Robertson welcomes pollution study for Moray airfields
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Moray SNP MP Mr Angus Robertson has today [Tuesday] welcomed the news that The Moray Council is to investigate pollution concerns raised by constituents about kerosene fumes from the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss.
The local MP carried out some initial research on the issue earlier in the year and he has subsequently been pursuing the matter with the government for several months now. Residents in the vicinity of Kinloss and Lossiemouth and the surrounding areas frequently experience conditions where there is a very strong smell of aircraft fuel and have rightly asked for studies to be carried out to assess any potential health hazard.
Commenting Mr Robertson said:
“ A number of constituents have raised this matter with me since my election last year. It is important to emphasise that no-one has suggested that the RAF should stop operating in the area, however there is a general concern that there seems to have been little study carried out into this matter.
“ My office carried out some initial research and found that pollution surveys carried out at civil airports are required to be very comprehensive, whereas there appears to have been practically no assessment of potential pollution issues on military sites. Military aircraft, especially fast jets, clearly operate in a different way from passenger aircraft and there should be appropriate investigations to ascertain their impact on the environment.
“ Given that defence issues are reserved matters for Westminster I will be pushing the London government departments to assist in funding any study of this nature in Moray. I will also be providing the Moray Council with the information I have already obtained to aid their own investigation.”
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Ministers fail to give full support to fishing industry
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Speaking prior to a Scottish Grand Committee debate in the House of Commons today [Tuesday] on the fishing industry, Scottish National Party MP for Moray Mr Angus Robertson MP said that the fishermen’s wives who put their case to European Commissioner Franz Fischler yesterday were doing the job that the Prime Minister should be carrying out.
Mr Robertson was joined in his praise of the women’s actions by his Moray SNP colleague Margaret Ewing MSP, who has been pursuing the issue with the SNP’s Scottish Parliament team.
Mr Robertson said:
“ The fishermen’s wives who met Franz Fischler did a magnificent job, and put their case with knowledge and conviction. My colleagues and I cannot praise them highly enough for their commitment to their communities and the Scottish fishing industry.
“ This is what the Prime Minister should be doing and it is a disgrace that these ladies have been forced to take this action. Tony Blair should be knocking heads together in Europe to end these ridiculous proposals for a fishing closure”
Margaret Ewing continued:
“ The only way to avert disaster is for Tony Blair to make Scottish fishing the number one issue at the Copenhagen Summit this week. Nothing else should move in the Copenhagen discussions unless and until the threat to destroy the Scottish fishing industry is lifted.”
“ Unfortunately he is obviously far too busy fighting the firefighters and preparing to fight Iraq, to fight in defence of the Scottish fishing industry.”
During the Grand Committee Debate Mr Robertson asked government Ministers repeatedly if the fishing crisis would be top of the agenda at the upcoming Copenhagen European summit. The government, however, failed to give a commitment on the matter.
Speaking after the debate Mr Robertson said:
“ It is extremely worrying that the government was unable to give a commitment to put the fishing crisis top of the agenda in Copenhagen. If the French agriculture industry had been in a similar crisis, for example, I am sure that the French President would rightly be doing everything in his power to take care of the French people.
“ Clearly the government does not consider one of Scotland’s most important industries to be a priority but the SNP will not be gagged on this issue. In the longer-term the only way for Scotland’s concerns to be addressed in Europe is to cut out the Westminster and Whitehall censors and release our potential as a normal independent nation in the centre of the international stage.”
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Posties’ work praised by MP
Saturday, December 7, 2002
Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson today [Saturday] visited the Royal Mail’s Delivery Office in Elgin to see their operation in the busy run up to Christmas. Mr Robertson was shown round the facility by the Assistant Delivery Office Manager, Neil Allan, who explained the process of mail sorting and delivery from when it arrives in bulk at the office to its delivery through the door.
During the visit Mr Robertson met several of the 78 men and women who are responsible for the delivery of between 40 and 70 thousand items in the Elgin delivery area each day, and which is increased by much more at this time, which is their busiest period of the year.
Commenting after the visit the Scottish National Party MP said:
“ It was excellent to have the opportunity to see in some detail how this essential service operates on the ground and to speak with the many men and women who make it possible. Until you see a delivery office in operation it is difficult to grasp the scale of the job that they do every day.
“ From speaking to the workers it is clear that an important part of the job is simply providing a contact for many people, particularly those who are more vulnerable in our communities and are perhaps unable to get out as often as they might like. This contribution is often overlooked and I hope that my visit will help to highlight this.
“ I am sure all people in Moray will agree that they provide an excellent service throughout the year but particularly over Christmas when they regularly work long hours to deliver thousands of cards and presents from friends and family.
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