenshire’s longest serving Councillors.
- Quotes
July 6, 2010 | 4:46 pm
If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
John Stuart Mill
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