October 2002

NEW LABOUR FAIL NORTH SCOTLAND AIR SERVICE NEEDS

Tuesday, October 29, 2002

During the House of Commons debate this morning [Tuesday] on, “The Future of Regional Air Services”, Scottish National Party Moray MP Mr Angus Robertson MP asked the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport David Jamieson to make a commitment to a Public Service Obligation order for the Inverness-Gatwick air link in order to guarantee the future of the service. Mr Robertson asked the Minister:

“He will appreciate that a lot of people have waited a long time to hear about when a decision will be made on the Public Service Obligation application. Instead of saying soon, could the Minister please tell us within what firm timescale can we expect an announcement on a PSO for the Inverness-Gatwick route?”

In response, the Minister said: “I hope that there will be a decision in good time, ” and then said: “He may want to reflect very carefully on whether that would give the Inverness-Gatwick service what it wants.”

Speaking after the debate, Mr Robertson said:

“New Labour have totally let down the people of the north of Scotland. Not only did the Minister fail to announce a Public Service Obligation order for the Inverness-Gatwick route, he failed to give any indication of when a decision would be made, and even worse he then tried to pour cold water on the whole idea of a PSO for the Inverness-Gatwick service.

“This debate was called for by David Stewart, but if New Labour cannot even deliver this basic guarantee of Highland air services with a PSO – which is the settled will of the entire community – then there is absolutely no point in having any Labour MPs and MSPs in the north of Scotland.”


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Fishing Crisis Looms

Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Moray’s Westminster representative Angus Robertson MP has expressed shock that the European Commission is seriously considering closing Scotland's fishing grounds. Following this news of what could be a devastating blow to the White Fish industry in Scotland Mr Robertson and his SNP colleagues have urged the Commission not to take any rash measures and demanded that Ministers act now to defend Scotland's coastal communities.

The issue has only been raised in the House of Commons by the Scottish National Party through Mr Robertson and his colleague Alex Salmond MP. Mr Robertson has noted that the Scottish Labour MPs have completely failed to raise the matter with their own Minister in parliament and Little has been heard from the their own party colleagues and their Liberal coalition partners in the Scottish Parliament/

At Question Time the SNP challenged the Prime Minister to pledge that the interests of the Scottish fishing industry will not be bargained away in EU negotiations by the UK's representatives, as has happened so many times in the past.

Commenting Mr Robertson said:

" Before Europe rushes to adopt any rash measures, it is vital that every effort is made to update the science, taking full account of the technical measures such as decommissioning which have recently been put in place.

" There is a way forward for our fishing communities - but it will require Ministers to work in partnership with the industry and for Ross Finnie to discover some fighting spirit at the negotiating table in Brussels. Ross Finnie must hold his nerve as his biggest test approaches.”

“ This is the first time that the crisis in the Scottish fishing industry has registered on Tony Blair's radar screen, as we campaign to prevent our fishing communities being destroyed by these proposals.”

Mr Robertson’s SNP colleague and Shadow Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead MSP continued:

" The Government must not be allowed to permit European bureaucrats to close down Scotland's fishing grounds. Such a move would result in the loss of tens of thousands of irreplaceable jobs.

" It is simply not feasible to suddenly close down a whole fishery that sustains thousands of jobs to protect cod when most fishermen target other species.

" Scottish & UK Fisheries Ministers must start listening to their own industry about how to respond to scientific advice and not just European bureaucrats."

" Before Europe rushes to adopt any rash measures, it is vital that every effort is made to update the science, taking full account of the technical measures such as decommissioning which have recently put in place.

" There is a way forward for our fishing communities - but it will require Ministers to work in partnership with the industry and for Ross Finnie to discover some fighting spirit at the negotiating table in Brussels. Ross Finnie must hold his nerve as his biggest test approaches."

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Moray MP Voted Vice Chairman of Key Whisky Group

Saturday, October 26, 2002

Moray MP Angus Robertson has been re-elected as Vice-Chairman of the key House of Commons All Party Scotch Whisky Group which lobbies for the key Scottish industry and its workers.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) member of the Westminster Parliament was unanimously approved in the post, which was previously held by Moray MSP colleague Margaret Ewing when she represented the constituency in the House of Commons.

Moray contains more than half of all of the country's malt whisky distilleries and is a significant local employer.

Speaking after his re-election Mr Robertson said:

" The whisky industry is a crucial part of the Moray economy and employs many people locally, which is why I am delighted to have been re-elected to this post. It gives me a great opportunity to continue being a strong voice in promoting the industry and the interests of those who work in it.

" Whisky is the second largest export industry in Scotland and the fifth largest in the UK. The industry directly employs more than 11,000 people in Scotland, and a further 30,000 people are employed in related sectors. Scotch Whisky is one of the UK's top five export earners, generating more than £2 billion a year from sales in 200 markets.

" In recent decades Scotch whisky has made great strides in markets such as Spain, Italy, the United States and the Far East, areas where there are generally more benign tax regimes. Sadly some of the worst taxation excesses are to be found in the UK, the state that benefits from massive revenue from the industry. Currently 66% of the price of a bottle of whisky is tax.

Mr Robertson who led a major debate on the whisky industry in the House of Commons earlier this year continued:

" It is a sad fact that on 10 occasions in 18 years of Government, the Conservatives took the opportunity to raise the burden on the whisky industry. That discrimination under the Conservatives has continued under the Labour Party and duty on whisky is currently one and a half times higher than on other competing beverages. While there has been some recent narrowing of tax discrimination against spirits, the discrimination remains and was continued in this year's budget by a Chancellor who of course represents a Scottish Constituency.

" Like the Scotch Whisky Association, the Scottish National Party has been in favour of a 4% cut in whisky duty. Experts believe that such a measure would be revenue neutral, creating a higher demand for whisky thereby maintaining duty and taxation and duty income for the treasury."

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Ewing and Robertson meet with Moray fire fighters

Friday, October 25, 2002

Moray’s Scottish National Party parliamentary representatives today [Friday] met with Moray fire fighters and with one of the Fire Brigades Union representatives in the area to discuss the service’s pay and conditions concerns.

Margaret Ewing MSP and Angus Robertson MP, visited Elgin Fire Station to find out about the local situation in Moray first hand. The SNP’s leader John Swinney MSP and the party’s Home Affairs spokesperson at Westminster Annabelle Ewing MP have already met with the Fire Brigades Union’s Scottish and UK representatives and expressed support for the fire fighters’ concerns.

It has been reported widely that the FBU and the employers side, which represented local authorities across the UK, were prepared to agree a 16% pay rise and it was at this stage that the government needlessly interfered in the process bringing it to a standstill.

The SNP has called on the Government to abandon its confrontational approach and for a binding arbitration process in which all sides can have confidence, to be instigated.

Commenting the SNP’s Margaret Ewing MSP said:

“ The purpose of today’s meeting was to find out the situation from the fire fighters themselves. It was also an opportunity for Angus & I to inform the fire fighters and the local Fire Brigades Union representative of the Scottish National Party’s views on the matter.

“ Obviously no-one wants to see a strike but clearly when the government has thus far failed to consider proper negotiations with the Union it leaves the number of ways forward very limited.

“ It is, however, not too late and I hope that the Prime Minister will grasp the nettle and seek an amicable arbitration.”

Moray’s Westminster MP Angus Robertson continued:

“ The fire fighters pay formula agreed in the 1970s is outmoded and has now taken fire fighters salaries from above to below average earnings. Their training is also now much more intensive and the service has to deal with much more varied and complex situations that threaten the public’s safety. It is also essential to remember that fire fighters are recognised to perform one of the most dangerous jobs in Scotland and the UK.

“ These facts have been pointed out repeatedly by the Fire Brigades Union to the government but all they have got back is a review body that includes members with no significant knowledge or experience of the fire service.

“ I don’t believe that the fire fighters want to strike and if the government can treat our fire fighters with the respect they deserve and agree to a sensible and binding arbitration procedure then the strike should be called off.”

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Moray MP Presses for answers from the Ministry of Defence

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

Moray MP Angus Robertson has raised the issue of impending industrial action by fire-fighters in a House of Commons Debate. Speaking in the debate, entitled "Defence and the World", the Scottish National Party (SNP) Westminster defence spokesman highlighted the potential problem of military fire cover if a conflict develops with Iraq. Thousands of military personell including those serving in the RAF Fire Service and Defence Fire Service might have to attend fires if there is industrial action. This could be put in jeapordy if conflict develops in Iraq.

Mr Robertson, who has been inundated with letters and postcards supporting fair pay for fire-fighters and control room staff, is one of the MP's supporting a House of Commons motion calling for a fair pay settlement. While the motion has been signed by other SNP MP's not one Scottish Labour or Liberal Democrat MP has lent their support.

The firefighters dispute is only one area where possible military action in Iraq may have a domestic impact.

Speaking in the House of Commons debate Angus Robertson MP warned about the possible impact of a conflict in Iraq:

" Plans are being drawn up, strategies are being developed, assets are being ring-fenced, spares are being cannibalised and service men and women have been told when they can expect leave to be cancelled.

" All this also has a potential domestic impact. The call-up of reserve and Territorial Army medics would have an impact on the national health service, and account must also be taken of the impending industrial dispute involving the Fire Brigades Union. Until recently, the Black Watch and the Scots Dragoon Guards were reportedly on stand-by for firefighting duty, but they have now returned to normal military training. While the ring-fencing of combat units based in Germany may be prudent in military planning terms, it raises questions about how domestic fire cover could be optimised if there were a strike. Similar manpower shortages are also likely to be highlighted in other areas, should there be a substantial additional deployment.

" In the RAF alone, there are significant shortages of motor transport drivers and cooks following the increase in contractorisation. That puts an enormous strain on those serving in those blue-suit roles who already seem to be on the permanent detachment rotation. What contingency plans are being made to diminish the pressures on those and other key roles in the services? I am certain that, in his reply, the Minister will rightly praise the professionalism of the armed services, and I agree with that wholeheartedly. Nevertheless, the questions that I have posed have been raised by service men and women, and the issues are vital to the future of operations that may take place sooner rather than later.

Speaking after the debate Mr Robertson said:

" Sadly the minister did not answer any of my specific questions, which I have come to expect. The fire-dispute is a something that the government needs to be doing much more to resolve. The Prime Minister should intervene personally by convening an urgent meeting of the Fire Service employers and the Fire Brigades Union with the aim of seeking to restart talks in order to prevent the need for industrial action in this vital emergency service.

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Post Office Privatisation threat to e-businesses

Thursday, October 17, 2002

Following on from last week’s meeting between Moray SNP MSP Margaret Ewing and local Sub-Postmasters, her colleague and SNP Member of parliament for Moray, Mr Angus Robertson, has today further raised the ongoing concerns about the privatisation of post offices in Moray and in the rest of Scotland.

Mr Robertson has outlined his worries about the effect it may have on rural e-businesses who use the post offices to send and receive goods over the Internet.

In the past Mr Robertson has met with postal workers to discuss the threat of privatisation and he has also raised the issue several times in the House of Commons. Mr Robertson’s colleague Kenny MacAskill MSP, who holds the SNP enterprise portfolio, has also visited Moray to outline the damage that post office privatisation can do using the Swedish privatised postal system as an example.

Commenting on this latest privatisation concern “ In areas like Moray home e-businesses are flourishing and fast becoming an important part of the rural economy. The essential services of the post offices are widely used and relied upon to keep these businesses going. “

Whilst knowledge and information based businesses can thrive purely over the net, those selling goods rely on the post or couriers to physically move their goods to their customers. For many businesses in rural Scotland the only courier is effectively the Post Office since the cost of courier services is too high, even if they will go to more remote areas.

It is ironic, perhaps, that many twenty-first century electronic businesses can only survive with the good ‘old fashioned’ postal services. “ It is essential, therefore, that there is a reliable and consistent postal service in all parts of Scotland. That service is being seriously jeopardised by Postcomm’s privatisation proposals, which will inevitably lead to the end of the universal service obligation and universal tariff. “

Scotland’s rural communities need support to help them release there potential not another half baked centralising policy from new Labour to put private profit before public provision.”
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Robertson challenges Minister on Defence Fire Service privatisation

Wednesday, October 2, 2002

SNP MP for Moray, Mr Angus Robertson, has today [Wednesday] challenged Defence Minister Dr Lewis Moonie to provide evidence of support for Defence Fire Service privatisation amongst either the defence personnel employed in the service, the personnel who rely daily on the efficient and safe working of the service or the general public. So far the only significant support for the government has come from those associated with the private operators who are tendering for the work.

Dr Lewis Moonie is due to visit RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth tomorrow. On a similar visit during the Westminster election campaign last year Dr Moonie was asked by the local Moray press for his comments on the Defence Fire Service privatisation plans and he responded: ‘I haven’t a clue’.

Commenting on the issue Angus Robertson said:

“ The Transport & General Workers Union, who represent many of the firefighters affected by the plans, has expressed considerable concern over the Service’s ability to operate effectively and provide appropriate fire cover if the privatisation goes ahead.

“ The SNP has argued consistently against the plan and I have raised the matter directly with the Defence Ministers on several occasions in parliament, including in a debate specifically on the issue. In a recent Defence Questions session I asked Defence Minister Adam Ingram: ‘What representations he has received in favour of privatising the defence fire service?’ The reply was: ‘None’.

“ New Labour’s privatisation juggernaut continues to roll on and it seems with the plans to privatise parts of our defence services that nothing is safe from their efforts to dispose of Scotland and the UK’s public assets.

“ The main defence services are already encountering problems forming support units to go on attachments abroad and privatising the Defence Fire Service will only serve to exacerbate this. In their quest to put private profit over public provision the Labour government risk putting people at risk, both through inferior provision of essential safety services and through job cuts. The plans are unacceptable and must be halted now.”

Ends.

Extract from Press & Journal – 29/05/2001

The armed forces minister was accused of a gaffe last night after he visited Moray only to admit he knew nothing of the major defence issue in the area.

Senior officers and civilian staff at both RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss have expressed fears that more than 100 jobs could be affected by a plan to sell off fire and safety support services to the private sector.

Yesterday, as he arrived in Moray in an attempt to ensure defence would be at the heart of the local campaign, Lewis Moonie was forced to admit "I haven't a clue" when questioned about the future of threatened civilian jobs at the bases.

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