Scotland needs boiler scrappage scheme
Temperatures in December were at their lowest for almost three decades prompting many households to crank up their central heating. However for many people, this is not an option as they struggle to budget for increased fuel bills.
With climate change estimated to lead to more unpredictable weather patterns in future, cold snaps like the current one could become a more common occurrence. It is therefore vital that steps are taken to improve our ability to endure such conditions by making our homes more energy efficient.
One such step was taken by the UK Government last week when it launched the boiler scrappage scheme. Under the scheme households in England will be offered £400 towards replacing old boilers with new energy efficient models.
125,000 households across England are set to benefit from this scheme but the Scottish Government has thus far not committed to similar proposals for Scotland despite the fact that they have the money to pay for it.
I have added my support to a campaign calling on the Scottish Government to implement a boiler scrappage scheme in Scotland. You can add your support by clicking here
There are a number of benefits which this scheme would bring. For individual households, the installation of a new, energy efficient boiler could save as much as £235 a year on energy bills helping to alleviate the effects of fuel poverty.
For the plumbing industry in Scotland, the scheme would help secure jobs for manufacturers, retailers and installers of central heating systems providing vital orders during a time of economic downturn.
Last but by no means least the scheme would be good for the environment with estimates suggesting that the current proposals for England will reduce CO2 emissions by 140,000 tonnes a year - the equivalent of taking 45,000 cars off our roads.
The Scottish Climate Change Act has given the Scottish Government the tools to start taking positive steps towards tackling climate change. It is time to see these first steps being taken and I want to see the Scottish Government match the UK Government's commitment to tackling climate change, cutting fuel poverty and helping the economy.
People working in shops across Clydesdale are providing vital services to their communities and they have the right to expect that they will be allowed to work in a safe environment.
That is why I have added my support to the Freedom from Fear campaign organised by USDAW.
Statistics show that over the last three years incidences of violence and abuse against shop workers in Scotland has rocketed by 78%.
Whether it is verbal or physical abuse, the campaign aims to send out a clear message that this behaviour is totally unacceptable.
This is not a problem which is found only in the big cities, it is happening here in Clydesdale too.
For evidence of just how vulnerable shop workers can be we need look no further than the recent life-threatening and unprovoked attack on Carluke shopkeeper Navid Ghani.
Many instances of violence and abuse against shop workers relate to premisies selling age restricted products like alcohol and cigarettes.
Situations like this could be diffused by making youngsters more aware that it is on offence to attempt to buy alcohol underage and by developing better strategies to prevent underage sales like the Think 25 scheme.
For more information on the campaign visit www.usdaw.org.uk
Online only council notices would be a mistake
The Scottish Government is consulting on plans to allow local authorities to advertise public notices online in a money saving exercise.
Council notices cover important topics such as road closures and diversions, planning news and other important council announcements.
Favouring online advertising over local newspapers will greatly disadvantage those households which do not have internet access in their homes and which rely on the local press for local information.
Local Authorities have a legal duty to publish these notices as they are in the public interest. It is wholly appropriate that they should publish this information in the local press - a format that is available to everyone.
By all means councils should be encouraged to place information online but this must be in addition to rather than instead of printed media.
These proposals will also take vital revenue away from local newspapers which are already facing significant challenges to their survival.
The Scottish Government must rethink these proposals to avoid disadvantaging sectors of the community and irreversibly damaging local papers, which are important local employers and a vital part of the media spectrum.
December’s Climate Change Summit was billed as Hopenhagen by some campaigners who wanted to see a number of key commitments made by the world’s governments.
What we got instead was more of a commitment to a commitment. Everyone seems to grasp that climate change is a major issue but the failure to get the nations of the world to agree a binding deal was hugely disappointing.
I know from UK colleagues that a great deal of work was carried out not just in the months but the years leading up to Copenhagen and I remain hopeful that the necessary actions to combat climate change can agreed on soon.
I am immensely proud of the Climate Change Act that the Scottish Parliament passed last summer. It is a world leading piece of legislation but we’re still waiting for the Scottish Government to implement proposals for council tax incentives for people who install energy efficiency measures in their homes.
Having blown our trumpet at Copenhagen it is vital that we now focus on what actions we can take at home rather than waiting for a world wide deal.
The latest instance of the Scottish Government failing to act to reduce carbon emissions, while at the same time reducing fuel bills, is the UK Government’s boiler scrappage scheme.
The UK Government has struck a deal with the plumbing industry in England and Wales to offer 125,000 households £400 off the cost of a new energy efficient boiler.
The Scottish Government have ruled out a similar scheme in Scotland even though the funding would be available for it. As a result, 12,000 households in Scotland will miss out on the scheme.
Tougher inspections needed to beat superbugs
The recent news of five deaths linked to an outbreak of C. difficile at Dundee’s Ninewells hospital is deeply saddening.
It is a nightmare scenario that, should a loved one fall ill and require hospital treatment, they are at risk of catching an unrelated but life threatening bug while on the ward.
Each death related to superbugs is a terrible waste of a life, made all the more so by the fact that these deaths are avoidable.
General Register Office for Scotland statistics show that in the two main hospitals serving Clydesdale, Hairmyres and Wishaw General, C. difficile was mentioned on the death certificate either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor in 53 deaths in 2008. This is up from 44 in 2007, a 20% increase.
I want to see a tougher inspection regime to help beat hospital superbugs and to ensure that avoidable deaths are avoided. To this end my parliamentary colleagues and I are calling for a series of specific measures to toughen the inspection regime and ensure greater transparency in the NHS,
Every family should have the right to know that when someone they love goes into hospital they are treated in clean and safe conditions.
I want to see a single website that any member of the public can access, which is updated in real time, showing the performance of every hospital in Scotland. People in Clydesdale have the right to know what is happening at our local hospitals.
Inspectors should also be required to visit hospitals as soon as they hear that there is an outbreak of C. Difficile to offer specialist support and ensure that infection control guidelines are being properly followed. I believe that those inspectors should also have independent authority to close wards that fail to take sufficient action to prevent superbugs.
By introducing these simple measures, and ensuring that guidelines on cleanliness in hospitals are relayed effectively to staff and visitors alike, the Scottish Government could help to avoid more deaths like those in Dundee.
New legislation will help protect rural schools
The passing of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill is a massive boost for parents, teachers and communities as a whole who will now will now have a greater say on decisions about their local schools.
There will now have to be wider consultation including the views of local communities when decisions are being made about potential school closures and there are also provisions to help secure the future of rural schools.
When I previously served on the Parliament’s education committee I heard time and again that local communities were being frozen out of decisions which had the potential to have a big impact on local people.
But these decisions need to be transparent so that the public can have confidence in the outcomes of consultations and we must all work to ensure that communities are provided with the information they need to contribute effectively to this process.
I am particularly pleased at the inclusion of provisions to safeguard rural schools that will ensure that any viable alternative proposals are given due consideration. The legislation recognises that schools are at the heart of rural communities and the implications of closure will now carry greater weight.
It is important to remember that in rural areas a school can serve a variety purposes for the wider community, be that as a meeting place for social and voluntary groups or for evening classes and workshops for people of all ages. I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop acknowledged the importance of this fact in her speech to Parliament.
The provisions in the bill carry on from some of the work being carried out in South Lanarkshire to safeguard schools including the practice of shared headships and resource sharing.
I hope that the council will take the bill’s provisions into account when considering the ongoing consultation on the potential merger of Coulter and Lamington primary schools.
Overall this is a positive bill that will safeguard the future of rural schools. It recognises that, when difficult decisions have to be made, they should be made for the right reasons and should involve the communities that they affect. Everyone in politics and in community life will welcome the bill and will move forward positively with it.
Disappointment at Town Centre Regeneration cash snub
I was extremely disappointed to learn that Clydesdale has been overlooked as the Scottish Government revealed the recipients of the second round of funding from the town centre regeneration fund.
Earlier this month successful bids were announced for the remaining £20 million of the £60 million fund. In August, the Scottish Government allocated the first £40 million of the fund with two Clydesdale groups benefiting - the Biggar Theatre Workshop in Biggar and The Bubbles Factory in Carluke.
The announcement is all the more difficult to take as, on first reading, it appears that many of the projects which have been successful are similar to the bids which communities in Clydesdale were submitting.
While I am pleased that two projects benefited from the first round of funding I still view this as a missed opportunity to bring much needed investment to an area which has experienced a rise in unemployment which is significantly higher than the national average.
However, another opportunity to inject cash into regenerating Clydesdale communities has arisen. The Scottish Government is set to receive up to £50 million for the Scottish Rural Development Programme budget thanks to changes in EU exchange rates.
I would like to see a portion of that money filtered back to village communities through the LEADER programme to help revive rural communities, clearing up derelict and unused land, creating employment opportunities and attracting tourism.
LEADER supports the development of projects that provide an economic, environmental or social benefit to the rural areas. The Programme is managed locally by the South Lanarkshire Rural Partnership, which has responsibility for the delivery and administration of the funding.
I am urging the Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead to take advantage of this unexpected windfall and ensure that the money is freed up to help fund local projects immediately.
Local firms to benefit from wind farm construction
I recently met with representatives from Airtricity, the company behind the Clyde Wind Farm near Abington, to discuss how local firms can get involved in the project.
The Clyde Wind Farm is a massive venture offering excellent opportunities for the local economy and I want to see local firms take advantage of that.
Preparatory works on what will be one of Europe’s largest wind farms began in June this year - the project will include 152 wind turbines with a maximum total generation capacity of 350MW - enough energy to power over 270,000 households.
The meeting was a chance to get an update from Airtricity about how they are engaging with local contractors. I am pleased to see that some local people have already been employed in the project but more needs to be done.
I welcome the positive steps which Airtricity have been taking to make local businesses aware of the opportunities available such as open days. I am also pleased that a dedicated email enquiries service has been launched and I would advise any local businesses interested in getting involved in the project to contact Airtricity directly for information or advice.
Businesses interested in finding out information on opportunities linked to the Clyde Wind Farm should contact:
Save energy - Save money - Save the planet
The Parliament was recently visited by representatives from the Home Heat Helpline, a free phone line which gives advice concerning heating bills and how we can save energy by being a little more heat efficient.
The helpline is there for anybody who would like to save energy, but is unsure how to begin. It provides direct access to all the help and support that is currently available and ensures that people get the support they need.
Research carried out by the Home Heat Helpline discovered that over 3.6 million households across the U.K are eligible for and missing out on benefits which could slash their heating bills by as much as £250.
Whatever your needs the helpline team will deal with your concerns by putting you through to your energy supplier or dealing with your problem directly.
To emphasise the wide range of help which is available they have a number of charity partners including Age Concern, Carers UK, One Parent Families Scotland and National Energy Action.
Vulnerable or low income families should not have to suffer this winter and Home Heat Helpline is doing their best to ensure as many people as possible in Britain this year can have their presents under the Christmas tree rather than having to use them as firewood.
Celebrating Clydesdale’s Built Heritage
Over the last couple of weeks Scotland’s built environment has been at the top of the agenda in Holyrood. This has given me the opportunity to speak in the chamber and tell my colleagues about the rich built heritage that can be found in Clydesdale.
Earlier this month, I questioned Scottish Government Ministers about what support they were providing to help the New Lanark Conservation Trust. I was delighted to learn that support for the continuing repair and maintenance of New Lanark is set to increase by 50% to £150,000 a year.
As one of only five World Heritage Sites in Scotland, New Lanark is a special site with great educational opportunities and it is vitally important that resources are made available to ensure that the site is preserved to be enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.
Following on from this good news I got the opportunity to speak in a debate about Scotland’s historic environment. I used my speech to celebrate South Lanarkshire’s built, cultural and social heritage while also challenging the Scottish Government to do more to build up tourist links between local attractions.
I would like to see more done to link up sites such as New Lanark with other local heritage sites like the Wilsontown Ironworks, the Tarbrax Shale Bing and, moving into North Lanarkshire, Summerlee. Following my speech, Culture Minister Mike Russell acknowledged the points I had made and offered to discuss them further with me. I plan to take him up on that offer and will also talk to him about my ongoing Link Up Clydesdale petition.
The topic of creating links across Scotland was continued in a separate debate on Central Scotland’s green network.
With levels of youth unemployment on the rise it is important that every chance to create opportunities for young people is taken. I believe that the Central Scotland Green Network offers up such a chance.
I would like to see young people being offered on the job training to help improve the appearance of our communities, reviving derelict land and transforming it into something the whole community can enjoy.
Such training initiatives could also help to unlock the stunning green spaces which surround many communities in Clydesdale, creating links across central Scotland with the establishment of rambling and cycle networks that could be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
Again, I was pleased that Scottish Government ministers were prepared to consider this idea by offering me a meeting and I look forward to getting the opportunity to discuss the idea further with them.
Video of the two debates can be found by clicking here. Both debates will be available from this site for a couple of weeks.
Putting rural housing on the Parliament agenda
As a member of the Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee I was involved in investigating and preparing a report on Rural Housing.
I was pleased to get the opportunity to speak in a debate about the report and highlight some of the key issues which it raised you can watch my speech in the video opposite.
A major concern in rural communities is the availability of affordable housing and while the particular circumstances in different parts of the country may vary a common theme is that demand invariably outstrips supply.
I used my speech to highlight the perverse fact that most new houses being built in Clydesdale are too big and too expensive to be affordable to people in rural communities where wages are generally lower than in urban areas.
This is being done because housing developers realise that they can make more money but this approach can cause tension and resentment in communities. We need to learn from past mistakes and build housing that offer people on an average wage to get on the property ladder.
Rural housing associations are also facing problems related to Housing Association Grants (HAG). These grants help registered social landlords (RSL) to fund new developments to build housing for their clients.
Unfortunately rural RSLs are finding it increasingly difficult to make projects stack up and I have urged the Scottish Government to look again at this issue. I suggested that the Scottish Government should look at Local Authority compulsory purchase powers as one avenue to help housing shortages.
I would like to see councils given the power to buy up derelict land which is lying undeveloped in order to use it for affordable housing. This move would also improve our communities by removing eyesores.
The report highlights concerns about the way in which social housing is allocated, particularly in relation to the Scottish Government’s homelessness targets.
The Scottish Government aims to house all unintentionally homeless people by 2012 and there is concern that social housing allocation is unfairly weighted in favour of homeless people.
I have been contacted by constituents looking to move away from their childhood home who are unable to get a house. I have also heard from elderly people who wish to give up a larger home in favour of something smaller but again they face problems.
While tackling homelessness is a vital goal, the Scottish Government’s target needs to be achieved in a way which is also fair to people on mainstream housing lists.
In the coming year the Scottish Government will introduce a Housing Bill. I will be looking at amendments to this Bill to ensure that the issues raised in the Rural Affairs and Environment committee’s report are addressed.
Holyrood gets in on the act for the Biggar Little Festival
The Scottish Parliament was an impromptu venue for a performance by a Polish choir visiting Scotland as part of the Biggar Little Festival.
The Canzona Absolwent Choir from Murowana Goslina near Poznan in Poland made two appearances at this year’s Biggar Little Festival and were my guests at the Parliament on a daytrip to Edinburgh.
The choir, led by conductor Elizabeth Wtorkowska, performed traditional Polish folk songs and also a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, with verses sung in both English and Polish.
It was a real surprise and a great thrill to hear the choir sing. Their voices were absolutely stunning and caused quite a few people to venture out from their offices to see what was going on.
I had heard from people who saw the choir at the Biggar Little Festival that they were an amazing group and I was delighted to get the opportunity to hear them perform today and show them around the Parliament.
The choir were invited across to perform at this year’s Biggar Little Festival, a move which shows how the annual event has grown over the last seven years.
Organisers have been working to build up a relationship between Biggar and Murowana and this is the first major visit to come from the link.
Judging from the reception they have received for their performances I doubt it will be the last.
I hope that they enjoyed their visit and look forward to seeing them next year if they can return for the Biggar Little Festival.
Coalburn Silver Band to benefit from Climate Challenge cash
I was delighted to learn that the Coalburn Silver Band has been awarded £60,373 from the Climate Challenge Fund.
The money will be used to carry out a comprehensive upgrade to the Coalburn Silver Band’s hall to make it more energy efficient. Along with new insulation in the walls, floor and roof, the hall will also benefit from a new central heating system and solar panels.
This is fantastic news for the band. They are an excellent group and I have taken my family to see them perform on a number of occasions.
Earlier this year they were crowned Scottish champions in the 3rd section at the Scottish Brass Band Association championships earning them the right to compete in the 2nd section for the first time in their 107 year history.
Thanks to the Climate Challenge Fund Award, the band will soon have much better facilities in which to practice. I can say from my childhood experience of playing in a brass band that it is so much more pleasant to practice in a warm and cosy environment.
The Climate Challenge Fund exists to give community groups the means to tackle climate change by reducing their carbon emissions.
I hope that the Coalburn Silver Band’s success inspires other groups to apply to the Climate Challenge Fund, details of which can be found at www.infoscotland.com/gogreener/33.html
BANNATYNE BUS STOP GETS GREEN LIGHT FROM SPT
I was delighted with the decision by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to reinstate an official bus stop on Bannatyne Street at Woodstock Road in Lanark. In response to a letter I sent on behalf of constituents, SPT have confirmed that the new bus stop should be up and running by the end of this month.
Local bus services are a lifeline for many people in our communities, enabling access to local services such as doctors and shops and opening up employment and social opportunities. However, elderly residents in the Woodstock Road area have told me about the difficulties they have been having accessing this service due to the distance to the nearest bus stop.
There were particular complaints that there had been a bus stop in that location in the past but when I approached the SPT they informed me that there was no record of it and that buses must have stopped their unofficially. I am delighted by the swift action to which the SPT have taken in responding to my enquiry on behalf of local residents. Their decision to install a permanent bus stop will bring immediate benefits to the local community and shows a commitment to providing a quality service in the area.
MEDIEVAL FAYRE SUCCESS
Karen and Cllr Mary McNeill at Fayre
I was delighted at the success of this year’s Medieval Fayre at Lanark Racecourse. The event attracted visitors from home and abroad and has certainly helped to put Lanark on the map. Alongside the successful Christmas and Easter markets the town now has a reputation as a place to go for a good day out.
We need to build on that reputation and encourage visitors throughout the year. Key to that success is the link between the town and the New Lanark world heritage village. I am keen to work alongside all involved to make that happen and ensure that both Lanark and New Lanark can benefit from each others success.
MIXED BAG ON FREE BUS TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS
A recommendation to extend the free national bus travel scheme to Armed Services veterans who have been severely injured in the line of duty is to be welcomed.
The proposals, contained in the Review of the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People, would mean that veterans who had suffered injuries such as the loss of a limb or blindness while serving in the armed forces would be entitled to free bus travel.
Personnel in the armed forces demonstrate exceptional bravery and dedication in order to maintain our safety and security. It is only right that when they suffer serious injury as a result of this service they are entitled to adequate support. The free bus travel scheme has already demonstrated its worth in terms of improving the access to services and social networks for disabled and elderly people. I fully support extending the scheme to cover service personnel who have suffered mobility impairment in the line of duty.
Elsewhere in the Review, the steering group rejected the need to extend the scheme to disabled people in receipt of the lower rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). I am particularly disappointed with this aspect of the review as it is an issue on which I have been campaigning for some time. I strongly believe that this group, who have benefited from the scheme in the past, are being unfairly excluded.
In rural areas such as Clydesdale free bus travel is often a vital link for disabled people enabling them to participate in activities in larger villages or towns. The recommendations in the Review would continue to disadvantage this group and may well lead to greater social and economic isolation. Rejecting their case on the basis of cost and administrative hurdles goes against the ethos of the scheme to promote social inclusion for people of reduced mobility.
I am calling on the Scottish Government to reject this recommendation and act now to include people in receipt of lower level DLA in the scheme.
Disappointment at waterlogged play facilities
With the school summer holidays now in full swing, now is the time that school kids should be taking full advantage of Scotland’s, albeit limited, sunshine and going out to play.
So Karen was disappointed to see the state of a local park on a visit to Carstairs Junction. A massive area of Monteith Park, including sets of swings, was covered in several inches of standing water after recent periods of rain.
This is not the first time that the park has flooded and Karen has contacted South Lanarkshire Council to ask them what they are doing to avoid future flooding.
Karen was in Carstairs Junction going door to door to speak to local residents and a common theme which emerged, particularly from parents of young families, was the general lack of facilities for young people in the community.
Karen said: “In Monteith Park, the communities of Carstairs and Carstairs Junction have an excellent facility right on their doorstep but it is hugely frustrating to see it out of action during the school holidays due to flooding.
“While I appreciate that it has been raining over the last week it has not been anything out with the ordinary for the Scottish climate. I would have expected that Monteith Park had adequate drainage to accommodate the rain water.
“I have written to South Lanarkshire Council to ask how they intend to remedy the problem at Monteith Park and also to enquire about how they assess the drainage needs of play parks and other outdoor facilities.”
“I am hopeful that the Council will come up with a solution to this ongoing problem so that it can be avoided in future.”
Clydesdale youngsters share in devolution decade celebrations
Clydesdale youngsters Eirinn Ann MacDonald of Carluke and Sam Rodger of Larkhall were in Edinburgh on Wednesday July 1st to celebrate their tenth birthday by joining in with the Scottish Parliament’s ten years of devolution festivities.
Karen met with Eirinn and Sam who were joined by 141 other children from across Scotland, all of whom were born on July 1st 1999, the same day that the new Scottish Parliament formed.
Karen said: “It has been my privilege to represent the people of Clydesdale for the last ten years and the celebration of a decade of devolution has been a wonderful occasion.
“It was a lovely idea to invite children from across Scotland to share their tenth birthday with the Parliament and I was delighted to meet with Eirinn and Sam from my own constituency.
“It is incredible to think that all of these children have only ever known Scotland with a Scottish Parliament and that when the Parliament reaches its 20th anniversary in 2019 these kids will have just voted in their first Scottish Parliament elections.
“They both seemed to really enjoy their day and the highlight was definitely getting the chance to meet Her Majesty the Queen.”
Travis Treks to the Palace
Larkhall resident Scott Cunningham and his guide dog Travis joined Karen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse as guests of the Queen for a special reception to mark a week of celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.
Earlier this year Scott and Travis successfully completed an attempt of the West Highland Way to raise funds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) - the duo’s fifth fundraising, long distance trek.
Over the course of their five treks, Scott and Travis have raised a total of £85,000 for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
Over the last few months Karen has met up with Scott and Travis on numerous occasions - inviting them to the Parliament to promote their fundraising efforts in March and then joining them, along with husband Jim and daughter Johann, for a portion of the trek in April.
Karen said: “Since the first time I met Scott I have been hugely impressed by his desire to embrace new challenges and his dedication to raising money for Guide Dogs.
“Scott and Travis’ adventures are truly inspirational and I want that to be recognised. I was therefore delighted that Scott, Travis and Scott’s partner Helen were able to join me for the Palace reception.”
Scott said: “Visiting the Palace was absolutely out of this world and it was a very, very proud moment meeting Her Majesty the Queen. She was very interested in our challenges and gave us much encouragement for the future.
“It is an experience that Helen, Travis and I will always remember and we cannot thank Karen enough for all her support over the last few months.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have encouraged Travis and I and who have donated money to help Guide Dogs. Your help is much appreciated.”
Further details of Scott and Travis’ West Highland Way trek are available from http://www.travistrek.org.uk
Karen welcomes Trans Fats Consultation
Karen has welcomed the launch of a consultation on a Members Bill which would ban retailers from selling products containing chemically altered vegetable oils, known as trans fats, used in some fast foods, sweets and confectionary.
The proposed legislation, lodged by Karen’s Parliamentary colleague Dr Richard Simpson MSP, has broad support from the British Heart Foundation and leading nutritionists who point out that industrial trans fats are harmful to the body and can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and strokes.
Trans fats can appear in many of the foods we consume daily such as sweets, cakes, pastries, cereals, takeaway and fast foods. However it is often hard to tell from labels which foods contain them as they can be called many different things. Also restaurants and takeaway outlets rarely provide an ingredients list.
Recent studies have shown that trans fats can increase the risk of chronic heart disease more than any other fat. High intakes of trans fats can lead to strokes, diabetes, raised cholesterol and also have been linked to fertility problems in women.
Karen said: “So many of the health problems which we face in Scotland today can be traced back to the fat in our diet – and nutritionists are in agreement that trans fats are the worst offenders.
"It is my understanding that trans fats add nothing to the taste of foods, their only benefit being to increase shelf life. There are currently no laws regulating the use of these fats in Scotland and we need to put this right. I believe that this bill will help to reduce the number of Scots who die early from heart disease.
"Most British companies have already removed trans fats from their products, but if we can eliminate the remainder it will both save lives and improve the health of the Scottish people as a whole."
“This will be a life-saving piece of legislation and I hope all parties support it.”
Karen secures backing for Scottish Parliament Festivals Event
Karen has secured backing for an event in the Scottish Parliament celebrating the huge difference town festivals make to communities across Scotland.
Speaking during a debate in Parliament, Karen was keen to put the spotlight on the importance of local community festivals such as the Lanark Lanimers, the Biggar Marches and the host of other Gala Day celebrations which have been held across Clydesdale in recent weeks.
Festivals such as Lanimers and the Biggar Marches can trace their roots back through the centuries to ancient customs and this link to the past creates a strong sense of identity within members of the community. The result is a shared experience which brings communities closer together.
The traditions that take place in these festivals, such as the Town Marches have evolved from simple duties, required by law, into massive events involving the whole community and spawning an outpouring of colour and decoration.
But it is not only residents who enjoy the festivities, these events attract visitors in their thousands to our communities adding to the sense of occasion as well as providing a welcome boost to local businesses.
Karen suggested to Culture Minister Mike Russell that an event in Parliament welcoming the Principals from town festivals across Scotland would provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate and learn about the history and traditions of these festivals as well as their importance to local communities.
The suggestion was met positively by the Minister who suggested a collaborative approach to taking the idea forward. Karen welcomed the Minister’s positive approach and has already written to him to ask how he will take the idea forward.
Concern for NHS Volunteer Drivers
Karen has expressed her disappointment at revised mileage rates being offered to NHS volunteer drivers and believes that the move will force many drivers to rethink their participation in the scheme..
Currently volunteer drivers receive 36p per mile for transporting patients. Under the new system, drivers will claim 40p per mile for the first 10,000 miles before dropping to a rate of 25p.
This means that any volunteer driver who covers more than 13,636 miles a year will be able to claim back less money.
Karen has praised the hugely valuable service that the volunteer drivers provide and believes that without them the NHS would struggle to cover all the journeys that are currently made. The result of this would be that ultimately patients would receive a lower level of service than they currently have.
Many of the volunteer drivers that Karen has met recently cover more than 20,000 miles a year transporting patients to and from appointments. These appointments vary from short runs to the local hospital to long distance journeys to specialist facilities in England.
These drivers face a substantial drop in the amount of money they can claim back leaving them with the difficult decision of whether continuing to volunteer is financially sustainable or not.
Karen is pressing for the decision to be overturned to ensure that drivers are paid a fair rate to cover their time and costs as well as to ensure that patient service is not impacted upon.
Karen pressing for a strong climate change bill
In recent months the issue of climate change has featured prominently in Parliament.
On Wednesday 22nd April outside the Scottish Parliament, Karen joined with 500 environmental campaigners at a Climate Change Rally organised by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.
Thousands of messages to MSPs were written and coloured in on miniature cardboard cut-out people to show the strength of public support for the need for strong measures to tackle climate change in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.
Karen was delighted to see that some of her constituents had made the effort to come through and support the rally. She also took the opportunity to meet with representatives of the member organisations of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition to discuss the issue of climate change.
Since then the Parliament has debated the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill at Stage one and it is now being discussed by Parliamentary Committee at Stage two.
Karen wants to see a stronger Climate Change Bill than the one the Scottish Government is currently proposing, She was, therefore, delighted that the Parliament accepted the need to bring forward targets so that they would cover the period from 2010-2019 to ensure that action is taken immediately.
She was also pleased to see that the Scottish Government has brought forward the interim target on emission reductions from 2030 to 2020. That target is currently set at 34% but Karen is keen to see it extended to a level that is more ambitious while still achievable.
If these targets are to be met it is important that action is taken. That is why Karen is backing the recommendations from the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee which, among other things, would force the Scottish Government to make a real commitment to drive forward improvements in insulation and opportunities to install small-scale renewables technologies in homes and businesses across Scotland.
By improving the insulation of our buildings and generating more of our energy from small-scale renewables technologies, these measures would help people save money on fuel bills while also reducing carbon emissions - a win-win situation.
As the Climate Change Bill passes through Parliament, Karen and her colleagues will continue to press for the measures to make it as strong as possible so that we can make real progress in combating climate change.
Disabled Persons Parking Places Bill Passed
Karen recently headed the stage 3 debate in the Scottish Parliament on the Disabled Persons Parking Places Bill. The Bill is the work of Karen’s colleague Jackie Baillie and Karen stepped in to lead the debate in Ms Baillie’s absence.
Following the debate, MSPs voted unanimously to pass the Bill which will make all disabled parking bays under the control of local authorities legally enforceable.
There are an estimated one million disabled people resident in Scotland - around a quarter are registered Blue Badge holders who will benefit from this Bill.
This Bill will make a positive contribution to disabled people’s lives across Scotland. For too long disabled people have had to rely on the courtesy of others not to park in disabled spaces, this Bill will ensure that such spaces are legally enforceable.
Karen has urged all drivers in Clydesdale to respect the needs of disabled people and not use the parking spaces specially designated for them. She expressed satisfaction that the Scottish Parliament has passed this Bill and hopes it will send a strong message to those who suffer disabled parking abuse that the parliament is on their side.
Karen was quick to point out that the ultimate success of the Bill will not be in how many fines are issued but in how it changes behaviour for the better over time.
Karen has written to South Lanarkshire Council to urge them to begin to prepare for the new law to take effect so that the change can happen swiftly. She has also written to the major supermarkets asking them what they are doing to enforce their disabled bays.
Karen offers support to TravisTrek
Larkhall resident Scott Cunningham, along with his guide dog Travis, recently completed the West Highland Way in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs).
Prior to the walk, Karen welcomed Scott and Travis, to the Scottish Parliament to raise awareness of their attempt. She then caught up with them in Tyndrum, a popular stopping point on the West Highland Way, to offer her support as they progressed with their journey.
This was Scott and Travis’ fifth long distance trek having already completed the West Highland Way once as well as the Southern Upland Way, the Speyside Way and the Pennine Way.
So far, the duo’s adventures have raised over £60,000 for the charity, helping to pay for the training of future guide dogs. Training guide dogs is a hugely expensive undertaking. The money that Scott and Travis have raised together has helped Guide Dogs to train puppies to provide vital assistance and companionship to blind people in the years to come.
In a twist to the normal West Highland Way, which is normally walked from South to North, Scott and Travis walked North to South making them the first blind man and guide dog to complete the route.
When Karen first heard about Scott and Travis, she was immediately impressed by the scale and ambition of their task and was extremely keen to help them in any way that she could describing their fundraising efforts as inspirational.
On the visit to Parliament, Karen was pleased to finally meet Scott and Travis and to hear Scott talk about what drives him to undertake such massive challenges.
While the main thrust of their adventures has been to raise money for Guide Dogs, Scott hopes that he is also able to inspire other people to embrace challenges, big or small and experience the same sense of motivation and reward that he has gained from his expeditions.
If you would like to find out more information regarding Scott and Travis please visit www.travistrek.org.uk
On the Buses - A Better Deal All Round
Karen has been working with bus operators and Strathclyde Passenger Transport to deliver a better deal for bus users.
Following some very constructive discussions with the McKindless Group, Karen was delighted to hear that they have extended their service from Lanark to Carluke.
Under the old timetable, the last bus on this route left Lanark at 5:40pm, but timetable revision will see that extended by an hour. The service will particularly benefit those who currently live in Lanark and work in Carluke or vice versa, allowing those who finish work after 6pm to travel by bus. The extended service will also offer the people of Lanark the opportunity to connect to the Wishaw General Bus service allowing them easier access to visit relatives in hospital.
Karen is also working to improve services from Clydesdale to both Hairmyres Hospital and Monklands Hospital.
Karen is adding her support to her colleague Charlie Gordon MSP who is currently working on a Bill which aims, among other things, to improve provision of bus services.
The Bill will make it easier for transport authorities to set up partnerships with bus operators to deliver improved facilities such as accessible buses, better timetables and improved shelters.
Karen will be working hard to make the case for improved services and believes that through these partnerships, bus users in Clydesdale could be provided with a better quality service in terms of frequency, reliability and comfort.
Summit Called to look at Milk Prices
Karen has welcomed the Scottish Government’s acceptance of her call to hold a milk summit to take action on the crisis facing Scotland's dairy farmers. It has been confirmed that the meeting will take place on May 27th.
The decision came after Karen had met with Dairy farmers from across Clydesdale and the rest of Scotland at a demonstration held outside the Scottish Parliament at the end of April.
Karen, who is Scottish Labour’s rural affairs spokesperson said: "I am pleased that the Scottish Government has finally listened to my persistent calls for a summit. Farmers are telling us they need support now because of plummeting milk prices.
"The meeting is an ideal opportunity to get key stakeholders, including dairy farmers, supermarkets, the NFUS and politicians, round the table to look at constructive ways to strengthen the industry and ensure workable solutions in the immediate future.
“Looking to the long term, there is a desire within the industry to see an ombudsman set up to regulate the industry. I have already been active in pressing for this move in Parliamentary Committee and I will continue to make the case to ensure that Scottish farmers get the best deal they can.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD16AYrejxo