Bank of England Speech Undermines Treasury Paper, Says Hosie

May 21, 2013 Stewart Hosie MP No comments

In a speech today at an international conference, Paul Tucker, the Bank of England’s Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, outlines the virtues of cross-border co-operation in financial regulation – and in doing so shatters Scottish Secretary Michael Moore’s Treasury paper which scaremongers on financial regulation in an independent Scotland.

Stewart Hosie MP, the SNP’s Treasury Spokesman at Westminster, said:

“Timing is everything, and the Treasury paper has been completely undermined by Mr Tucker’s speech today – which is all about the importance of cross-border co-operation in financial regulation in order to protect taxpayers.

“While Michael Moore scaremongers in Edinburgh on behalf of the No campaign, Paul Tucker for the Bank of England reflects the reality at an international conference.

“Coming hot on the heels of the admission by Denis Healey that the UK Government played down the extent of Scotland’s North Sea resources in the 1970s as part of the campaign to oppose independence, today’s paper is another example of why it’s time for the No campaign to pulp the fiction about Scotland’s abilities.”

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Minister Launches Social Enterprise Mentoring Partnership

May 21, 2013 Shona Robison MSP No comments
seated with the Legacy logo: L-R: Graeme Powrie of Pilotlight, Shona, Derek Marshall, Chief executive at Factory Skatepark.

seated with the Legacy logo: L-R: Graeme Powrie of Pilotlight, Shona, Derek Marshall, Chief executive at Factory Skatepark.

Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport was at the Factory Skatepark in Balunie Drive today to launch a mentoring scheme that will match-up successful business people and social enterprises  to help them develop and succeed.

The scheme will provide six charities across Scotland with top business mentors such as senior staff from Scottish Enterprise, Visit Scotland, sportscotland, Schuh, Scottish & Newcastle and Redspire – is known as the Pilotlight partnership.

Working with the Scottish Government, the scheme aims to put the social enterprises on a steady footing for growth and development.

The new partnership between the Scottish Government and Pilotlight in Scotland is part of the Legacy 2014 project to deliver a lasting legacy from the Commonwealth Games.

Shona said: “I’m launching this initiative at the Factory Skatepark – which previously benefitted from Pilotlight support and has prospered and substantially expanded as a result.

“The Commonwealth Games will deliver 11 days of spectacular sporting events but success will be measured not just by medals but by more training opportunities, a stronger economy and more jobs.

“This initiative will help these enterprises enhancing the services they offer to their local communities and making a positive imprint on the future of the organisation.

“The business leaders involve will provide invaluable experience, sharing the benefit of their skills and knowledge of the business world to create a significant impact on the operation and performance of social enterprises to ensure their future sustainability.”

The first three projects to benefit are Active Communities in Paisley, Drumchapel and District Sports Centre and Youth Football Scotland.

 

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Walk To School Week

May 20, 2013 Shona Robison MSP No comments
Shona with Barnhill PS pupils at today's event.

Shona with Barnhill PS pupils at today’s event.

Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison today joined P7 school pupils at Barnhill Primary School to promote Walk To School Week.

The initiative by the pupils, part of the Scottish Government’s Greener Together campaign, is supported by Paths for All and Dundee City Council’s Education Department.

Speaking to the school assembly, Shona commended the pupils on their initiative and on their commitment to healthy exercise which was so important for them as individuals and for a more green, environmentally-friendly and more active Scotland.

Shona is pictured with staff and P7 pupils at the event. Also in the picture; Keith Irving, Head of Living Streets Scotland (back left), Ian Findlay, Chief Officer of Paths For All, (third from right), Headteacher Pamela Nesbitt is second from right.

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MSP Opens Chiropodists and Podiatrists Annual Conference

May 20, 2013 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Chirop Podiastrists ConferenceDundee City East MSP Shona Robison gave an opening speech to the one day Scottish Conference of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists at the city’s Apex Hotel on Saturday 18th May.

Hosted by the local branch of the Society and attended by members from across Scotland, topics considered by the conference included Peripheral Neuropathy, Promoting Activity in Pre and Post Treatment Cancer Patients, Mature Onset Diabetes in the Young.

Among the speakers is Dr Andrew Murray an Edinburgh GP who completed 7 marathons in 7 days in 7 continents, Dr Kathleen White a Consultant Neurologist from NHS Tayside, Dr Anna Campbell of Dundee University, Dr Bob Leckridge from Glasgow Homeopathy Hospital and Jayne Cameron, MODY Nurse with NHS Tayside.

Picture shows Shona with speakers before the Conference.

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MSP in NCR Meeting

May 20, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today [20th] met with local management of NCR at their offices in Fulton Road after an announcement about job losses.

Joe said: “Obviously as the local MSP I am deeply concerned for members of staff facing potential redundancy and they remain my first priority.

“The staff at NCR Dundee are very experienced and highly skilled, but the potential job losses are part of an international re-alignment that will impact on NCR sites across the world.

“In Dundee this will impact on both hardware and software engineering, although I was assured that Dundee remains integral to NCR’s global business.

“I have already spoken with John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, who has assured me that the Scottish Government will work with the company to help those affected and maintain as many jobs in Dundee as possible.

“I remain hopeful that NCR will endeavour to avoid redundancies and I stand ready to support the local management and staff in any way I can.”

 

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Scottish Secretary Admits UK “Speculating” on Independence Claims

May 16, 2013 Stewart Hosie MP No comments

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore exposed the UK Government’s case against independence today as he admitted he was “speculating” on questions of currency and financial regulation.

 

After making claims about Europe’s position on financial regulation in an independent Scotland Michael Moore was challenged during Scottish Affairs Committee by Ian Davidson MP who asked “How do you know that?”  In response Mr Moore was forced to say “Okay- I’m speculating”.

 

The comment destroys the position taken by the UK on currency, financial regulation and the financial sector.

 

SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said:

 

“Michael Moore has given the No campaign’s game away.  He has admitted that the UK Government’s position is nothing more than speculation and assertion.  This admission fundamentally undermines the UK’s case.

 

“And once again UK ministers could not rule out a Sterling area as they know that it is simply common sense.

 

“Instead of speculating and talking down Scotland’s financial sector the UK Government could agree to the Fiscal Commission’s suggestion and engage in some proper discussions.“

 

Commenting on other parts of the Scottish Affair’s session Mr Hosie said:

 

“This was the usual No campaign rhetoric dressed up as a parliamentary inquiry.  UK Ministers offered nothing to the debate today, no positive case for the union and no vision for the future.

 

“The reality is that even Danny Alexander cannot deny that with independence continuing to use sterling and preserving the single UK market for trade and business is in the best interests of people in both Scotland and other parts of the UK.”

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City MSP Welcomes Wi-Fi For Dundee Station

May 15, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed the announcement that Dundee rail station is to benefit from the introduction of Wi-Fi for passengers.
In the latest phase of the move towards providing Wi-Fi services on Scotland’s trains and stations, Dundee has been named as one of 25 stations in Scotland that will see the service installed by December this year.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “The SNP Government promised to ensure Wi-Fi facilities was made available on trains and stations across Scotland’s rail network by 2019 and work is already under way to install these services with 59 ScotRail trains expected to be equipped with Wi-Fi by the end of 2013.

“Trains will be fitted with Wi-Fi facilities at a rate of six or seven a month from October this year thanks to more than £1million of Scottish Government funding.
“Free Wi-Fi will be rolled out across 25 of ScotRail stations and all 38 of their Class 380 trains.

“This is great news — with the new £14 million rail station concourse which the city is to get as part of the waterfront development by 2015 — and will be welcomed by commuters and passengers who use Dundee station on a regular basis.

“Dundee is home to a significant cluster of Scotland’s digital media and computer games industry and this will help to support the business community as well as individuals and make journeys more pleasant and productive.”
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Change of Course Needed on Economy – SNP Table Queen’s Speech Amendment

May 14, 2013 Stewart Hosie MP No comments

The SNP has today [14 May] tabled an amendment to the Queen’s Speech calling for a change in economic policy to boost growth and jobs. The amendment will say that the programme announced “fails to meet the aspirations of the people of Scotland.”

SNP Treasury Spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP is expected to highlight the reported £11.5 billion extra cuts to be demanded in the forthcoming spending review and say, “The few sensible measures in the Queen’s Speech will be overwhelmed by the further Tory cuts expected to be announced in June.”

Commenting ahead of the House of Commons debate, Stewart Hosie MP said:

“The Prime Minister was wrong when he said this package would, ‘cut the deficit, grow the economy, deliver a better future for our children’ and win the global race’. Instead we have a continuation of the failed UK policy of austerity with little or nothing to stimulate growth.

“Rather than competing and winning, this UK Government has set Scotland on track for a lost decade of austerity under the Westminster system – underlining exactly why we need the powers of an independent Scotland.

“UK policy has seen a flat-lining economy and worse, forecasts of more than one in four children being forced into poverty. Everyone knows policy needs to change. Even the IMF Chief Economist Olivier Blanchard said the UK was, “playing with fire” if it allowed this economic stagnation to continue.

“The package of austerity will never meet the aspirations of the people of Scotland.

“Only with independence, having full powers at Holyrood, will we have the opportunity to do things differently – and better.”

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MEP Sponsors Dundee Students Visit to European Parliament

May 3, 2013 Ian Hudghton MEP No comments

DundeeUniStrasMay2013Tayside-based MEP Ian Hudghton sponsored a visit by a group of Dundee University students to Strasbourg  last week.  This was part of a study tour of EU institutions in Strasbourg and Brussels plus a visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Lecturers attending were Iain Luke and Marion Sporing.

 

Last month the SNP MEP enjoyed a lively question and answer session with the students at Dundee University as part of the preparations for their visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the European Commission in Brussels.

 

The group are all studying European subjects as part of a variety of other degree courses, and were very much aware of the importance of the EU as a legislative entity and had many questions and comments about Scotland’s place in the complex framework of EU membership.

 

Commenting Ian Hudghton said:

 

“One of the most effective ways to learn more about who does what, in the European Union is to visit the institutions.  I am very pleased to be able to sponsor the Dundee University group’s visit to the Strasbourg Parliament during a plenary session, as part of their fact-finding tour which will include briefings at the European Commission and at Scotland House in Brussels.”

 

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Dundee MP Backs Bigotry Battle

May 3, 2013 Stewart Hosie MP No comments

SHScotland’s leading anti-sectarianism charity has taken its battle to banish bigotry to Westminster with the help of Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie.

Nil by Mouth teamed up with the Dundee MP to promote its work at a special event at the House of Commons.

NBM was founded by Glasgow teenager Cara Henderson after the brutal sectarian murder of her friend Mark Scott in 1995. Since then it has campaigned tirelessly against sectarianism both on, and off, the terraces. The charity currently offers dedicated sectarian awareness workshops in schools and colleges through its ‘Champions for Change’ scheme and workplaces and youth groups through ‘Beyond Religion and Belief’ projects.

Beyond Religion and Belief, which is delivered, free of charge, has been developed and piloted in partnership the STUC and several public and private sector employers. The package provides organisations with a framework to address sectarianism in the workplace and includes advice on policy and procedure, awareness raising workshops and a Management module.

Speaking at the vent, Stewart Hosie said: “This was an important event as it gave MPs and peers the opportunity to find out how they could become more involved on anti-sectarianism work.

“I was particularly interested to learn about Nil by Mouth’s ’Beyond Religion and Belief’ project and pleased to learn that a number of employers in my constituency have become involved.

“Sectarianism is a serious problem for Scotland but not an insurmountable one and this can be the generation which defeats it once and for all.’

Nil by Mouth Campaign Director Dave Scott commented: “We are extremely grateful for Stewart’s support for our campaign. Arrests for sectarianism rose by 30% last year and worryingly 60% of those charged were under the age of 30. We must break this cycle of bigotry.

“The Scottish Government is investing record levels in grassroots community projects aimed at helping the silent majority find their voice and everyone has a part to play in ridding Scotland of sectarianism.

“All NBM services are free of charge and we are very keen to deepen our work with groups in the Dundee area.”

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