Angus Robertson Column for Thistledown - March 2008 Edition
Posted on Saturday, March 1 2008
Winter CampaignOver the winter months I have been campaigning on several issues that have particular relevance to people in Moray as a whole, but also to areas like Glenlivet, Tomintoul and the wider rural Speyside and Banffshire areas.Those issues are winter fuel costs, cold weather payments and the ongoing saga of the so-called Post Office 'Network Change' consultation.On the first of these issues, fuel poverty, I have been tackling the problem on two fronts. Firstly there is the issue of energy costs for household heating and electricity supply and secondly we have the sky-rocketing price of road fuels.With power companies announcing household budget-busting rises of over 15% in the price of electricity and gas it is a major concern for people living in a part of the country that can be amongst the coldest in the UK during the winter months and for those on the lowest income it can become a choice of buying the right food, appropriate clothing or heating their home.In a western democracy in the 21st century that is not a choice that people should be forced to make. In Westminster the SNP has been leading the charge in demanding an inquiry into the trading practices of the major energy companies and we have also contributed to a recent Scottish Affairs Committee report on poverty in Scotland which included a section on the important fuel poverty issue.Organisations such as Citizens Advice and Age Concern regularly highlight this issue as a growing area of concern and I will continue to work with SNP colleagues and others in Westminster to keep this vital issue on the agenda.Rising Fuel CostsThe other fuel issue is, of course, the rapidly rising cost of road fuels. With reports from constituents of prices topping 110p a litre in some rural areas it is those whose cars are a necessity that suffer the most.For a country like Scotland which produces a huge amount of oil this is ridiculous.There are, of course, environmental arguments for increasing the price of fuel but experience from our European neighbours shows that it is entirely possible to reduce reliance on road transport and have effective well-used public transport, even in the most rural areas, without ramping up the price of road fuel.In Westminster my SNP colleagues and I have made proposals for a budget amendment that would introuduce a fuel duty regulator, whereby the cost of fuel duty would drop as the price of fuel rose with the Treasury recouping any lost revenue in the increased VAT charges resulting from higher fuel prices.While this would not mean a complete halt in fuel price rises, it would in effect stop the government from profiting from rising fuel prices at the expense of people in areas like Upper Banffshire & Speyside.Post OfficesFinally, I continue to receive regular correspondence on the future of our Post Offices. The consultation on the area covering Moray will be published in May and it is only then that we will know which Post Offices are under threat.In the meantime I am continuing to press the government on the procedures being used in the consultation which mean that if one Post Office is saved then another that was not under threat is added to the closure list in its place.This is a totally divisive approach and, as local communities, we cannot allow ourselves to be divided.
SNP BILL FOR FREE EDUCATION SUCCEEDS
Posted on Friday, February 29 2008
NO GRADUATE FEE FOR MORAY'S STUDENTS A Scottish National Party Bill to scrap the Graduate Endowment Fee has been passed in the Scottish Parliament. Moray MP Angus Robertson and MSP Richard Lochhead have expressed their delight at the success of the SNP bill which they say will lift a massive financial weight from Moray's students. All those who graduate in the future, and those who graduated in 2007 will not have to pay the £2,300 Graduate Endowment fee following the success of the bill. The bill achieved a majority in parliament despite a joint attempt by Labour and the Tories to prevent the proposals going through. Commenting after the successful vote SNP MP Angus Robertson said: “ This is a fantastic result for students in Moray and across Scotland. The Graduate Endowment tuition fee has been abolished. Education for Scotland’s students is now free again. “ Having had the role as the SNP's Campaign Manager in last year's Scottish Parliament elections I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to deliver another key election pledge. In the meantime Labour have shown their true colours by voting against the abolition of the Graduate Endowment in an alliance with the Tories. Moray's MSP Richard Lochhead said: “ Labour had no intention of supporting Scotland’s students. They brought in this unfair tuition fee and unlike the Lib Dems they were not willing to acknowledge the error of their ways. “ Moray's students will not see £2300 of unnecessary debt when they graduate and all future students will know that their right to higher education is based on their ability to learn and not their ability to pay. “This is a great news for students and young people in Moray and throughout Scotland.” Ends.
TRY OUT FAIR TRADE URGE MP & MSP
Posted on Wednesday, February 27 2008
Angus Robertson MP & Richard Lochhead MSP, both long time supporter of Fair Trade are calling on Moray residents, who have not yet done so, to try out at least one fair trade product during this years Fair Trade fortnight, which runs from 25th February to 9th March. Local MP Angus Robertson said that Fair Trade had made considerable progress over the last few years: “ The object of Fair Trade is to ensure that producers get a better deal for their produce and can invest in creating a better life for themselves, their families and communities. “ What started as a small scale consumer movement has now begun to enter the mainstream, with even the sugar giant Tate and Lyle announcing that all its sugar is to be fair trade by the end of 2009. From its beginnings in coffee and chocolate Fair Trade now encompasses a wide range of goods from foodstuffs to clothing.Richard Lochhead MSP said: “ In Moray Fair Trade goods can be bought in very many outlets, from small shops to the large supermarkets. I would urge all constituents who have not yet tried fair trade goods to make an effort during fair trade fortnight to try them and join the huge number of local people who are using their weekly shopping to make a real difference" We all have a responsibility to try to ensure that the goods and services we use do not have a detrimental impact on other peoples lives. Fair Trade is one way that we can try to make sure that is the case."Ends.
DAMNING REPORT SLATES MINISTRY OVER COD WAR COMPENSATION SCHEME
Posted on Tuesday, February 26 2008
'Moray fishermen were let down by Whitehall' - Angus Robertson MPThe Scottish National Party MP for Moray, Angus Robertson, has welcomed a report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee that is highly critical of the compensation scheme for former Icelandic water trawlermen, which operated between 2000 and 2002 to provide compensation to fishermen whose livelihoods were affected by the so-called 'Cod War' that took place between the UK and Iceland over 20 years ago.Today's [Tuesday] report identifies several major failings of the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR), formerly the Department for Trade & Industry, which ran the scheme.These failings were reflected in the volume of complaints made to MPs who, like Mr Robertson, represent fishing communities and significant numbers of former trawlermen who suffered along with their dependants as a consequence of the Cod War.The SNP MP visited Iceland and identified evidence from Icelandic authorities that could assist the scheme administrators in London, but the fundamental problems of the scheme continued to make it very difficult for claimants to provide the proof required to back up their claims.This latest report identifies several major issues with the scheme including: * The Department did not properly consider how it would obtain and assess the evidence needed to support claims more than 20 years after the end of the ‘Cod Wars’. * The Department did not understand the working practices of the fishing industry when designing the scheme. So it set complex rules that were difficult to implement. * The Department did not test the impact of the scheme’s rules on different types of applicant before launching the scheme. * In 25 of 100 cases, there was insufficient evidence to say whether payments made by the Department accorded with the scheme’s rules. * The Department did not employ proper project planning and risk management arrangements at the start of the scheme.Commenting on the report's findings Moray MP Angus Robertson said:" This report on the failings of the Icelandic trawlermen compensation scheme is absolutely damning and shows just how badly Moray fishermen were let down by Whitehall." The Westminster Government should be ashamed of the way in which they handled this issue and their complete lack of understanding of the fishing industry and the 'Cod Wars' themselves, evident at the time of the applications, is backed up by the findings of this Commons report." The fact that there was no proper project management and the ridiculous complexity of the scheme clearly meant that from the start the scheme was going to encounter serious problems." Myself and other MPs representing fishing communities engaged in lengthy correspondence and meetings with Ministers to try and resolve these issues but it is now becoming more and more clear that the underlying problems were so deep-rooted it would require a complete re-vamp of the scheme to solve the issues raised." I met with many retired Moray fishermen whose cases were handled extremely badly by the Department and many who are arguably entitled to compensation have still received nothing." The Government has a responsibility to take further action on the back of this House of Commons report and I will be examining their response very carefully when it is published."Notes for Editors:The full report can be found at:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmpubacc/71/71.pdfEnds.
SNP URGE SCOTS MPS TO BACK 'NATIONAL INTEREST'
Posted on Monday, February 25 2008
'OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT FISHING COMMUNITIES' - Angus RobertsonThe Scottish National Party's MPs in Westminster have called on all Scottish MPs to act in the ‘national interest’ and back a crucial amendment to the European Union (Amendment) Bill that would return responsibility for fisheries and marine conservation to national control. The SNP amendment, which received backing from the fishing industry over the weekend, will be considered in the House of Commons tomorrow (Tuesday). The UK Government agreed to the Lisbon Treaty without seeking changes to the text which enshrines fisheries in the EU Reform Treaty as an ‘exclusive competence’. National control of fisheries is a ‘red line’ issue for the Scottish Government. Commenting on the issue Moray MP, Angus Robertson, who is also the SNP's Westminster Group Leader said:“ The CFP has been an unmitigated disaster, and Scottish MPs must now act in the national interest and back national control. “ Moray fishermen, both working and retired have regularly raised this issue with and It is no exaggeration to say that this amendment is crucial for the future of the fishing industry, and indeed our coastal communities. “ Control of fisheries and marine conservation should have been a red line issue when the Lisbon Treaty was negotiated, but instead the Prime Minister betrayed the national interest. “ In contrast, Scotland’s Fisheries Secretary and local MSP, Richard Lochhead, has shown what a difference it makes to have a Minister who can work without fear or favour when he secured the best deal for Scottish fishing in a generation last December. “ The CFP has caused so much damage, and the SNP amendment is the best chance we now have to build a sound management policy and sustainable future for fishing.”" In Moray we have seen a massive decline in fishing and this could still be turned around if the Prime Minister is prepared to listen to reason."Ends.
SNP RESPOND TO ROTHES FLOOD SCHEME NEWS
Posted on Monday, February 25 2008
Moray's Parliamentarians Richard Lochhead MSP & Angus Robertson MP have welcomed the news today [Monday] that the proposed flood scheme for Rothes has been approved by the SNP Scottish Government.Commenting Richard Lochhead MSP said:" The news that the Rothes Flood Scheme is now approved is fantastic and the Council can now move ahead quickly and begin construction." Just last year there was nearly another major flood event causing widespread concern in the community and while that concern will not be fully addressed until the scheme is completed this is a massive step forward." We now move from planning to building and that very visible work should provide some reassurance to those who have been flooded or are currently at significant."Moray MP Angus Robertson said:" In 2002 significant parts of Moray were devastated by flooding and Rothes was one of the communities that bore the brunt of that onslaught." Since then a lot of work has been carried out to develop a flood scheme and the news that the Scottish Government has now approved that scheme is excellent." Proper peace of mind is still some way off for Rothes residents but this is major milestone and paves the way for construction work to start"Ends.
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