Paisley Daily Express - 29 June 2011

Care Homes Concerns

With more of us living longer, care for the elderly is becoming more of an issue. Recent press reports about the abuse and maltreatment of older people is a real worry. Also of concern is the financial stability of major care home companies. Some of these companies have used questionable financial methods to try to cash in on what they thought was a lucrative market. Care has not always been the priority.

Over the years steps have been taken to strengthen the role of inspectors who will ensure that our vulnerable elderly are protected and that high standards are maintained. And here in Renfrewshire we need the support of these inspectors. In Renfrewshire, thirteen percent (13%) of care homes for the elderly have been graded either unsatisfactory or weak. It’s shocking that our loved ones are having to live in these circumstances.

And what do you expect your MSP’s to do about this? Well the Health Committee has the responsibility to examine these issues. So exactly why did the SNP use its new found majority to refuse to invite the inspectors to give evidence to the Committee? What exactly do SNP members fear that the inspectors might say? Alex Salmond promised to use his new found majority wisely. What does he have to fear from a public examination of the facts? Refusing to allow MSP’s to find out why some care homes are failing is hardly a wise move. It looks like Alex Salmond wants to use his majority to shut down hard questions. Surely the vulnerable elderly deserve better?

A future for our children?

A country’s future is our young people. The economic downturn is hurting ordinary people right across the UK. Well, almost everyone. The financiers who caused the crisis and the top bosses are again raking in the millions. Many of them have been generous donors to the Tory Party. And what about our children? Last week we saw the sobering statistic that one in seven school leavers in Scotland are heading straight to unemployment. What a waste and what a disgrace. Alex Salmond needs to spend the summer working on an action plan to give our young people a future.

Young Criminals

We all know that if youngsters don’t have a job and are left at a loose end, then they can often become involved in bad behaviour and criminality. The social problems caused by unemployment were starkly seen during the Thatcher years. But of course we also know that sometimes young people with money in their pocket can stray from the straight and narrow.

When young people break the law or commit anti social behaviour, then they need to face the consequences. I’ve been worried that for the last few years, the SNP Ministers have been giving out a clear signal that we should go soft on tackling young people who step out of line. Last week we found out that more than half of all young offenders aged 16 and 17, including some sex offenders and violent criminals, will not be prosecuted. The Scottish Government has issued guidance to prosecutors and the police to reduce the number of young adults facing trial. Surely sex offenders and violent criminals deserve to be sent for trial?

Welcome probe

Over the last couple of years, energy companies have hiked up the price of gas and electricity. At the same time these companies have been reporting huge profits. Many families are worried about fuel bills. Some elderly are having to think about switching on their heating. These hikes in prices hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest. I welcome the announcement that Ofgem is to conduct an investigation into the price rises announced by Scottish Power. But Ofgem should not stop at Scottish Power. I want to see all the major fuel companies investigated.

Paisley Daily Express - 15 June 2011

Teachers left outside the classroom

I am saddened that a new report has said that nearly 80% of newly qualified teachers are not finding work, many here in Renfrewshire. The previous SNP Government failed to tackle the problem of teacher unemployment. The new SNP Government must now address this problem head on.  We need  to see fully qualified teachers in our classrooms. The SNP Government need to put at the top of their agenda the issue of newly qualified teachers who can’t find work.  The inaction of the SNP to help the teaching workforce, now, and in the previous four years, is not just bad for teachers and  parents but ultimately our children. The SNP just don’t make the grade when it comes to teachers and the education of our children and young people.

M74 Extension

The new  M74 is to open next month almost 8 months ahead of schedule The decision to approve the M74 was controversial  at the time.

The new motorway will have a huge impact in the quality of life of those in Renfrewshire and beyond. I have always supported the extension.  If anyone has attempted to drive over the Kingston Bridge you will understand, and it doesn’t even have to be at peak times. The traffic queues have an impact on everyone.

The local economy will benefit, if this project had not gone ahead many businesses who were faced with relentless congestion may have relocated elsewhere meaning job losses. That is why from the start and even when I was Leader of Renfrewshire Council I have been fully in favour of the extension of the M74, along with others such as Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.

However we must not lose sight of the need to continue to invest in and improve our public transport system. The Scottish Government should commit to and deliver better services in our bus and rail services. Likewise, the investment in public transport should not lessen our commitment to improve our roads. The M74 extension is good news for Scotland, and in particular Renfrewshire.  

Make a date to donate

Last week was National Blood Week to raise awareness about the importance of giving blood. The whole of June will see a variety of donor recruitment initiatives. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service are looking for 65,000 new donors to come forward. Blood transfusions are vital in treating patients whether it be in the operating theatre, treating cancer or leukaemia. Every blood donor is valuable but many lose contact with the service or get out the habit of donating. If you have not given for a while or wish to donate for the first  time or wish to get more information contact:   http://www.scotblood.co.uk/where-to-donate or contact the donor helpline on 0845 90 90 999.  Remember, donating blood saves lives.

Female re –offenders

There is to be a new Commission to be chaired by the former Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini to look at female re-offenders and how they are treated by the criminal justice system. Far too many offenders re-offend. Having worked with Elish Angiolini in the past I know she will bring a huge amount of experience and knowledge to the Commission. Many women may be deeply vulnerable people for whom offending is a result of chaotic lifestyles, mental health difficulties and severe addiction problems. Many will have been the victims of abuse - physical, sexual or mental - in their childhood. Although this does not excuse breaking the law, we must be able to find better ways of addressing their behaviour.

The commission will aim to identify what works to reduce re-offending and report back to the Scottish Government by the end of this year. People offend for many reasons but we must be looking at why there are so many who re-offend. Hopefully when the Commission reports back to the Scottish Government we will have a better understanding why females re-offend and then take the proper steps to deal with the problem. 

Paisley Daily Express - 1 June 2011

Linwood - Tesco

I have been contacted by a number of constituents who were worried about rumours that the Tesco development would not go ahead. Local people are quite right to feel anxious given the way Linwood has been messed about on a new town centre. I have contacted the Director of Planning at Renfrewshire Council to seek assurances.

The Director has told me that he has had recent meetings with senior Tesco management and "they have given me no reason to suspect that there is any intention to delay or cancel plans to redevelop the town centre." He went on to say that the demolition should begin imminently and the building work should start by the Autumn.

I will work closely with Jim Sheridan MP and Councillor Anne Hall to make sure that the Council keeps on top of Tesco. Linwood has waited long enough.

Nuclear Energy

The decision by the German Government to phase out nuclear energy, has stimulated again the debate about Scotland’s nuclear power plants. There is no doubt that the disaster at Fukushima in Japan has forced a major reappraisal about the safety of nuclear power plants. The Scottish Government has a highly ambitious target of generating 100 per cent of Scotland’s electricity needs from renewables by 2020. Some experts argue that this is unrealistic.

I also listened to a leading energy expert who questioned reliance on wind turbines. He pointed to the problems faced in Germany during a hot summer in 2003. What we need is an informed debate. We need the equivalent of a Royal Commission on Energy production to look at the safety of nuclear power, the problems and cost if waste disposal, how we generate base load requirements and whether the renewable budget is both achievable and capable of delivering consistent supplies.

We can’t afford to get this wrong and politicians need to make an informed choice, free from party politics.

Reliable buses

Before the election, and since, I have been contacted by constituents who complain about the availability of bus services in the local area. There is no doubt that regular, affordable and reliable buses are vital for many communities across Renfrewshire. This issue was raised by Scottish Labour during the recent campaign.

Alex Salmond and the SNP have changed their stance on demanding a regulated bus service. Perhaps Alex Salmond was influenced by the £500, 000 election donation given to the SNP by Brian Souter, the owner of Stagecoach? Mr Souter and other major operators are vehemently opposed to a regulated service.

We can see the consequences locally. Stagecoach has withdrawn most of its services from Howwood which has angered many local people. When I contacted Stagecoach I was told that "the economics of the routes cannot sustain this additional cost." I was referred to Strathclyde Passenger Transport. This highlights the need for powers to ensure that bus operators commit to local services. We cannot leave this to the market. Too many people rely on buses for politicians to ignore their needs.

Cemetery Disgrace

I have been contacted by a number of people who are angry and upset at the way Renfrewshire Council is behaving towards families who want to bury a loved one who has just died. Many people purchased lairs years ago believing that husbands and wives would be able to be buried together. You can imagine the upset and grief when families try to arrange burial only to be told that Council rules now forbid this to happen. The Council has tried to blame Government rules, but it’s quite clear that the decision is a local one taken by the SNP/Lib Dem administration. The Council claims that in these cases there is no room, yet over the years a similar number of bodies have been interred in other lairs. This is a heartless bureaucratic decision and one which could be overturned if Councillors had the will.

The last thing bereaved families want to hear if that their mother can’t be buried beside their father, despite buying a family lair. The Council should think again.