Help offered for 'Cod War' claims
Tuesday, July 24, 2001
What a week! Just when the Westminster recess starts and you think that the workload will change, international events put Moray people on the centre stage.
Newlywed Elgin couple Leigh-Anne and Scott Murray were caught up in a horrific terrorist attack in Sri Lanka. Gunmen attacked the main airport while the honeymooners were in the main terminal building. 20 people died in the raid. The attack is the latest in an 18-year conflict, which has cost 64,000 lives. I’m concerned that Scots holidaymakers have not received adequate warnings from the Foreign Office about the dangers in Sri Lanka. I’m sure that the Murrays and other visitors didn’t expect to get caught up in a war zone. Next on my ‘to-do’ list is to make sure that people like the Murrays get the best possible advice in the future. After all that is what you pay your taxes for.
The other international story with a Moray connection has been the arrest of Elgin-born student Nicola Docherty in Italy. She was held in Genoa during the G8 Summit and was not given access to advice from UK Consular Officials. Regardless of possible charges, it is a basic human right to get that kind of help from diplomats. Having spoken with the British Embassy in Rome, I’m going to be asking the Foreign Secretary how it is that Nicola could be held for days without consular access.
Closer to home there are plenty of other things that have landed on my plate to deal with. The most important is the ongoing issue of compensation for Scottish ‘Cod War’ fishermen who have not received compensation. Some retired Moray fishermen have written to me seeking help. I’ve been trying to find out why so many of their former colleagues in England have received compensation, but only a derisory number in Scotland. In the last few days I’ve been in touch with senior officials in Iceland who may have information, which could boost the claims of the Scots fishermen. Unfortunately these things take time, but if I can help some people receive compensation it will all be worthwhile. If you know anybody who needs some help with their claim please put them in touch with me.
Meanwhile, the work goes on with constituency matters in Moray. The Westminster Parliament might be in recess, but that’s is not the same thing as a holiday. I now have the summer months to get on with work in the constituency. Unfortunately the authorities at the House of Commons have still not provided MP’s with computers and other equipment, which are vital to reply quickly to letters and other requests. I’m trying my best by using colleagues’ laptops, and with more time in Moray without the weekly commute to London things will get a lot better.
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Where are the other MPs?
Wednesday, July 18, 2001
What a week! It started so well at a series of events in the constituency.
First stop was the Buckie RNLI fundraising bash. Most people from Buckie seemed to be there supporting the lifeboat volunteers and enjoying the entertainment, which included an excellent young local band. Second stop was the Elgin Highland Games. After months of bad news because of foot and mouth, it was encouraging to hear so many languages from continental visitors. Hopefully the tourist numbers will increase, helping to boost Moray’s economy and secure local jobs.
My last but certainly not least important appointment of the weekend was the ‘Urquhart Family Fun Day’. I had been invited to open the event together with Moray’s Young Citizen of the year Martin Beattie. The weather was perfect and the turnout great. If any of you haven’t made it to the converted church where the event took place I’d highly recommend it. Congratulations to Pat and Aiveen for all their hard work in organising a great day which I’m sure will be repeated for years to come in Urquhart.
So, from a weekend of enjoyable and important fundraising events, it was back into the commuter rhythm, and off to London. I actually looked forward to the debates this week, which were on the important subject of Europe. MP’s were being asked to support the Nice Agreement, which will help the countries of central and eastern Europe join in with the western part of our continent.
You’d have thought that ending half a century of division in Europe might be of interest, particularly to the older generation who can remember the horrors of the second world war. However I found myself often sitting in the House of Commons with barely a handful of other MP’s. What were the rest doing?
That was especially true for other Scottish MP’s when the House of Commons was scheduled to debate a key issue for Scotland. One of the side-effects of the Nice Agreement is that Scotland (as well as Wales and possibly Northern Ireland) might lose representation in the European Parliament.
Together with colleagues from the SNP’s sister party in Wales Plaid Cymru we were pushing to keep our current level of meagre representation. In a master class on what is wrong with Westminster: Labour and Tory MP’s talked the amendment out. This means Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have no guarantees against losing out. At least I now know who is on our side and who isn’t.
As of this week the House of Commons is in recess, which runs until the Autumn. But before anybody writes in to ask if I’m on an excessively long holiday, the answer is no! I’m going to be around, setting up a new office and helping constituents in any way I can. If you need a hand just drop me a line.
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