McMillan enquires about role of Health Visitors

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) has today enquired about the future role of Health Visitors after concerns were raised by Inverclyde constituents. Mr McMillan has contacted Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health board amid fears that Health Visitors would be removed from general practice, and replaced by centralised teams.

Mr McMillan said;

"I received letters from a number of constituents expressing concern at the proposals to centralise the work of Health Visitors.

" The implementation of one of these proposals would also mean Health Visitors would no longer be involved in vaccination programme and would be withdrawn entirely from baby clinics.

" I have written to Tom Divers, Chief Executive of the Health Board expressing the concerns of my constituents who have contacted me on this matter. Those constituent who have contacted me all echo the important role of Health Visitors who are vital locally. Any centralisation of services must be fully scrutinised and any changes proposed must allow for public consultation.

McMillan Welcomes Football Broadcast Advice

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) is delighted the BBC Audience Council agrees with his campaign over the past two years that Scotland’s qualifying matches for international football tournaments should be shown on terrestrial television.

The report, published today, calls on the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) at Westminster to add the international qualifying games to the list of high-profile sporting events which must be made available for free-to-air terrestrial broadcasters.

Mr. McMillan said;

"I lodged a petition in Parliament two years ago calling on such action so am delighted the BBC Audience Council, who advise the BBC Trust, have found this to be the case.

"It is appalling that Scotland’s apparently national broadcaster does not currently show these football matches which are of great interest to people in Scotland.

"It is unfair to the license fee payers not to be able to view their national team’s important matches.

"Evidence in this report shows the matches that were shown during the Euro 2008 qualifying stages gained BBC Scotland some of the highest viewing figures of the year. This is proof that people in Scotland want to and will watch these games.

"I hope the BBC take on board the findings in this report and act wisely upon them and give the people of Scotland the programmes they want to watch".

Note:

· Stuart McMillan’s petition to Parliament before becoming MSP:

Television coverage of Scottish football teamRaised by: Stuart McMillan on 18 October 2006
Petition by Stuart McMillan, calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to exert all its political powers upon BBC Scotland to ensure the corporation provide television coverage of every Scotland National Football Team match and notes the sporting and cultural importance of the national team which should ensure that this issue is highlighted every time the Scottish Executive meet with BBC Scotland.

http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=131

McMillan kicks off summer tour

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) has kicked off his summer tour by meeting the community wardens in Inverclyde on a fact finding mission. During the afternoon visit Mr McMillan was able to participate in a briefing which takes place before the wardens patrol the community. Mr McMillan was able to spend the afternoon witnessing first hand the excellent work done by the community wardens of Inverclyde.

Mr McMillan said;

" I was pleased to be able to spend a full afternoon with the community wardens of Inverclyde to witness first hand the excellent work they do in patrolling our communities and making the streets safer.

" The wardens act as a visible presence throughout the community which helps reassure the public that something is being done to combat violence, vandalism and anti social behaviour.

" Many constituents have made me aware that they feel the streets and communities are not safe to walk through and this is why I believe the presence of community wardens will act as a deterrent to those who plan to perpetrate acts of vandalism and crime.

" I would urge that constituents in Inverclyde remain vigilant and report any suspected acts of vandalism to the appropriate authorities.

Notes:

The Inverclyde Council's free Antisocial Behaviour Hotline is available from 08.00 hours until 24.00 hours daily and can be reached by contacting 0800 01 317 01 or constituents can contact the Community Warden Hotline on 714 242 from 09.00 hours until 24.00 hours.

Photos attached: Stuart with Enforcement team member - Donna Murphy; Community Wardens - Jamie MacNiven and Lesley Donnachie (from left to right)

Concessionary Bus Travel to be Extended

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) today welcomed the review of the Concessionary Bus Travel throughout Scotland. The review will extend the scheme to include injured forces veterans and there will be no reduction in those who are eligible.

Speaking about the review, Mr. McMillan said:

"I welcome this review and the plans to include Injured Forces Veterans in the Concessionary Bus Travel scheme. This will be a welcome addition to the scheme.

"This also shatters the appalling scaremongering from the Labour Party in recent months that the scheme was to be cut affecting hundreds of thousands of Scots.

"These plans show that the SNP Government are committed to helping Scots access our country. This is in stark contrast to the London Labour Government who are hell bent on forcing people out of their cars and to stay at home due to the rising fuel costs and the high level of taxation that people pay for fuel.

"I now await for Labour politicians to apologise to the people of Scotland for their scaremongering tactics which have once again proven to be figments of their imagination.

"These proposals will be welcomed by Scots and the confirmation that the scheme is secure in the SNP's hands will provide extra re-assurance".

McMillan Angry Over Fuel Vote

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) today expressed his anger over the House of Commons vote to defeat the SNP proposals for a Fuel Duty Regulator.

The vote took place last night (Wednesday) with Labour, Tory and Liberal MPs defeating SNP proposals for the introduction of a Regulator that would provide relief for motorists and industry from soaring fuel prices.

Mr. McMillan said;

"Scottish Labour and Liberal MPs have essentially voted for fuel prices to continue careering out of control. They will have a lot of explaining to do when they go back to their constituencies.

"You would have to live on another planet not to realise the urgency and strength of feeling at soaring fuel prices, and I am bitterly disappointed that this opportunity for action has been thrown away.

"With Scottish families and businesses facing the highest fuel prices in the world, those Scottish MPs who have betrayed their constituents should be named and shamed.

"In the last year the cost of filling up the family car has gone up by as much as £30 a month, while some estimates show hauliers are paying as much as £37,000 a year to tank up a truck.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that businesses are on the brink of going bust now, waiting for the Treasury to take action later will be a case of too little, too late.

"Indeed, whilst the Treasury rakes in an additional £6 billion in revenue from rising prices, Scotland’s hard-pressed motorists and key industries face real pain at the pumps.

"It is scandalous that in oil rich Scotland key sectors are struggling to fill their tanks, and a Fuel Duty Regulator would have made an enormous difference.

"Crocodile tears from politicians over high fuel prices won’t wash with the electorate any more. By refusing to allow a Fuel Duty Regulator they have shown their true colours.

"As if soaring fuel prices aren’t bad enough combined with the Lib Dem road charge plans commuters will be priced off the road".