This week on Riddoch Questions Lesley’s joined by former First Minister Henry McLeish, Guardian columnist and President of the Social Policy Association, Polly Toynbee and the Daily Telegraph’s Scottish Editor Alan Cochrane.
Making the headlines so far this week:
• PUTTING PRISONERS TO WORK – Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has suggested Scottish prisoners should be let out of jail to work on major construction projects, such as facilities for the 2014 Commonwealth Games - providing rehabilitation for offenders and filling a labour gap in the industry. A win-win situation? Or risky and unfeasible? Where do we start when it comes to finding radical solutions for Scotland’s overcrowded prisons and high rate of reoffending?
• MIGRANT WORKERS – a new report claims Scotland’s having problems attracting and retaining migrant workers because of better pay elsewhere in the UK and problems settling in rural and remote areas. Will the introduction of a new points-based system of immigration help or hinder the influx of skilled workers north of the border?
• NEW WINTER OF DISCONTENT? – two days of public sector strikes later this month could bring Scotland to a standstill, with refuse collectors, cleaners and carers planning to down tools in a bid for better pay. Can we expect protests of the same scale as the ‘winter of discontent’, which brought down a Labour government in the 70s?
• SCOTTISH BROADCASTING – an independent inquiry says Scotland should have its own digital channel. But what would a Scottish channel be like? Would anyone watch it? Is it really necessary? Or can we now trust UK broadcasters to pull their socks up and spend more money on Scottish shows?
Email your questions on these stories now to riddoch@bbc.co.uk. Add your phone number if you want to put the question in person. On Friday text your views to 80295 and call 0500 92 95 00.
