http://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/default.aspxen-gbMon, 8 Sep 2008 12:29:26 GMThttp://www.teletext.co.uk/images/Logo64x64.gifhttp://www.teletext.co.ukClaims that Scotland needs large scale immigration because of a shrinking and ageing population are wrong, a report by a cross-party group of MPs found.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~4/386509310" height="1" width="1"/>
Scotland's population has been about five million for 50 years and will stay at that level for the next 25 years, even without net migration, it said.

The report argued for a policy of "balanced migration" to maintain a stable UK population over times.

]]>c0df43738b2c77fb96e2c6df58fd352ehttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~3/386509310/Immigration+call+rejected.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/c0df43738b2c77fb96e2c6df58fd352e/Immigration+call+rejected.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/c0df43738b2c77fb96e2c6df58fd352e/Immigration+call+rejected.aspxCritics of prison reform should get behind plans to toughen community sentencing and cut the number of inmates, the justice secretary said.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~4/386670454" height="1" width="1"/>
Kenny MacAskill faced down opponents of wide-ranging changes to the justice system, as set out in a report by former First Minister Henry McLeish.

Mr MacAskill said the SNP government had inherited an unfit prison estate with record numbers of prisoners.

]]>ea18aca688f5d6ed88b45d6d2fbb5403http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~3/386670454/Backing+for+prison+reform.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/ea18aca688f5d6ed88b45d6d2fbb5403/Backing+for+prison+reform.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/ea18aca688f5d6ed88b45d6d2fbb5403/Backing+for+prison+reform.aspxA pilot scheme banning the sale of alcohol to under-21s has led to a drop in crime and anti-social behaviour, new Scottish Government figures suggest.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~4/386560769" height="1" width="1"/>
Figures show calls about anti-social behaviour have fallen by 40% since the voluntary Stop the Supply project began in Larbert and Stenhousemuir in April.

Ministers said the statistics provided "more evidence" that an over-21s off-sales policy could help cut crime.

]]>c05aa41f9f41dc3c993fd21341d74295http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~3/386560769/Alcohol+ban+'cuts+crime'.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/c05aa41f9f41dc3c993fd21341d74295/Alcohol+ban+'cuts+crime'.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/c05aa41f9f41dc3c993fd21341d74295/Alcohol+ban+'cuts+crime'.aspxLabour has claimed that the Scottish government has chosen "spin over action" on housing.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~4/386151825" height="1" width="1"/>
Last month First Minister Alex Salmond announced about £100m could be spent ahead of schedule to boost affordable housing, helping first-time buyers.

However Labour communities spokeswoman Johann Lamont said ministers have been unable to give her a "straight answer" on how much funding would be available.

]]>75794a682ba60100598707b0db4900fehttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~3/386151825/Labour+warns+on+housing.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/75794a682ba60100598707b0db4900fe/Labour+warns+on+housing.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/75794a682ba60100598707b0db4900fe/Labour+warns+on+housing.aspxHundreds of Scots children under 16 contracted sexually transmitted infections last year, the Information and Statistics Division has revealed.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~4/386524836" height="1" width="1"/>
Data shows 181 youngsters were infected with chlamydia, 62 tested positive for genital warts, 13 contracted herpes and 10 were diagnosed with gonorrhoea.

The figures come a day after the Scottish Government announced plans to increase the number of drop-in clinics.

]]>44cf30649d4f9ad63c2c39f8ba69eb4bhttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/scottish-politics/~3/386524836/Under-16s+suffering+STIs.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/44cf30649d4f9ad63c2c39f8ba69eb4b/Under-16s+suffering+STIs.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/scottish-politics/44cf30649d4f9ad63c2c39f8ba69eb4b/Under-16s+suffering+STIs.aspx