Column - 30th November
Posted on Friday, November 30 2007
St Andrew's DayToday marks Scotland's national day and I am delighted that one of the SNP Government's early commitments was to increase the profile of St Andrew's Day and make it a celebration of Scotland's culture, people and products. Throughout Scotland there will be Ceilidhs, Festivals, Markets and more and more people are also enjoying a day off on Scotland's national day!Having been involved in the Tartan Day celebrations in the USA it is easy to see what could be made of St Andrew's Day in the future and when you consider the impact that St Patrick's Day has throughout the world (I know there were plenty of Guinness hats roaming around Moray at the last one) there is an enormous potential to sell Scotland to the world and, let's be honest, to have a good party!I will be joining the celebrations at a St Andrew's Night Ceilidh in Lossiemouth FC Social Club, which is shaping up to be an excellent event with loads of local Moray talent performing.Political Party FundingI suspect the celebrations will not be extending to those involved in the latest political donation scandal to hit the Labour party with the revelations that a major donor gave money through third parties to avoid being identified in complete contravention of the funding rules that the Labour Government themselves brought before parliament.It is hard to believe that the only person who knew the real origin of these very large donations was the party's General Secretary.The SNP has campaigned extensively for greater transparency and accountability on party funding and our own donations are clear for anybody that wants to check them. We will continue to make this a major issue because if party funding is not transparent it can pose a major threat to our democracy.Tourism ConferenceYesterday I had the pleasure attended a Moray tourism conference at Knockando Distillery, the conference brought together tourism businesses, elected representatives, industry experts and key decision makers in Moray to map out a direction for a Moray tourist strategy. In Moray I believe we have everything we need to take tourism to new level, as a region we represent Scotland in miniature with iconic brands and iconic scenery, we are also the bread basket of Scotland and all of these features and more give us a fantastic base to build a strategy around. It is also important to remember that by having a comprehensive and ambitious tourism strategy for Moray there is the potential for massive spin offs in areas such as food technology and the continuing expansion of the whisky sector. One of the most exciting possibilities is Virgin Galactic's serious consideration of Lossiemouth as a spaceport. We are, of course, not talking about massive rockets taking off but a 21st century spacecraft that is carried as far up as possible by a conventional aircraft before firing rockets and reaching the edge of space. The possibilities for Lossiemouth and the wider Moray area are enormous.
MORAY MP LAUNCHES WINTER CAMPAIGN
Posted on Thursday, November 29 2007
The SNP's Member of the Westminster Parliament for Moray has launched a campaign aimed at helping pensioners to keep warm this winter. Angus Robertson expressed his concern at the impact of high fuel bills and the cold weather on pensioners.National statistics recently revealed an increase in the 'Excess Winter Deaths' figures and Help the Aged's Policy Director Neil Cann was quoted as saying that these figure "are yet another shocking example of Government inaction causing older people's suffering, in some cases to the point of death."Mr Robertson commented:" For the past few years, the number of pensioners dying from cold-related illnesses during winter – so-called 'excess winter deaths' – had been falling. However, the latest figures from the General Register Office for Scotland show an alarming increase last winter.""I think it is a disgrace that, in a rich country like ours, so many people are struggling to pay their fuel bills and stay warm during the winter months.""The Scottish Government's commitment to freeze Council Tax, and additional investment for the Central Heating Programme, are welcome. However, we need more action from the Westminster Government to tackle the root causes of fuel poverty. State pensions are simply too low, and so many pensioners do not know about or do not claim the benefits to which they are entitled. This year alone, the Westminster Government is sitting on a pot of unclaimed benefits worth £4.5 billion to pensioners."" I have put together a short list of steps that pensioners can take if they are worried about keeping warm this winter. I urge all pensioners to check they are receiving their full entitlement of benefits and services, and ask everyone to check that elderly relatives and neighbours know about these rights."Keeping Warm This Winter: Some Simple Steps1. The Government's Pension Service and charity Help the Aged have set up a free hotline, so that people over 60 can check their entitlement to 3 benefits: Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.Telephone: 0800 99 1234Textphone: 0800 169 0133 (for people with speech or hearing difficulties)www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/helptheagedHelp the Aged also have a welfare rights advice line: 0808 800 65652. Help the Aged have produced a 'Winter Warm Up' pack, which includes practical tips on keeping warm. Call to obtain your copy.Telephone: 0870 7700 446www.helptheaged.org.uk3. The Scottish Government's 'Warm Deal' gives grants of up to £500 to have your home insulated. Call to check if you are eligible.Telephone: 0800 316 60094. Call to check if you are eligible for the Scottish Government's Central Heating Programme.Telephone: 0800 316 16535. Call the Winter Fuel Payments helpline, to check that you are receiving your entitlement.Telephone: 0845 915 15156. Contact your energy supplier to ask if they offer any free products or services to pensioners, such as home insulation.7. Consider switching energy supplier, which could save you money. You can consult energywatch (the independent gas and electricity watchdog) to compare suppliers and for free advice.Telephone: 0845 906 0708www.energywatch.org.uk8. Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau, for advice on all of these issues.ENDS
MP OFFERS HELP TO ANY CONSTITUENTS WITH CHILD BENEFIT PROBLEMS
Posted on Monday, November 26 2007
Angus Robertson, Member of Parliament for Moray, has offered help to any constituents who might encounter problems as a result of the Government fiasco over their bank records.The SNP MP's office has fact sheets available and in cases where constituents believe there may be fraudulent activity with their accounts that may be caused by the government's loss of Child Benefit Data Mr Robertson has pledged to take the case up with Treasury Ministers.Commenting Angus Robertson MP said:" It is unbelievable that the Government fiasco has exposed millions of people to potential attacks of fraud as a result of the loss of the HM Revenue & Customs disks. The incompetence of the Government on such a serious matter is inexcusable."If, in the coming weeks, any constituents believe that their bank accounts have been tampered with in a fraudulent way that may be a result of the Child Benefit incident, they can contact me and I will take the matter up with the relevant authorities and Treasury Ministers." I sincerely hope that there will be no problems with constituents' bank accounts as a result of this episode but if there are any problems I will do what I can to help constituents to resolve them."Ends.
'LET'S GET TALKING' URGES MORAY MP
Posted on Monday, November 26 2007
ROBERTSON HIGHLIGHTS WORLD AIDS DAY 2007Moray's Member of the Westminster Parliament Angus Robertson has urged people in Moray to 'Get Talking' about the AIDS pandemic.World Aids Day is this Saturday, 1st December and the Moray MP is highlighting the ongoing devastation to millions of lives throughout the world that is caused by the AIDS virus.The latest estimates are that more than 2.5 million people contracted the infection this year alone taking the total number of AIDS sufferers to more than 33 million.The infection rate is the equivalent of the population of Moray contracting aids every 13 days. The number of people living with HIV in the UK has trebled in the last ten years and now 1 in every 450 pregnant women is HIV+.Speaking about World Aids Day 2007 Angus Robertson said:" The number of people living with HIV is steadily growing and one of the biggest difficulties in stopping the spread of AIDS is simply getting people to talk about it." In 2005 hundreds of people from Moray campaigned during the G8 Summit that took place in Gleneagles and one of the key issues under discussion was tackling the AIDS Pandemic." We need to keep talking about it so that world leaders feel the pressure to take action and so that everyone is more aware of the risk of contracting the AIDS virus and that they take appropriate precautions." In the world's poorest nations millions of children are born with HIV and we are not doing enough to prevent this from continuing." At home here in Scotland we are also seeing a significant increase in HIV infections and we also need to raise awareness of this." The message on AIDS is simple 'Let's Get Talking'.Ends.
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