News archive
Rhoda Grant MSP : Her speeches in the debate on her Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill 16/03/2011
David Stewart backing efforts to try to save Wick HMRC office from closure 10/03/2011
Peter Peacock MSP : Speech in the debate on the Scotland Bill 10/03/2011
Peter Peacock MSP : Speech in the debate on the Reservoirs (Scotland) Bill 09/03/2011
MSP encourages people to get involved in local Fair Trade events 05/03/2011
Rhoda Grant MSP : Concern over how capital funding is allocated to NHS Highland 24/02/2011
MSP's efforts to try to make travelling easier for community nurses in bad weather 15/02/2011
Labour hail deferral on classroom assistants proposals
11 February 2011
Highland Council have deferred a decision on the future of classroom assistants until the summer following widespread and vocal opposition to proposals to scrap all such posts.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has hailed the deferral of the jobs axe for the classroom assistants and praised the Council's Labour Group for coming up with the successful solution.
"This is not just about jobs, important though that is, but about
sufficient quality of learning support to enable challenging childrento
find a route to a successful education and future", said Mr Stewart.
"I've been inundated with calls and know the strength of feeling of
parents on this issue.
"I'm delighted that it is the Labour Group who came up with the idea
of cutting discretionary ward budgets to raise the cash to maintain the
344 posts in the meantime.
"Labour councillors actually came up with the proposal a couple of weeks
ago, before the news of the jobs axing became public, but found
resistance among Administration colleagues.
"But pressure from parents, teachers and classroom assistants made
them think again and back the Labour idea.
"I accept that every Council has been given huge cash problems by the UK
and Scottish Governments.
"But it is important now that the Council uses this breathing space to make a proper assessment of learning support in the classroom."
Deirdre Mackay, Labour councillor for East Sutherland and Edderton on Highland Council and the secretary of the Labour Group said,
"In 1996, 97, 98 and 1999 I campaigned with my Labour Party colleagues for the investment in education which led to massive improvements in our schools which our communities have enjoyed, and benefited from, over the past decade.
"Classroom assistants play a central role in the Early Intervention programme which is designed to help all youngsters, not only those with special needs.
"They are also central to the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence.
"Ironically the Leader in this week’s edition of TESS, the teachers professional journal, is about the importance of classroom assistants!
"Their value is also well recognised by HMIE.
"I am pleased that common sense prevailed and that we will now see a proper review of classroom support in its widest sense and also that the primary sector will be fully involved with this.
"Highland Council has a legal obligation to balance the budget and savings have to be found.
"It is important that those involved in the primary sector feed back into the review and tell Highland Council how they believe the savings that have to be made can be made."
Rhoda Grant MSP : Early Intervention - Speech in the Scottish Parliament 11/02/2011
Rhoda Grant MSP : Speech - Community Care ( Local Forums) 02/02/2011
Ed Miliband in Edinburgh - Fresh Ideas
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Rhoda Grant MSP : Speech on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 19/01/2011
Call for action over Fuel Poverty 18/01/2011
Peter Peacock urges Transport Minister on the problem of unregulated and unmonitored Hill Tracks 18/01/2011
Rhoda Grant welcomes Parliamentary Committee support for her Bill 13/01/2011
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MSP highlights need for affordable housing in petition 6/12/2010
David Stewart MSP : Call to back Labour’s plan to tackle youth unemployment 24/11/2010
Fair Trade in the Highlands and Islands
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Labour's Living Wage : Fair Pay for All
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Hill Tracks campaign : Progress report sought from Scottish Government 2/11/2010
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Cost of unemployment in Caithness estimated at over £5 million a year
Current levels of unemployment in Caithness could be costing over £5 million a year.
In July there were 603 people in Caithness area claiming unemployment-related benefits such as Job Seekers Allowance.
This figure breaks down into areas as follows :
| Caithness Central |
34 |
| Caithness North East |
31 |
| Caithness North West |
52 |
| Caithness South East |
61 |
| Pulteneytown |
123 |
| Thurso Central |
64 |
| Thurso East |
52 |
| Thurso West |
62 |
| Wick |
69 |
| Wick West |
55 |
Cost of unemployment in Sutherland estimated at over £2.8 million a year
Current levels of unemployment in Sutherland could be costing over £2.8 million a year.
In July there were 336 people in the Sutherland area claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
This figure breaks down into areas as follows :
| Brora |
54 |
| Dornoch Firth |
37 |
| Golspie and Rogart |
29 |
| Sutherland Central |
54 |
| Sutherland North West |
28 |
| Tongue and Farr |
29 |
| Tain East |
60 |
| Tain West |
45 |
Cost of unemployment in Ross and Cromarty estimated at over £7 million a year
Current levels of unemployment in Ross and Cromarty could be costing over £7 million a year.
In July there were 841 people in the Ross and Cromarty area claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
This figure breaks down into areas as follows :
| Alness and Ardross |
83 |
| Avoch Fortrose |
33 |
| Black Isle North |
43 |
| Conon and Maryburgh |
48 |
| Dingwall North |
64 |
| Dingwall South |
53 |
| Ferindonald |
100 |
| Gairloch |
18 |
| Invergordon |
103 |
| Knockbain and Killearnan |
29 |
| Lochbroom |
15 |
| Lochcarron |
15 |
| Muir of Ord |
42 |
| Rosskeen and Saltburn |
81 |
| Seaboard |
84 |
| Strathpeffer and Strathconon |
30 |
Academic research from Bristol University suggests that the cost of unemployment per person is approximately between £8,000 and £9,000 a year.
David Stewart MSP said,
"People contribute to benefits through taxation and national insurance payments.
"The best way to tackle the deficit is to encourage growth by investing in jobs and not by cutting public expenditure too fast and too deep.
"This will produce increased tax revenues and so reduce spending on benefits.
" However, the UK Government’s measures of large cuts and the looming rise in VAT have severely hit demand in the private sector and threaten the recovery.
"Sustainable growth in the economy depends upon public investment.
"The TUC estimate that for every £1 spent on public services to create jobs or to purchase supplies and services generates a further 64p for the local economy."
Ed Miliband and Iain Gray : United in Our Values
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Benefit cuts : Highlands to lose up to £21 million a year
A report by the Scottish Local Government Forum against Poverty has revealed that cuts in benefits by the UK Coalition Government could take away between £18 and £21 million a year from claimants in the Highlands.
Thousands across the region will be hit.
The figures come from a report from the Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty and from Rights Advice Scotland entitled "People, Councils, The Economy".
It details the effects of the UK Government’s changes in the benefit system from now until 2014/15 for every local authority area in Scotland.
The major benefits were selected for study were :
Housing Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, and Incapacity Benefit/ Severe Disablement Allowance
It forecasts the following annual losses in Highlands -
Housing Benefit
More than 75% of 1,620 claimants will be affected by total annual losses of approximately £736,000
Disability Living Allowance
Total number of claimants (11,990) will be cut by 20% leading to annual losses of £9,080,963
Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance
Total number of claimants (8,370) will be cut leading to annual losses in the range of £4,710,441 - £8,182,720
Annual losses to Highland residents = £14,527,404 - £17,999,683
Other losses arise from the change in the calculation of the amount of benefit using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than the RPI (Retail Price Index)
These are :
3,652 Jobseekers Allowance recipients will lose £177,051 annually
3,520 Carers Allowance recipients will lose £166,566 annually
5,740 Attendance Allowance recipients will lose £321,292 annually
26,335 families receiving Child Benefit for 45,585 children will lose £6,226,139 (£3,951,649 if CPI used) over the course of 3-year freeze (pro rata £2,075,380 each year)
1,740 Employment Support Allowance recipients will lose £101,338 annually
5,820 Income Support recipients will lose £338,957 annually
7,340 Incapacity Benefit recipients will lose £403,329 annually
7,340 Incapacity Benefit recipients will lose £403,329 annually
Annual losses to Highland residents = £3,583,913
And so the overall total annual loss for the Highlands is between £18,111,317 - £21,583,59
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart said: "The Lib Dems are on a collision course with public opinion in the Highlands and Islands when their leader Nick Clegg says that the poor must accept benefit cuts.
"Many Lib Dem supporters and members will be dismayed and angry to see their party establishment at Westminster act as a political shield for the Tories, behind which Cameron and Co. seek to deprive "dependent" people of a decent income.
"It beggars belief that the Tory-Lib Dem government can significantly slash the household income of vulnerable struggling families in the Highlands while shamelessly claiming that 'we’re all in this together' "
Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour conference as Labour Party leader
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Peter Peacock criticises Lib Dem support for scheme that will cut housing benefit for thousands in the H&I 27/08/2010
Highlands and Islands Broadband campaign taken to London 26/08/2010
Download the consultation paper on David Stewart MSP 's proposals to establish A Victims' Commissioner For Scotland link
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Sign the petition in support of David Stewart's proposed Victims and Witnesses Commissioner (Scotland) Bill to safeguard and promote the rights of victims and witnesses. >>>
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Rhoda Grant MSP : Speech in the debate on the Alcohol etc.(Scotland) Bill 10/06/2010
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Sign Labour's petition in support of Labour's campaign to defend NHS jobs >>>
Rhoda Grant MSP : Scottish Parliament speech on the National Health Service 03/06/2010
More Nats, Fewer Nurses
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Sign Labour's petition in support of Labour's campaign to defend NHS jobs >>>
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Peter Peacock MSP : Fears that Commission budget deficit will be funded by fees 03/06/2010
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>>>
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Wage
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The Highlands and Islands Broadband
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Peter Peacock MSP : Comment on Wick High School inspection 11/112009
Dingwall Regeneration Cash welcomed 07/08/2009
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Brora Primary School : Campaign against the proposed changes >>>
Rhoda Grant MSP : Speech on Remote and Rural Health Care 05/06/2008 (PDF download)
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Rhoda Grant MSP : Labour calls for Honesty over Funding Effects to Rural Health Services 05/06/2008 (PDF download)
Peter Peacock's question in the Scottish Parliament on Respite Care at Beachview Lodge, Brora 29 May 2008
Peter Peacock : The minister will acknowledge that service change can be unsettling for service users and their carers.
In such circumstances, the clarity of the information that is provided by the council to services users becomes important.
As she says that she cannot intervene directly, will she consider issuing guidance to local authorities on appropriate consultation regarding change in such areas of service delivery to ensure that any change does not result in a diminution of the care that is on offer?
Shona Robison: I expect any local authority to undertake service change in a way that is clear and that offers service users and their carers a full input into the decision-making process. As I said, consultation events have been planned for June, and I expect those to take full account of the views of service users and carers. I agree with Peter Peacock that service change is difficult, but it is sometimes necessary in order to provide services in a better way. However, it must involve the full co-operation of service users and carers.
Rhoda Grant MSP : Article on Wick High School (Caithness Courier) 01/05/2008 (PDF online)
Rhoda Grant MSP : Online applications create barriers to crofters 29/04/2008 (PDF download)
Rhoda Grant MSP : Future of Wick Tax Office 23/04/2008 (PDF download)
Rhoda Grant MSP : Future of Highland Health Services 19/04/2008 (PDF download)
Peter Peacock MSP :
The true cost of the SNP Tax for the Highland Council area 17/04/2008 (PDF download)
Speech in the Scottish Parliament in debate on Local Income Tax 17/04/2008 (PDF download)
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