SNP Parliamentarians urge caution on Vertex announcement
Posted on Wednesday, December 6 2006
SNP Parliamentarians urge caution on Vertex announcementMoray's MP & MSP have both urged caution following the news that Vertex is to be sold by it's parent company United Utilites.Concern has been expressed about potential job losses, however without knowing who prospective buyers of Vertex might be it is too early to speculate on the outcome.Moray's Member of the Scottish Parliament Richard Lochhead said:" Although the coming weeks and months will be an axious time for staff at Vertex in Forres, I have no doubt that their excellent reputation will stand them in good stead." It is the nature of big business that large companies sell off subsidaries from time to time and hopefully any new buyer will safeguard the Forres operation and build on the call centre's success and the commitment and loyalty of the many staff that work there."Member of the Westminster Parliament Angus Robertson said:" The nature of call centre contract work has always caused speculation about Vertex jobs and the company has previously fought hard to secure contracts. They have an excellent track record through the hard work of employees in Forres and elsewhere and I am sure this will be a major selling point." It would obviously be foolish for any prospective buyer to ignore this expertise. In the meantime it is impossible to say whether a sale is good or bad and we must remain cautious until more information emerges"Ends.
ROBERSTON OUTLINES THE SOCIAL COST OF TRIDENT
Posted on Monday, December 4 2006
Speaking prior to the Prime Minister's statement on the future of Trident, SNP Defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP has today (Monday) outlined the social cost to Scotland of maintaining such a defence system.It is expected that the Prime Minister will commit the UK to maintaining its submarine-based Trident missile system for decades to come.Mr Robertson said:"Today the SNP has revealed the social cost of Trident to Scotland. This government will proceed with its warped priority of investing in weapons of mass destruction before better local services."Son of Trident is the wrong choice for Scotland's future; it is a terrible way to spend precious resources and would be a bad decision to match Blair's determination to go to war in Iraq."ENDSEstimated Cost of Son of Trident - £25 billion Scottish pro-rata share - £2.125 billionListed below is an example of what the money being allocated to trident in Scotland could be spent on:* 10 new Secondary Schools @ £16,500,000 each = £148,500,000 Based on estimated cost of new Balfron High School.* 5 new Hospitals @ £180,000,000 each = £720,000,000 Based on building costs of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.* 30 Community Sports Centres @ £5.7 million each = £165,300,000 Based on average of £1.4 million for small community centres to £10 million for quite large sports centres.* Train 100 Dentists @ £115,000 each = £11,385,000 Based on average cost in 2003 of around £20,000 per year. Courses last at least 5 years adding in inflation and lecturers' pay deal would come to estimate of £115,000.* Train 100 Doctors @ £300,000 each = £29,700,000 Based on BMA figures for total investment (tuition, living expenses, lost production costs, clinical placement and replacement costs) to train all specialisations and rounded up to £300,000 to take account of ongoing training throughout career.* Train 200 Teachers @ £25,000 each = £2,475,000 Based on approximately £5,500 annually in 2000/01. Courses are between four and six years (majority four). With inflation, lecturers' pay deal estimate is at £25,000 to train each teacher.* Dualling the A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness or the A9 from Inverness to Perth = £600,000,000 Based on Scottish Executive estimates.*Host the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow = £200,000,000 Based on reported estimated costs of bid.* Total = £2,082,500,000* £42,500,000 remaining for contingency.
BLAIR IGNORES SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ON TRIDENT
Posted on Monday, December 4 2006
SNP PRESSES FOR END TO WMD IN SCOTLANDPrime Minister Tony Blair today (Monday) refused to respect the Scottish Parliament if and when it votes against a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons.Mr Blair failed to answer the question put to him by SNP Shadow Defence Minister Angus Robertson MP, who pressed him during a House of Commons statement on the UK Government's plans to spend more than £25 billion on a new Trident system.Speaking after the statement, Angus Robertson MP condemned the Labour Government for continuing with the WMD programme:"Trident is an immoral waste of money. The estimated cost of Trident for Scottish taxpayers is over £2 billion. I believe this money would be better spent on a range of public services and properly supporting conventional defence."With only months away from next year's Scottish Election, it is clear Labour want to proceed with this nuclear madness. Only the SNP stand for a nuclear free Scotland and only a vote for the SNP is a vote to stop the son of Trident."I am confident that an SNP-led Government will use the powers at its disposal to stop housing weapons of mass destruction in Scotland."ENDS
Nimrod Concerns to be Raised with Defence Secretary
Posted on Monday, December 4 2006
Moray MP Angus Robertson has reacted to the latest safety reports about Nimrod aircraft by pledging to raise the issue with Defence Secretary Des Browne MP.Mr Browne offered to meet the SNP Defence spokesman in the wake of September's Afghan Nimrod tragedy, when an aircraft from RAF Kinloss in Mr Robertson's constituency crashed close to Kandahar killing all 14 people aboard.Speaking about the latest revelations Mr Robertson said:"In less than 24 hours the MOD has both rubbished and confirmed the reports about fuel leaks and the use of a teapot to rectify a mechanical fault in flight.“Coming so soon after the Nimrod tragedy in Afghanistan it is to be expected that people want maximum reassurance. Frankly there is a lack of confidence in what is being said by the MOD.“I really hope that Defence Secretary Des Browne gets to the bottom of this and gets it sorted out.ENDS
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