July 2002
West Freugh Defence Job Losses
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
The Scottish National Party’s Shadow Scottish Defence Minister, Mr Colin Campbell MSP, and the party’s Westminster Defence Spokesperson, Mr Angus Robertson MP, have reacted angrily to today’s [Wednesday] House of Commons announcement that the MoD’s West Freugh base in Wigtownshire is to be wound down with the loss of over 100 jobs.
The West Freugh base was formerly a Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA), which was run directly by the Ministry but it was later effectively privatised when the MoD transferred the management of the base to QinetiQ.
Commenting the SNP’s Westminster Defence Spokesperson Mr Angus Robertson MP said:
“ This announcement by the MoD is a major jobs blow for Galloway, which is already in need of extra employment. A large number of the employees live locally to the base and many could be forced to move elsewhere in an effort to seek similar work.
“ Research & Development work is a key part of our defence infrastructure and today’s decision is simply another example of the run down of defence expenditure in Scotland. There are major concerns that decisions like this are leading to an exodus of key skilled staff from Scotland and the government should therefore be rethinking its plans.”
The SNP’s Shadow Scottish Defence Minister Mr Colin Campbell MSP continued:
“ Considering yesterday’s Defence Select Committee report that highlighted major gaps in Scottish and UK security it is clear to me that the winding down of West Freugh is a shortsighted decision. When terrorists are using more and more sophisticated techniques it is essential that we expand our research and development capability, not reduce it. With extra money now available for defence this decision is completely illogical.”
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Government admits there is no support for privatising RAF Fire Service
Sunday, July 14, 2002
Moray’s Scottish National Party MP Mr Angus Robertson MP today [Monday] called on the Government to ditch plans to privatise fire fighting and support services at RAF bases following an admission that there was no support for the plans. The comments by the SNP’s Westminster Defence Spokesperson came after Defence Questions in the House of Commons where the Minister of State Adam Ingram MP conceded that there had not been one single representation in favour of privatising the Defence Fire Service.
Mr Robertson’s constituency contains two of the most significant RAF bases in the UK: RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Kinloss. Fire fighters at RAF Lossiemouth and TGWU colleagues at other UK bases are opposing the privatisation plans.
Only last week the Civil Aviation Authority published a report confirming that three Tornado’s narrowly avoided a collision, heightening the need for optimal safety and fire fighting arrangements.
Speaking after Defence Questions, Mr Robertson said:
“For the first time the Ministry of Defence has conceded that there is no support for the privatisation of the Defence Fire Service. Having made this embarrassing announcement the Labour government should now ditch these daft plans.
“Privatising the Defence Fire Service and support services would be misguided and ill timed. With heightened military activities and safety considerations foremost in the mind following the terrorist attacks in the USA, the Labour government is wrong to proceed with these sell-off plans. Only last week the Civil aviation authority published a report that three Tornado’s narrowly avoided a collision.
“It is now clear that the vast majority of people agree with the Scottish National Party and the Transport and General Workers Union in opposing the plans.
“Existing fire fighting provision at RAF Lossiemouth in my constituency is often stretched, with extra manpower needed to cover special tasks. How safety standards and flexibility could be maintained under Labour’s privatisation plans with smaller fire fighting crews is beyond me.
“I know from service-men and women at RAF Lossiemouth, including the aircrews, that there is extreme scepticism about the privatisation plans and there are justifiable safety concerns.
“Morale amongst the fire fighters on the base, which is home to key Tornado squadrons is at rock bottom, which concerns me greatly.
“Now that the Ministry of Defence has conceded that there is no support for DFS privatisation, the Government should not proceed with their plans.”
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Moray MP’s annoyance at DTI surgery delays
Sunday, July 14, 2002
Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson has been critical of the Department of Trade & Industry following news that a planned surgery by senior officials for Icelandic Cod Fisheries Compensation claimants has been postponed.
The surgery, which had been arranged for Wednesday 17th July, has now had to be re-arranged for 21st August.
Commenting on the news Mr Robertson said:
“ I am very disappointed that there are now further delays in this important surgery taking place. My Banff & Buchan colleague Alex Salmond and I have been working hard to ensure that the voices of the fishermen who were affected by the Icelandic ‘Cod Wars’ are properly heard.
“ I was initially pleased that the DTI agreed to send representatives to the area to hear our constituents’ concerns first hand but from that initial agreement the arrangements have been something of a nightmare for our offices to deal with.
“ First of all it took several weeks for a decision to be made on a date and this has now been cancelled at very short notice. While I appreciate that there are unforeseen reasons for the delay it has been left to Alex Salmond’s and my own staff to pick up the pieces and they have spent a considerable amount of time trying to contact claimants who had intended to travel to the event.
“ I feel that fishermen involved are being treated very shabbily by the government, however, despite these setbacks, I would urge them to go to the surgery on the new date of 21st August, as it is very important for the DTI to hear the views and concerns of claimants directly.”
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Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Surgeries are conducted on a rolling programme throughout Moray. Recent surgeries have been held in:
Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Burghead, Lossiemouth, Hopeman, Dufftown, Rothes, Aberlour, Craigellachie, Tomintoul, Fochabers, Cullen, Portnockie and Findhorn.
Home visits are possible for disabled and housebound constituents.
A mobile surgery tour will take place shortly throughout the constituency.
Please call the office for forthcoming surgery details on (01343) 551111.
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Moray Housing Crisis Deepens
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Moray Scottish National Party MP, Mr Angus Robertson, has tabled a series of parliamentary questions to ascertain the extent of the public housing crisis in Moray and the rest of Scotland.
While housing is generally a devolved matter, a significant part of the current crisis can be attributed to changes in Housing Benefit legislation, which was decided by the Westminster Government.
Anti-fraud legislation was brought in last year by the Westminster Government without all the extra funding needed by Local Authorities, such as The Moray Council, to implement it.
Commenting Mr Robertson said:
“ London Labour have implemented Housing Benefit legislation with no regard for the effects it would have on the availability of social housing in Scotland.
“ The lack of funding for The Moray Council and other local authorities in Scotland has resulted in a major increase in average processing time for Housing Benefit applications. It is currently taking over three months for Housing Benefit applications to be processed and consequently private landlords find themselves unable to take on Housing Benefit applicants for rented accommodation, as they cannot wait quarter of a year for a first rent payment.
“ What this means is that the number of housing applicants in Moray has risen from 2358 in May 2001 to 2929 in May 2002 an increase of over 24% year on year. With new lets in the Moray area sitting at around 550 the availability of council housing is now at crisis point.
“ I have tabled a series of questions to the Minister concerned to find out the full extent of the crisis, asking what steps are being taken to alleviate the crisis and what discussion is occurring with the Scottish Executive regarding the rapidly growing problem.
“ It is completely unacceptable for Labour confusion between the Westminster and Scottish governments to cause this kind of crisis and urgent action needs to be taken to address it.
“ Ultimately, the only way to prevent crises of this nature from occurring, is for all decisions affecting Scotland to be taken in Scotland and that means independence.”
Ends.
The questions tabled by Mr Robertson are as follows:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions:
What the average processing time was for Housing Benefit in each Local Authority area in Scotland for each of the last 6 years; and if he will make a statement.
What assessment the government has made of the impact of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 on public housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.
What assessment the government has made of the impact of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 on (a) the public and (b) the private housing sectors in Scotland; what action is planned to address the resulting issues; and if he will make a statement.
What discussions the government has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the impact of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001on both the public and private housing sectors in Scotland and what action, if any, is planned to address any resulting issues.
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Moray MP welcomes Shadow Enterprise Minister to Moray
Sunday, July 7, 2002
Moray SNP MP Mr Angus Robertson has today welcomed the SNP’s Shadow Minister for Economy, Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Mr Andrew Wilson MSP to Moray. During the day Mr Robertson & Mr Wilson will be visiting a number of local businesses and listening to the concerns and suggestions of the people on the ground.
The day’s activities included a meeting with the Chief Executive of Moray Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise, followed by a visit to Scotland Electronics of Forres, who have recently received accolades recognising the success and growth of their business.
Later in the day Mr Robertson and Mr Wilson visited the long established Walkers Shortbread firm at their factory in Elgin before heading for Macallan Distillery at Craigellachie where they will be discussing a number of issues of concern to the Whisky Industry at the present time.
Commenting Scottish Shadow Cabinet Minister Andrew Wilson MSP said:
“ I am delighted to be visiting Moray today, as it is a wonderful region of Scotland. In considering future SNP policy and current proposals in Parliament we are always seeking examples of best practice from throughout Scotland.
“ There is a long history of important enterprise in this area, particularly in food production with long established family-run companies like Walkers, who have recently, and for the third time, been awarded the Queen’s Award for Export, and Baxters of Speyside.
“ Macallan Distillery is also an excellent example of a large company, namely the Edrington Group, who have retained a significant management structure in the local area and made it work to the benefit of the employees as well as the shareholders.
“ These traditional industries are now being complemented by ‘modern’ Hi-Tech industries such as Scotland Electronics in Forres, who have recently been recognised as being the fasted growing company in Scotland and among the fastest growing in Europe as whole.
Continuing Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson said:
“ Today has been a great opportunity for us to listen to the views of some of those people most affected by parliamentary decisions on the economy and enterprise and we will be taking a great deal back to our SNP colleagues from these positive discussions.”
“ I am very grateful to the companies and people we have met with today for their hospitality and their well-considered remarks about the current climate for businesses in Scotland and how it can be improved for the future.
“ I have been left with a great deal of positive feeling for the future of businesses in Moray, however it is clear that there is much that the government can be doing to assist such development and both Andrew and I will continue to fight for the benefit of Moray and Scotland’s businesses in both the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments.”
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