IT'S TIME TO TACKLE FUEL POVERTY
Posted on Thursday, February 8 2007
Moray MP Angus Robertson has expressed dismay at the attitude of the Department for Work & Pensions Ministers to vulnerable groups struggling to pay their energy bills. The issue was raised by the SNP at DWP questions and asked whether Ministers have pressed the Chancellor to use some of the £1.1 billion that the Treasury has raked in on VAT from energy bills to help vulnerable groups. Mr Robertson said:"The minister has tried to pass off the matter to the energy companies hoping they will reduce prices for consumers. However, only recently Scottish Gas has introduced a new cost to consumers having trouble paying their bills with a £5 "fine". " It is rediculous that in this day and age in some of the coldest areas of the UK pensioners and other vulnerable groups are struggling simply to provide a minimal amount of heat in their homes."The Government's own energy review recognised the problem of those on long term benefits who require greater heat and would look at schemes to help them, "after this winter". It now appears that even this vague promise is disappearing as the Government hopes that lowering prices will solve the problems for them. "At the same time that vulnerable people are suffering these massive increases, the Chancellor is raking in over a billion pounds in a windfall from energy bills."A small part of that could go a long way to helping vulnerable people in our communities. It's time real action was taken to tackle fuel poverty." Ends.
WHITEHALL SHUTTING SCOTLAND OUT OF EUROPE
Posted on Thursday, February 8 2007
The Scottish National Party MP for Moray Angus Robertson has made clear his grave concerns about a leaked report written for the First Minister by the Scottish Executive's senior official in its European Office, which says that Whitehall departments ignore the views of the Scottish Executive, and that "can have a disastrous impact on Executive policy." In relation to Scottish Executive Ministers at Council of Ministers meetings, the report says: "Unfortunate examples are where there is no seat for the Minister in the Council room during the meeting so they have to follow discussions from the salle d'ecoute [listening room] alongside officials." Mr Robertson's comments were backed up by his SNP colleague Alyn Smith MEP.European policy is key in a number of areas that are very significant to Moray's future. Areas such as fishing, farming and environmental policy. Angus Robertson MP said:" Jack McConnell must make an urgent statement to Parliament to explain how this disgraceful situation has been allowed to happen, and what he is doing about it. " This report – from the heart of the administration – proves everything that the SNP has ever said about Scottish misrepresentation in Europe under the Labour/Lib Dem Executive. "Whitehall departments are routinely ignoring the Scottish Executive, and Scotland's interests across the board suffer as a consequence." This means that in key policy areas like fishing and farming, policy that is vital to the interests of Moray, Scottish Ministers are being sidelined by their London counterparts. This is entirely unacceptable and simply demonstrates the lack of effectiveness that Scotland has in Europe with the current administration. " Scottish Ministers need to be fighting their corner and demanding that the key industries affecting Scotland are properly represented in Europe's decision making bodies. It is not Europe that is the problem here, rather the government's failure to represent Scotland properly on issues like fishing, farming and the environment." SNP Euro-MP Mr Alyn Smith MEP said:"This report very powerfully illustrates why Scotland needs, first of all, an SNP-led administration with a real commitment to promoting Scottish interests in Europe, but also the first class direct representation in the EU that only Independence can deliver. "As the report says, playing second fiddle to Whitehall and being cut out of decision making is having a 'disastrous impact' on Executive policy."The First Minister cannot run away from his responsibilities for this breakdown of Executive policy on Europe. After all, he is the former Minister for Europe and now as First Minister he is directly responsible for this situation. He needs to answer for it, but is running away from debating his record in Scotland." Ends.
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