SEARCH & RESCUE PRIVATISATION WORSE THAN EXPECTED
Posted on Thursday, May 18 2006
SNP OPPOSES LABOUR PRIVATISATION PLANSThe Scottish National Party has today (Tuesday) commented that helicopter search & rescue privatisation plans are worse than expected.This follows an announcement by the Westminster Government that their privatisation project is entering into its next phase, but have not given assurances about the level of military air crew operating the lifeline service.SNP Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP, whose constituency contains RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth, is the leading opponent of the privatisation plans. In a recently tabled parliamentary motion he raised concerns about retaining the military search & rescue services.Speaking in reaction to today's announcement by the Westminster Government, Mr Robertson said:"These privatisation plans are worse than had been expected. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) have failed to give assurances about the involvement of military aircrew in helicopter search & rescue."This plan has more to do with a cost cutting agenda and off balance sheet accounting favoured by New Labour rather than the provision of lifeline services."It is extraordinary that a Labour Government is privatising air and sea rescue which not even the Tories under Margaret Thatcher pursued."I will be pushing for the MoD to publish all details about the PFI contracts to answer the concerns of people throughout the country."ENDS
AMNESTY CAMPAIGNER FROM MORAY MEETS ANGUS ROBERTSON AT MASS LOBBY OF PARLIAMENT
Posted on Thursday, May 18 2006
Local MP Angus Robertson agreed to support the call for tougher arms controls after meeting a member of his constituency at a mass lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 10 May.Moray activist, David Moffat, joined hundreds of others at Westminster in a final push to get MPs to endorse an international Arms Trade Treaty – a piece of legally binding legislation which would put in place tough controls on the global arms trade.The lobby – organised by Amnesty International comes after a three-year long campaign by the Control Arms Campaign – which includes Amnesty International, the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) and Oxfam – for tighter legislation on the global arms trade.David Moffat from Moray said:“I’m pleased that Angus Robertson MP has agreed to support this essential campaign and encourage all SNP MPs to participate. With less than 50 days to go before an important UN Review Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons in New York, we need as much support on this as we can. The UK Government and other key world leaders can do something to tighten up international laws.“When you consider that one thousand people are killed every day by armed violence, it’s clear that existing arms controls aren’t working. An international Arms Trade Treaty will end the arms trade free-for-all and help save people’s lives.”At the mass lobby, campaigners and MPs had an opportunity to sign up to the world’s largest visual petition – the Million Faces Petition – which will be delivered to the UN Review Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons in June. So far, 960,000 people have signed up to this around the world.Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:“The arms trade is out of control and costing hundreds of thousands of lives every year. The UK has a real chance to do something about it this year, and we want MPs to tell the UK Government that their constituents really care about this issue.ENDS
SEARCH & RESCUE SERVICES MUST HAVE A SAY IN THEIR FUTURE
Posted on Thursday, May 18 2006
SNP Central Scotland MSP Michael Matheson today (Tuesday) criticised the Labour and Lib Dem Government's failure to hold discussions with civilian mountain rescue teams or police forces on the implications of privatisation of Scotland's air search and rescue services. Mr Matheson has written to the Justice Minister asking her to ensure that Scotland's mountain rescue teams are fully consulted on how the new privatised service will operate.The Central Scotland MSP obtained the information through a Parliamentary Answer in the Scottish Parliament, which showed the Executive had made no efforts to consult Scotland's search and rescue services in Scotland about the serious implications of privatisation.Mr Matheson, who is also a member of Ochil Mountain Rescue Team, said:"The Labour and Lib Dem Government must realise the serious implications for Scotland's mountains rescue teams following Westminster's decision to privatise our search and rescue services."There are growing concerns about privatisation and how a commercially operated search and rescue service will work in partnership with Scotland's mountain rescue teams that are made up of volunteers."The existing partnership between mountain rescue teams and the military search and rescue services is an extremely good one and has served the country well over the years, so it is crucial that Scotland's mountain rescue teams are fully consulted on how exactly the new privatised service will operate."I have written to the Justice Minister asking her to ensure that Scotland's mountain rescue teams are fully consulted on how the new privatised service will operate before the commercial service is implemented."Those at the cliff face must have their voices heard and be fully involved in the discussions around this privatisation. Search and rescue is a life-line service and it must not be jeopardised."Notes to editors:The Parliamentary Answers are as follows:8 May 2006Index Heading: Justice DepartmentMichael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with civilian mountain rescue teams on the implications of privatisation of air search and rescue services and, if so, what concerns were expressed.Cathy Jamieson:No discussions have taken place on this issue.SCOTTISH EXECUTIVEWRITTEN ANSWER8 May 2006Index Heading: Justice DepartmentMichael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with police forces on the implications of privatisation of air search and rescue services and, if so, what concerns were expressed.Cathy Jamieson:No discussions have taken place on this issue.SCOTTISH EXECUTIVEWRITTEN ANSWER8 May 2006Index Heading: Justice DepartmentMichael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested any assessment of the potential impact on police and civilian mountain rescue teams of privatisation of air search and rescue services and, if so, whether it will publish such an assessment.Cathy Jamieson:No assessment has been requested.ENDS.
Angus' lungs are for life!
Posted on Thursday, May 18 2006
Moray MP, Angus Robertson, demonstrated his support for the British Lung Foundation’s ‘Lungs are for Life’ campaign at a lung health awareness day at the House of Commons.The ‘Lungs are for Life’ campaign, which culminates during Breathe Easy week (10-17 June 2006), aims to raise awareness of the importance of good lung health for everyone, whilst highlighting that lung disease affects people of all ages.Lung disease affects more than eight million people in the UK at a cost to the NHS of £2,576 million per year. Respiratory conditions are the most commonly reported long-term illnesses in children. In England, around one in seven boys and one in eight girls aged 2-15 reports a long-term respiratory condition.Giving his lungs a workout on an exercise bike at the House of Commons, Mr Robertson said: “I am delighted to be supporting the British Lung Foundation’s ‘Lungs are for Life’ campaign. Many people don’t realise that lung disease often starts in childhood and can continue into later life. It is really important to look after your lungs and this campaign will help highlight that.”Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said: “We are pleased that Angus Robertson is supporting our campaign. One person in seven in the UK is affected by lung disease – from tiny babies to older adults – and many are severely disabled by their condition. We hope that Mr Robertson will be able to take the message back to his constituents and encourage them all to remember that their lungs are for life.”Anyone who wants more information about the British Lung Foundation or about lung health should visit www.lunguk.org or call the BLF Helpline on 08458 50 20 20.
UN APPROVES SCOTTISH CENTRE
Posted on Wednesday, May 17 2006
MORAY TO HOST UN TRAINING FACILITY The United Nations has given formal approval today (Friday) for the construction and opening of a training centre in Scotland. The decision was announced today at a UN conference in Geneva attended by a delegation from Moray including Angus Robertson MP, the vice-Convener of Moray Council Alasdair Urquhart and local Project Director May East. A centre will now be established in Findhorn, Moray and be formally designated as part of the UN and CIFAL network (French acronym for International Training Centres for Local Actors). Regular seminars and training will be hosted at the Findhorn centre for local government officials and diplomats from around the world. The centre will specialise in environmental policy and best practise in sustainability. Speaking at the United Nations conference, UN under-Secretary General Marcel Boisard expressed his “thanks and deep gratitude” to the local project team who made the proposal for a Scottish training centre. Senior UN officials will now travel to Scotland to participate in the formal opening of the Findhorn centre later this year. Speaking from Geneva SNP Foreign Affairs spokesman and Moray MP Angus Robertson said: “This decision by the UN is a tremendous success for Moray and Scotland. We are now going to host the only UN training centre in the country, which will be a boost for jobs and tourism. “Moray and Findhorn have been recognised as the ideal place for people to travel to from around the world. “Now we need to make this centre a reality, secure all necessary funding and work towards a formal opening later this year.” The vice-Convener of Moray Council Alasdair Urquhart said: “I am delighted that Moray has been recognised by the UN as an excellent location for their first training centre in the UK. The UN has considered the plans for a centre at Findhorn and given it a go-ahead for the project. “I was pleased to be able to meet with the deputy-Secretary General of the UN and discuss the role of Moray Council as a potential partner. “We now need to work with other public and private sector partners to make the centre a reality and bring the benefits of investment, jobs and tourism.” The Findhorn Project Director May East added: “The Findhorn project team has been working for years to reach this approval stage by the United Nations. We are delighted that the UN has said yes to the Findhorn training centre. “In concrete terms this means that delegations will regularly visit Scotland from around the world to learn about developments in environmental planning and sustainable development. “In the months ahead before the formal opening we will finalise the local partnership involving public and private sector. This is a great result for Findhorn, Moray and Scotland.”
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