NIMROD MP COMMENTS ON “DEVASTATING CORONERS VERDICT”
Posted on Friday, May 23 2008
Following the verdict today (Friday) of the Oxfordshire Coroner, Andrew Walker, on the deaths of 14 servicemen killed when their Nimrod spy plane exploded in Afghanistan in 2006, SNP Westminster leader, Angus Robertson MP, has called on the Secretary of State for Defence to make an immediate statement. Mr Robertson, whose Moray constituency is home to the Nimrod fleet at RAF Kinloss, was present, along with families of those killed, at the Coroners Court for the verdict. Mr Robertson said: "My immediate thoughts are with the families of the fourteen brave servicemen who died serving their country. “This is a devastating verdict for the Ministry of Defence, and somebody must take personal responsibility. “The Inquest Coroner, Andrew Walker, has a reputation for acting without fear or favour, and I welcome the frankness of his verdict today. “The MoD now has extremely grave and immediate questions to answer. “Not only questions relating to the run up to the tragedy, but also why not all safety recommendations have been fully completed on the fleet since. “Des Browne must make a full statement in light of today’s verdict. “There must be no repeat of this tragedy. The MoD has to restore confidence in the wake of this verdict.” ENDS
NEW SNP OFFICE TO OPEN IN KEITH
Posted on Wednesday, May 21 2008
Scottish National Party representatives will have a new location in which to meet constituents with the opening of a new office in Keith's Mid Street.The premises, a former florists, at 164 Mid Street will provide a base for surgeries, office staff and a general contact point for Keith residents to raise parliamentary issues.The office is expected to be up and running within 4 weeks and local SNP representatives, Angus Robertson MP, Alex Salmond MSP and Councillor Gary Coull will be holding meetings with constituents almost immediately it opens.Gordon MSP and First Minister Alex Salmond said:" I am delighted that the SNP now have a visual presence in Keith and that the people of the Keith area have a base where they can contact their various representatives. " The SNP realise that both Gordon and Moray are large rural constituencies and having an office which overlaps the two is a great boost. " From this office SNP representatives will be able to hold surgeries and it will be a place where Parliamentary staff will be on hand for people to speak to. This shows that the SNP want to hear the views of the people of Keith and are willing to reach out and listen to them. " We were very lucky to find the premises we have and I want to thank Alison for her patience and wish her all the very best."Moray MP Angus Robertson said:" I already have a significant amount of correspondence from residents of Keith and the surrounding area but in a constituency the size of Moray my current office in Elgin may be handy for many folk but many others are a significant distance away." The opening of this office will provide an excellent new facility that will improve the service I can provide and give the public an additional point of contact to get their issues and concerns raised with local representatives."" I am very much looking forward to having this additional facility to work from as the support we have in the area has been fantastic.Keith & Cullen elected member Councillor Gary Coull said: " It is fantastic news that we now to have a Parliamentary Office in Keith. " Keith has been shunted from pillar to post in boundary changes however this shows how important the SNP feel that Keith is. " This office will be somewhere where Keith people will be able to air their views with their MP, MSP and Councillor but can also find out more about the SNP and what we do. " For a while it was proving difficult to find a premises however that is a positive thing and shows how well Keith is doing in revitalising Mid Street - we don't have many empty shops which are available any more. " Unfortunately it has meant that Keith has lost an excellent florist in Alison. Alison's work will seriously be missed and I publicly want to thank her and wish her good luck in whatever she decides to do."Ends.
ACTION DEMANDED ON RURAL ENERGY CONCERNS
Posted on Wednesday, May 21 2008
Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson is calling on the government to deal with both the issue of soaring petrol and diesel prices, particularly in rural areas, and the effect that energy price rises are having on households relying on oil fired central heating and bottled gas central heating.In Westminster Mr Robertson and his SNP colleagues have proposed a Fuel Duty Regulator that would reduce the level of fuel duty taken by the Treasury as oil prices rise. This would be offset by the increased VAT collected by the government. In this way says Mr Robertson, the Treasury maintains the same level of tax and reduces the amount that fuel prices increase as the oil price rises. The Regulator would result in an automatic freeze on fuel duty increases if world oil prices rose above levels forecast by the Chancellor and a parallel reduction in duty to match the extra revenue from VAT from higher pump prices. The proposal is backed by the Road Haulage Association. Commenting Angus Robertson MP said: " Everyone agrees action is needed to bring fuel prices under control, and our proposal would provide that essential relief. " After the pasting Labour got in the English and Welsh elections, I think even Gordon Brown realises the anger that exists over sky-high fuel prices. " Of course, it was Gordon Brown's fuel duty escalator pumped up petrol prices, but our road fuel regulator would help keep them down. It would make automatic a decision on freezing duties that is currently left to the Chancellor's whim, and would help keep pump prices lower. " Every time oil prices go up we pay through the nose. However the Treasury rakes in the loot not just from corporation tax but also from increased VAT on the rising price at the pumps. " Ironically Scotland as one of world's largest oil producers is hit hardest as our haulage industry is most vulnerable to high pump prices."Another issue of growing concern is the disparity between the regulation of electricity and gas suppliers which does not extend to heating oil and bottled gas. In recent years gas and electricity prices have increased really substantially but the situation for those relying on heating oil and bottled gas is even worse.An SNP Motion in Westminster calls on the Government to tackle fuel poverty amongst those relying on heating oil as well as those who use gas and electricity. The motion also calls on the Government to investigate the soaring price of fuel oil and calls on the industry to be subject to the same regulation as gas and electricity suppliers. The motion has achieved cross-party support in the House of Commons and the local MP is hoping the the Government will now take some notice on the important issue. Mr Robertson, along with other SNP MPs, has been campaigning on the issue for some time and he has been approached by constituents who have suffered massive rises in fuel prices for heating.Commenting Mr Robertson said: " Both Ofgem and Energywatch have confirmed that there is no regulator with the task of looking at the market or interests of consumers who use home fuel oil or bottled gas. " They do not even have the limited protection available to gas and electricity consumers. This is completely unacceptable. " Prices of these essential energy supplies have risen dramatically causing real pain in rural Scotland. It is essential that action is taken to end this anomaly and look clearly at this market." Ends.
MORAY MP SIGNS CHARTER FOR TINY LIVES
Posted on Tuesday, May 20 2008
Moray MP Angus Robertson has added his name to a growing list of MPs who are calling on the UK Government to provide additional funding for research into the causes of Premature Birth.The medical charity Action Research is running the 'Stand Up for Tiny Lives' Campaign and as part of that MPs are asked to sign up to a 'Charter for Tiny Lives' which states:We the undersigned Members of Parliament call on this (and any future) Government to urgently address the problem of premature birth. We are extremely concerned by the 25 deaths that occur each week as a result of complications arising from premature birth. We acknowledge that this is the largest cause of deaths among the under 1s. We believe that the key to reducing deaths resulting from premature birth is to help more babies be born at term. We believe premature birth is an issue that politicians from across the political spectrum must come together to tackle, if we are serious about protecting some of our most vulnerable (and often socio-economically disadvantaged) members of society. We call on the Department of Health and DIUS (Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills) to jointly commission an independent Premature Birth Inquiry to look at developing a new national research strategy for reducing the rates of death resulting from premature birth. We believe that a reduction in premature birth would also have many benefits for Government, helping them to move toward achieving existing policy priorities in health inequalities and ensuring the healthiest possible start for all children. The campaign is also supported by leading scientists and medical researchers, the NCT (formerly the National Childbirth Trust) and professional bodies, including the Neonatal Nurse Association and the British Association of Perinatal Medicine.In the UK more than 40,000 babies are born prematurely every year and this can lead to significant health problems both at birth and later on. At the moment the government invests just £4 Million a year in this important area of research compared to many tens of millions on other medical causes and Mr Robertson believes this needs to improve significantly.Commenting Mr Robertson said:" I have been contacted by several constituents who support this campaign and I am very happy to add my support to the cross-party group of MPs who support the Charter for Tiny Lives." Action Research have been able to raise significant amounts of money to fund research into Premature Births but the government needs to add more funding to the support it currently provides. £4 Million may seem to be a lot but in reality this amounts to less than £100 for every premature birth this year." Given the money that is spent on looking after premature children in hospital and the possible health complications for premature babies this is a fairly pitiful amount of funding." The government needs to commit to both additional funding and to the setting up of an independent Premature Birth Inquiry to develop a research strategy aimed at reducing premature births and saving more baby's lives."Notes for Editors:Full details of the campaign can be found at:http://www.standupfortinylives.org/Action Research's website is:http://www.action.org.ukThe charter can be found at:http://www.standupfortinylives.org/charter.htmlEnds.
MOD CONFIRMS NIMROD SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS NOT FULLY COMPLIED WITH
Posted on Tuesday, May 20 2008
Only days before the conclusions of a Coroners Inquest into the loss of a Nimrod aircraft in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has confirmed that not all safety recommendations have been fully complied with for the ageing aircraft. Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne MP has written to Westminster SNP leader Angus Robertson MP, who represents the Nimrod home base of RAF Kinloss, outlining the status of the recommendations which were made by defence firm QinetiQ in the wake of the loss of Nimrod XV230 with the loss of 14 people aboard. Mr Browne reveals that, of 30 safety recommendations, made in the QinetiQ report entitled “Nimrod Fuel System Safety Review” of October 2007: “21 have been accepted and are being implemented; 3 are being considered for implementation and a further 6 are on hold as they relate to Air-to Air Refuelling”. Under the MOD’s own rules, for an aircraft to be safe the risk must have been ‘reduced to a level that is ALARP (as low as is reasonably practicable) and broadly acceptable or tolerable’. According to the QinetiQ report only half this condition was in place – while the risk associated with the aircraft was tolerable, “the level of risk present to the fuel system is not ALARP”. The RAF had to take action on the recommendations “before it can be considered that the equipment risks are ALARP”. The Secretary of State has now confirmed that the recommendations have not been fully complied with. Speaking about the MOD confirmation Angus Robertson MP said: “It is very unsettling that not all safety recommendations have been complied with fully on the Nimrod fleet. “The Secretary of State has assured MPs that Nimrods are safe, however as he makes clear in his letter not all the necessary changes have been made. “It must be concluded from Des Browne’s letter that current risks to the Nimrod aircraft are not ‘as low as is reasonably practicable’, and this is not acceptable.” ENDS
|