Hugh Henry MSP for Renfrewshire South

Paisley Daily Express - 11 January 2012

2012-01-11T13:14:00.001Z

Independence Referendum

The Scottish Parliament last week returned after the Festive break to an immediate argument about am independence referendum. We know the SNP wants to separate Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom. It’s also clear that Alex Salmond won an overwhelming victory in last year’s elections. Although many people who voted SNP don’t support separation, they knew they were voting for a Party which promised a referendum on independence. The issue is when should a referendum be held and what should the question be?

Alex Salmond says he has a mandate to hold a referendum in the later stages of this Parliament. But why delay if he is so confident? And also why talk about nothing else for the first 6 months of Government? And what exactly will be asked? Voters deserve to know that the question will be clear and unambiguous. And we also need guarantees that whatever happens, the process will be legal and definitive. If people are to be asked about Scotland leaving the UK, we need to know the exact terms, the costs, and the implications. We can’t take such a significant decision without knowing the facts.

At a time when youth unemployment is going through the roof, and family budgets are being squeezed, we need to focus on what concerns ordinary Scots. Surely it’s time for Alex Salmond to spell out the details and let us decide? It’s time to stop the dithering and uncertainty.

Weather Chaos

The Paisley Daily Express has reported on the damage caused by severe weather, right across Renfrewshire. A year ago we were having to cope with the consequences of snow and ice. This year it was hurricane force winds and rain. The response from power company engineers, and emergency and caring service staff has been fantastic. While most of us were grumbling about the weather, they made sure services were restored and maintained and help given to those who needed it.

Fair pay for teachers

Despite their promises, Alex Salmond and the SNP have cut teacher numbers by around 3, 000. On top of this they forced through a pay agreement to cut the wages of supply teachers who are brought in to cover for sickness and other absences. A supply teacher can earn less than half of a full time teacher they are working beside. As a result, teachers are turning down supply teaching and this is causing problems in Scotland’s schools. At the same time the SNP wants to train more new teachers despite failing to offer jobs to those who have been trained.

There is real anger among teachers about cuts and the slashing of pay to supply teachers is just rubbing salt in the wound. It’s time to play fair by our teachers and pay supply teachers the proper rate for the job.

Smoking cessation

Smokers will tell you just how difficult it is to stop smoking. The chemicals in cigarettes are highly addictive. Apart from the health dangers caused by smoking, the costs are huge and could be better spent. For those who are determined to kick the habit, help is at hand. Weekday and evening sessions are available to help those who want to stop smoking. If you want advice and help to stop smoking call 01505 821316. As well as this, community pharmacies across Renfrewshire are offering one to one support for smokers who want to stop. I know from talking to ex smokers who have given up the habit, that this is a decision they have never regretted.

Child Poverty

Alex Salmond is so obsessed with the breakup of the United Kingdom and his pursuit for independence that he has taken his eye off the ball with the real issues that matter to Scotland. The new figures from the Campaign to End Child Poverty shows that nearly half of Scottish local authorities now have wards where over 30% of children live in poverty. Here in Renfrewshire it is at 19%. It is a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge we face as a country in tackling child poverty. It should be an urgent wake-up call for the SNP government, that has let child poverty increase on its watch, to redouble its efforts. It is nothing short of a disgrace that one in five children in Renfrewshire has to live in poverty.

Paisley Daily Express - 13 December 2011

2012-01-11T13:07:00.003Z

Misleading Press Releases

In 2007, Alex Salmond and the SNP promised to maintain teachers numbers at the level delivered by Labour. In 2007 there were 55,100 teachers in Scotland’s schools. Today there are 51,441 teachers, a drop of 3,659. I was astonished to see a press release produced by civil servants on behalf of SNP Ministers which said “Target on teacher numbers met”. When Alex Salmond and the SNP realised that they could not deliver the promise which had been made, they cobbled together a new and lower target. Well, what do you know, they have been able to meet this lower target! All thoughts of what they promised the electorate have conveniently been forgotten.

Barrhead Health Centre

Last week I attended the opening of the magnificent new Health Centre in Barrhead. The centre brings together a number of services and will be a real boon to people living in Barrhead and Neilston. Councillor Jim Fletcher the Leader of East Renfrewshire Council reminded those attending of just how long it can take to bring a project to completion. The funding was put in place in 2006 and given the go ahead by the then Labour Health Minister, Andy Kerr. The two local Labour Councillors who guided the project, Danny Collins and Roy Garscadden, both left East Renfrewshire Council in 2007. Barrhead Community Council first promoted the case over six years ago!

I know it has been frustrating for the Council and the local community in having to wait so long. I’m sure that anyone seeing this new Health Centre will agree that it is well worth the wait. Well done to East Renfrewshire Council for pushing the Health Board and Scottish Government to make this a reality.

Knife Crime – not just a Christmas problem

I welcome the proposals from the Crown Office to ensure that anyone arrested and prosecuted for carrying a knife, will be tried before a Sheriff and Jury. This could lead to the maximum sentence rising from one year in prison to four years in prison.

Knife crime still blights too many families in Scotland. The best way to avoid someone being scarred or killed by a knife, is to make sure that the young men who carry knives, stop doing so. Tougher sentencing will send out the message that this will not be tolerated.

So why then, is this welcome new initiative only operating over Christmas and New Year? Knife crime happens in Scotland 52 weeks a year. I hope that the Crown Office will think again. Tackling knife crime should be an all year round effort, not a Christmas “special”.

Euro or Not?

Alex Salmond is being unusually coy about whether an independent Scotland would have to join the Euro. He won’t publish the legal advice. Catherine Stihler the Labour Member of the European Parliament for Scotland, was refused the information. She has been forced to appeal to the Information Commissioner for help. What is Alex Salmond trying to hide.

Most people are of the view that any new member state would have to join the Euro. In fact the SNP has supported joining the Euro if Scotland became independent. Now Alex Salmond is trying to kid people on that an independent Scotland could still keep the pound sterling. Of course this would mean that Scotland would have no influence at all over a monetary policy designed purely for the rest of the UK. So what’s the point of independence? If Scotland kept the pound sterling, it would have no control over its monetary policy. We need to know if an independent Scotland would have to join the Euro. More than that we need to know if Alex Salmond wants to join the Euro. If not then he should tell us why Scotland’s currency and monetary policy would be controlled by a foreign country after Scotland leaves the UK? Perhaps Alex Salmond intends to create a new currency for Scotland. Perhaps it’s time to dig out your old Scottish groats?

Paisley Daily Express - 16 November 2011

2011-11-16T09:43:00.001Z

Fewer Nurses

There seems to be a growing intolerance from SNP Ministers, of anyone who dares to criticise their actions. Recently, in a Health debate in the Scottish Parliament, Nicola Sturgeon suggested that Labour concerns about fewer nurses in the NHS, was talking down the NHS. She conveniently ignored the fact that MSPs like myself, are regularly contacted by nurses, who complain about falling staffing levels, increased workload, and concerns about patient welfare. How can we be talking down the NHS if we repeat what nurses say? We would be failing in our duties if we did not respond.

I pointed out that the SNP manifesto claimed that the SNP had increased the number of nurses in the NHS and that in this Parliament, they would continue the progress which had been made.

The facts don’t back this up. From September 2009 to January 2011, the number of nurses in the NHS fell by nearly 2,000. More posts are scheduled to go. This is affecting health care here in Renfrewshire. We know times are tough and that hard decisions will need to be made. But there should be some honesty in the discussion. Let’s cut out the spin. Alex Salmond is trying to use his majority to dampen down debate and scrutiny.

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon should admit that there are now fewer nurses employed in the NHS. They owe an explanation not to the opposition parties, but to the doctors, nurses and staff across the NHS. Above all they owe it to the public, which needs to be assured that the Scottish Government is not gambling with the health and wellbeing of patients.

Remembrance Sunday

On Remembrance Sunday, I joined with thousands of others across the UK, to remember those who fought and died in war and conflict. I remembered my father’s generation who fought in the Second World War, and I reflected on the effects it had on many who survived. And the same is true today. Many young soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many more will carry the consequences for the rest of their lives.

We often debate the rights and wrongs of certain ward and conflicts. Politicians ultimately make the decision to send our young men and women to war. If they are in the armed forces, they don’t have a choice or say in the matter. They do their duty and they do it with courage and honour.

The wearing of the Poppy and attending these events, does not signify support for the glorification of war or killing. It gives us the chance to remember that there were many who laid down their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy. It gives us the chance to reflect that there are many innocents on all sides in wars and that it is ordinary people who suffer. And hopefully to remind us that our duty to those who were maimed and injured does not stop when they leave the armed forces.

Smoking in Cars?

Last week the British Medical Association said there was “compelling” evidence for extending the smoking ban to include vehicles. Not everyone agrees with the ban on smoking in public places. There is no doubt however, that most people welcome smoke free restaurants, cafes and pubs.

There is a particular worry where children travel in cars. Medical evidence suggests that exposure to smoke in such confines space, can put children at risk. My instinct is that we should protect children from harm caused by others. I would be interested to know what my constituents think. Let me know.

Cancer Care Lottery

The Roy Castle Foundation recently published a report on cancer rates in Scotland. Scotland still has the worst rates of cancer in the UK. Once again we see a post code lottery of care in Scotland, for cancer sufferers. I want the Scottish Government to do more to ensure quality of treatment, no matter where a patient lives. The current waiting time to see a cancer specialist should be halved in the lifetime of this Parliament. It’s time for action.

Paisley Daily Express - 2 November 2011

2011-11-02T09:48:00.001Z

Stop Knives, Better Lives

All too often we hear of the consequences of knife crime in Renfrewshire and across Scotland. We know the tragedy and grief which knife crime causes. Carrying a knife is not a badge of honour - and it’s not a way to protect yourself. For too many people, the idiotic mistake of carrying or using a knife because you think it makes you hard or invincible has a huge impact on those attacked and on the families affected. It can blight local communities.

The Paisley Daily Express has been at the forefront of the local campaign to warn young people about the consequences of carrying a knife.

I was also delighted to see the initiative from the Johnstone Burgh FC. Their under 14 strip features the paisley Daily Express. “Stop Knives, Save Lives” logo. Craig Donohue, the club manager, and all those involved in the team, are to be congratulated for convincing the football authorities that the message should be displayed on the jersey.

I welcome the recent news that the Scottish Government’s anti knife campaigning is having an impact. Here in Renfrewshire there has been a reported drop of 29% knife crime over the last year. I hope that similar results will be produced as the scheme is rolled out across Scotland.

Nevertheless there is no doubt that we need to take tough action to tackle knife crime and the Government needs to remain vigilant. But we can all do our bit to highlight this problem. The commitment of local papers, like the Paisley Daily Express is invaluable. Hopefully, together, we can see a lasting improvement.

Postcode Health

Recently published figures show that on average, life expectancy in Scotland continues to be the lowest in the country. It’s a damning indictment that seven of the ten areas with lowest life expectancy in the UK are in Scotland. But even within Scotland there are huge variations.

Men and women living in Glasgow City continue to have the lowest life expectancy in the whole of the UK. There are parts of my own constituency where life expectancy is lower than the national average.

How long you live should not be determined by the postcode you are born into or live in. It’s scandalous that health inequality remains so stubbornly linked to income levels, poverty and deprivation.

Poverty traps too many too early. It remains too persistent to be tolerated in a country that aspires to be “healthier and fairer”. These figures should serve as a wake-up call to all politicians to redouble efforts to tackle poverty and healthcare. We are seeing a steady drift of public money to the better off areas of Scotland, just at a time when communities in Renfrewshire are facing cuts.

The SNP must move on from the constant bickering about the constitution and start delivering on what Scotland really needs, now. That means stimulating growth and creating jobs to tackle Scotland’s rising unemployment. It also means investing in our young people and ensuring a Living Wage for all.

But above all we need concerted action at an early age to stop more generations of Scots being born into health inequality and lower life expectancy.

Apology to Parliament

Alex Salmond has apologised to the Scottish Parliament for misleading MSP’s. He said it was the fault of his most senior adviser who made up a false statement purporting to come from a renowned academic. But it’s not good enough just to offer a glib apology. We need to know why Alex Salmond’s senior advisor thought it was acceptable to make up such a statement. I have written to Scotland’s most senior civil servant to urge a full investigation of the facts. The issue related to Alex Salmon’s pursuit of an independence referendum. The people of Scotland need honesty and the full facts before any decision is made to break up the United Kingdom

The Big Lottery

The Big Lottery continues to deliver for Renfrewshire. It’s good to see local organisations receiving help, particularly when Council funding is being squeezed. Congratulations to Johnstone Senior Forum, Walking Tour, Wheels, 2nd Johnstone Boys Brigade, Scottish Wheelchair Dance Association and Linwood High School Parent Council.

If your organisation needs financial help, it might be worth making an application. For further information about the Big Lottery contact the enquiries team on 0141 242 1400 or go to www.biglotteryfund.org.uk (link also on this blog under ::community:: tab)

Paisley Daily Express - 18 October 2011

2011-10-18T09:49:00.006+01:00

Enquiry needed

The shocking news last week that Renfrewshire Council spent £14.2 million on voluntary redundancy payments must be investigated. North Lanarkshire Council, which is twice the size of Renfrewshire, spent £4.25 million. Edinburgh City Council, which is nearly three times the size of Renfrewshire, only spent £1.27 million. There is no doubt that Councils will have to shed jobs because of cuts by the UK and Scottish Governments. But while Renfrewshire is cutting vital services for the elderly, the sick and the disabled, it is handing out shed loads of money to make people redundant. Why is it that Renfrewshire is spending more money for its size on making people redundant, compared to any other Council in Scotland? The SNP run both the Scottish Government and Renfrewshire Council. Has Alex Salmond not given enough to the Council? We need to be told. Or has Renfrewshire Council acted without any regard to the consequences? And remember, for every member of staff who is paid off early under early retirement, Council tax payers will continue to pay an enhancement every year until that person dies.

Whatever has happened, we need an independent enquiry into the way Renfrewshire is spending our money and cutting services.

Stacey Salomon

And talking of spending money, do you remember the controversy last year about the large payment made to a losing X Factor ‘celebrity’ to switch on the Christmas lights? Well this year the ‘celebrity’ beneficiary of Renfrewshire Council’s largesse, is another losing X Factor finalist, someone called Stacey Solomon. Now no one would deny that a good family night out brings a real boost to Paisley Town Centre. But how can Councillors justify spending huge sums of money on B-list celebrities when vital services are being cut? It’s about time there was a reality check.

Pleural Plaques

In 2009, the Scottish Parliament passed welcome legislation to give those who suffer from pleural plaques the right to claim compensation. Pleural plaques is a condition associated with exposure to asbestos. Regrettably, the major insurance companies decided to challenge the right of the Scottish Parliament to pass this legislation. Thankfully the Supreme Court of the UK has thrown out the attempt by insurance companies to deny justice to those exposed to asbestos. I hope those companies will now respect the decision of the Scottish Parliament.

Defibrillators

Well done to Scotmid, the Co-op group which owns Semichem as well as local convenience stores in mid-Scotland. Scotmid has agreed a partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service which will see its stores equipped with life-saving defibrillators and staff trained to use them. The initiative is being backed by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland.

The chance of survival from a heart attack is much greater when a patient receives early defibrillation backed up by cardiac care from an ambulance team. This is a real life saving initiative and I hope other store groups will look at this Co-op led initiative.

Violence against Workers

Unison, Scotland’s largest union in Public Services, recently published its annual violence at work survey. It showed that last year 27,775 violent incidents were recorded by Scotland’s public bodies. The survey also showed that there were 280 convictions under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act, a decrease on the previous year. In the last Scottish Parliament, I tried to introduce a Bill to toughen up legal action against those who assault workers who are serving the public. Unfortunately Alex Salmond and his Ministers refused to support this Bill. There is a real complacency about violence perpetrated against workers who serve the public. These statistics show there is still a significant problem. I hope Alex Salmond will do the right thing and back a Bill to protect those who serve us.

Mumps, Measles and Rubella Vaccination

Leading microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington has commented that a preventative measure exists and that it was "almost criminal" for the Scottish Government not to use it.

There have been 22 confirmed cases in Scotland this year so far, compared with 11 for the whole of last year. There has been a sharp increase in the number of measles cases in Europe in the last 12-18 months and with more than 12,000 cases of measles identified. This has led the European Centre for Disease Control to issue a warning to those who have not been vaccinated.

A preventative measure exists, yet the SNP government are failing to be proactive in its approach. I strongly urge the SNP to heed Professor Hugh Pennington's advice and embark on a catch-up campaign immediately.

Paisley Daily Express - 05 October 2011

2011-10-05T14:16:00.002+01:00

Youth Unemployment

The UCS debate was a reminder that we can all do something to give our young people a future. Actions by the Tories and Lib Dems at Westminster, and inaction by Alex Salmond in Holyrood is leading a catastrophic situation for young people. The number of young people (18-24 year olds) out of work has increased again. The youth jobless statistics are worse than in any period since the Tories were last in power in January 1997. And it’s not just young people. More women are claiming benefit than at any time since August 1996. These statistics represent a waste of talent. We cannot afford to be complacent. If we fail to give this generation of young people a proper start in life, we could blight the rest of their lives. We need action to tackle the scourge of unemployment.

Carers Crisis

A recent survey has shown that less than one percent of Scots who are identified as carers, have actually received any services. The figure is getting worse. Just over a year ago 97 percent of carers did not have their needs assessed. And worse, of the few who actually have their needs assessed, only 0.2 percent actually received any services. Alex Salmond promised they would treat carers as partners and give them a more direct voice, with a “Carers Parliament”. But we need more than warm words of support. Why doesn’t Alex Salmond call a Carers’ Summit to get things moving? Carers provide an invaluable service and we should not take them for granted.

Food Parcels?

David Cameron likes to talk about the “Big Society” and how the Tories have changed. Oh really? Recent press reports said that Hedge fund managers and financiers were pouring millions into the Tory party. Bankers’ pay and bonuses continues to soar and all in all, the wealthy are doing not too badly.

On the other hand, press reports indicate that many families in 21^st Century Britain are having to turn to charities for food parcels. In Northamptonshire concerns have been raised about increased demand. In Harlow in Essex, there has been a 35% increase in demand. In Wales there has been “a sharp increase in demand”. In Shropshire food parcel schemes are expanding. And here in Scotland, a major national newspaper reported on “Breadline Scotland”. The paper reported that Jobcentres have been told to send desperate families to charity food banks. The Tory/Lib Dem benefit cuts will make it worse for the poor and the needy.

We like to think of ourselves as a civilised country. It’s a badge of shame that families are having to rely on charities for food in 21^st Century Britain.

Bogus Collectors

Give with Care is a recently launched scheme which aims to increase public awareness about charity giving. The British public is incredibly generous with donations to help good causes here and abroad. But it’s not just money which is donated. More charities are collecting clothes and goods, often using doorstep collections. It’s a disgrace that a number of unscrupulous and bogus companies are trying to cash in on this generosity. These companies use misleading promotional literature that could lead the public to believe that their collections are for charitable causes.

The bogus literature often mentions vague causes rather than specific charities or good causes. I know that readers of the Paisley Daily Express are always quick to help out good causes and those in need. But I would urge you to be careful. If you don’t recognise the name or the charity, then think twice. These bogus collectors are stealing from genuine worthy causes. If you want information on this, call my office on 0141 848 7361.

Reid Kerr College

I recently spoke in a debate about Scotland’s colleges. Across Scotland, colleges provide a first class service to many who would otherwise be excluded from education. Here in Renfrewshire we are fortunate to have Reid Kerr College – a college with a reputation for excellence and commitment to local communities.

With the jobs crisis facing young people, we need to make sure that Reid Kerr and other colleges are able to respond to the demand for education and training.

Unfortunately the debate highlighted severe cuts by Alex Salmond’s Government, to our colleges, right across Scotland. We will pay a high price if we don’t educate and train our young people. Our colleges also offer a chance for education to women who missed out in further education first time round.

I hope Alex Salmond will think again. We need to shout loud and clear right across Scotland, that we value colleges like Reid Kerr.

Paisley Daily Express - 20 September 2011

2011-09-20T13:35:00.000+01:00

Upper Clyde Shipbuilders

I recently sponsored a debate in the Scottish Parliament to mark the 40^th anniversary of the start of the UCS dispute which led to shipbuilding on the Clyde being saved. The debate was attended by veterans of the ground breaking "work in", including George Kerr from Renfrewshire. It was also heartening to see a large group of apprentices from the Clyde yards, whose jobs are a direct result of the success of the action 40 years ago. My thanks also to Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite, Britain’s largest Trade Union who took the time to travel up from England to attend the debate and speak at the reception.

It was interesting to draw the parallels with today. Then as now, we had a newly elected Conservative Government determined to make working people pay for a crisis not of their making. But the Tories reckoned without a determined workforce and a disciplined and well organised shop stewards committee. Their demand was a simple one. "The Right to Work". And they knew they were not only fighting for their own jobs, but for the wellbeing of the wider community and jobs for future generations.

They were ably led by well known figures like Jimmy Reid, Jimmy Airlie and Sammy Barr. But there were more behind them, like Jimmy Cloughley from Clydebank. And it wasn’t just the men. Women working in the offices played a key role, including liaising with the telephone engineers to make sure that lines of communication were maintained. There was no such thing as mobile phones in those days!

There was widespread support for the UCS work in across the Scottish Labour and Trade Union movement and well beyond. Churches and business people were united in support and John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave financial backing. Eventually the Tory Government had to back down, and this success saved shipbuilding on the Clyde.

And there are lessons for today’s trade unionists and politicians. Jobs are being cut, living standards reduced and ordinary people being asked to make sacrifices while those at the top become more wealthy. We owe it to the UCS workers to show the same resolve to fight for a decent future for working people and their families. We should be demanding the Right to Work. And we need to decide whose side we are on. Do we stand with the rich and powerful who are demanding sacrifice, or will we stand beside those who are being asked to make the sacrifice?

　Paisley Town Centre

Because of boundary changes, I no longer represent Paisley in the Scottish Parliament. But I know just how important a successful Paisley is to the rest of Renfrewshire. The present Council has had over 4 years to implement its plans to revitalise Paisley Town Centre. And what has happened? A recent report shows that Paisley has the highest percentage of shops vacant in the whole of Scotland. That’s right. The whole of Scotland. There is a vacancy rate of 23.7% that’s more than 1 shop in 5. Where Paisley does excel is having pretty posters in shops to kid people on that the shops are occupied. Is this the best we can do? We know times are hard, with less money around and competition from the internet. But it’s time for some action and progress. Renfrewshire needs a healthy Paisley Town Centre.

Fly Infestation

I recently organised a packed meeting in Johnstone Town Hall to discuss a problem being experienced by people living around the Town centre. Householders (and also local businesses) are being afflicted by a plague of flies. While this summer has not been as bad because of the poor weather, the lives of local people are being ruined. Some can’t sit out in their garden. They can’t cook or eat meals without taking preventative action. Local health centres have the worry of cleanliness and safety when dealing with sick people. Parents have to take precautions with sleeping children. And no one wants to take responsibility. Most local people blame the problem on the WRC Recycling Plant at Floors Street. Residents complain of the smell from waste being brought in for processing. They also complain of waste being left for long periods.

To try to get to the bottom of this, I arranged a meeting between residents, Renfrewshire Council (Environmental Services) and SEPA (the Environment Protection Agency). I invited the company but the invitation was declined. Both the Council and SEPA were shocked to hear about the extent of the problem. Some local people turned up with bags with thousands of dead flies. The anger and frustration was clear. The Council and SEPA have agreed to work together to try to identify the source of the problem. Once we know this, then action can be taken. It’s just not good enough to have so many people being affected by what is not just a nuisance, but a potential health hazard.

Paisley Dailey Express - 07 September 2011

2011-09-07T11:42:00.002+01:00

Clean Water

A recent report suggested that the quality of Scottish water had never been better. Try telling that to my constituents who have to endure filthy manganese contaminated water. It has been accepted that those affected, including householders in Johnstone, should have seen remedial action before now. Those affected are unable to cook, bathe or wash laundry. A number of people have reported clothing being damaged and I have demanded that Scottish Water should compensate those who have suffered loss. The real solution should be urgent action at the water treatment works. Clean water should be a right in 21^st century Scotland.

Ronnie Burns

Along with friends and colleagues from the Labour Party and Trade Unions, I attended the funeral mass for Ronnie Burns, the ex Provost of Renfrewshire. Ronnie was a gentle person who never had a harsh word to say about anyone. He dedicated his life to helping others and his political and trade union activity came from his determination to help those around him. He was proud to represent Linwood and his contribution to his community was reflected in the turnout of those he had worked with over the years.

New Laws

The Scottish Parliament met last week for the first time since the summer recess. There is not a lot that anyone could disagree with in terms of the Scottish Government’s plans for new laws. The problem may be in the detail of what will be considered. Very few people will disagree with the need to stamp out sectarianism in Scotland. A recent poll indicated over 80% of Scots wanted action. But it’s wrong to simply see sectarianism in terms of football alone. Equally if the Scottish Government wants to jail offenders for up to five years, then surely it has a duty to spell out clearly what the law says so that members of the public know when they are breaking the law? If we can’t or won’t say what is illegal then we are in danger of making some bad mistakes. The other major issue is tackling Scotland’s problem with alcohol. I fully support the Scottish Government’s determination to confront this, but I still have concerns with its determination to pursue minimum pricing, which is untried and untested. I hope we will see proper evidence and studies and I hope that the legal doubts will be properly addressed.

And of course any legislative programme throws up gaps where others think there should be legislation. I would like to have seen further legislation to tackle rogue private sector landlords, as well as legislation to regulate our patchy and inconsistent bus services. I would also like to have seen legislation to give greater protection to workers who face violence when serving the public, and laws to restore school transport to pupils who have to walk three miles to school in all weathers. And finally we could do with legal protection to stop Councils like Renfrewshire trying to replace teachers with unqualified staff.

Burial heartache

The Paisley Daily Express last week reported on another case where Renfrewshire Council had refused to allow family members to be buried together. I have previously raised concerns about other similar cases. Most people would understand that if they purchase a lair, it would only be able to hold a defined number of bodies. But Renfrewshire Council has changed the rules after lairs have been purchased, and the first that grieving families know of this is when they are trying to arrange the funeral.

When I first raised this problem, the Council tried to blame a change in regulations. When I wrote to Government Ministers it was made clear that it was the Council which had made the change. The Council even chastised me for criticising what I believe is a cruel and heartless decision. The Paisley Daily Express article is further proof that there needs to be a rethink.

Linwood Shopping Centre

As Autumn approaches, residents of Linwood will not only be keeping an eye on the weather. The next few months should see the long awaited demolition of the eyesore of a shopping centre which has blighted the town for years. Along with Councillor Anne Hall and Jim Sheridan MP, I will be watching Tesco to make sure that promises are delivered. Linwood residents have had to put up with a lot. They deserve to see progress.

Paisley Dailey Express - 24 August 2011

2011-08-24T21:04:00.002+01:00

Hitting the weak

There are growing concerns that the Tory led Treasury cuts are driving the country towards recession. The Tories are being given cover by the Liberal Democrats whose personal ambitions allowed them to abandon all the principles they had in opposition.

And it’s the weak and vulnerable who are being hit the hardest. The bankers and the financiers whose greed and irresponsible behaviour caused the financial crisis, are still being rewarded with massive bonuses and pay awards. It’s at a time like this that we need the Scottish Government and the Council to help the most vulnerable. And yet Alex Salmond is cutting back on funding for Council and voluntary organisations, while at the same time demanding powers to cut the taxes for big businesses.

And here in Renfrewshire, the Council is protecting the wages of top officials while penalising the frail, the disabled, and carers. I’ve recently heard harrowing

tales of high charges and poorer services for those who really need our support. There’s something badly wrong when the Council helps the high earners and cuts back on the elderly, the sick and the disabled.

Energy Prices

We take certain things as a given. We believe that everyone in this country should have the right to good clean water and proper sanitation. So why do we limit access to heating, lighting and cooking depending on what we can afford? The energy companies act like a cartel. They have all just announced massive price increases, on average an increase of £190 per year for an average customer. At the same time the profits of these energy companies continue to boom.

We know that many elderly people will face hard choices between heat and food in the coming winter. That’s an absolute disgrace in the 21^st century in a civilised country. I welcome the action by the regulator Ofgem to investigate how the energy companies calculate their profits. What we really need is action by the UK Government to tackle these companies and to legislate for every citizen to have a basic right to lighting, heating and cooking.

Quiet Summer?

Summer is usually the quiet time in politics. Not this year. We’ve had the shocking revelations about phone hacking by the News of the World. Andy Coulson, once a trusted adviser to David Cameron, has been arrested. And it looks as if there is much more to come. Our local MP, Jim Sheridan, has been at the heart of the Parliamentary Committee investigation, trying to get to the bottom of this.

And of course there were the riots across England. No one can justify the looting and the violence, but we need to get to the bottom of why this is happening and why the Police failed to nip the riots in the bud.

The riots also allowed politicians to display double standards at their worst. Many Tory MPs want a clamp down on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Yet many of these same MPs praised the use of Facebook and Twitter in Iran, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. They condemned the regimes which tried to stop young people spreading information about unrest and protests, but somehow it’s ok if we clamp down.

The looting and theft was appalling. Many ordinary families and small businesses suffered. There have been jail sentences for taking without payment, items like bottles of water and electronic goods. But the public hasn’t forgotten that some of the MPs who want tough action against looters had to pay back expenses for claiming items to which they were not entitled. David Cameron had to repay nearly £1,000 including a claim for clearing wisteria and vines. Perhaps some quiet reflection is called for?

Exam Choices

I have been contacted by constituents who are worried about the restrictions being placed on their children when studying for Highers. Pupils are choosing subjects to study in 4^th year and then finding that the subject is no longer available at Higher because of the cut backs. This can have a devastating effect on University and career choice for young people.

Renfrewshire Council has the second worst record in Scotland for cuts to education. Proportionately for the size of the Council, it has cut more teaching jobs than any other Council in Scotland. We are now seeing the consequence of this with young people being denied the chance to follow subjects through to Highers.

Renfrewshire Council needs to re-examine its education strategy before it blights the lives of our pupils.

Paisley Daily Express - 29 June 2011

2011-06-29T11:10:00.005+01:00

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

2011-06-15T14:56:00.001+01:00

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

2011-06-01T11:17:00.011+01:00

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.

Paisley Daily Express - 12 May 2011

2011-05-12T10:13:00.003+01:00

Election Outcome

I am pleased to have been elected as the MSP for the new Scottish Parliament seat of Renfrewshire South. The Scottish Parliament elections on May 5^th were an outstanding success for the SNP – much as I hate to say it. No one believed it would be possible to obtain an outright majority given our electoral system, yet the SNP managed to achieve it. Locally it has meant that we now have two SNP constituency members for the first time, and I wish Derek MacKay and George Adam well in what is a truly privileged role.

I am sorry to have lost so many good and experienced colleagues and I am sorry that Stuart Clark and Evan Williams did not win, despite their hard work. The SNP ran a well organised campaign that clearly resonated with many people. While Labour’s vote in many areas held up, we were not able to persuade people who were switching their votes. Lessons need to be learned and the time taken to do this properly.

In the meantime I intend to do what I have done for the last 12 years, and that is represent my constituents to the best of my ability.

Presiding Officer

I had been asked by MSP’s of various parties, to put my name forward for the position of Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. I was unsuccessful in this bid. This post is politically neutral and the Presiding Officer has the task of acting on behalf of all members, as well as chairing sessions in the Parliament.

In the past three sessions, SNP, Tory and Lib Dem members have filled the post with cross party support. This time the SNP with an absolute majority in Parliament decided to deny a Labour member the opportunity to hold the post. Instead SNP members decided to vote for one of their own and voted for Tricia Marwick MSP.

I wish her well on her post, but along with Annabel Goldie from the Conservatives, and Tavish Scott from the Lib Dems, I do worry about the decision of the SNP to take control in a way that has never been done before. I hope that we are not heading towards an elected dictatorship.

Independence Referendum

I know a number of people who voted SNP but who do not believe in Independence. Nevertheless Alex Salmond and the SNP were elected on a clear mandate of having a Referendum on Independence later in the life of this Parliament. It is absurd for politicians in other parties to demand an early Referendum.

Alex Salmond has been rightly criticised in the past for breaking promises he made. Why then should we demand that he immediately breaks the most significant promise he made in the last election, namely that on an Independence Referendum?

We need to accept that the SNP has a clear mandate to govern and we should concentrate on making sure we create jobs and opportunities for Scots of all ages, but particularly the young. Labour will co-operate on issues on which we agree, but it is still our job to hold this new majority Government to account. I hope that Alex Salmond will now deliver the promises he made on jobs and services and not try to blame others for things which go wrong.

Leisure Charges

The campaign by local groups against the excessive charges will continue. Just before the election I held a meeting with a number of local groups. I was horrified to learn that many football clubs are now having to cancel lets for pitches because they cannot afford the new fees. We keep talking about how we need to encourage youngsters to become fit and healthy. How can we do this if we make it too expensive to use our leisure facilities? Do we honestly want to see young people hanging about street corners and causing bother, rather than participating in sport?

And it’s not just football. Dance groups are facing problems, senior citizen clubs and many more. The Council needs to think again. I hope the SNP will use its majority in the Scottish Parliament and the Council to make sure the public can afford to use publicly owned leisure facilities.

2011-03-22T20:36:00.002Z

This blog was established while Hugh Henry was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

As the Scottish Parliament has now been dissolved there are no Members of the Scottish Parliament until after the election of 5th. May 2011

Paisley Daily Express - 15 March 2011

2011-03-15T12:09:00.003Z

Election Changes

This is my last article as MSP for Paisley South. Because of boundary changes, I will be a candidate for the new seat of Renfrewshire South which covers Johnstone and Elderslie, Barrhead and Neilston, along with Linwood, Craigends, Kilbarchan Howwood and Lochwinnoch. It has been a privilege to have been the MSP for the majority of the town of Paisley since 1999. During that time I have made many friends and I have been supported by many fine people at all levels. The forthcoming elections are important for the whole of Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire. The Liberal Democrats have sold their soul and are the cheer leaders for Tory attacks on ordinary people and ordinary families. Alex Salmond has reneged on promises on class sizes and dumping student debt. He has been supported by the Tories every step of the way. Locally the SNP and Liberal Democrats have made a mess of Council services. They have rewarded the top Directors with huge pay rises, while cutting terms and conditions of the lower paid. They tried to replace teachers with unqualified staff, but only the opposition of parents and teachers stopped them. The next few years are going to be difficult no matter who is elected. I hope that I will be able to continue as an MSP representing the new Renfrewshire South seat. Whatever happens there is still a need for a campaigning local paper like the Paisley Daily Express to keep politicians on their toes.

Alcohol Failure

Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond have said they will try to introduce minimum pricing of alcohol, a policy rejected by all the main opposition parties. Why has Nicola Sturgeon failed to use the powers given to her to ban discounting for alcohol? According the Scottish Government’s own study, a ban on discounting would have as much impact on problem drinking as minimum unit pricing. The legislation was passed months ago but Nicola Sturgeon has failed to act. It looks like she is more interested in political posturing rather than taking effective action.

Fuel Prices

Recent world events have pushed up the price of petrol and diesel. The Tories and the Liberal Democrats have added to the problem by hiking up VAT. This has increased prices by at least 3p per litre. Labour is calling on the Chancellor to cut the VAT rise and to look again at the fuel duty rise due in April. Ordinary families are struggling to cope with job losses, pay freezes and increases in the cost of living. It’s the right time to give people a break and I will be campaigning on this over the next few weeks.

Anti Social Behaviour

In my previous article, I pointed out that the SNP were more intent on tackling badly behaved dogs rather than badly behaved humans. I’m pleased that the Scottish Labour Leader, Iain Gray, has promised a crackdown on anti social behaviour across Scotland. I’ve had numerous complaints from constituents whose lives are being ruined by anti social behaviour. Among the new proposals are two which are badly needed in Renfrewshire. The first is a crackdown on problem neighbours. Labour wants to give Councils and Housing Associations the power to impose behaviour contracts to stop nuisance neighbours. Over the last few days I had more complaints about this from Paisley and Johnstone and I know other areas are affected. The second is a promise of new laws to force private landlords to act against anti social residents. We are seeing more and more private lets in our communities. Most landlords are responsible. The irresponsible minority allow their tenants to cause havoc, and they hide behind the rules and regulations. I want them to act on complaints about nuisance tenants not wait on formal notices. Why should the lives of decent people be ruined by a thoughtless minority?

Home Safety

I recently visited the Home Safety Scotland (HSS) display in the Scottish Parliament. Unintentional injury has a significant financial impact on the economy. It also has a human cost with the misery and grief that come from injuries in the home. In 2007/08, there were 224 deaths in Scotland and 16, 308 hospital admissions. From what I can gather, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Taking preventable measures can save lives and reduce horrific accidents. House builders can play their part by looking at design and construction. Everyone can do their bit by thinking carefully and acting responsibly. It really does make sense.

Paisley Daily Express - 1 March 2011

2011-03-01T10:20:00.006Z

Solitaire Club

I was delighted to learn that the Renfrew Solitaire Club, based in Paisley, has received a grant from the Awards for All, run by the Big Lottery Fund. The club supports older, single people in this area. Living on your own can be a problem for many, particularly if they have no family close by. It’s important to keep older people active and healthy. Meeting other people is an important part of this. If you want to learn more about this club, call me on 0141 848 7361.

Window Blind Cords

In 2010, six children in the UK and Ireland died through strangulation by window blind cords. There are more than 250 million window blinds already in the UK and 25 million more are sold each year. John and Pat Astley are grandparents who have campaigned for improved safety. They funded the WindowBlindSafe project themselves. They want Government guidelines on what is safe to use and what is not. If you are worried about window blinds for your home and want to do something. You can contact the company by email at john@windowblindsafe.com

Dog ASBO’s/Human ASBO’s

Dog owners who allow their pets to become out of control in a public or private place, could be issued with a "dog control notice". Out of control dogs can be a real nuisance and can be downright dangerous if not stopped. I support action to nip the problem in the bud at an early stage. It’s right to tell irresponsible owners that they will face action if their dog runs out of control.

Let’s hope that the SNP takes a more robust attitude to this than local SNP Councillors like to ASBO’s against people who behave badly. The SNP seems to have a problem about taking action against the irresponsible minority who cause grief to the responsible majority. They don’t want to use existing powers to crackdown on youngsters who are out of control. It’s seems the SNP are prepared to tackle the dogs who cause problems but not the humans. It’s time for them to sort out their priorities.

School Transport

Parent power, backed by teachers has forced Renfrewshire Council to back away from its ridiculous plan to replace teachers with unqualified staff. The Director of Education refuses to apologise for his actions. What part of the word humility does he fail to understand? Derek McKay, the Leader of the Council, and David Martin, the Chief Executive won’t instruct Mr Naylor to apologise. They are failing parents with this inaction. The SNP and Liberal Democrats are hoping that the review sponsored by the SNP Government will bring back this recommendation after the election. We should be telling them to bury this once and for all.

Now that they have been forced to back down on replacing teachers, I hope the SNP and Liberal Democrats Councillors will now think again about school transport. These Councillors have forced 1, 000 children to walk up to three miles each way per day during one of the worst winters we have seen in years. There is a human cost, but also an educational one. These same Councillors won’t walk three miles themselves to Council meetings. Why should they inflict this on our children. It’s time to do the right thing and think again.

Buying Jobs

Many young people across Renfrewshire are finding it hard to obtain employment. The cuts being driven by the Conservative led Government are having a devastating effect on Scottish jobs. The Liberal Democrats are just nodding through whatever the Tories suggest. But not every young person in Britain is finding it hard to get a start. The latest wheeze from the Tories to fundraise for their Party, is to sell internships with top City firms. If you have the cash, your son or daughter can get work experience in the City of London. Do you have £3, 000 to spare? Your son or daughter can have an internship with CMC Markets in return for your donation to the Tory Party. £2, 500 will buy a place at hedge fund Caxton Associates. £3,500 will secure a place at Arbuthnot Latham which is a private bank. And so it goes on. This really stinks. While our sons and daughters struggle to find work, the rich are as usual buying access and privilege.

Paisley Daily Express - 16 February 2011

2011-02-16T09:47:00.000Z

FMQ Disgrace

First Minister’s Questions is supposed to be the opportunity for the Scottish Parliament to hold the First Minister to account for the actions of his administration. The last Question Time was an absolute disgrace. Iain Gray, the Labour Leader, asked Alex Salmond about Renfrewshire Council’s plans to remove teachers from the classroom in Primary schools for 10% of the school week. At first Alex Salmond tried to talk about North Ayrshire Council and a proposal from its Director of Education which the Leader of that Council had flatly rejected. He then tried to twist what the General Teaching Council for Scotland had said, before again referring to North Ayrshire Council and rather bizarrely what David Miliband was doing in England. Mr Salmond then wanted to know why Iain Gray had asked about Renfrewshire’s schools rather than Mr Megrahi who had been sent back to Libya by his Justice Secretary. The reason Iain Gray asked about Renfrewshire’s schools is that he had heard at first hand, the concerns of parents and teachers. Saturday’s rally in Paisley showed just how strongly parents and teachers feel. Iain Gray has nothing to apologise for in trying to defend the right of Renfrewshire’s children to be taught by qualified teachers.

Hitting the poor

Most families in this country have received benefits at one time or another. It might be child benefit, or sickness benefit or one of the other benefits which are there to help. For those on low incomes help with paying the rent could make the difference between having a home and being homeless. The recent changes to housing benefit introduced by the Conservative led Government at Westminster will mean that 60, 000 households in Scotland will face severe hardship. These changes will affect people across the ages. Single people aged 25-34 will no longer receive help for a one bed roomed flat in the private sector. Some families will have to cut what they spend on their children just to make ends meet. Now I know, as everyone does, that there are those who fiddle the system. But tackling abuse should not mean that we create hardship for the poor. And if this Government wants to tackle abuse, perhaps it should look at the tax avoidance schemes deployed by their rich friends.

Huntington’s Disease

I have written before about Huntington’s disease which is a disorder passed down through families. If one of your parents has Huntington’s disease, you will have a 50% chance of getting the gene for the disease. If you get the gene from your parents, you will develop the disease at some point in your life, and can pass it on to your children. Huntington’s disease can cause behavioural changes, abnormal movements, speech impairment and dementia. There is no cure for Huntington’s disease which can have a devastating effect on families.

Why is it, that within our Health Board area, patients in Glasgow can receive support and care from specialist nurses, yet here in Renfrewshire no such help is available? The Scottish Huntington’s Association has been campaigning for an end to this unfairness. I hope that the next Scottish Government will put an end to this discrimination.

Bankers’ bonuses

It has been reported that contributions from the Citu of London financiers to the Tories has doubled. The bankers and City whizz kids caused the financial problems which we are having to pay for with higher taxes and cuts in services. At the same time bonuses for bankers are on the increase again. While Nick Clegg has remained silent, his Treasury spokesperson in the House of Lords has resigned. Lord Oakshott said the Government’s approach to bonuses was “pitiful”. The greed of top bankers knows no bounds. And just to make sure they have a compliant Government they have doubled their contributions to the Tory Party.

Double Jeopardy

The Scottish Parliament recently voted to change the law on Double Jeopardy. This legal principle prevents someone for being tried again if previously cleared of an offence. It means in the case of murder or rape, that even if new evidence becomes available, the person responsible cannot be tried again if previously cleared. Now no one would want to see anyone in this country repeatedly brought to court by the authorities in a frivolous or arbitrary manner. However surely it is right that the most serious offences can be tried again if new and compelling evidence comes to light? The Scottish Parliament is right to say that victims also have rights.

Paisley Daily Express - 1 February 2011

2011-02-01T09:41:00.001Z

Teacher replacement scheme

Last week I was castigated in the Paisley Daily Express by the SNP Councillor who is responsible for education in Renfrewshire. She criticised me for opposing SNP and Lib Dem plans to replace teachers with the long term unemployed for up to 10% of the school week. She says that those unemployed for six months or more are not long term unemployed. Really? It’s a frightening prospect that in an SNP led Scotland, being unemployed for six months or more is now regarded as short term. She says that I am scaremongering for saying that “teachers will be replaced by unqualified and inexperienced recruits from the dole”. But that is in fact what is happening. To qualify for one of these positions, you would have to be unemployed for six months or more. The latest wheeze I am told, is to recruit some unemployed teachers after six months on the dole and pay them about half what a teacher earns and not pay them at all for holidays. So SNP led Renfrewshire Council cuts teacher numbers but might recruit a few unemployed teachers to work for a pittance, doing the work that teachers used to do. And is it true that this Council wants to give full time teaching jobs to only those who are prepared to work on the teacher replacement scheme? And all the while, they are supported by the Lib Dems and Tories – now isn’t that a surprise? This SNP Councillor says that I am insulting the unemployed. Not so. It takes four years to train as a teacher. These replacements will be trained over a few weeks, some of them never having any training in education at all. And in her most dishonest statement of all, this SNP Councillor says that “our children will still be taught by qualified, registered teachers”. Not true. For ten percent of the school week they will be supervised by recruits from the long term unemployed who don’t need to have any educational experience at all. This is a shameful move and I hope these misguided Councillors will listen to the well argued case being put by more and more Renfrewshire parents.

Tenancy Deposits

I welcome the recent action in the Scottish Parliament to introduce a national Tenancy Deposit Scheme. It is estimated that in Scotland between 8, 000 and 10, 000 tenants annually have £3.6 million of their deposits wrongly withheld. While the majority of landlords behave responsibly, it’s right to tackle the minority who are fleecing tenants. This used to be an issue mainly in big cities, but I am seeing private tenancy problems right across Renfrewshire. It’s not just in Paisley which has a large student population. I have received a number of complaints from Johnstone, and I know from speaking to my colleagues, that it is a similar story elsewhere in Renfrewshire. Once operational, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme will be free for landlord and letting agents to participate. Tenants will no longer have to take legal action to seek recovery of a wrongly withheld deposit. There will be access to a free and independent dispute resolution service where there is no agreement over the return of a deposit cannot be agreed between the tenant and the landlord. This scheme is a welcome step forward.

Dodgy security Firms

Over the years we have all read stories about cowboy security firms using threats and intimidation to obtain contracts on building sites. I know the Police have been working hard to tackle the problem but often it can be difficult to obtain evidence. It has been frustrating to see some of these cowboy firms providing security to publicly funded housing projects. I am pleased that action is being taken to ban these companies from any contracts in social housing construction across Scotland. Police and law enforcement agencies have teamed up to target unscrupulous security firms involved in the construction sector. The rules which apply to Scottish Government departments will now be extended to housing associations and similar organisations. The Police have long believed that some of the firms providing “security” are no more than a front for organised crime. They use cash from these “legitimate” contracts to bankroll drug dealing and other criminal activity. It’s right to make sure that public money is not being used to help front companies for crooks.

Paisley Daily Express - 19 January 2011

2011-01-19T21:57:00.000Z

Teacher Cuts

I was shocked when I heard that Renfrewshire Council plans to replace teachers for 10% of the school week, with non qualified staff. The more I hear, the worse this story becomes. It now appears that SNP and Liberal Democrat Councillors, supported by the Tories, want to replace teachers with the long term unemployed. Teachers will be removed from the class room, to be replaced by unqualified people who have been put through a short European funded course. You would have to be unemployed for six months or more to be considered. The reason for this is simply to save money. Up until now we have taken for granted that our children will be taught by qualified, registered teachers. Now in Renfrewshire teachers will be replaced by unqualified and inexperienced recruits from the dole. Do you think this is right? I want to hear from you. Email me on hugh.henry.msp@scottish.parliament.uk If you want to sign the online petition go to www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepteachers/

Report that Pothole

The Paisley Daily Express has been reporting on the shocking state of our roads. I have never seen potholes like this in all the years I have been driving. In some places I’ve seen what is virtually a ditch running down the middle of the road. In other areas I’ve seen holes you can stand in. I’ve witnessed motorists swerving to avoid these potholes, to try to avoid expensive damage to cars and tyres. In doing so, the risk of accident increases significantly.

I know from my mailbag the anger and frustration that this damage causes. Motorists become exasperated when they try to make a claim but this is refused by the Council and its insurers. The excuse is usually that the pothole had not been reported and so the Council refuses to accept responsibility. I am urging readers to do yourself and other motorists a favour. REPORT THAT POTHOLE. If you register a problem, the Council will find it difficult to avoid liability if a car is subsequently damaged. Report potholes to Roads & Lighting Faults on 0141 842 4466

Workers’ Rights

I noticed politicians of all parties welcoming the news that Amazon was creating additional jobs in Inverclyde and in Fife. There is no doubt that a jobs boost is welcome at a time when workers across Scotland face redundancy. But I was shocked to read a story before Christmas about employment practices at Amazon. According to press reports, Amazon had taken on extra temporary staff to meet demand. The reports said that on one occasion, in the middle of the night, some temporary staff were told that there was no further work for them, and that they should go home. How cruel can you get? These low paid workers had to find their own way home, some having to phone taxis they could ill afford, simply because a large and profitable company no longer needed them. I thought we had seen the last of casual labour being hired and fired after a few hours. We fought long and hard to give ordinary working people rights at work. This is now clearly under threat. Behaviour like this demonstrates why it is important to join a trade union. Why is it that the top earners such as bankers, need millions to give them the incentive to work, but ordinary working people can be treated like dirt because costs have to be kept down?

Children’s Lairs

Have SNP and Liberal Democrat Councillors in Renfrewshire no shame? I couldn’t believe it when the Paisley Daily Express reported that these insensitive Councillors had voted to increase charges to bereaved parents whose child had died. Parents will have to pay £132.50 to bury a child under 12, up from £35. By 2014 this will rise to £265. I have demanded information from the Chief Executive about how much this will actually raise. I suspect it will be a few thousand pounds at the most. If these Councillors want to save money, they could rake back the annual bonus they have given to top Directors. They have decided to tax the death of children and maintain the inflated pay of top Directors. This is just plain wrong. They should think again.

SNP sentence U turn

In opposition Alex Salmond and Kenny MacAskill said they would end the automatic early release of prisoners. It was a manifesto commitment in 2007. Last week we learned that this was another promise which was being ditched. It’s time we had honesty in sentencing. We need more transparency. Sheriffs and the public need to know how long someone will serve when sentenced. I want the Sentencing Commission to look at the whole issue of sentences so that everyone knows where they stand.

Paisley Daily Express - 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T21:54:00.000Z

Road Chaos

So the Scottish Transport Minister had to resign after claiming a “first class response” to the chaos on our roads. I’ve spoken to people who had to sleep in schools in Lanarkshire. It must have been a nightmare for those trapped overnight in their cars on the motorway. Alex Salmond, as well as his Transport Minister, tried to say this was not predicted. Yet the television showed clips of warnings on BBC the night before. Frankly Alex Salmond and his team were “at it”, trying to blame the Met Office and anyone else they could, for their complacency. It would be foolish to say that a Transport Minister can dictate what the Police and local agencies do. But at the very least we should expect Government Ministers to listen to the warnings, make sure emergency measures are in place, and take immediate action once the scale of the problem became apparent. We are extremely lucky that there were no fatalities among those who were trapped. We can’t gamble like this again.

Local Priorities

I have received numerous complaints about local roads and pavements during the recent bad weather. I know that keeping the main roads open must be a priority, but many communities felt they were abandoned completely. The Paisley daily Express showed pictures of an empty town centre in Paisley. The Council spent over £100, 000 on a fireworks display and the switching on of the Christmas lights in Paisley. It gave £15, 000 to Olly Murs from X Factor. Surely the Council would have been better advised in spending this money on gritting roads and pavements?

Stalking

Stalking can be a deeply frightening crime for victims. Last week a new offence of stalking came into effect. For the first time in Scotland it will now be a criminal offence to behave in a way that is likely to cause fear and alarm. This could include following another person, contacting or attempting to contact another person, loitering in any place, either public or private, watching or spying on another person as well as a range of other activities. Some people, most often women, have had their lives ruined by stalking. My Labour colleague Rhoda Grant MSP, lobbied for the law to be changed and it was. But credit also must go to Ann Moulds, a victim of stalking, who campaigned for this change. Ann was awarded the title of “Campaigner of the Year” for her work. I hope that her achievements will lead to better protection for those Scots whose lives have been affected by stalking.

Margo MacDonald’s Bill

The Scottish Parliament recently rejected the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill proposed by Margo MacDonald MSP. A similar proposal had first been proposed by the Liberal Democrat MSP, Jeremy Purvis, but he too had failed to gain support.

Margo MacDonald is a formidable campaigner. She has not let Parkinson’s Disease stop her crusading on a wide range of issues. I have a lot of respect for Margo but I could not support her on this matter. The Bill would have decriminalised Scots Law on homicide as it applies to the acts of assisting suicide and voluntary euthanasia.

No one can doubt it is harrowing to watch a loved one suffer in the final stages of a terminal illness. But surely we should be improving the availability and quality of palliative care before there is any debate about assisted suicide?

I worried about the undue pressure which could be put on a terminally ill patient. It’s not beyond the bounds of possibility for a relative who stands to gain financially putting pressure on someone who is terminally ill and who doesn’t want “to be a burden”. I also worried about the pressure this would put on doctors and nurses. Margo’s Bill risked undermining patient trust in doctors and the medical advice they offer. Scotland’s Hospices were opposed to the Bill and they know at first hand the reality of caring for those approaching death.

For these and many other reasons, I would not support Margo’s Bill.

Paisley Daily Express - 30 November 2010

2010-11-30T21:51:00.000Z

Youth Unemployment

I can remember the human cost of not finding jobs for young people during the Thatcher years. Today we are facing the prospect again. The number of young Scots who are not in work, education or training programmes, has risen from 31,000 to 36,000 in the past year. We need to find practical solutions to give these young people a decent start in life. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have scrapped the Future Jobs Fund which helped young people get that start. I am pleased that Scottish Labour is promising to introduce a Scottish Future Jobs Fund. The country cannot afford to condemn a generation to unemployment and despair.

Broken Promises

What have Alex Salmond and Nick Clegg got in common? Well, both made pre-election promises to students which helped them win power. In Alex Salmond's case, he said student debt would be written off. Those who pointed out this could not be done were accused of telling lies. In reality Alex Salmon's promise could never have been delivered and it's one of many promises which he ditched. Nick Clegg said that come what may, he and the Liberal Democrats would vote against tuition fees in England. Now in power, he is desperately trying to explain why tuition fees are necessary. There should be a lesson in this for all politicians. It's time to stop promising what you know can't be afforded.

Protection of Workers Bill

I was disappointed that Alex Salmond's Ministers are opposing my Bill to specify legal penalties against those who assault workers who serve the public. The Scottish Government has ignored overwhelming evidence from trade unions, churches, voluntary organizations, and the Federation of Small Businesses who all said it would make a difference. Regrettably the Scottish Police Federation opposed the bill, saying that existing law was sufficient. And yet the Police Federation want police officers to have the protection of the Emergency Workers Act. I am only asking that this same level of cover is extended to bus drivers, train drivers, shop workers, postal workers, care workers, and anyone else who provides a service to the public. Is it too much to ask that those who provide services on which we depend should be protected by law in the same way as emergency workers?

Unemployed Nurses

Even before the Conservative/Liberal Democrat cuts start to bite, SNP Minister's were cutting back on jobs for nurses. Labour had introduced a scheme to ensure that every newly qualified nurse had the guarantee of a job for 12 months. In 2007 there were 14 applications from those who found it difficult to find a job. In recent months the number of applicants has risen to 260 and may continue to rise. Around 2400 nurses are expected to complete their university course in the current financial year at a time when nursing jobs are being cut. Even if they're lucky enough to find a place under the job guarantee scheme, these nurses will face another battle for employment in 12 months. Newly qualified nurses are leaving to work in England, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. It costs nearly £50,000 to train a nurse. We are exporting our talent when we should be keeping them here. What a waste.

Salary Bonanza

The pay stampede at the top of the public sector continues unabated. Renfrewshire Council gave a 23% pay boost to its top Directors. University Principals are now paid an average of nearly £250,000 per year plus perks. And now we find that nearly 3,000 NHS employees in Scotland are earning over £100,000 per year. Unbelievably over 800 earn more than the £138,765 paid to Alex Salmond. In the current financial climate where belts are being tightened and nurses can't find jobs, it's impossible to justify these huge salaries for consultants and senior executives. 1500 nurse and midwife posts are due to be axed this year. It's time Alex Salmond told NHS bosses to sort out their priorities.

Paisley Daily Express - 20 October 2010

2010-10-20T21:46:00.000+01:00

Credit Unions

Last week the Paisley Daily Express reported on an excellent initiative in Cochrane Castle Primary School. The school has launched has launched a savings scheme to encourage pupils to save on a regular basis. The project is supported by the Johnstone Credit Union, one of the best credit unions in Britain. The banking crisis of the last few years has made many people question the way that banks operate. The continuing greed of those at the top of our banks shows that senior executives have learned nothing from the crisis. Ordinary taxpayers had to bail out these irresponsible institutions and now we are facing cuts in services because of this.

Credit Unions are a shining example of how financial institutions should operate. They are owned and run by the members. Members can save and borrow with confidence. And where members do need to borrow they can do so more cheaply than through the banks. The pupils of Cochrane Castle are learning early that credit unions work. Why don’t you join up? If you want more information about your local credit union, call me on 0141 848 7361.

Protect our Services

I welcome the Paisley Daily Express survey which showed that the public want vital services protected. The enthusiasm for cuts shown by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats is worrying. Do they honestly think there are private sector jobs here in Renfrewshire which will replace the jobs being lost in the public sector? And of course lost jobs means a poorer service. I know many vulnerable people who rely on public services to help them survive at home. Many parents know the value of classroom assistants whose jobs are being cut. The Paisley Daily Express survey also showed that the public is opposed to excessive wage increases for top officials, especially when budgets are being cut. Why did Renfrewshire Council give top officials a wage rise of our 20%? Why not take back this unjustified rise and treat the Directors and top officials exactly the same as the other workers. It’s time for SNP and Liberal Democrats Councillors to think again.

Listen to Linwood

I recently attended a meeting of over 100 people, organised by Councillor Anne Hall. The meeting was to discuss the plans to demolish the well used Community Education Centre. The local people and users of the centre are frustrated that their views are being ignored by Renfrewshire Council. The previous meeting organised by the Council was a shambles and Council Officials have accepted they got it wrong. Councillor Anne Hall wanted to let local people give their views. It’s a shame that the Council refused to attend. No officials turned up, local SNP Councillors stayed away, and the Leader of the Council ducked out. And yet the meeting was productive. Views were put forward in a constructive way. A number of suggestions were made including possible access road realignment and the community taking over the centre. This seems to be another typical Council consultation. They’ve made up their mind and they are ignoring local opinion.

Paisley Daily Express - 6 October 2010

2010-10-06T21:38:00.001+01:00

Vitamin D

I wrote recently in the Paisley Daily Express that Nicola Sturgeon had warned about the problems caused by vitamin D deficiency. She said that a significant proportion of the UK population has low vitamin D levels. She publicised information from NHS Health Scotland that those at risk will be advised to increase their vitamin D intake. Is it not absurd that she has now said that this will not be available on prescription? Surely if she recognizes that there is a significant health issue then she should make sure that vitamin D is available on prescription? I will be writing to Nicola Sturgeon to ask her to address this unfairness.

Housing Benefit

There is no doubt that some people abuse the housing benefit system. I support action being taken against rogue landlords and claimants and claimants who are milking the system. We can always find examples of the abuse of any benefit. But the reality is that there are many poorer families who rely on Housing Benefit to help them stay in their homes. It is a shame to see the Liberal Democrats at Westminster and locally in Renfrewshire becoming cheerleaders for cuts in Housing Benefit. The respected housing organisation the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, has concluded that the UK Government's reforms will unfairly hit the incomes of those who can least afford it. I am backing my Labour colleagues on Renfrewshire Council who are trying to persuade the Liberal Democrats to think again.

SNP alcohol confusion

The disarray of the SNP's alcohol strategy continues. They were recently defeated in the Scottish Parliament when they tried to make moderate sensible drinkers pay more to boost the profits of the large supermarkets like Tesco. The latest nonsense brought forward by Alex Salmond and his Ministers was a plan to allow licensing boards to vary the age at which young people could buy alcohol. They would have given boards the power to say that in Johnstone you had to be 21 to buy alcohol but in Elderslie it would be ok at 18 or vice versa. Similarly it could have led to a 21 age limit in Glenburn but an 18 age limit in Foxbar. You can imagine the problems this would have caused. Thankfully all the other parties united to throw out this nonsense. And why is Nicola Sturgeon refusing to take action against caffeinated alcohol drinks like Buckfast which are causing so much damage?

Paisley Daily Express - 21 September 2010

2010-09-21T21:30:00.003+01:00

Johnstone Band

Congratulations to the Johnstone Band which won the Land o'Burns Brass Band competition held recently in Troon. The Johnstone Band was up against top class bands from across the UK and for the band to score higher than these bands is a superb achievement for a 1st section band. The band can trace its roots back to the Johnstone Silver Band in 1834 and it's an important part of Johnstone's history and culture. I wish the Band every success for the future and I hope it goes on to further success.

Parking progress at the RAH

The announcement last week that the Health Board had released further parking places for staff at the RAH is good news for staff and local residents. The new parking regime had created chaos in local streets as staff were forced out of the Hospital car park. For many staff this is not just inconvenient, it also raises worries about personal safety and security as staff have to walk at night from the Hospital to where they park. For local residents the chaos has caused problems accessing their homes and there are also safety concerns caused by poor visibility lines on narrow streets. It has been frustrating trying to get the Health Board to move. And Renfrewshire Council failed to realise that it has a responsibility to local residents whose lives are being disrupted. Frankly I doubt if we would have seen any movement from the Health Board had it not been for the coverage in the Paisley Daily Express. This added weight to the representations made by those of us who have been campaigning for common sense to prevail. I visited local streets last Monday after the changes had been made and in some parts there clearly had been an improvement. There are still bottlenecks however and the Health Board and the Council need to sort these out. I will continue to work with local councillors Eddie Devine and Terry Kelly who have been a real help to Wendy Alexander and myself. Thanks also to the local residents who organised to make a very well put case.

Vitamin D

The Health Service has issued a new leaflet to GP's and Health Professionals which aims to increase awareness about recommended vitamin D levels. Vitamin D maintains healthy bones and young children have a high risk of deficiencies. The leaflet suggests that people in at risk groups may have a vitamin D deficiency. Included in this group are pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under 5, those aged 65 or over, people who are not exposed to much sunlight (e.g. those who are housebound), and people who have darker skin. Those at risk will be advised to increase their Vitamin D intake by including more oily fish, eggs and meat and by taking a supplement. In Scotland as we know, winter sun is not strong enough to provide the minimum vitamin D needed for health, especially for those with darker skin. Worryingly we are seeing an increase in reported cases of rickets in Scotland. Many older people will be familiar with rickets which we thought was consigned to the past. This and other conditions are easily prevented by improving diet and taking a supplement if you are at risk. If you or anyone in your family is in an at risk group, you should seek medical advice.

St. Benedict' Buses

The decision to axe school buses for nearly 1,000 pupils across Renfrewshire is a disgrace. Parents are angry and worried that their children are having to walk up to 3 miles to and from school on wet and cold days. The campaign to overturn this cruel and heartless decision will continue. In the meantime parents from St. Benedict's have banded together to hire a bus to take their children to school. Unfortunately not every parent van afford the £10 per week per pupil. Nevertheless it is a welcome boost for those parents able to make the sacrifice. But it's a disgrace that SNP and Liberal Democrat councillors think it's right to cut money from school buses just to hand it to top directors in a pay boost over and above their annual pay rise. And the Paisley Daily Express reported the disgraceful situation where some of these hypocritical SNP and Liberal Democrat councillors claim car expense for travelling less distance than they are telling children to walk. Have they no shame?

Iain Gray for Scotland

2010-07-07T11:43:00.001+01:00

singe click on this video to view it

Paisley Daily Express articles 12th. May - 8th. June 2010

2010-06-18T06:06:00.001+01:00

08/06/10

Rogue Landlords

Like many MSPs, I have received complaints from decent householders whose lives are being ruined by a minority of bad tenants. Increasingly this is happening in privately rented homes. Now I accept that many private landlords do their best to make sure their tenants behave responsibly. Unfortunately a small number turn a blind eye to appalling behaviour. As long as the rent money keeps rolling in, often paid through Housing Benefit, they don’t care what happens.

I have been campaigning for the law to be tightened. Some rogue landlords fail to register, yet nothing happens. The Scottish Parliament is considering a proposed Housing Bill and I had hoped this would be addressed. Unfortunately it looks like Alex Salmond and his Ministers are not taking this seriously. Duncan McNeil the MSP who chairs the Committee looking at the Bill has said the Committee is “concerned that there’s been no additional incentive for local authorities to prosecute rogue landlord who don’t register and it doesn’t appear the Bill will address this”.

I am disappointed and I will be pressing for action to protect decent people from bad landlords.

Action on Alcohol

Last week I met with the Chief Constable of Strathclyde. Among the issues discussed was the mayhem caused by those who had consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. He pointed out that in Strathclyde area there had been 14 murders in 10 weeks where alcohol was a significant factor.

We also know that alcohol is damaging health, destroying families and destabilising some communities. I agree with the views of Scottish Ministers that action has to be taken. I’m just sorry that Ministers have not been prepared to sit down and work out a solution which has general agreement.

I disagree with the new Conservative / Liberal Democrat Government on many things. But it looks as if this new Government is edging towards a policy of using taxation to tackle the ridiculously cheap price of some alcohol. Linked to measures stopping supermarkets selling alcohol below cost price, this could be a useful innovation.

We need a legally enforceable, UK wide policy to tackle the price of alcohol. I want to see money raised going to extra doctors, nurses and police officers, not propping up the profits of supermarkets.

The Alcohol Bill considered last week by the Scottish Parliament stimulated a useful debate. We need co-operation with the UK Government and all the political parties to come up with an answer.

Payout to senior civil servants

I chair the Public Audit Committee of the Scottish Parliament. The Committee recently produced yet another report about Transport Scotland. Yet again we uncovered questionable transactions involving senior staff who were leaving their post early. This time it was the Chief Executive of Transport Scotland who had earlier presided over a contentious contract issue. Although he was entitled to retire with a full pension (a very generous one with a large lump sum payment), he was given over £30, 000 extra for no good reason as far as the Committee could see.

It’s a scandal that taxpayers’ money can be used in such a cavalier fashion. Senior civil servants and Ministers need to realise that our money should be used for vital services, not to reward those who are already doing well.

Artists for Mary’s Meals

Mary’s meals is a Scottish based Charity which is helping to build a school kitchen to feed hungry children in Malawi. This is one of a number of projects which the Charity has supported. Local woman, Liz MacKinlay of Kilbarchan, is on the organising committee of Artists for Mary’s Meals. This particular initiative will see Scottish artists sell their paintings and donate a percentage of the sale price to build the kitchen. For those who can’t afford to buy a painting, there’s the chance to enter a £5 prize draw for a print by the popular Scottish artist, Lin Patullo.

The art exhibition runs a week from Saturday June 19th until June 26th. It will be held at the McGregor Fine Art Gallery at 34 West George Street, Glasgow.

27/05/2010

NHS CUTS

The SNP’s decision to underfund the NHS is now having a devastating affect across Scotland and will have a huge impact here in Renfrewshire. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has already announced that hundreds of jobs will go this year. Almost half will be nurses, including some at the RAH.

Every health board in Scotland was asked by the Scottish Government to prepare a workforce planning projection. The scale of resulting job losses that is being proposed in Greater Glasgow and Clyde is unacceptable. Doctors, nurses, midwives and hospital cleaners are in the absolute front line and the cornerstone when it comes to delivering care and services for those in need.

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon are trying to avoid responsibility, but the buck stops with them. We need honesty from the SNP about the future of the NHS here in Renfrewshire and across the whole of Scotland.

HOMECOMING A 'DAMP SQUIB' WITH OVERSEAS VISITORS
The SNP had great hopes of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations to attract visitors from abroad and spent £2 million on its promotion. However figures reveal showed that fewer than one in ten people who attended Homecoming branded events in 2009 came from abroad. It has been branded a 'damp squib' with overseas visitors who were supposed to be the main target audience. The Homecoming event failed to set the heather alight with Scotland's traditional overseas markets. Visitors numbers from Europe and the USA were actually down in 2009. Homecoming failed to meet its full potential in overseas markets because the SNP was intent on promoting it at home. No doubt hoping for local political advantage. The truth is it was also ignored by the Scottish public. The celebrations were mismanaged by the SNP who used Homecoming as a platform for their own agenda. The Gathering in Edinburgh left behind a trail of debt which is to be investigated by Audit Scotland. Now Alex Salmond tells us that he wants another Homecoming event in 2014. Let’s hope it is better organised.

CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY JOBS
I am concerned that the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) will be axing more than 1 in 20 of its workforce including some of its most experienced reporters. SCRA is responsible for the administration of children’s hearings that support youngsters who are in danger or may have committed an offence.
The number of referrals to the children’s hearings system reached an all-time record of just under 43,000 last year.There will be serious anxieties over their ability to protect Scotland’s most vulnerable children – those who offend or are offended against – with fewer reporters.This loss of experienced staff will harm our most vulnerable children. The Scottish Government are embarking on a wholesale reform of the system but at the same time the most experienced reporters are being made redundant. This is madness.The children’s hearings system has a world wide reputation for excellence. It has long been referred to as the jewel in the crown of care for young people. The SNP’s decision to slash SRCA's budget will hit Renfrewshire’s most vulnerable youngsters.

Awards for All

Awards for All Scotland is supported by the Scottish Arts Council, sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund. They aim to award grants for organisations who take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community.I was delighted that 4 projects in Paisley have recently secured £26,000 in shared funding.

Loud ‘n’ Proud is a youth charity based in Paisley which has for over 7 years established itself at the forefront of the development of young musicians in Scotland. The Foxbar Adults and Children Together Group is a new organisation which will establish a reading club that will be used for parents and their children aged between 7-12 years old. Paisley Juniors Netball Club will use the funding to purchase equipment, organise training, coaching and transport to competition in the Under 15's netball league. And finally the Renfrewshire Walking Network will use its funding to organise an access festival, linking with other community groups to encourage physical activity. I wish them all the best in the future.
For more information on Awards for All Scotland visit:
www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland

11/05/10

General Election

Labour’s results in Renfrewshire were excellent. Both Douglas Alexander and Jim Sheridan increased their share of the vote and their majorities. In Paisley and Renfrewshire South, the Liberal Democrats slumped from second to fourth, behind the Tories. It was clear they paid a heavy price for voting to cut school transport. In East Renfrewshire, Jim Murphy took over fifty percent of the vote in what used to be one of the safest Tory seats in Scotland.

But despite the solid results in Scotland, the voting from elsewhere in the country has put Labour behind the Tories. The Liberal Democrats have decided to do a deal with the Tories. The consequences for the country will be profound and the Liberal Democrats will have a price to pay in Scotland.

The political landscape in the UK has changed. While no doubt the Tories will give some concessions on taxation, the real impact will be felt from the cuts proposed by the Tories. We also have the danger of early cuts triggering another recession. The Liberal Democrats were opposed to the Tory plans and it will be interesting to see what they do in Government.

The next few years will be a hard slog, fighting to protect public services and those who need out support.

Gordon Brown

So Gordon Brown is no longer Prime Minister. He was one of the architects of the Scottish Parliament, with his longstanding commitment to devolution. He has a passion for fairness and justice both here and abroad. He has been the driving force to write of significant amounts of debt for the world’s poorest countries. He was a successful Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he played a major part, as Prime Minister, in helping to avoid an international depression following the banking crisis.

Since the inconclusive General Election result, he has acted with dignity to ensure that the best interests of the country are protected. Whatever he does in the future, he has certainly made his mark on politics here and abroad. I wish him and his family all the best for the future.

School Bus Farce

Renfrewshire Council has issued its so called safe walking routes for pupils. The process is a farce. The Council did not provide a map of the route to parents. If parents wanted a copy they needed a computer and a printer. And in Johnstone they are using old maps which don’t show the reality of the present layout of the town. The truth is that for a relatively small sum of money, nearly 1, 000 pupils will have to walk almost three miles each way to school. The dreadful weather at the start of last week was a reminder of what our climate is like. These youngsters face arriving at school, soaking wet, having carried a heavy load for fifty minutes or more. Royal Mail doesn’t ask our Posties to do what the Council wants our kids to do. The SNP and the Liberal Democrats have said there is no alternative. This is not true. I am willing to bet the Council will have more than this in its reserves each year and will probably underspend by more. The truth is that the SNP and the Liberal Democrats have swallowed everything the top officials have said. It’s time they showed some political leadership.

Law on school closures

The SNP are changing the rules on school closures. There is a new consultation process and it is being made clear that when any changes to schools are being considered, education must be the key priority. The new guidelines require Education Inspectors to produce a report and parents to have their voices heard. The Minister for Schools said it’s about “putting education at the heart of the decision and giving parents more of voice in the process.” This explains why the SNP and the Liberal Democrats were in such a rush to close South Primary School and every one of the Council’s Nursery Schools.

Hugh Henry : Freedom from Fear campaign video

2010-06-13T13:01:00.001+01:00

single click on the video to watch it

Speech in the debate on the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill 10 June 2010

2010-06-13T12:42:00.002+01:00

I regret the comments from both the cabinet secretary and Maureen Watt about party politics, because, as far as I can hear, not only today but during the course of the debate, the only people who have tried to introduce party politics into the debate have been members of the SNP, who have consistently refused to listen to and talk and work with members of other parties.

Indeed, for the past two years, I and others have called for a consensual approach and joint party working to try to come up with a solution to the problem. However, the minister and the cabinet secretary have refused to meet and work with the other parties to bring anything constructive forward.

Nicola Sturgeon: Hugh Henry might like to reflect on the last thing that he said, because I have met other parties and have always said that I would work with them on a range of proposals. Does Hugh Henry accept that there is a consensus on minimum pricing, which includes not just the SNP but doctors, nurses, the police, the royal colleges, the chief medical officers and a host of children's charities? There is a consensus—the problem is that Labour is not part of it.

Hugh Henry: The cabinet secretary may well have met people individually. The point that I have made consistently for the past two years is that there should have been a cross-party initiative or working group to meet with experts to come up with something sustainable. I commend ministers for their initiative in stimulating an alcohol debate but, unfortunately, they have refused to engage constructively with others in the Parliament, which I regret.

As others have said, the extent of our problem with alcohol is a matter of record. We now have one of the highest cirrhosis rates in western Europe—it is much higher than the rate in England. Over the past 30 years, UK cirrhosis mortality has risen by over 450 per cent across the population, with a 52 per cent increase in alcoholic liver disease between 1998 and 2002. In Scotland, chronic liver disease mortality more than doubled between 1982 and 2008.

No one can doubt the need for action. Indeed, I agree with Maureen Watt's point about the alcohol-related problems for our NHS and the impact that they have on others. The BMA has said that, in 2008-09, there were 41,922 alcohol-related discharges from general hospitals in Scotland. I know of the problem from personal experience because I remember that when my elderly father—God rest him—fell and broke his hip on Christmas eve, he had to wait nearly three hours for an ambulance. The ambulance staff were apologetic about the length of time that it had taken, which was because of the drunkenness and mayhem that they had had to deal with on Christmas eve. That is the human consequence of the problems that we face.

We face a growing impact, too, from women drinking to excess, and Richard Baker and others have spoken about the law and order problems that excess alcohol consumption causes. In that regard, I and some of my colleagues in the west of Scotland met the chief constable of Strathclyde this week and heard about the 14 murders that were alcohol related. The chief constable was right to point out the mayhem in towns and cities across Scotland every Friday and Saturday night, which we need to address. We need to have a view in this country that that kind of public drunkenness is just unacceptable and will be dealt with. We need to stop being frivolous and making jokes about drunkenness being okay and something to aspire to. We also need action to remove licences where that is appropriate. We need more rigorous testing of alcohol sales, as Richard Simpson, Richard Baker and others have said, to ensure that young people do not have access to alcohol. I support, too, Richard Baker's call for the problem of caffeine-based alcohol drinks to be addressed, because that is a chronic problem.

I agree with the concept of the polluter paying and with social responsibility payments. However, the mayhem on the streets is not necessarily caused by pubs and other small establishments. Many young people drink before they go out. Why should the publicans pay for the problems that are caused by cheap alcohol that is sold by supermarkets? Indeed, if we are talking about the polluter, surely the polluter is the intelligent drunk person with money in their pocket or purse whose drunkenness and loutish behaviour costs the rest of society dearly. They are the people who need to be challenged and penalised for the pollution that they cause. We need more action against public drunkenness and bad behaviour.

I agree that the cost of the alcohol that is sold in supermarkets is an issue. Michael Matheson posed the point that stopping discounting would surely just put more money in the supermarkets' pockets. Well, the way I understand marketing to work is that stopping discounting reduces sales, reducing sales reduces revenue and reducing revenue reduces profits, so stopping discounting does not have the impact that he and the cabinet secretary tried to suggest.

I am also opposed to the idea of giving local authorities the ability to vary the age at which alcohol can be purchased from off-sales within their areas. In my part of Renfrewshire, would it be sensible to say that young people could buy alcohol in Johnstone but not in Linwood? What would that mean in terms of young people buying drink in other communities?

Even if the legal age for off-sales was allowed to be varied between different local authorities, would it be sensible that young people could buy alcohol in Penilee, which is in Glasgow, but not in Ralston, which is in Renfrewshire? What would be the effect in places that lie on the borders between two local authority areas? Those sorts of inconsistencies would arise.

Although others have highlighted the issues with minimum pricing, one issue that has not been addressed in detail is the fact that not only would there be an increase in cross-border and internet sales but, in many communities, the criminal fraternity would then be able to sell cheap alcohol along with tobacco and drugs out of white vans. We should not underestimate the impact of that.

I hope that there is still time for us to come together as a Parliament and have a sensible debate on alcohol. I commend the cabinet secretary and her colleagues for what they have done so far, but it is time for them to face up to the fact that they should listen to the will of Parliament.

Speech on the NHS 3rd. June 2010

2010-06-13T12:40:00.000+01:00

I start by commending Murdo Fraser for his sterling defence of SNP policy. It is clear that that alliance is alive and well. It certainly augurs well for their political future, although whether it does anything for Murdo remains to be seen.

Those of us who have been members since the early years of the Parliament will recall the numerous complaints that we received in our constituency postbags and at our surgeries about health-related problems. People were concerned about the length of time they had to wait for an appointment to see medical staff and about the quality of care and facilities. Those complaints justified the very real investment in the health service that the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition Executive made to address those problems.

Was the investment justified? It was. Did it work? I think that it did. If members think of the inquiries that we receive from our constituents, I suspect that most of us would say—or would have said until recently—that there has been a significant fall in the number of health-related complaints. That is not so say that such complaints have been eliminated completely or that we will not receive individual complaints about things that cannot be justified, but the general picture is that the volume of such complaints has reduced. However, like many other MSPs, I am beginning to see a recurrence of complaints about waiting times, waiting lists and the level of service and other general concerns about the health service.

Murdo Fraser was right to say that we should measure outcomes and not look only at inputs. Ian McKee ably identified where progress can be made and has been made in the health service over many years. The problem is not that new techniques and methods of health service delivery are resulting in staff no longer being required; it is that advances mean that conditions can now be addressed that previously could not be addressed. Despite the progress that Ian McKee described, demand for our health service has not reduced. People now, rightly, have a higher expectation that the health service can meet their needs and demands. That is what we have to address.

We will always be faced with the perennial problem of whether we should have a bottomless health budget that allows any medical condition to be treated, irrespective of the cost. That is a philosophical and ethical debate and it will, no doubt, continue for many years. Yes, it is right for us to look at outcomes and not only at maintaining health service jobs, but the demands on the health service are sufficient to justify maintaining the number of medical staff at existing levels.

Anne McLaughlin said that it is wrong to spread unnecessary fear and alarm among staff about their jobs, but I think that she missed a fundamental point about the concerns of health service staff. By and large, health service staff are dedicated to the health service—they are dedicated to their patients and want the best for them. When health service staff express fear and concern, they are talking not only about their own jobs but about the impact that colleagues' job losses have on their ability to deliver the service that they believe they should deliver for patients. Staff are concerned. I am sure that Anne McLaughlin has heard the same comments from medical staff that I have heard. People are worried about their ability to do their job if the cuts impact in the way that is being suggested.

As Ross Finnie rightly said, the debate should not be about only budgets and figures. He said that there was barely a reference to patients in the motion but, understandably, any debate on the NHS is predicated on the amount of money that is available and the number of staff who are required to do the work of our health service.

However, Ross Finnie was right in saying that it is the human story that is important in a debate such as this. I will conclude by raising some of the complaints that I am now hearing in increasing number in my constituency work—and I have no doubt that the situation is replicated elsewhere. All the complaints that I will raise relate to podiatry services, which can at times be dismissed as not being vital but which are critical to the quality of life of many people in our communities, particular the elderly. The first case is that of an elderly
gentleman who had received chiropody treatment at the Royal Alexandria hospital in Paisley. Recently, he had need to contact the podiatry service again but, when he did so, he was told that he would have to wait at least six weeks for an appointment. After telling staff that the nature of his problem meant that he could not wait that length of time, he was told, "You will have to go private then." Is that the answer that we now want to give to elderly people if they can no longer get the service to which they had been accustomed—just go private? Ministers need to reflect on that.

I was contacted by another constituent with diabetes. We all know the significance of the problem that diabetes causes and will continue to cause in Scotland. My constituent used to have his toenails cut every three months, as his mobility was made difficult if the nails were left to curl. He has not had a home visit since October of last year. His carer has tried time and again to make an appointment for him, but she was told, "Well, you can just cut his nails." Are we trying to shift the responsibility on to carers?

The third and final example involves a woman whose mobility was restricted as the result of a broken ankle. She contacted the podiatry service in Paisley only to be told that no home visits were available and given no appointment for a later date. That is the human impact that the cuts are having even before we start to see the consequences of a loss in staff numbers. That is something that the Parliament needs to address.

Speech on Protection for Workers 20 May 2010

2010-06-13T12:37:00.001+01:00

It is hard to imagine that in 21st century Scotland workers are still being assaulted simply for doing their job. Unlike MSPs who, in this Parliament building, have security measures built in almost at every step, the ordinary worker is often left vulnerable to attack and assault. Of course, the recent stabbing of Stephen Timms MP is a reminder that, outside the confines of Parliament, politicians can also be vulnerable.

I recognise that some people in the legal profession would say that the law already takes seriously the issue of assault. Equally, however, I point to the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, which all parties in the Parliament, except the Conservatives, supported, because legislation was required. The act recognised that something more than the existing law was worthy of support to demonstrate to the violent minority that attacks on emergency workers are unacceptable. It also demonstrated to emergency workers that members of the Parliament were prepared to act to give vulnerable workers that bit extra in legal protection.

We were told at the time that the 2005 act was not necessary and yet, by the second year of its existence, 200 charges were proved under it in Scottish courts. If further legislation was not necessary or useful, why were those cases taken to court under that legislation?

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): Is the answer not fairly obvious: that the act replaced the previous common- law aggravation? To that extent, there was a transfer of the figures to the new category of offence.

Hugh Henry: No. It is still the case that prosecutions can be made under the common law. The act is an addition, which is there to be considered as appropriate. I know that the Liberal Democrats accepted that argument and voted for the act at the time.

The new Administration, which was elected in 2007, reflected on the need for such legislation to protect workers who serve the public. The Official Report of the Justice Committee meeting of 15 January 2008 shows that Shona Robison said:

"Okay. Enough time has passed since the legislation came into force to allow us to consider its success and the potential benefits of extending its scope to cover other staff. That is an important point.

I will share some information on the success that has been achieved so far. According to the most recent figures, 1,256 charges have been laid under the 2005 act, of which 1,008 have led to prosecution and, thus far, 594 convictions. A further 218 cases are on-going. Seventy-five per cent of cases that have led to prosecution have resulted in convictions, which is a very high number indeed. I suggest that that shows the success of the act."—[Official Report, Justice Committee, 15 January 2008; c 469.]

As a result of that analysis, ministers extended the 2005 act. They decided to cover other health workers who work in the community, not necessarily always in emergency circumstances. I applaud ministers for taking that decision not to rely on the common law but to use the additional strength that is delivered by the act. Ministers were right at that point to reject the arguments of those who said that existing legislation was enough and that no new powers were needed.

I turn to other workers who serve the public and in doing so render themselves vulnerable to assault. Are they any less worthy of our support? Do the services that they provide mean that they deserve any less protection from the law than those who are covered by the 2005 act?

When a bus driver or a train driver is assaulted, the passengers are put at risk. When services are withdrawn because of violent incidents, whole communities are affected. Those who rely on public transport can be left isolated and vulnerable as a result.

When a postal worker is assaulted and the mail is stolen, scattered or not delivered, there can be significant implications. Families who rely on authorisation for financial payments can be left struggling, businesses can be affected and deadlines can be missed.

When a shop worker has to bear the brunt of an enraged customer's anger, that worker often has no back-up or support readily available. If local stores have to close for security reasons, as has happened, whole communities bear the brunt as a consequence. Often, it is poorer communities and more vulnerable people who are worst affected, because they have no alternatives.

If a shop worker does the right thing and carries out the will of the Parliament in relation to alcohol or tobacco sales, should they not expect the Parliament's support if they are assaulted as a result?

Are child care workers, elderly care workers and social workers any less important than the nurses or midwives who work in the community? It is right to give added protection to a nurse who serves patients in the community, but why not give protection to the child care worker who deals with sensitive cases of child abuse allegations or those who are there to help the frail elderly and are assaulted by whomsoever when doing so? Should they not be given that added legal backing if they are assaulted when carrying out their duties?

The number of assaults against many of those workers is staggeringly high. In 2007-08, the total number of physical assaults against public sector workers was 32,263. That number included 9,121 assaults on local government workers, which represents an increase of 3,000 on the previous year's figures. In 2007, the British retail crime survey report detailed a 50 per cent increase in physical assaults against shop workers compared to 2006. A Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers survey showed that nearly a third of shops reported at least one physical assault against staff in 2007.

Contrast that with the simultaneous reduction in the number of assaults perpetrated against health workers. According to figures produced by Unison in 2007-08, the number of assaults on health workers fell by more than 1,000 from the previous year. It could be suggested that the decline can be attributed to the threat of tougher penalties contained in the 2005 act. The increase in the number of convictions under that act, which I mentioned earlier, has underpinned the tough message that has arguably led to the reductions in assaults.

The success of the act has been recognised not only by ministers of the present Administration but by the trade union movement. The Scottish Trades Union Congress has spoken out clearly about the need for further legislation. I am grateful for the support received from a range of unions: Unite, which represents bus drivers; the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, which represents train drivers but also speaks up for other staff in the train industry and for the travelling public; USDAW, which has been relentless in its campaign for freedom from fear for shop workers and is determined to protect its members; the Communication Workers Union, which worries about postal workers being assaulted in the course of their duties; Unison, which represents care workers, who often work in extremely isolated and vulnerable situations; and the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, the building workers union, whose members often have to carry out emergency repairs and can be assaulted as a result. The unions are determined to do what is right for their members, which is why many union members have taken the opportunity to come to the Scottish Parliament today to demonstrate their support for more legislation.

We sometimes get hung up on statistics, which do not tell the human side of the story. When union officials and shop stewards speak to me about the need for legislation to protect workers, they are talking about protecting ordinary people who have a sense of duty to those whom they serve, and who are not asking for much. A member of USDAW, who works in a store in Portobello, approached someone whom they suspected of shoplifting but never got a chance to speak to the person before being knocked to the ground and rendered unconscious. The worker, who had simply been doing their job, suffered concussion and was off work as a result.

Bus drivers have been assaulted while trying to protect passengers from violent and aggressive passengers. The drivers were trying to protect not the bus or their cash but members of the travelling public. Do such people not deserve additional support? Train drivers and other railway staff constantly have to worry about being approached as they travel through the train. They sometimes have to step in to protect passengers, and there have been a number of cases in which railway staff were assaulted as they sought to protect other people.

Postal workers have been knocked down simply because a person was enraged by the non-arrival of a letter. That is unacceptable. Care workers have to go into frightening situations in which they must deal with people who are enraged by decisions that they have taken. They, too, deserve our support.

There is a compelling imperative to apply the logic of the Parliament's decisions equally and fairly. The Parliament decided that workers who serve the public deserve a level of protection over and above the law as it was in 2005, which is why it passed the 2005 act, whose success has been acknowledged by Shona Robison and which was subsequently extended by ministers.

The time is right to draw on the benefit of our experience and take the next step, by ensuring that all workers who are assaulted while they are serving the public receive the same level of support as we give to emergency workers. That is the least that we can do for the people who work to serve us.

I move,

That the Parliament believes that further measures need to be taken to deter violence against shop workers and other workers delivering a service to the public; notes with concern the finding of the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2008-09 that, of those adults who had jobs involving contact with the general public, 35% had experienced either verbal abuse or physical abuse; recognises that
there has been a 78% increase in violence and abuse against Scottish shop workers over the last three years, according to Retailers Against Crime; welcomes the Freedom from Fear campaign organised by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), which seeks to make shops and shopping areas safer for staff and customers; acknowledges the efforts of the trade union movement as a whole to highlight the continuing problems of violence for those workers with direct contact with the public; recognises that there have been year-on-year increases in prosecutions under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, and believes that the Parliament and the Scottish Government should take further action to ensure that workers can carry out their duties without facing violence or intimidation.

Speecn on Veterans ( Criminal Justice System ) 22 April 2010

2010-06-13T12:34:00.001+01:00

Angela Constance is to be commended for giving the Parliament the opportunity to debate an issue that has been overlooked for far too long. I do not have any direct experience of the negative side—of the criminal implications or of breakdown, which often face people who come from a veterans or services background—but I do have experience of the positive things that can be done to help people who have come through those circumstances.

Angela Constance referred to Erskine. I grew up in the grounds of what was then termed Erskine hospital. My father was a disabled ex-serviceman and obtained one of the cottages there. I lived in what I now realise was a wonderful environment. It was a close-knit community and a very supportive environment, where families flourished and were allowed to get on with their lives.

I saw some positive signs in Erskine hospital—it would now be regarded as a care home—concerning people whose family relationships had broken down. Sometimes people turned to taking a good drink, as it was described at the time—excessive alcohol consumption—and they ended up coming into Erskine hospital. They were supported and helped there.

I saw things that I did not understand as a child—the horrors that wars cause. My father spent nearly four years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. When I was younger, he frequently suffered from malaria, and he relived all the horrors that he had experienced, through nightmares. In those days, there was no talk of post-traumatic stress or psychological support for those who had been through horrendous situations. However, my father benefited from a loving and supportive family and a close-knit community.

In those days, we lived in a totally different world. Even those who were not fortunate enough to benefit from places such as Erskine generally lived in communities where the family was still strong and important, where the community was close and tight knit, and where people looked after their own. Unfortunately, that is often no longer the case. We lived at a time when, although drink might have been a problem, drugs were not, unlike today. Unfortunately, too many young ex-service personnel now succumb to problems with drugs.

I saw the nightmare and stresses that war can cause, and I began to realise the implications for those who try to get on with their lives with no support. As other members have said, we are duty bound to consider our debt and our responsibility to those who have put so much on the line for us.

The key to all this is not to deal with veterans when they get to prison; the key is early intervention to ensure that, when they come out of the armed forces—as Sarah Boyack and James Kelly said—a decent house is available for them, as well as social work and psychological support services. I commend ministers for taking a close interest in matters such as medical facilities.

There is a problem that, fortunately, we are now recognising more and more. It pays us all in the long run to deal with such problems early, in a mature, conscientious fashion, not just from a financial perspective but because we owe it to those who have given so much for us.

Speech introducing the debate on the Freedom from Fear campaign 14 April 2010

2010-06-13T12:32:00.000+01:00

Motion debated,

That the Parliament is shocked and horrified that there has been a 78% increase in violence and abuse against Scottish shop workers over the last three years, according to Retailers Against Crime; believes that further measures need to be taken to deter violence against shop workers and other workers delivering a service to the public; welcomes the Freedom from Fear campaign organised by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), which seeks to make shops and shopping areas safer for staff and customers; recognises that the sale of age-restricted products, especially alcohol, is a frequent flashpoint for verbal abuse, threats and violence against shop workers; further recognises the difficulties that shop workers, including in Paisley South, have in policing age-restricted sales and how that can leave them vulnerable, isolated and under threat of prosecution when mistakes are made; considers that there would be benefit in high-profile campaigns that support the Think 25 policy and highlight to youngsters that it is an offence to attempt to buy alcohol under age, and would welcome a partnership approach to the development of strategies to prevent under-age sales rather than sting operations, which seek to prosecute shop workers.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): Like many others, I take for granted the fact that there should be no abuse or violence at work. People think that should be the norm in a civilised society, but unfortunately that is still not the case for many workers across Scotland, particularly shop workers.

Over the past few years, like many other members of the Scottish Parliament, I have received regular reports of violence against bus workers, train drivers, postal workers, social care staff and, of course, shop workers. Indeed, I have received such reports about many other workers in different occupations in Scotland. That is the main reason for my proposed workers (aggravated offences) Scotland bill. I am grateful to MSPs not only from the Labour Party but from other parties who have supported my proposal, and I look forward to taking the bill on to its next stage. I am also grateful for broad-based support from trade unions in not only highlighting the problems that their members experience but offering practical support in moving forward what is, for them, a very important bill.

Tonight, I will focus on one issue: violence against and abuse of shop workers. In 2002, USDAW, the shop workers union, launched its freedom from fear campaign to highlight the violence and abuse that shop workers throughout the United Kingdom face.

Since then, USDAW has organised annual respect for shop workers events, including events in Scotland. I have been pleased to help to highlight the issue by hosting events here in the Scottish Parliament. One feature of the campaign is that events have secured support from MSPs from all political parties. I know that USDAW is grateful for that broad-based support.

Unfortunately, the problem does not go away. I acknowledge that, since USDAW launched its campaign, there has been a decline in the number of reported incidents, but everything is relative. In 2009, there were still more than 13,000 physical attacks and hundreds of thousands of reported cases of regular verbal abuse across the United Kingdom. That is unacceptable—no worker should have to face such incidents in the course of their employment.

I pay tribute to USDAW for the work that it has done in taking such a determined stance against a problem that is totally unacceptable. John Hannett, the general secretary of USDAW, has led from the front and put his union fully behind the campaign to make a difference. I thank David Williams, the political officer of USDAW, for the work that he has done. He has been a true friend to those in Scotland who have campaigned on the issue. John Scott may not share my view, but I wish David Williams well in his campaign to be elected as the next member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich and look forward to him being at Westminster. Here in Scotland, Lawrence Wason and Stewart Forrest have been vigorous in their work to promote awareness of the problem and to bring it to the attention of the wider public.

Speech in the Scottish Parliament on Double Jeapordy 24 March 2010

2010-06-13T12:29:00.002+01:00

When I began to reflect on the debate, I started with the instinctive view that I would not be happy with anything that gave the state the "unfettered" right, as the cabinet secretary described it, to prosecute and persecute people. It is important that we build into our system safeguards that protect the individual from abuse by the state. It is not right that the police have the right, time and again, to come after someone simply because they cannot get the case right in the first place, nor is it right for prosecutors to come back time and again because they failed, for whatever reason, to get the verdict that they thought was right.

Also after reflection, however, I concluded that it cannot be right for victims and their families to see someone who is palpably and clearly guilty get off scot free when they have, as Bill Aitken and others have suggested, admitted their guilt for whatever reason, or new evidence has emerged that demonstrates beyond all reasonable doubt that they should have been convicted of a serious offence. The balance should shift in favour of victims and their families—and, indeed, the public—so that when it can be clearly demonstrated that evidence now exists in the case of someone who, for whatever reason, was previously acquitted or found not guilty, it should be considered whether to prosecute that person again.

Such an approach cannot be unfettered, as a number of members have suggested. It would not be right simply to have every possible case brought forward. I am not sure that I wish, in this debate, to go into the full list of circumstances that would justify that. Today, we should be debating whether it is right in principle to change the present practice. Then, through the process of consultation that has been outlined by the cabinet secretary, we should give ourselves and others the opportunity to reflect and consider how best the approach can be adopted carefully. We should proceed cautiously and carefully. The last thing that we wish to do is to rush headlong into addressing an injustice in such a way that creates another one in the process. If there is new evidence to demonstrate a case beyond all reasonable doubt—through improvements in DNA techniques, for instance—it should be considered. As I said, I do not wish to go through an exhaustive list of circumstances, but I instinctively agree with Stewart Maxwell that, where serious sexual offences have been committed against children, we cannot close our ears to the cries for justice. I do not think that the Liberal Democrats' proposal to restrict the policy to very specific circumstances is the right one.

We have long-established principles in this country that the law should not be retrospective, but the case has been made that, if someone has previously been convicted, then we have changed the law and the evidence is found to be there, there is an argument for looking at it. I hope that that will be considered sensitively in the consultation process.

Publicity is a difficult issue. Trials can be tainted by publicity. The problem is that the publicity surrounding a first conviction, or rather the lack of a conviction, would almost demonstrate—if we consider the argument against the proposal—that no cases could ever be brought back before the courts. There will inevitably be publicity. Judges will have to consider that carefully, but they are experienced in doing so at present, and publicity in itself should not rule out the opportunity to hold another trial.

Robert Brown: Would Mr Henry nevertheless accept the importance of having no prejudicial publicity emerging from the consideration of a request for retrial? That could foul up the fairness of the retrial.

Hugh Henry: I agree with that point, but the same applies to the first trial. The judge must make it clear to the press and other parties that injudicious comments could prejudice a fair trial, so people should be very careful. Unfortunately, we now live in the kind of society where prurient and sensational headlines and stories appear, and, although they might well sell papers, they do not help the judicial system. The judge will have to take some responsibility for that.

Margo MacDonald: I suggest that that point is now wider than it might have been in the past. We are not talking merely about newspaper files and reproductions of past stories; we are talking about the internet, which is an unfettered opinion outlet. We must therefore consider seriously how public opinion will be influenced.

Hugh Henry: I do not doubt that that is the case, but the same applies to all trials. Such is the scope of the internet that people can read comments that have been made elsewhere about trials taking place in this country. Indeed, if we were to take the argument to its logical conclusion, the scope of the internet would allow very few trials to proceed. Care needs to be taken, and I am sure that it will be.

On the question of who should make the decision and how it should be made, I am attracted to the suggestion that the Lord Advocate should determine issues of serious significance and that a judge should make the final decision. My mind is open on the matter and I hope that more evidence on that will emerge as a result of the consultation.

I support the principles that the cabinet secretary outlined in what I thought was a measured speech. It is right that the Parliament takes steps to change something that I believe to be fundamentally wrong.

Speech in the Scottish Parliament in the debate about Buses 18 March 2010

2010-06-13T12:26:00.001+01:00

How many times over the years have we heard about good ideas, products and innovations that have been developed in Scotland but which have not, unfortunately, come to anything or have been taken on and developed by others elsewhere, who have then benefited from them? It is clear that we are discussing a product that has been designed, developed and delivered in Scotland and which can make a difference not only here but elsewhere. It would be a tragedy if we let that go for whatever reason—as a result of neglect, carelessness or wringing our hands because we think that there is nothing that we can do.

Some of the debate is predicated on the question whether there is a need for investment in buses. Alison McInnes was right to talk about the significant investment that many major bus companies in this country are making. I pay tribute to them. I recently met representatives of Arriva in our area, who explained to me exactly what the company has been doing to develop local bus services. We need to recognise the exceptionally difficult climate in which bus operators are operating. Their margins have been cut, and passenger numbers in some areas are down because of the recession and changed employment patterns. If we are going to ensure the survival of those companies and their investment, it is incumbent on us to do something about that.

Despite the investment by good bus companies, too many buses—certainly across Scotland's central belt—still leave a lot to be desired. We have buses that are not fit for purpose and that, frankly, verge on the dangerous, as well as buses that emit noxious gases at an unacceptably high level. Buses are often not just uncomfortable but unreliable. That is the issue that we should address if, as Charlie Gordon described, we are to have a bus industry and a bus service that are not only fit for purpose but attractive, so that we bring passengers back on to the buses.

Alexander Dennis Ltd produces a cutting-edge product. There is no doubt about the technology and the contribution that it can make. The cabinet secretary was absolutely right to pay tribute not just to the company and its management, but to the workforce for the sacrifices—I use that word advisedly—that it has made. It is a dedicated and skilled workforce that was determined to keep the product and to keep the jobs in the local community. I wonder whether the company would have survived without the sacrifice and commitment of the workforce. I pay tribute to the workers and to their trade union for everything that they have done to give the company an opportunity for the future.

We should ask what we as a Parliament, with our appointed Government ministers, can do to make a difference. John Swinney said that it is a matter for local government. That is correct up to a point, in that it is a matter for local government if that is how we choose to play it. However, it can be a matter for the Parliament and its Government ministers if we and they choose to do something about it.

John Swinney: I hope that Mr Henry will come on to the fact that the Government has made available resources specifically to ensure an uptake of low-carbon buses, through the reconfiguration of the BSOG and through the particular grant that we have made available to Strathclyde partnership for transport.

Hugh Henry: I acknowledge that but, in a sense, it proves my point that the matter is not just one for local government—Government ministers can do something. The question is whether what they have done is sufficient. However, I pay tribute to ministers for what has been done.

One thing that can make a difference is a spend-to-save initiative, which I saw when I was leader of a council. By putting in money up front and encouraging expenditure by various departments, we ensured that they did something more efficiently and effectively and saved money. Some of the measures to which the cabinet secretary referred are in that direction. We can spend to save through Government initiatives that save jobs, reduce running costs and protect our environment.

The question is whether we can unite around not only the motion but the principle of ensuring that Alexander Dennis Ltd and its dedicated workforce have a fighting chance for the future. We should and can do that, for the best.

Speech on Serious and Organised Crime 11 March 2010

2010-06-13T12:24:00.001+01:00

I agree with much of what the cabinet secretary said this afternoon. Indeed, like most members in the chamber, I can endorse much of what he has said since his appointment on issues of serious and organised crime.

When he says, as he did this afternoon, that he is sending out a warning that those who are involved in crime are not untouchable and that their ill-gotten gains will be taken from them, I fully support him. I also fully support the statements made in many Government documents, including that which specifically says:

"Fraud against government reduces the money available to fund services like schools, hospitals and police on the street."

I was, therefore, surprised that when I asked the cabinet secretary whether he would support my call for the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to be used against a convicted fraudster, he said that he could not comment on a specific case as a cabinet minister.

Then, strangely enough, he went on to list specific examples to illustrate his support for the use of the proceeds of crime. Of course, his speech was written before I asked the question, so the cabinet secretary was clearly prepared to endorse specific action against some people. I cannot understand why he is so reluctant to be specific in his support for the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to be used against the individual I asked about. I hope that a letter of comfort from a cabinet secretary colleague would not temper his zeal in ensuring that the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is properly applied.

I share the views that many members have articulated about the complexity and the significance of the threat facing our society from serious and organised crime. Some of the legislation that has been mentioned has been significant and has had a profound and positive impact. However, like any other legislation, we need to be able to develop it as required. We need to learn from our practice and experience and, where improvements can be made, we need to be prepared to make them. That is why I believe that the time is right to ensure that the impact of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the recovery of assets are strengthened. Where there are weaknesses, we should address them radically. We should not hesitate.

In ensuring that we are able to tackle serious and organised crime, it is not enough just to change the legislation if required. We need to be able to invest to ensure that those criminals are tackled. I commend the additional money that the cabinet secretary has mentioned will be invested. We expect that such a problem will continually demand more resources. It is not enough to say that we are spending more than we did a couple of years ago; that should be taken for granted. The question is whether we are prepared centrally to invest what is required. I hope that the cost of some of the advances that the cabinet secretary mentioned, such as the investment in forensic techniques, is being met from central resources and that we are not using money from recovered assets and the proceeds of crime to fund what should be centrally funded from Government and police board resources. We know that many criminals have access to the best accountants, lawyers and equipment. If we are serious in our determination to match them and beat them, we must ensure that the SCDEA and our police forces equally have access to the best resources. We should not hesitate to provide such investment.

We have been blessed with many talented individuals. Graeme Pearson has been mentioned; I knew Gordon Meldrum, the current director of the SCDEA, in his previous post in the police; and there is also Johnny Gwynne. Those are talented, experienced and dedicated officers who are determined to make a difference and that determination should not be thwarted by any internal wrangling in police forces or arguments about the deployment or secondment of resources. The SCDEA needs the full support of every agency and politician in this country to ensure that it does its job to best effect.

I support what has been said about the need to disrupt the organised criminals and about the need to divert resources. I commend the work that has been done through choices for life, the education programme for primary 7 children throughout Scotland. However, one of the last things that I did before I moved from the justice portfolio was ask for an examination of the impact of that programme. Significant amounts of money have been invested in it and it is possibly right to continue with it, but is it having an impact? Are children at that age being deterred from criminality in their teenage years? There should be some tracking to see whether that investment and effort are having the desired effect. I make no criticism—it is a wonderful programme and I have attended its meetings—but we need to examine whether our investment and what we are doing are having the desired effect.

Speech on the Newspaper Industry 28 January 2010

2010-06-13T12:19:00.001+01:00

Karen Whitefield and Cathie Craigie mentioned the double edge of local newspapers, which can certainly be difficult outlets for many politicians. As a public representative for many years, I have been on the receiving end of withering criticism from local and national papers, but that is healthy—it is a fundamental of the democratic process.

Politicians should not seek to use only the outlets that are favourable to them; they need to recognise that local papers play a vital role in keeping the public informed and giving access to information, as Iain Smith and others have said.

Anything that damages that function should be opposed. The change has the potential to be a financial dagger to the heart of many of Scotland's newspapers. The people who will be the beneficiaries will be those in power at the local or national level. The danger is that no one will be left to scrutinise and criticise the decisions that are being made. I will come back to that point.

Ian McKee asked who reads newspapers. I have spoken to my local newspapers on the subject—The Gazette, a weekly newspaper, and the Paisley Daily Express, a campaigning daily newspaper. Anne Dalrymple, the editor of the Paisley Daily Express told me that, over the course of a year, over 60 per cent of local people read her paper—a significant number. Indeed, in any one week, something like 55 per cent of local adults read the Paisley Daily Express.

What would the loss of revenue mean to such local papers? Scottish and Universal Newspapers has estimated that its group could lose up to £1 million. That is equivalent to the annual revenue of the Paisley Daily Express—a staggering and significant amount. Amanda Ramsden, the editor of The Gazette and the Barrhead News said:

"I can say categorically the plans for changing the law to allow Public Information Notices to be advertised electronically in place of newspapers would be a devastating blow to our titles."

The debate is not only about what newspapers and politicians are saying but, as Cathie Craigie indicated, the duty and responsibility that politicians have to the people whom we represent. What are members of the public saying on the subject? To its credit, the Paisley Daily Express took time to go out on the streets and ask.

A woman from Glenburn in my constituency is quoted as saying: "I get all my information from the Express, I read it every day. They've already stopped advertising councillors surgeries in the papers so I had to go down to the library to ask the staff there how I could find out about contacting my councillor".

Renfrewshire Council has stopped advertising councillor surgeries; its councillors are now hiding from their public, which is a disgrace. The paper also quoted Paisley worker Carolan Forbes, who had not heard about the Government plans. She said:

"I think it sounds like a very bad idea ... not everyone has access to the internet or uses the internet."

Gordon Barr from Paisley told the paper that he uses the internet easily but that his parents would struggle if the Government's plans went ahead. He said:

"My parents are both well into their 70s and they don't use the internet at all."

Ian McKee: Mr Henry rightly mentions the importance of consultation. Does he feel that it is wrong for the Scottish Government to consult on whether to end the automatic right for public information notices to be put in the press, when it was asked to do so by COSLA, which represents all local authorities?

Hugh Henry: It is a farce to consult on an issue to which there is such overwhelming opposition.

Another of my constituents, who lives in the west end of Paisley, is quoted in the paper as saying:

"We feel it's the thin end for the wedge. They could push through all sorts of planning things without anyone knowing."

That is the critical issue. As well as the financial blow to local newspapers, a huge democratic issue is involved. Those in power, whether councillors or Government ministers, will take decisions and no one will know what is happening. In essence, the Government case is based on cost savings; little consideration has been given to what many believe should be a fundamental part of the democratic process, which is that the information that legislation requires to be communicated to the public should be targeted to give maximum visibility on a cost-effective basis.

Yesterday, I spoke to a journalist who told me of decisions that are being taken "under the radar". In other words, decisions are being pushed through and no one knows about them. If it were not for local newspapers, how would my constituents, whose children are having their school transport removed, know about the decision? The council did not tell them in advance of its decision. Local newspapers were the only ones to highlight the issue.

Without local newspapers, how could my constituents campaign to save libraries that the council is attempting to close in Elderslie and Johnstone? Those local papers are the only means that people in our communities have of reading about what is going on in the council and of expressing their outrage. The suggestion challenges democracy, which will be under threat if the proposal goes ahead. We need healthy, campaigning and functional newspapers.

Speech on the Literacy Commission 14th. January 2010

2010-06-13T12:17:00.000+01:00

Like others, I welcome the commission's work and its valuable contribution to the development and enhancement of literacy in Scotland and pay tribute to my Labour Party colleagues who commissioned the report.

I know that everyone in the chamber appreciates the significance of literacy—or, perhaps more accurately, the significance of illiteracy. A National Literacy Trust paper by George Dugdale and Christina Clark that eloquently sets out some of the issues refers to a 2002 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which indicated that

"Reading for pleasure has been revealed as the most important indicator of the future success of a child ... and improvements in literacy, at any point in life, can have a profound effect on an individual."

I am sure that we all agree with that analysis.

In their report, George Dugdale and Christina Clark outline the profile of a literate community. In such a community, individuals are far more likely to participate in its work, are more likely to trust its people and are more likely to perceive it to be safer. Such positive aspects can serve only to enhance the quality of life in any community.

The report also sets out the profile of a literate nation. Such a nation is more likely to vote, the significance of which cannot be overstated; is less likely to smoke and drink—and we are aware of the profound significance of such factors; has better mental health; and has a better skilled and more flexible workforce. Some of those issues highlight why tackling the problem of illiteracy should be the number 1 educational priority of this and indeed any Administration. The fact is that every child who leaves primary school should be able to read, write and count.

However, any literacy policy needs to address three key factors: gender; parental input, which Karen Whitefield mentioned and to which I will return; and socioeconomic factors. On gender, we should not dismiss lightly the differences between boys and girls as far as literacy is concerned. We know that boys at any age are less likely to read.

However, although we need to find ways of engaging them more, we should also recognise that boys' books are pitched at a lower level than are books for girls of the same age. With that in mind, I encourage the cabinet secretary to engage with Learning and Teaching Scotland to review the advice that is given on practice so that it reflects available expert opinion.

There is another issue around literacy that we need to encourage, and on which I hope that the Government will also engage with Learning and Teaching Scotland. We need to encourage better and more significant links with the United Kingdom and the rest of the world, so that we articulate our success with some of the initiatives that have been outlined this morning, and so that we learn from best practice elsewhere in the world. We could do some more work on that.

Karen Whitefield mentioned some of the parental input initiatives. Over the years, the contribution made by some of the good sure start projects—I am not saying that every sure start project has been a success—has clearly shown the benefits of more parents getting involved with children at a young age. That has a lasting impact on the child, and indeed continues when that child becomes a parent. As a teacher working in a deprived area, over the years I saw generations of families that were failing because the parents were unable to articulate to their children, and when those children became parents they were unable to help their own children to develop. We were cementing in disadvantage in certain parts of the country, which was tragic for those families, the community and the country.

We need to consider socioeconomic issues. The Dugdale and Clark research looks specifically at impacts on the individual. The profile of a person with poor literacy shows that they are more likely to live in a non-working household; they are less likely to have children, and if they do their children are less likely to be successful; they are more likely to live in overcrowded housing; and they are less likely to vote. If we tackle the problem of illiteracy, such families and individuals are less likely to rely on state benefits and more likely to become home owners. They are more likely to be able to engage productively in the workforce and to be able to use the new technology that is increasingly available in every workplace. We know about the negative results of socioeconomic disadvantage and the positive ways in which literacy can address them. We ignore that at our peril.

Socioeconomic issues demand different types of teaching in different areas. Language development will be different in different communities. We cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach to the problem. Teaching children who traditionally have a small vocabulary needs teacher-intensive phonics and vocabulary building, whereas children who come from more affluent households can go with more child-directed work and develop as a result. I say to the cabinet secretary that we should encourage and allow local authorities to allow individual schools to take the approach that is best suited to the children they teach. We can all sign up to that crusade.

I understand Christina McKelvie's point that we should not be negative about what has been allowed to develop in this country, but the truth is that, despite the best efforts of this and previous Administrations, there is clearly a deep-rooted problem in Scotland. If we do not tackle that problem and double, redouble, and quadruple our efforts, in 20, 30 and 40 years we will be having the same debate and failing the same families from the same areas.

Speech on Getting It Right for Every Child 3rd. December 2009

2010-06-13T12:11:00.001+01:00

There is no doubt that, as is wider civic society in Scotland, all members are committed to the principle of getting it right for every child. It is a principle that is based on common sense, a caring philosophy and understanding. The minister is right to talk of the progress that has been made—progress that all parties, those in the previous Administration and this one, supported. He was also right to point out some of the issues that are essential if getting it right for every child is to be implemented effectively. We need joint leadership, commitment, training and a single planning process.

It is also right to pause and reflect on some of the challenges that face us. It would be wrong to dwell solely on all the positive things that are happening and to be blind to the risks and dangers. I was shocked—as I am sure other members were—to hear the statistics that Duncan McNeil articulated. If nothing else, hearing his encapsulation of the figures, which are in the public domain, should make us pause and question whether Parliament and ministers need to investigate the situation further. We heard the horrendous death toll of vulnerable youngsters in this country. We rightly talk of our shock and horror at deaths from drug addiction and say how committed we are to dealing with the problem, but we seem to say little about those 144 children, the plight of whom Duncan McNeil raised. Perhaps a warning bell should be rung on the issue.

I turn to Angela Constance's speech. As she said, there is never room for complacency. She pointed out that only 12 councils were given excellent reports and also, rightly, that satisfactory was not good enough. She would not accept a satisfactory rating for her child. Like her, I would not accept a satisfactory rating for my grandchildren. I am sure that no member would accept satisfactory for any child who was associated with them.

I repeat what I said in a previous debate on the very point about the HMIE reports that Angela Constance raised:

"If a school were to get a 'satisfactory' report in an HMIE inspection, there would be an inquiry into the school's performance because that would not be good enough. A 'satisfactory' report is barely scraping a pass."

In terms of HMIE definitions, "barely scraping a pass" is essentially a "satisfactory" report. I went on to say:

"I refer to 'The Summary of Indicative Quality Indicator Results from HMIE inspections, 2009', which reveals that out of 30 councils, 16 are barely passing or are failing on the quality indicator that 'Children's needs are met'; 24 are barely scraping a pass or are failing on the 'Recognising and assessing risks and needs' indicator; 17 are barely scraping a pass or are failing on 'Operational planning'; 17 are barely scraping a pass or are failing on 'Leadership and direction'; and 18 are barely scraping a pass or are failing on 'Leadership of change and improvement'."—[Official Report, 24 September 2009; c 19945.]

That is not good enough for our children and should not be good enough for anyone here or anyone who has any influence to do anything about it.

There is still a challenge. Members are right to point to professionals' commitment and to the challenging and difficult job that they do. However, we ignore at our peril the damning indication of weaknesses in our system. If we do that, the figures to which Duncan McNeil referred will continue to grow, which is unacceptable.

We need to look at what is happening as a result of our actions. I refer to Parliament collectively—I am not trying to damn the present Administration, because the problems have existed for a number of years. Collectively, we need to do something to achieve more success. What are we achieving from our political and resource input?

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): In the light of the reassurances that I have repeatedly received in Parliament in response to questions about home visiting, and given the figures that Mary Scanlon cited, I am extremely concerned. Does Hugh Henry agree that there is a strong case for the Government to institute a review of the national health service's provision of home visiting, which seems to be failing? It might even want to ask Audit Scotland to become involved in that review.

Hugh Henry: We are duty bound to review any area of activity in which there is a sign of weakness. Home visiting is critical, because often it can pick up some of the weaknesses and dangers that Duncan McNeil highlighted. I hope that ministers will listen carefully to what Robin Harper has said.

Do we spend enough time listening to our children and young people and to the concerns that they articulate? Often, when I speak to teachers and health workers, I hear stories of young children pouring their hearts out about the circumstances that they face at home because of their parents' addiction to alcohol or drugs. Are we listening to them? Do we sometimes brush them off when their behaviour is a bit aberrant, without understanding what is causing that behaviour?

This comes back to Robin Harper's point: are we spending enough money to ensure that we achieve the desired outcome? The voluntary sector in Scotland—as the statutory services are—is under pressure and struggling. There are cuts and redundancies in many voluntary organisations across Scotland, but we depend on high-quality services to make a difference. As the minister and others have said, we need to improve information sharing and to ensure that our GIRFEC principles are at the heart of any proposed legislation.

My final point relates to our children in care, both those who are looked after in foster care and those who are in residential care. For years, we as a society have failed those children. It is remarkable how some survive and, indeed, thrive, but too many are left vulnerable to homelessness, addiction and prison once they leave care. We need to put that issue back at the heart of our commitment and discussion, in order truly to make a difference for every child in Scotland.

Speech on Alcohol Minimum Pricing 5th. November 2009

2010-06-13T12:09:00.000+01:00

There is no doubt about the need to take effective action to tackle the scourge of alcohol in families and communities throughout Scotland. I do not intend to go into the damaging effects that excessive alcohol consumption can have—they have been spelled out by other speakers and in many articles prior to today's debate. I hope that we can rise above our differences on the subject and come together to take effective action.

Although the cabinet secretary and her colleagues have made a well-intentioned proposal—and I commend them on the vigour that they have introduced to the alcohol debate—as we know, the road to hell is often paved with good intentions. My concern about the debate today is that the SNP has not addressed many of the concerns and criticisms that have been levelled. I am here to be persuaded that minimum pricing would have a positive effect and achieve the desired result, but so far I have heard nothing to persuade me.

We heard today about the legal issues and I do not intend to go into them, but they undoubtedly need to be addressed. We heard of the worry about the damage to the Scottish whisky industry, not just in Scotland but potentially internationally. That needs to be addressed, although it is but one small part of the wider argument about tackling Scotland's significant alcohol-related health problems. Murdo Fraser rightly mentioned some of the damaging products that are available in our communities but would not be hit by a minimum pricing policy. That point needs to be answered.

I encourage the cabinet secretary and her colleagues to reflect on some specific issues. Michael Matheson mentioned cross-border trade and Canada, but there is a difference between what is happening in the Republic of Ireland and Canada. By my estimation, one could near as damn it fly from Glasgow to Toronto as quickly as one could fly from Toronto to Vancouver. Opportunities for short cross-border journeys are not exactly available in Canada. Recently, along with other members from this Parliament, I spoke to politicians from the north of Ireland and the Irish Republic. The TDs who represent border areas in the Republic said that something like over 60 per cent of all alcohol sales in Ireland are now made in the north of Ireland. Although the cabinet secretary and her colleagues might suggest that other shopping is done when people go to the north, it is

Col 20898

nevertheless true alcohol is a major influence on that pattern.

The cabinet secretary, I and others who are well paid, have internet access and credit cards, have the opportunity to go online to do our shopping and have deliveries made from Carlisle to Glasgow. Such facilities are not necessarily available to the poorer in our communities so the policy has a prejudice in favour of the better-off. It would create the opportunity for booze runs to Carlisle, not only for those such as me with the means to do that, load up the car and have a day out. It would also create opportunities for those with white vans who sell tobacco illegally in our communities to load up and return to sell the alcohol along with the tobacco. Many such people are also associated with the drugs trade, so we should worry that what we do has the potential to reinforce criminality. We should also worry about the impact on Scottish retailers.

My final point is that the proposed policy will not put a penny towards paying for extra health or addiction services or putting extra police on our streets. Although I favour using pricing to limit the consumption of alcohol, in a country such as the United Kingdom it should be done on a consistent basis whereby there are no anomalies, it is done through taxation and the revenue is invested in the facilities and services that we need.

Even at this late stage, I appeal for consensus. This debate shows the best and the worst of the Scottish Parliament. It shows the best in that we can address fundamentally important issues; it shows the worst in that we take up entrenched positions and will not reach out to achieve consensus on a matter that vitally needs it.

Iain Gray on the Scottish Budget September 2009

2009-09-20T09:45:00.002+01:00

Insulin pump Therapy : Scottish Parliament speech, 3rd. September 2009

2009-09-09T09:26:00.001+01:00

I congratulate David Stewart on continuing to bring to our attention an issue that is of great significance to far too many people throughout Scotland.

Let me welcome a number of the campaigners who are in the public gallery tonight. They include Fiona Campbell, who is from my constituency. Unfortunately, Dorothy Farquharson from my constituency, who had intended to be present, is unable to be here due to illness. The other campaigners from the west of Scotland include Martyn Cross from Barrhead—in Ken Macintosh's constituency—who is a young beneficiary of insulin pumps.

I must gently chide David Stewart on his pronunciation. In comparing where insulin pumps are available, he said that they are available in Hawaii but not in Highland, and in Houston but not in Highland. I think he meant Houston, Texas, because, as his figures showed, people who live in Houston, Renfrewshire, do not have the same access to insulin pumps, which, as Ross Finnie, Mary Scanlon, Karen Whitefield and others have said, is an absolute disgrace.

In the conversation that I had with the campaigners this afternoon, I was struck by the difference that appropriate access to insulin pumps has made to people's quality of life. Ross Finnie is right—they are not for everyone—but when they are for someone, they can make a huge difference. Fiona Campbell described to me what a huge difference having a pump has made to her—I hope that she does not mind me using her case as an example. For 20-odd years, she had to go into hospital every two to three weeks because of issues to do with her diabetes, but since she has had access to a pump she has had weeks and months when that has not been an issue.

Leaving aside the human benefit to Fiona, if the cost benefit that is associated with that relief were repeated, the benefit to the health service would be huge. It is true that an up-front investment of £2,500 to £2,700 per pump is required, but the long-term benefits to the health service are incalculable, as is the difference that use of a pump can make to the quality of life of the people concerned. The case has been made for those to whom a pump is available.

One thing about this afternoon's conversation that disturbed me is the uncertainty that still exists among clinicians. Fiona was told that it would be dangerous for her to have a pump but, now that she has used a pump on a trial basis, she has been told that it would be dangerous for her to come off it. It is clear that there is an issue for politicians and health boards to address, but that inconsistency of approach suggests that there is also an issue for clinicians.

Fundamentally, what we are looking for, as Mary Scanlon said, is a commitment to progress. The warm words of a year to 15 months ago are appreciated, but now it is time for delivery. The minister and the cabinet secretary should use their undoubted influence so that progress on the matter can be made right across Scotland.

Iain Gray's video diary

2009-06-20T10:31:00.000+01:00

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Iain Gray launches petition on knife crime

2009-05-25T14:54:00.000+01:00

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Iain Gray : Standing Up for Glasgow

2009-05-25T14:53:00.001+01:00

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Scottish Parliament speech on Supporting Employment

2009-05-25T14:46:00.001+01:00

21 May 2009

Derek Brownlee echoed John Park's comments about the human costs of redundancy.
It is right that the effect on ordinary people should be the main focus of attention in the debate.
The comments of Duncan McNeil and James Kelly concerned me.
If workers are made redundant anywhere in Scotland, they deserve the full attention of politicians, and specifically ministers, irrespective of where the companies are and who the workers' local representatives are.
I hope that ministers are not being partial in their response to redundancies, as some of the evidence that I have seen suggests.
It would be fundamentally wrong if workers who are made redundant had to pay a price for political infighting in the Parliament.
I understand that, inevitably, ministers will support members from their party on local initiatives—that is the nature of politics and I do not criticise them for it
However, no worker in the country should have a delayed response from ministers simply because they live in one area rather than another.
I hope that ministers will reflect on those comments.
Let us not have a stushie; let us just reflect on the issue and possibly change attitudes and future behaviour.

Jim Mather: Does the member acknowledge that, as part and parcel of fulfilling our responsibilities, since way back last May, we have been going round the country, running 96 sessions and talking to 5,000 people at community and industry levels? We are trying proactively to make Scotland's economy better and more effective. Will the member reflect on that?

Hugh Henry: I will reflect on that but, equally, Jim Mather needs to reflect on the criticisms from Greenock, Cambuslang, East Kilbride and other areas where there have been delays in responses from ministers.
That is unacceptable and the minister must address it.
We must plan and prepare for our future and we need to invest in our young people.
I am concerned that, in Renfrewshire in the past year, 30 apprentices have been made redundant, of whom 21 are still looking for alternatives.
The main source of apprenticeships in the construction industry has dried up.
Large companies are now often contract managers and brokers, so they subcontract rather than employ.
Therefore, we need to support small companies that can provide apprenticeships for young people.
I am thinking of companies such as MPS Training in Johnstone in my constituency, which is run by Willie Cosh. Such companies often offer young people varied and stimulating training and learning experiences that are better all round.
If we invest in those companies now, we will be paid a handsome dividend in the future.
Several members have mentioned ConstructionSkills in Scotland.
I do not want to be particularly critical of it, but we need to have an open mind, be objective and ask hard questions about its performance
Is it helping small companies?
Do they feel that it is of value?
Let us be open minded and objective in coming up with answers on what we can do and, more significantly, what we can do better.
I pay compliments to colleges throughout Scotland for their role in tackling the problem.
For example, Reid Kerr College in Paisley has an outstanding record of helping young people into training and employment. I give particular credit to the college's built environment department.
Colleges can make a difference, so we must invest in them.
Packages of employment and training need to be made available and we need partnerships that can work together closely.
We need partnerships between the private and public sectors and between schools and colleges.
ConstructionSkills in Scotland should be the facilitator for such an approach, but at this juncture, I worry whether it can do that job.
I worry that rather than preparing young people for the construction industry as it exists today, it is continuing to prepare young people for the construction industry in a world that no longer exists and in social circumstances that have moved on.
That should be a wake-up call and a challenge to us all.

Iain Gray video diary 8th. May 2009

2009-05-08T14:31:00.001+01:00

Iain Gray : Devolution 10 years on

2009-05-02T16:29:00.002+01:00

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Iain Gray video diary 24 April 2009

2009-04-25T13:54:00.001+01:00

Iain Gray video diary 9th. April 2009

2009-04-16T11:48:00.001+01:00

Anti-Social Behaviour : Scottish Parliament speech 2 April 2009

2009-04-09T07:58:00.002+01:00

There was much in what Michael Matheson said with which I can agree.
It certainly would be naive to try to legislate away the problem and I do not think for a moment that anyone was suggesting that we should.
He is right to say that we should learn from the experience of implementing the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 and, where it is found wanting, strengthen and develop it.
That is how we should approach all legislation—building on reason and experience and improving where necessary. Nobody in the Parliament would suggest that because something had been passed a few years ago, it should remain sacrosanct for ever and a day.
I agreed with much of what the minister said.
Yes, prevention is certainly preferable to taking action.
We would all agree that resolving a problem by cutting it out is much better than trying to resolve it once lives have been affected or blighted.
I agree with him that we should not judge success on the basis of ASBO numbers, vehicle seizures or anything else; we should judge success on outcomes and the impact of legislation and preventive measures.
I was pleased that the minister pointed to many of the initiatives that were started by the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats in the previous Administration.
Those initiatives are proving to be worthy and could be developed even further.
He spoke about giving early support to families to promote good parenting skills, which is exactly what sure start and other initiatives were intended to do.
He spoke about the twilight basketball initiative, which was started previously.
I was involved personally with many of the initiatives involving the Scottish Rocks basketball team.
We could also refer to the twilight football leagues that operate throughout Scotland with the involvement of local police and the support of the Bank of Scotland.
Prevention has always been at the heart of what we have tried to do—trying to stop a problem before it starts or, where we identify a problem, resolve it through good commonsense, effective measures.
However, Paul Martin and others are right to say that, although we are trying to prevent problems from developing, where one has already developed beyond what it is reasonable to accept, it is right that we take action to deal with it. I was pleased to see that the document recognised that
"The tools provided by the 2004 Act have clearly made a difference to the lives of people across Scotland: they empowered local agencies and communities to take a stand against ASB and provided those who had suffered in silence for too long with some much-needed respite."
That was at the heart of the 2004 act and it should be at the heart of anything that we attempt to do now.
Without suggesting for a moment that we are looking only at numbers, I think that we cannot close our eyes to the fact that measures have been taken over several years throughout Scotland in council areas run by different political parties, which have seen the local value of what is on offer.
For example, in 2007-08, Aberdeen City Council saw the need to effect 30 adult ASBOs and there were 18 in Edinburgh, 33 in Fife, 13 in Stirling, and 14 in West Lothian
Those councils recognised that other measures had failed in their areas and that it was therefore right to use the tools available.
Michael Matheson rightly mentioned issues to do with vehicle seizures.
If measures to close premises are to be strengthened and improved, I would welcome it.
My constituents and I find it frustrating that many people in our part of Strathclyde put up with month after month of intolerable abuse.
For whatever reason, the police are not willing to use closure orders, despite the fact that such orders have been shown to be effective elsewhere.
I remember visiting a block of high flats in Aberdeen when I was a minister.
The residents told me that they had been queueing up to get out because of the behaviour of one bad tenant. However, because the police applied for, and received, a closure order leading to that individual being removed, the residents' lives were transformed and they were proud and happy to stay where they were.
That one individual ruining their lives had been the only reason why they had wanted to get out.
We should not close our eyes to the positive impact that enforcement can have when we use the powers at our disposal, and we should not tolerate professionals, in whatever agency, who are not prepared to use their powers to improve the quality of life of the people whom we represent. Paul Martin raised another relevant issue.
Many of the professionals, and many politicians, do not live in the areas that are worst affected by antisocial behaviour.
We should not accept or tolerate behaviour in the areas where the people whom we represent live if we would not accept or tolerate it in the areas where we live ourselves.
There has to be a balance between enforcement and prevention, but let us not turn our backs on the people whose lives are blighted.

Iain Gray's video diary 2nd. April 2009

2009-04-07T12:28:00.000+01:00

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Iain Gray's video diary 27.03.09

2009-03-28T09:07:00.001Z

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Scottish Parliament speech - Alcohol Strategy 26th. March 2009

2009-03-27T09:51:00.002Z

There is no doubt that we are facing a serious problem in this country.
This morning's Audit Scotland report highlights some of the significant issues.
I congratulate the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on the way in which he has raised the temperature in the debate.
I understand why he has done that.
We had to have a debate and we must confront serious problems.
I am also pleased that ministers' emphasis has shifted towards the health problem, to some extent.
Although Bill Aitken is absolutely right that the alcohol-related behaviour of a minority of people in this country causes problems and it is right that we use enforcement and preventive measures with justice-related powers and responsibilities, he did not dwell significantly on the fact that the health of too many people is beginning to suffer because of the hidden consumption of alcohol at home, which is perhaps not so hidden on a night out.
We have to realise that many people who do not necessarily pose problems with antisocial behaviour and crime, or who might not regard themselves as problem drinkers, have a growing problem with alcohol.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing documented well some of the significant impacts that such a problem is having.
Bold measures are absolutely necessary—Robert Brown was right to point out the distinction between justice and health, in terms of the language that is used—and Kenny MacAskill was right to raise the debate in the way that he did, but in a Parliament of minorities, it is not enough to talk about agreement and consensus; we need to deliver it.
To be frank, there is no party-political advantage to be gained on this matter, and no party-political argument should be advanced to score points over one party at the expense of another; we are in this together.
Nicola Sturgeon is right that, as politicians, we should take the lead on the issue.
Sometimes there is a question about whether we attempt to lead public opinion, but we cannot do that by trying to ram ideas down the throats of other parties in this Parliament of minorities.
On alcohol policy, above all others, we need a cross-party approach.
We should be looking back to some of the historic work that was done by Strathclyde Regional Council, for example, and the officer/member working group reports on which all parties came together to make bold, imaginative and radical suggestions to advance social policy.
If either of the cabinet secretaries here today wants to be bold, the bold measure on alcohol policy is to implement a mechanism whereby all parties can come together to work on the issue and come up with some agreement.
The last thing that we need in trying to deal with the alcohol problem is parties trying to score points against one another or fraying at the edges as the argument develops.
If we cannot work out together a solution to the problem, the present generation of Scots will suffer and future generations will continue to suffer.
We are dealing with too big an issue for us to revert to our party-political dogma and political bunkers.
I appeal to the cabinet secretaries to reach out to other parties and I appeal to other parties to approach the problem in the way that it demands—to rise above our political perspectives and come together to work out a solution that will have a lasting effect.
It might require radical and bold solutions, but the problem needs that type of approach.
For once, can we not do the right thing in this Parliament?

Iain Gray's video diary 20.3.09

2009-03-26T07:16:00.008Z

Iain Gray : video diary

2009-03-18T12:26:00.003Z

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Iain Gray : Working for Scotland

2009-03-10T20:51:00.000Z

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Scottish Labour Party conference , Dundee, 6th.- 8th. March

2009-03-04T10:38:00.002Z

Scottish Labour party conference guide : http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/conference2009

Dundee Labour conference website : http://www.dundeelabour.com

Hugh with members of UNITE

2009-01-23T11:06:00.002Z

Hugh with MSPs Cathy Jamieson and Karen Whitefield and UNITE members.

Hugh intends to introduce a Bill in the Scottish Parliament to give stronger legal protection to those who face violence at work.

View a larger version of the photograph >>>

Paisely Daily Express article 21 January '09

2009-01-23T10:39:00.002Z

Paisley Daily Express Article 21 Jan 09

Electric Shock Training

Some people think the way to train a dog is to inflict pain on it.

Gratuitous cruelty to animals is a crime and rightly so.

But for some reason inflicting pain on a dog by means of an electric shock collar is not a crime.

Animal welfare organisations have been campaigning hard to have these collars banned.

They point out there are other effective ways of training a dog without giving it a painful electric shock.

So it was disappointing and baffling to find that SNP Ministers had decided not to outlaw electric shock collars.

Just why Ministers took this decision I do not know.

I hope animal lovers everywhere will lobby all MSP's to help put pressure on the SNP to have a change of heart.

If you want copies of my petition to ban the use of this cruel device, call my office on 0141 848 7361.

End of an Era

Next Saturday marks the start of a new era for St. Mirren.

The club's association with Love Street was a long one and the move is a range for many people
I saw a number of people in tears at the last home match against Motherwell.

Many have fond memories of the old ground.

I remember as a boy cadging a lift in the Red Cross van from Erskine Hospital with half a crown for entry in my pocket.

But times move on.

The deal to move was just too good to turn down and the club has a fantastic new home.

The board has done a great job, ensuring St. Mirren is one of the best run clubs in the country.

And of course the team is also doing a fantastic job, battling hard in a very competitive group in the lower half of the SPL.

I wish everyone associated with St. Mirren the best of luck for a successful future in their new stadium.

web link : http://www.saintmirren.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home

Violence against workers

The Paisley Daily Express has printed a number of stories about my campaigns with trade unions to highlight assaults on workers.

In particular transport workers and shop workers can be vulnerable to attack by violent and aggressive members of the public.

It is wrong that those who provide a service for the public should be exposed to such danger.

That's why I intend to introduce a Bill in the Scottish Parliament to give better legal protection to those who face violence at work.

We have already given extra protection to emergency workers.

Now it's time to protect other workers who serve the public.

Banking Crisis

We were constantly told that the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland were shining examples to the rest of the world.

Apparently the success of these Scottish institutions was proof that such Scottish entrepreneurship could guarantee the success of independence.

And we were told that these private sector "success" stories were proof of how much better the private sector could perform compared to publicly owned organisations.

How wrong were we?

Not only were the bankers ripping us off while paying themselves huge bonuses, but they were also putting the whole economy and our well-being at risk.

The casualties are mounting up and as ever it is ordinary folk who are bearing the brunt.

Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are working flat out to combat the worst effects of this crisis.

Yet another financial package has been announced this time to encourage banks to lend to individuals and businesses.

We (the public) now effectively own the major banks.

Why don't we go the whole hog and take them into public ownership with proper scrutiny and accountability.

And if there is any money to be made, it should benefit the public, not the greedy bankers who caused the problem.

Worst funded Council in Scotland

For the second year in a row, Renfrewshire Council is the worst funded council in Scotland.

That's right.

Alex Salmond and the SNP ministers have rewarded our local SNP run council with the lowest financial settlement for any council in the country.

And what have SNP councillors locally had to say about this?

Not a word.

They are too busy cutting services and criticising everyone else, but they have nothing to say about Alex Salmond.

It's time for councillors of ALL parties to come together to demand Alex Salmond thinks again and gives Renfrewshire Council more money.

Barack Obama's inauguration speech

2009-01-21T08:20:00.002Z

Watch Barack Obama's inauguration speech on CNN Video >>>

Hugh Henry on Palliative Care Services

2009-01-17T09:41:00.003Z

Hugh Henry interviewed on the review of palliative care services >>

Iain Gray's New Year Message

2008-12-31T11:27:00.002Z

Read Iain Gray's New Year Message >

Iain Gray's message at Christmas

2008-12-30T12:38:00.000Z

24 December 2008

IAIN GRAY'S MESSAGE AT CHRISTMAS

On my first Christmas as leader of Labour in the Scottish Parliament and I would like to wish all Scots a Merry Christmas.

The season of goodwill is not only a time for family and friends.
It is also a time to look out for those less fortunate: the poor, the sick, the elderly, the homeless and people with disabilities.

But this is something we, as politicians, must concentrate on every day of year.

Labour's core values focus on exactly this.
We believe in working together for a caring, fair society where we look out for each other, protect the vulnerable, work towards ending child poverty and give a hand up to those who need it.

Labour is about protecting public services that ensure we have a first-class health service free at the point of use, where education is always a priority and the economy is secure and stable so business can operate successfully.

However this Christmas many of us may be facing the New Year with some apprehension.
The events of the last few months have had a global impact.

Labour has not stood by.
We have taken decisive action.
We stepped in to save Scottish financial sector by investing £37bn in banks.
Another £2bn has been put into the pockets and purses of Scots to stimulate the Scottish economy. Interest rates and VAT have been cut and protection put in place for those with mortgage difficulties.

Most people appreciate we are all in this together.
Labour has played its part and will continue to do so to protect jobs and services.

There are tough times ahead but with right spirit, right attitude and right policies we can get through 2009 together.

Meanwhile a special thanks from all of us should go to the unsung heroes over the Festive Season.
Those who will keep our hospitals, ambulance and fire services running and will be policing our streets.
True public servants, working hard to ensure a safe and happy Christmas for us all.

Local Government Financial Settlement 2009-10 Speech in the Scottish Parliament 11 December 2008

2008-12-20T14:40:00.001Z

In his statement, the cabinet secretary said that the substantial increase in funding that he said he was providing would allow councils to sustain the essential services that they provide to communities and would enable them to improve the fabric of education.

However, let us look at the reality of the situation and examine what has been happening in Renfrewshire, under the SNP-led council, which is supported by the Liberal Democrats—Jeremy Purvis might want to caution his colleagues about that, as the party's increased popularity in the past four or five years is being jeopardised in Renfrewshire as a result.

What is happening in Renfrewshire?

The education budget is being cut by £4.5 million.

The delegated budget to every secondary and primary school is being cut.

Many schools are finding it hard to afford to photocopy materials and buy paper, pens and pencils.

That is the reality of the cabinet secretary's claim to be enabling councils to improve the fabric of education.

The council is closing South primary school, which had an excellent report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, to save less than £200,000 a year—yet the same council has found £312,000 to boost, over and above the normal inflationary increases for staff, the salaries of senior officers.

It is closing six nursery schools—every nursery school in Renfrewshire will be closed—and it is reducing the qualified teacher input to the children in those schools.

Peripatetic teachers will go into early years establishments—the children might see one every four or five weeks if they are lucky.

There have been cuts in primary school staffing in 2007-08 and 2008-09, as a result of which numbers are down by 3.2 per cent—that is the reality of the Government's claim that it is improving the fabric of education.

Experienced primary and secondary teachers are being forced out of the door in early retirement, which will involve the council finding the money from other local government funds to pay for those additional costs for years to come in order to sustain a perverted and distorted view of education.

Probationary teachers were mentioned earlier today, when Alex Salmond asked pertinently why some local authorities are finding jobs for probationary teachers at the end of their probation but others are not.

I urge him and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to ask that specific question in Renfrewshire: why has the council employed none of the 172 teachers who completed their probationary year?

Proportionately, Renfrewshire has one of the highest numbers of probationary teachers of any authority in Scotland at the same time as the council is getting rid of experienced teachers in primary and secondary schools.

There is a suspicion that Renfrewshire Council is using probationary teachers as a means of employing teachers on the cheap to cover up the cuts that it is making elsewhere.

I will move on from education to other vital services in Renfrewshire.

The council has reduced the warden services in sheltered homes, and it is increasing the charges for those services

It has closed four libraries: Gallowhill, Todholm, Elderslie and Bargarran, some of which had far higher usage than other libraries that were left open. It has closed five neighbourhood housing offices; increased the charges for swimming lessons for children; cut the park ranger services; closed the Apex community centre in Ferguslie Park; and cut the number of available hours for museum and observatory services.

At question time, we heard from Michael Russell and Richard Lochhead about the need for recycling, but Renfrewshire Council has withdrawn funding from recycling.

Tragically, and worst of all, day centres for the disabled are to close in Renfrewshire.

The cabinet secretary and others talk about the funding settlement, and Alex Salmond talks regularly about local government having more money than ever before, but the reality is that, even before this year's settlement, Renfrewshire Council has been slashing services across the board.

It has been reducing the quality of the services that are available to council tax payers in Renfrewshire—and that is before next year's budget cuts, which threaten to be even worse, start to become a reality.

It is no wonder that, for the first time in its history, the Educational Institute of Scotland's Renfrewshire branch passed a motion of no confidence in the present council leadership.

That is the reality of this budget and last year's budget. God help people across Renfrewshire if the Government is allowed to continue on this course unchallenged.

2008-12-08T11:39:00.005Z

View Standing Up for Britain

2008-12-08T11:39:00.001Z

Scottish Labour video : A Fairer Scotland

2008-12-08T11:33:00.003Z

View A Fairer Scotland

Looked-after children : Speech in the Scottish Parliament 20 November 2008

2008-11-27T16:13:00.001Z

I join Robert Brown and others in praising the work that social workers do, often in difficult circumstances.
Ian McKee is right to talk about the complexities of their work and the difficult decisions that they make.
Often, we do not dwell on the good, correct decisions that are made, because we take them for granted, but tragically we have to confront the wrong and bad decisions that are made, and that is often done only with the benefit of hindsight.
Having been friendly with many social workers for many years, I know how difficult decisions can be, and I know the dilemmas that they face and the pressures under which they work.
No one should underestimate the work that social workers do or the complexity of the decisions that they make.
We can agree about much of what has been said in the debate.
I agree with Adam Ingram when he says that what we have is a national disgrace.
He is right—the judgment is damning, and not just for the current Administration.
The same applies to previous Administrations, including the one of which I was a part.
Collectively, we have failed looked-after children over many years, and local authorities, collectively and individually, have also done so.
Sometimes, we get into the trivia of wanting instant responses to everything, but we cannot make simple judgments about many children, given their complex lifestyles.
As has been said, we want to avoid taking some children into care.
Instead, we should do whatever we can to keep them with their family.
However, as recent reports have shown, some children need to be removed from their family for their own sake and their own protection.
Richard Simpson is right to point out the complexities that drugs and alcohol bring to the equation.
As the Minister for Children and Early Years said, we can undoubtedly point to some successes.
Some children have gone on to lead hugely productive and rewarding lives, but I wonder how much of that we can put down to the system and how much of it is to do with the individual and what they have achieved despite everything that they have had to confront.
In passing, however, like Richard Simpson, I note that the families with which they are placed make an enormous and beneficial contribution to their development. We should thank those families for that.
On the one hand, the debate is encouraging, because of the consensus and shared values that we have, but on the other it is profoundly depressing.
I suggest that we all—including me—have a degree of complacency on the issue.
I address the following words in particular to the minister.
I worry that complacency can turn to negligence if we are not careful. In effect, we are neglecting looked-after children. Offering warm words, as we have all done this morning, is complacent. We need much more than warm words.
Ian McKee said that we do not want to get into a squabble about budgets, but if social workers are not properly resourced at the local level, they are unable to make the decisions that children need.
As politicians, we cannot turn away from that.
We are guilty if we simply exhort social workers to take on better practice and say, "It doesn't matter about the budgets. We're not going to squabble about that."
We need to confront that.
We need to take action.
Whether ministers and the Scottish Parliament should take action through legislation or just through policy development is a matter for debate, but action is needed.
I ask the minister to consider the results of previous work and reports.
If he cannot do so in today's debate, I ask him to respond to me in writing.
One reason why I am depressed about the situation is because, when I look back to the words that Peter Peacock and I said as ministers, and compare them with what Adam Ingram is saying, I find that we are not moving forward.
In 2007, I said:
"Too many of our most vulnerable young people are not fulfilling their potential ... This is a problem that needs care and attention from everyone ... We must increase the possibilities".
We can go on with the warm words, but what has happened—

The Minister for Schools and Skills (Maureen Watt): Will the member take an intervention?

Hugh Henry: Can I just finish, minister?
There is a specific point that I want to make.
What happened to the commitment, which was made publicly on behalf of us all, that the Scottish Cabinet would get regular reports?
How many times since 2007 has the Cabinet been given a report on how looked-after children perform at school?
What has the national champion that was suggested been doing, if indeed they have been doing anything?
What have we done specifically to remind councils of their role and responsibilities as corporate parents?
What have we done to improve training for teachers and other professionals, as we committed to do?
Can the minister give me details of the guidance that key workers have been given on their role in supporting young people?
It is all very well to say that we want councils such as Inverclyde Council to be emulated—every council should have a champion—but we need not an exhortation but an insistence that that happens.
Indeed, we should set an example by having a Cabinet of champions.
Not just the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning—who, unfortunately, is not here—but every member of the Cabinet should be responsible for making sure that a certain number of authorities do their job.
If we do not give a lead, how can we expect others to follow?
As Adam Ingram said, the issue is a national disgrace.
It has gone on too long, and we are all part of it.
We need to finish with the warm words and commit ourselves to effective action.

British-Irish Council speech in the Scottish Parliament 29 October 2008

2008-10-30T14:27:00.001Z

The Scottish diaspora and the homecoming have been mentioned, and there is no doubt that the homecoming will be significant.

We take great pride in the number of people who identify with their Scottish ancestry and with Scottish history although they were born elsewhere—indeed, some of those people, such as Rod Stewart, identify themselves as Scots.

We take great pride in that, so it is sad that there are still some people in this country who condemn others in this country as traitors for aligning themselves with the Irish diaspora.

We have some way to go to face up to problems that are being addressed as part of the British-Irish Council process and the Good Friday agreement process.

Margo MacDonald said that the British-Irish Council sounds like a political talking shop, and I am sure that many members of the public are wondering why we are spending half a day discussing it.

However, Ted Brocklebank and Jamie Stone put the issue in its proper perspective.
Jamie Stone talked about the north of Ireland.

I do not know whether members watched the television programme last night that was presented by Eamonn Holmes, who was born and brought up in Northern Ireland.

He talked to people who grew up in Northern Ireland and went on to make it big in show business and television about what it meant to grow up in such an atmosphere.

He drew a sharp contrast between what it was like to be young in Northern Ireland in the past and what it is like in the current environment, in the absence of fear, guns and intimidation.

A product of the Good Friday agreement of 10 years ago that we should celebrate is that people in these isles can grow up in a much safer and more secure environment than the one in which previous generations grew up.

However, the process has not finished.

Last night's television programme, which showed the peace wall in Belfast, demonstrated that communities are still divided and that fear and suspicion remain.

There are still people who do not talk to one another.

There is a legacy of the suspicion of sectarianism, which we have sometimes seen in this country and which we must deal with here.

We should use the product of the peace process—the Good Friday agreement— to reinforce the benefits that we in this country can gain from it and we should try to consolidate the gains that have been made in Northern Ireland.

Ted Brocklebank was right to talk about our shared history.

He talked about the contribution that migrant workers made in Scotland and the contribution that Scots and Irish people made elsewhere in the world.

We have shared experience and knowledge of the consequences of migration here and in Ireland.
Is it not better to discuss the issues together than to allow some of our communities to inflict violence and mayhem on others?

Margo MacDonald: I agree with much of what Hugh Henry said. However, does he include in the lessons that we can learn from one another the lessons on multiculturalism that might be learned by Irish people, who are perhaps just that bit behind us? I set my question in the context of the homecoming. We share with the Irish a diaspora that includes many people with dark skin, who are the descendants of slaves in the southern United States and the West Indies. Those people are part of our diaspora, too.

Hugh Henry: I would not want to suggest that the Irish are behind us in multiculturalism, although they have perhaps come to some of the issues of inward migration later than we did.

The British-Irish Council allows us to share knowledge, experience and best practice.

As a minister, I was involved in some discussions on the problems inflicted by illegal drugs on all our societies, including Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man—places that members might not immediately think of as experiencing problems with drug abuse.

We can pass on to them some of the experience that we have gained.

Indeed, we can show some of the other Administrations that we are ahead of the game in many issues, but we can also be big enough to accept that there are things that they have done before us—recovered assets in the Irish Republic, for example—from which we can benefit.

Unfortunately, procedural issues need to be addressed as part of the sharing of experience.

I hope that the cabinet secretary can give us some further information on the working relationship between the BIC and the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and on whether there will be a permanently staffed secretariat.

If we can contribute anything to making the body work better, we will all gain from it.

Aileen Campbell is right: 10 years of shared practice has been significant.

The Labour Government at Westminster took a courageous step, not just in devolving power in the United Kingdom but, carrying on from the previous Government, in engaging in the peace process in Northern Ireland.

We are living with both the consequences and the opportunities that those courageous decisions have brought.

Although, as Margo MacDonald suggested, the British-Irish Council sounds like a political talking shop, the fact that we can point to stability and security in Northern Ireland, the like of which has not been known for generations, certainly makes that political talking shop worth while.

Speech on Funding Community Sport 25th. September 2008 Scottish Parliament

2008-09-26T13:43:00.001+01:00

This debate gives some of us an opportunity to advance a powerful, unified and telling message about the contribution that lottery funding can make in Scotland, not only to sport but to quality of life.

For other members, it is an opportunity to nitpick, score points and be negative.

That is a price worth paying if, at the end of the debate, the Parliament can send a strong and powerful message that the lottery will make a difference in Scotland.

Margo MacDonald has been tireless in her efforts to promote the links between education, better health and sporting activity.

We know that intervention and participation in sport at a young age can make a real difference to what young people achieve in their education, the quality of their life and their health.

We should view the opportunity that the Commonwealth games brings to Scotland in that context.

Jamie McGrigor was right to raise the lack of development of facilities in our new schools.

Those are once-in-a-generation opportunities to make a difference to a local community.

We need to be more thoughtful about how we plan our investment and the range of facilities that we deliver, because they can make a difference to local communities, particularly in more isolated areas of Scotland.

Ross Finnie was right to talk about realistic objectives, and to consider not only what the Commonwealth games brings to Scotland in terms of structural regeneration.

Frank McAveety was right to speak about what the Commonwealth games can bring to Glasgow, and the east end in particular.

My family is from the east end of Glasgow—many still live there and, as people who know me will testify, I am a regular visitor to that part of the city.

It breaks my heart to see what has happened there over generations: the deprivation, the poverty, the drug addiction, the alcohol abuse and the physical decline in the area.

However, there is still pride and hope there, and many people in the area look forward to what the Commonwealth games will do to bring their quality of life up to the standard that others in Scotland currently take for granted.

We should not just assume that we are starting with a blank canvas.

I give credit to what Glasgow City Council has done—and is doing—to make a difference in the city, through regeneration projects and building new schools.

There is imagination there about capturing the opportunity that the Commonwealth games bring.

We should aid and assist Glasgow in every way that we can.

What happens in the east end of Glasgow will spill out into the rest of the city, and to the surrounding areas.

The people from the constituency that I represent will go to Glasgow to use the cultural and sporting facilities in which Glasgow City Council has invested, so it is clear that other areas will benefit from what goes on there.

We must grasp the bigger picture.

I did not agree with the tone of some of what Bill Kidd said or with everything that he said, but he was absolutely right to put the games into the perspective of what they can do to transform the life of people in the city of Glasgow.

As the minister rightly said, we want to use the Commonwealth games to boost Scotland's standing in the world.

However, as Ian McKee said, the way in which to boost Glasgow and Scotland's standing in the world in the long term is not to provide a one-off event, but to get rid of our image as the sick man of Europe and of violence and educational underachievement.

That means that, although lottery funding must be used to boost and enhance sport, it must also be used to tackle the endemic poverty and deprivation and the lack of educational opportunities.

It must be used to boost the number of volunteers and the social infrastructure in areas.

If we transform Glasgow's statistics on matters such as poverty, ill health, violence and deprivation, at a stroke we will transform Scotland's statistics and push Scotland way up the international league.

Therefore, let us use the Commonwealth games as an opportunity to invest in our sporting infrastructure but, more than that, let us ensure that we tackle the deep-seated and deep-rooted problems that have blighted our society for far too long.

Scottish Labour Party Political Broadcast

2008-09-26T13:29:00.003+01:00

Click on the link below to view

Ian Gray : A Better Scotland

Gordon Brown's conference speech

2008-09-24T12:40:00.003+01:00

View Gordon Brown's UK conference speech

Hugh Henry article Paisley Daily Express 17 September 2008

2008-09-23T14:30:00.001+01:00

What a criminal idea

The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 will be a fantastic event for the whole of Scotland.

I hope that we seize the opportunity to make 2014 a year of sport in Scotland.

We should use this event as the spur to involve more young people in sport, starting at school.
And it’s not just sporting opportunities which the games will bring.

We will need new facilities and the infrastructure to support this.

We could ensure that young school leavers in the West of Scotland have the chance to take up quality apprenticeships, giving them a real start in life.

What has the SNP Justice Minister suggested?

He wants the infrastructure built by convicted criminals.

No talk of apprenticeships for decent young people.
No quality jobs for the unemployed.

Just empty Barlinnie and give jobs to criminals.

And we wonder why politicians get a bad name!

------------------------------------------------
The Paisley Daily Express recently highlighted a death at the RAH where Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff) was a contributory factor.

Since then I’ve been contacted by some constituents who say they know of people who died at the RAH and C.Diff was also a factor in the death.

And last week we read that the number of deaths involving C.Diff has almost doubled across Scotland in the last two years.

Last year C.Diff was a factor in 597 deaths.

These figures don’t even include all of the deaths in the recent outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital.

I welcome the announcement that hospitals Health Centres and GP surgeries will be subject to hygiene spot checks.

In particular I still hear too many complaints about the lack of cleanliness in some of our hospitals.

I’m pleased also that the Scottish Parliament agreed with Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie that there should be a public enquiry.

The Health Secretary should end the uncertainty now and order a public enquiry.
-------------------------------------------

Last week I questioned Fergus Ewing, the Community Safety Minister, about attacks on shop workers and rail and bus staff.

Too often an abusive minority think it’s ok to assault these workers. We know how vulnerable shop workers can be.
That’s why USDAW the shop workers union has been campaigning for greater protection for shop workers.

And transport staff are vulnerable too. ASLEF the train drivers’ union and UNITE, which represents bus workers have been demanding protection for their members.

And the public suffers too when staff are assaulted.

Services can stop leaving people stranded and isolated.

I’m pleased that Fergus Ewing gave a sympathetic hearing to my call for legislation to be extended to give these workers the protection they deserve.
----

Doors Open
The recent Doors Open event reminded us of the fabulous buildings we have here in Renfrewshire.

It’s sometimes too easy to overlook our history and our heritage.

Thank you to all those who made the Doors Open event such a success.

A Tale of two Parties

Linwood High School is the latest new school to be opened in Renfrewshire.

The new school was approved by Labour but opposed by the SNP.

What is the record of the SNP since coming to power in Renfrewshire?

They have announced plans to close 7 primary and nursery schools.

Yes that’s right – close 7 primary and nursery schools.

Last week the new improved sports facilities were open at the Lagoon.

Again approved by Labour and scorned by the SNP.

On the same day the SNP announced plans to scrap ice at the Lagoon for good.

Rumours are that more cuts are in the pipeline.

Slowly but surely all the recent improvements in Renfrewshire are being unpicked.

Unfortunately the SNP Councillors are being supported in all of this by the Liberal Democrats.

Greed and Stupidity
The turmoil in world financial markets has highlighted the sharp practices and greed of highly paid executives here and abroad.

These financiers have used dubious means to pay huge bonuses to themselves.

Now they have brought the banking industry to crisis, but it’s us who pay, while they scuttle off with the salaries and bonuses already paid.

It’s time for the government to take action to stop these people ripping us off.

HUgh Henry article in Paisley Daily Express 8 September 2008

2008-09-23T14:24:00.000+01:00

Police Custody Centre

Regrettably Strathclyde Police are pressing ahead with proposals for a custody centre at Millarston despite local opposition.

Before the Council elections last year councillors from across the political spectrum opposed this.

I hope that now they are elected, councillors from all parties will continue their opposition when this comes to the Council.

There are other alternatives and the Council should back the overwhelming views of local residents.

More Labour Promises Delivered

This week sees the Lagoon Leisure Centre reopened after major refurbishment.

The new Linwood High School will also be opened this week, despite being opposed by the SNP.

At both these ceremonies, SNP politicians will be prominently trying to take credit.
The truth is both these developments would never have happened had it not been for the previous Labour Council, led by Jim Harkins.

Labour was right to push through these new facilities and Jim Harkins and his colleagues deserve the credit.

Hospital Parking

I welcome the decision to scrap car parking charges at NHS Hospitals.

This will be a relief to the staff and the public who use the car park at the RAH.

I have been campaigning against these charges which would have imposed an unfair and punitive burden on those with lower incomes.

The Minister has my backing for this decision which shows that public pressure can work.

Cash Cut For RAH?

The news that the Health Board is cutting its budget is a real worry for the RAH.

In recent years we have seen improvements in the NHS.

I’ve noticed in my postbag that complaints are substantially reduced.

Why then is the SNP administration cutting the budget to the Health Boards?

We should be making sure the NHS has the money to cope with price increases.

Yet again, despite the promises and the spin we are seeing the reality of Alex Salmond’s administration.

Better Bus Services Needed

Like many MSP’s across Scotland, I receive complaints from constituents about poor and sometimes non existent bus services.

Some areas have virtually no service at night or on a Sunday.

Those without a car are virtual prisoners in their own community unless they fork out for a taxi, and this isn’t cheap.

It’s time for government to act.

I want tougher control on the bus companies. I want them to listen to local people.

And I don’t want them to be allowed to cherry pick the profitable routes and then abandon everyone else.

This is something I will be pursuing in the coming months.

Climate Change

Thankfully the recent hurricane that has hit America’s Gulf Coast did not have the same devastating affect as Hurricane Katrina did in 2005, which caused huge damage and loss of life.

Natural disasters are almost impossible to prevent, but according to some scientists, the extreme weather conditions we have been experiencing recently are a direct result of climate change - something we all can act on.

Here in Paisley we know only too well the misery that bad weather can cause.

We all have a responsibility to look at the bigger picture.

If we look at facts such as that all of the ten warmest years since records began have occurred since 1990, including each year since 1997 and that winter storms have doubled in the UK over the past 50 years

These are facts that can’t be ignored.

We need to tackle climate change and each and every one of us must act.

We can act in our homes, work and travel by making simple changes like turning off power when it is not needed, recycling, using public transport, cycling or walking rather than taking our cars or simply by buying recycled or recyclable friendly products.

To find out what you can do to help the environment visit the government website http://www.direct.gov.uk

Hugh Henry article in Paisley Daily Express 25 June 2008

2008-09-23T14:20:00.001+01:00

CORSEFORD SCHOOL LEADS THE WAY

Most of us take the ability to communicate for granted.

We can express ourselves whenever we want and with mobile phones and texting there seems to be no respite!

But do we stop to think about those who have difficulty in communicating?

For some, specialist equipment provides the means to do what most do all the time.

Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) equipment can give the opportunity to communicate, learn and study, work and even just socialise.

Unfortunately the equipment is not automatically available to those who need it.

Young people from Capability Scotland’s Corseford School recently became involved in the campaign to improve access to AAC equipment.

Four of the pupils, Owen Hunter, Steven Sweeney, Courtney Pollock and Craig Gibson recently visited the Scottish Parliament to advance the campaign.

Last week I visited these young campaigners out at Corseford School and heard from them the difference AAC equipment makes.

Unfortunately in Craig Gibson’s case, Renfrewshire Council refused to provide equipment last September because Craig would be leaving School in June to go to Reid Kerr College.

What a penny pinching, narrow minded decision.

Surely Craig, from Johnstone, should have the same right to communicate as anyone else?

I am backing the campaign for better AAC equipment throughout Scotland, and the young people from Corseford School are leading the way.

HELP FOR ASBESTOS SUFFERERS
Why do those whose lives have been damaged by asbestos have to go through hoops to get justice?

When I was a Government Minister I introduced a fast track Bill to overturn a decision of the courts which denied access to justice for asbestos victims and their families.

Now another court decision has denied access to compensation for those suffering from what is called ‘pleural plaques’.

This condition, along with symptomless pleural thickening, is most often found in those who worked in shipbuilding, construction, and certain types of engineering.

Those who suffer from pleural plaques have a significantly higher risk of developing serious asbestos related illness.

I am delighted that Scottish Ministers last week published a new Bill to overrule the decision of the House of Lords which restricted access to Justice.

Those with asbestos related conditions have enough to worry about without facing a denial of justice.

EDUCATION WORRIES
Last week, along with Wendy Alexander and Trish Godman, I met with parents and teachers to discuss what is happening in Renfrewshire Schools.

What we heard is profoundly worrying.

We heard about experienced teachers being given retirement and not replaced, more and more composite classes, higher class sizes, cuts to the books budget and less money to spend on teaching our children.

What’s worse is that the budget cuts will hit even harder next year.

The concerns were expressed for both primary and secondary schools, and no school seems to be immune.

Surely the local councillors responsible for this should stop and think again.

Our children only get one shot at school.

Don’t ruin it for them.

ACTION ON ALCOHOL?
There is no doubt that action is needed to tackle alcohol abuse, and its consequences, in Scotland.

But Kenny McAskill, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, has got it wrong by stigmatising 18-21 year olds.

It’s just daft to allow them to buy drink in a pub, but not to take home a bottle of wine from an off licence for dinner.

Equally it’s daft to force decent law abiding people to go in a separate queue in a supermarket to buy alcohol.

Why not use the existing powers to crackdown on underage drinking, public drunkenness and anti social behaviour?

Think again, Kenny.

Hugh Henry article in Paisley Daily Express 10 June 2008

2008-09-23T14:13:00.002+01:00

Lies, damned lies and statistics

The public generally does not have a high regard for politicians.

But the current SNP/Liberal Democrat administration is clearly trying to set new records for fiddling figures.

I have just received a letter from Councillor Eileen McCartin (Liberal Democrat) justifying library closures and trying to explain why the four libraries were chosen.

She says "The libraries concerned borrowed very few books from their libraries, and very little use was being made of their computers" (Councillor McCartin’s words).

Yet when I checked the figures, they tell a different story.

Todholm library had more than 2,000 books issued compared to Ralston Library.

Yet Ralston library is to stay open.

Again Todholm library had nearly 1,200 more computer bookings than Ralston library, yet Ralston is to stay open.

Could it be because Ralston is regarded as a Liberal Democrat area?

Now I am not suggesting Ralston library should close, but there is clearly something far wrong if this is how the Council decided on Library closures.

The public deserves some honesty on this.

It’s not too late for the SNP and Liberal Democrats to admit they have made a mistake.

Epilepsy Nurses

More than 40,000 people in Scotland have epilepsy.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that more people are being diagnosed.

Epilepsy can be a terrifying condition for carers and for somebody having a seizure.

But as they learn what happened to them and understand the condition they can usually move forward much stronger.

And if people are given the right treatment and the right information they can have a normal life.
But people will need more support at the time of diagnosis.

Epilepsy can affect employment, travel, family life and independence.

That’s why specialist epilepsy nurses are so important.

People who see a specialist nurse have better access to information which is tailored to their specialist needs.

Epilepsy nurses empower people to get on with their lives.

But we don’t have enough of them.

Based on guidelines there should be three times as many as there are.

That’s why I’m backing the Epilepsy Scotland campaign for more specialist nurses.

If you back this campaign, write to your MSP.

For further information log onto http://www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk

Sun tan dangers

We are still obsessed with having a sun tan.

Too many people still take risks during the summer and believe that slapping on lotion and lying out to fry in the sun is somehow healthy and desirable.

The recent tragic and untimely death of Tommy Burns from skin cancer is a stark reminder of the dangers this disease can bring.

And to compound the problem too many people dive into sunbed parlours with no thought to the consequences.

My colleague Ken Macintosh has been campaigning on the dangers these parlours can cause.

He has proposed a Bill to the Scottish Parliament to bring in new regulations for the sun bed industry.

The Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee has agreed to extend new controls on sunbed parlours to the sale or hire of sunbeds.

Not only will there be a ban on unstaffed premises, an age restriction of 18 will be applied to the sale or hire of sunbeds as well as to using sunbed parlours.

It can’t be right that children as young as ten can access these parlours.

Nor can it be right that anyone can use these unattended machines on our high streets without supervision.

Skin cancer is on the rise in this country and it’s one disease that we can actually do something about.

Carers Week

Last week saw the annual recognition of the role carers play in our society.

I am pleased that this year, particular attention has been given to the role played by young carers.

Here in Renfrewshire, the Renfrewshire Carers’ Centre has always highlighted the significant contribution made by young carers.

This is now being taken up across Scotland.

The Young Carers’ Festival in September will be an opportunity for young carers to relax, and also put across their views to the people who make the decisions.

I’m sure Renfrewshire will be well represented.

New Address

I’ve had to move office. If anyone wants to write to me, please take a note of my new address, St James Business Centre, Linwood Road, Paisley, PA3 3AT . My telephone number remains the same 0141 848 7361

2008-09-23T14:12:00.000+01:00

Hugh talking with a constituent

C difficile speech in Parliament 11th. September 2008

2008-09-19T06:24:00.002+01:00

Hugh Henry : Other speakers have made it clear that clostridium difficile-associated disease is not just a problem in one hospital.

On 5 September, the Paisley Daily Express reported that the fact that there had "been eight cases of the deadly Clostridium Difficile infection in one ward at the Paisley hospital over a four-week period ... was a contributory factor in the death of one patient", so it is clear that people in my constituency are worried about what is happening in our hospitals.

I welcome the content and tone of the cabinet secretary's speech.

I thought that she made some helpful comments and recognised the scale of the problem.

This is a debate on which we should try to reach some common ground on behalf of the wider public.

People will not forgive us if we are seen to squabble for party-political reasons over an issue on which there is general agreement.

I worry that the cabinet secretary might inadvertently—I am not suggesting that she is doing so deliberately—be teasing people with the possibility of a public inquiry.

She said that she did not rule out such an inquiry, but that issue is separated out in the amendment, which is otherwise similar to Labour's motion.

I hope that during the day, the cabinet secretary might reflect on where we are.

We do not want to give out a signal to the general public that politicians are squabbling and cannot agree on taking serious action on a significant issue.

I hope that we will send out a clear message that we are intent on improving the situation in our hospitals.

Several speakers have highlighted the problem.

Christine Grahame was right to mention some of the cultural and practical issues in our hospitals.

Staff are not deliberately casual, but the fact that they can move from one institution to another and not have any long-term commitment to a hospital can cause problems.

Like the cabinet secretary, I have experience of elderly relatives suffering hospital-acquired infections.

The state of cleanliness of some wards leaves a lot to be desired.

There seems to be some confusion about who is responsible for cleaning certain things at certain times.

Sometimes unclean and unsafe conditions are left for far too long.

Jackie Baillie made a good point about inspection.

Why is it that we can find out about the tea bar at the Vale of Leven hospital, but we cannot find out before we go into a hospital whether it has a bad record, relative to other hospitals, on cleanliness and hospital-acquired infection?

We should put such information into the public domain.

Before they go into a particular hospital, patients should have the right to access the data for that hospital.

I see no reason why we cannot have unannounced inspections of the cleaning and safety standards in hospitals.

It is a concern that more progress seems to be being made on the issue in England than is being made here.

We should be big enough to learn from what is happening elsewhere.

I acknowledge that time is short and that other members want to speak.

Suffice it to say that we must find a way of coming together to take action on what is a significant issue for the public.

There is an opportunity for us to have further debate on inspection regimes and other specific issues on which practical suggestions have been made.

The last thing that we should do on such a major issue that has had tragic consequences is divide along party-political lines over of what will be seen as splitting hairs and playing with words.