January 2003

Moray’s Parliamentarians Slam Plans for Fishing Industry

Wednesday, January 29, 2003

The crisis in the Scottish fishing industry is set to continue after the Labour-led governments in Edinburgh and London announced plans which will see a massive reduction in the fleet.

This is set to impact disproportionately on Buckie and other Scottish coastal areas causing job losses and undermining the local economy.

Moray’s MSP Margaret Ewing and MP Angus Robertson have slammed the Lib/Lab Scottish Executive’s decommissioning plans for the industry as ‘the potential death knell for fishing communities like Buckie’.

The comments by the Scottish National Party (SNP) representatives come after the Scottish Executive and Westminster governments announced a ‘rescue package’ for the industry that will see money being paid out for decommissioning fishing vessels.

Mrs Ewing and Mr Robertson who have been extremely active in support of fishing communities are very critical of the proposals which would see the Scottish fishing fleet slashed and have accused Labour and Liberal Ministers of selling out the industry.

Fishing representatives have consistently said that they wanted a proposal for the recovery of the industry and not one that would leave thousands of fishermen left without work.

Fears have been voiced for more than 30,000 Scottish jobs as a result of quota cuts which are due to come into effect on 1 February.
Cod catches will be cut by 45% in the North Sea and vessels will be limited to 15 days at sea each month.
Scottish ministers unveiled details of the special aid on Tuesday for skippers and others who will be affected in the industry.
According to BBC reports Ian Duncan, secretary of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), which represents three quarters of the Scottish fleet, said crews and skippers would greet the new proposals with "shock".
Mr Duncan said that at a rough guess the decommissioning plan equals around 160 vessels in the fleet.
"We are not talking about lean and mean, we are talking emaciated and crippled, I am afraid. The fleet will fall to almost half its original size and the impact on communities will be significant, there is no doubt about that.
Commenting on the Scottish Executive’s plans Moray SNP MSP Mrs Ewing said:

“The £50 million package is neither an investment in our industry nor a lifeline for it. With the bulk going to scrap boats, owners and banks may benefit. Fishermen and onshore industries vital to our future prospects will gain little or nothing.

“After Fishing Minister Ross Finnie signing up to the biased European deal that is causing so much anger, he now wants to cut back our future prospects. This is happening at the same time as more UK money will be sent to the EU for Spain, Portugal and Ireland to build new boats.

“It is inevitable that our licences and quota will end up in foreign hands if this madness is pursued. The sight of others harvesting our fish in years to come will be a continuing source of despair for all in the North-East. These proposals are the potential death knell for fishing communities like Buckie and its neighbouring coastal villages. A fair deal must be struck now in order to save the industry.”

Meanwhile in London Angus Robertson demanded a statement from the UK Fisheries Minister so that MPs in constituencies, like Moray, which have a large fishing industry presence, can have an opportunity to raise fishermen’s concerns and quiz the Minister on the government’s proposals.

Raising a point of the order with the House of Commons Speaker Moray SNP MP Mr Robertson said:

“Mr Speaker, you will be aware that communities in my constituency face severe trauma, their loss of livelihoods and way of life because of European Union fishing quota cuts. You will also be aware that a Written Statement has been laid before this House and a statement has been made by the Scottish Executive today about compensation plans.

“Are you aware whether the Minister for responsibility for fisheries in this House intends to come before this House so that members, especially those representing fishing communities, as I do, can question, cross-examine and scrutinise these proposals, including a lack of an application for European union match funding, which may help many thousands of my constituents.”

The speaker confirmed that UK Fishing Minister Elliot Morley was not going to turn up in person, which received a strong negative reaction from SNP MP’s.

Speaking afterwards Mr Robertson continued:

“The Government's plans will run the fishing industry down and is simply an easy way out of their responsibilities, but what we need is a programme to preserve the industry in the long-term.

“Not only is the scheme proposed today fundamentally flawed, the Labour Government in Westminster has refused to allocate additional money to the Executive, and has also blocked the prospect of European assistance for the Scottish fishing industry.”

The SNP has indicated that it has put forward proposals for a recovery plan aimed at saving the industry and not decommissioning hundreds of vessels, thereby saving jobs and not leaving fishing communities floundering. The proposals are currently out to consultation and will be unveiled shortly.

Margaret Ewing MSP will be chairing a fishing meeting with the SNP’s Richard Lochhead, who is the Shadow Fisheries Minister, in Buckie Town House at 12.00 on Monday 10th Monday February. Angus Robertson MP will also be in attendance. All interested parties are invited to attend.

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Rural Pharmacies must be Protected from OFT Report - Robertson

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

The Office of Fair Trading has concluded its report into the pharmacy industry, and is expected to report that the market for prescription drugs can be opened up entirely to include supermarkets. Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson has said the recommendations could have potentially significant implications for both community pharmacists and patients alike.

Commenting Mr Robertson said:

" Pharmacies across Moray rely on support payments they receive to allow them to continue to provide essential prescription and other services in our smaller villages. It is absolutely vital, therefore, that they continue to receive these payments.

“ It is all very well for the OFT to say that supermarkets should be able to open more pharmacy units in their stores but this would undoubtedly result in the closure of smaller pharmacies providing these services causing a gap in provision and potentially forcing rural constituents to travel further for prescriptions.

“ Many people who use these services would find extra travelling a strain on their finances and, in some cases, their health. I can envisage a situation where the elderly and less well off forego using prescribed medicines and, as a result, suffering from further health problems.

" I am writing to the Secretary of State for Trade & Industry asking for her assurance that the interests of smaller pharmacies will be taken into account when her department considers the OFT’s proposals.”

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Robertson Supports Health Supplements

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Moray MP Mr Angus Robertson has taken part in a House of Commons debate in support of health supplements. The issue has been the subject of a major petition throughout the country, which saw over 400 people add their name in Moray.

In the debate Ministers were urged to protect the availability of vitamins, minerals and health supplements which opposition MP's claimed were under threat from new EU directives. According to Moray SNP MP Mr Angus Robertson the directives could curtail consumer choice and endanger producers and distributors in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.

However, junior health minister Hazel Blears said that it was "absolutely vital" that the government achieved the correct balance between freedom of choice and public health safety. She dismissed claims that the directives would lead to "swathes of products" being withdrawn as "misleading".

In the debate Mr Robertson cross examined the Minister saying:

“ She will appreciate that many hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland, as throughout the rest of the UK, are concerned about the measures, but I have heard nothing about joined-up government and devolved Administrations. Matters such as food hygiene, composition labelling and advertising are devolved. What discussions has the Minister had with her counterparts in the Scottish Executive? How many times has her opposite number in the Scottish Executive, Malcolm Chisholm, who is Minister for Health and Community Care, attended the Council of Ministers to battle for a Scottish interest on that important subject?”

In reply Ms Blears said:

“ The matter is clearly of concern and interest to consumers up and down the country, and the proposed regulations have been consulted on in other countries. On the second question, I am not in a position to give the hon. Gentleman the exact details.”

Speaking after the debate Mr Robertson said:

“ I have been contacted by hundreds of constituents in Moray who are concerned about legal changes to the regulation of vitamins, minerals and health supplements. I share their view that many safe and popular remedies are under threat from new EU directives.

“ That is why I spoke in the debate and voted against the Labour Government on the subject. I am completely in favour of sensible rules but these new rules are not sensible.

“ I am sorry but not surprised that the Minister could not confirm any involvement by Scottish health ministers in this important subject.

“ It is a sad record that health problems in Scotland are particularly bad, and for many people supplements are an important way in combating ill health. These new rules will not improve things and it is unacceptable that the Labour/Liberal Scottish Executive are taking this issue so lightly that London Ministers don't even know whether they are involved.”

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Elgin Post Office Plea

Monday, January 20, 2003

“Elgin’s main Post Office is in danger of disappearing”. This was the stark message issued by Moray MP Angus Robertson today [Monday]. The warning comes following correspondence and discussions with both Post Office Ltd and Tesco.

Over the past few months there has been increasing concern expressed by community groups and individuals over the future of Elgin’s main Post Office, currently located in Tesco supermarket at Thunderton Place. However, with Tesco’s imminent move to the Boroughbriggs area issues such as accessibility have been brought up at meetings of the Community Council and the Moray Trades Council.

After the Scottish National Party MP had failed to receive an adequate response to a Parliamentary Question on the issue from the Department for Trade & Industry his office contacted both Post Office Ltd and Tesco directly to find out exactly what the situation was.

Commenting Mr Robertson said:

“ Following discussions between my office and both Post Office Ltd and Tesco it is clear that the future of Elgin’s main Post Office is far from safe. Tesco currently hold the franchise but with Elgin’s community generally in favour of the Post Office being located centrally, along with Post Office Ltd, are now actively looking for someone to take over the Post Office business.

“ Unfortunately there has been little to no interest so far.

“ I would appeal to anyone who may be interested in taking on such a business to contact, in the first instance, Post Office Ltd. The importance of the Post Office in Elgin cannot be emphasised enough.

“If Elgin were to lose the main Post Office it would leave a significant gap in service provision with services such as Vehicle Licensing becoming difficult to find.”

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Stewart’s emphasis was on hard work

Thursday, January 16, 2003

AS YOU will have read in “The Northern Scot”, the husband of former Moray MP Winnie Ewing died tragically last week.

Stewart Ewing was a weel kent face around Moray for a long time, and many readers will have known him personally.I didn’t know him as well as many others, but I will remember his excellent advice. Some of his tips on electioneering were so good I’ll keep them a secret from the opposition, but the most important thing he said to do was to work hard. That is something that he did behind the scenes with great commitment for a long time. My thoughts are with the Ewing family and their many friends.

One subject that Stewart kept a keen eye on was the fishing industry, which is currently going through a major crisis.

This New Year, the limitations of devolution have been cruelly exposed in fishing communities right around the Scottish coastline, including Moray.

The fishing crisis is a symbol of a Westminster Government that doesn’t care about vital Scottish interests – and a Scottish Parliament that doesn’t have the power to act.

In practice, our fishing communities were betrayed because Scotland lacks the ability to represent our vital interests where decisions are taken, in the EU Council of Ministers. And the UK Government treats the fishing industry like a bargaining chip, to be traded away in pursuit of other European objectives.

Two years ago, secret government papers published under the 30-year rule revealed that Ted Heath’s Tory Government regarded Scottish fishermen as ‘expendable’ in the context of wider British objectives in entry negotiations to the European Community.

Little wonder the discredited Common Fisheries Policy is biased against Scotland. Britain does not regard itself – and is not regarded – as a key fishing nation. That is why every single other fishing country in the Brussels Council walked away with its fishing industry intact, while the British representatives came back with our industry in mortal peril.

That couldn’t-care-less attitude over fishing has prevailed under both Labour and Tory Governments at Westminster, and has led to one sell-out after another – culminating in the biggest betrayal of all in December. The sad pity and the harsh reality is that a devolved Scottish Parliament doesn’t have the power to make a difference.

An NFO/System Three poll showed that 94 per cent of Scots believe the fishing industry to be important to Scotland. If fishing attracted that level of concern throughout the UK, Tony Blair would have been prepared to bang the tables and bang the phones, and hold up any EU deal until the industry was given a fair deal. That’s exactly the approach President Chirac takes when French interests are on the line.
But the UK has never given Scotland’s fishing communities anything like that level of backing – and at key moments such as the Brussels Summit has actually signed up AGAINST the interests of the Scottish fishing industry.

Westminster has the power over fishing, but no interest. The Scottish Parliament has the interest, but no power. That was reflected in Scottish Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie’s subordinate status in Brussels – instead of leading the UK delegation, Finnie played second string to his ineffectual Westminster counterpart, Elliot Morley.
Under successive Westminster governments, Scotland has lost the guts of our manufacturing economy, and traditional industries such as coal, steel and shipbuilding have been destroyed. This New Year, we cannot allow our fishing industry to go the same way.

That is why the priority in 2003 must be to bring the power over fisheries policy to where the interest in its future lies – under the ambit of the Scottish Parliament. And why that Parliament must have the full powers of Independence – so that Scotland has direct representation in the EU, to fight for Scottish interests and to secure a viable future for the Scottish fishing industry.

The task for 2003 is to bring the interest in Scottish issues, together with the power to act, in a real Scots Parliament.

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Moray MP wins charity bet for flood victims

Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Moray Scottish National Party MP Angus Robertson has placed a successful charity bet at the invitation of Ladbrokes in Elgin. Advice on the bet was given by Angus’ SNP colleague and top racing tipster Alex Salmond MP from neighbouring Banff & Buchan Constituency.

The proceeds of the charity bet will go to the fund set up to help those affected by the flooding crisis that has hit the region.

Commenting Mr Robertson said:

“ I am grateful to Ladbrokes for the opportunity to place this charity bet. They guaranteed to pay the value of the bet regardless of the result and I am pleased that there was some success from Alex’s predictions that increased the donation.

“ Every donation from individuals and businesses to the fund is gratefully received and, I am sure, will be much appreciated by those whose lives have been turned upside down by recent events and find themselves seeking assistance from the fund.”

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COMMONS LEAGUE TABLE SHOWS SNP FIGHTING FOR SCOTAND

Monday, January 6, 2003

The Scottish National Party's Westminster Leader Mr Alex Salmond today [Monday] published a new league table of MPs' activity in the House of Commons since the June 2001 General Election to the end of 2002, based on data from the Parliamentary Online Information System (POLIS).

Encompassing speeches in the Chamber, tabling of Motions, and submitting of Written and Oral Questions, the analysis shows that the five SNP MPs are in the top nine among Scottish MPs in putting forward Scotland’s case on crucial issues such as the fishing crisis.

The table of 56 Scottish MPs excludes the 16 Scots Labour MPs who are Ministers, Whips, and the Speaker, since they are not in a position to contribute to most aspects of parliamentary activity.

Moray MP Angus Robertson is in top place, Mike Weir (Angus) is 3rd, Annabelle Ewing (Perth) 4th, Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan) 6th, and Pete Wishart (North Tayside) 9th.

* The bottom 10 places are all held by Labour MPs. In the bottom half of the table, 24 of the 28 places are held by Labour MPs.

* On average, SNP MPs are seven times as active as Labour MPs.

Commenting Mr Salmond said:

" In terms of participation in the House of Commons through speeches in the Chamber, written questions, oral questions, and tabling motions, the five SNP MPs are in the top nine out of the Scottish MPs.

“ With the number of Scottish MPs set to fall at the next election by 13, those Labour MPs who are trailing in the table and doing least at Westminster will struggle to justify re-selection and avoid relegation. If they are contributing so little now, why should they be chosen to stand again?

“ These figures show that the SNP are fighting Scotland's corner at Westminster on crucial issues such as the current fishing crisis, in the build-up to the Scottish Parliament election in May – as we argue for all its powers to be transferred to an independent Parliament in Edinburgh.”

Westminster MP for Moray Mr Angus Robertson continued:

“ I was delighted to hear that I had topped the participation table for the second year running since my aim after being elected was to represent my constituents in Moray as effectively as possible. This, of course, should be the aim of all Scottish MPs but sadly many Labour MPs seem to neglect their duties.

“ In the last year I spoken on and questioned the government on many issues of concern to the people of Moray including the ongoing fishing crisis, the future of the postal service in Scotland, particularly the future viability of rural post offices, and the financial concerns of those who now find their pensions at risk.

“ I will continue fight Scotland’s corner in London on these and other issues to ensure that Scotland can release its full potential.”

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