McMillan Continues Fight for Asbestos Victims

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) has spoken in the Scottish Parliament during a debate recognising Action Mesothelioma Day.

During the members debate Clydeside Action on Asbestos was commended for their continued fight in Scotland for sufferers of asbestos related conditions. Mr. McMillan is also speaking at a cross party event in Glasgow on Friday (27 February).

During the debate Mr. McMillan said;

"This Parliament has a history for bringing justice to the people who have been affected with asbestos related conditions. With tomorrow (Friday) being Action Mesothelioma Day it is a reminder to everyone in this chamber, but more importantly beyond, of the industrial legacy that still affects many people and their families across Scotland.

"This Government is acting on the Clydeside Action on Asbestos campaign assisted by members to allow justice to happen for pleural plaques victims. Stage 3 of the [Damages] bill is expected to come before this Chamber on 11th March and I hope the cross party support the bill has had up to now continues.

Following the debate Mr. McMillan said;

"I am always pleased to have the chance to speak out on this issue to ensure the fight for mesothelioma sufferers and other asbestos related conditions is continued.

"I have long campaigned on this issue with SNP colleagues and will continue to do so for as long as people are suffering with no appropriate compensation".

McMillan Welcomes Commitment by Environment Minister to visit Inverclyde

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) has today welcomed the news that the Minister for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham MSP has accepted his invite to visit Inverclyde to view first hand the areas which flooded in December 2008.

The Minister was responding to a question raised by Mr. McMillan in the Scottish Parliament chamber where he asked what assistance the Scottish Government could provide Inverclyde to tackle flooding.

Mr McMillan said;

"I am delighted the Minister for Environment said she is happy to give the commitment to visit Inverclyde to view first hand the areas which flooded so dramatically at the end of last year.

"She also made it clear that Inverclyde Council do not currently have a flood prevention scheme but it is my understanding that it is due in the coming months. I hope it is before we see any more devastating flooding in Inverclyde which have already been too numerous.

"The Minister also made it clear that the Scottish Government would urge any councils in a similar position to Inverclyde to submit intended plans early on in the term so as to gain full advantage of assistance available.

"I recently met with SEPA and Scottish Water to discuss what could be done to prevent such flooding problems from occurring again in the future. Both meetings allowed me to take the organisations on site visits of where Inverclyde is prone to flood and make them aware of the problem.

"I think it's important the Minister for Environment comes to Inverclyde to see the problems and reassure constituents that the Scottish Government is doing everything in its power to tackle flooding.

"I look forward to greeting the Minister in Inverclyde in the not too distant future".

A Letter From.....Canada!

Mr. McMillan has recieved a letter from the Mayor of Greenock, not the the town in Inverlcyde but the town in Ontario, Canada. Mr McMillan had written to other Greenocks throughout the world regarding Homecoming 2009 and recieved the below letter from the Canadian namesake:

Dear Stuart McMillan,

Re: Homecoming Scotland 2009

On behalf of the Council, staff and citizens of the Municipality of Brockton, it gives me great pleasure to officially acknowledge the tremendous milestone Scotland has achieved this year, 2009.

Brockton came to be as a result of an amalgamation of three former entities; the Town of Walkerton, the Township of Brant and the Township of Greenock. We are proud to recognize that Greenock adopted its moniker from a town in Scotland. Throughout our region of mid western Ontario the maps are dotted with many Scottish names. Many early settlers to the area, some 150 years ago, hailed from Scotland. These hearty souls endured the harshest of winter conditions, rife with severe storms, blinding blizzards and numbing temperatures. We owe much to these valiant pioneers. We can clearly comprehend the origin of your well known anthem, Scotland the Brave.

With the utmost of respect, thankfulness and sincerity we wish Scotland all the best in your year of celebration.

In January, I attended a gala event at the University of Toronto commemorating the 250th birthday of your national poet, Robert Burns. The haggis was delightful as was the impressive pomp and pageantry.

From the Municipality of Brockton and especially from the Township of Greenock,
Cheers,

Mayor C. Bagnato
Municipality of Brockton
Walkerton, Ontario
Canada

McMillan Welcomes Cashback for Community Funding

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) has today welcomed the news that East Dunbartonshire Council and Rossvale Football Club are to receive cashback for community funding from the Scottish Government. They are to receive £100,000 to upgrade the existing full sized pitch into a 3G pitch.

Mr. McMillan said;

"I am delighted to hear that East Dunbartonshire Council and Rossvale Football Club are to receive funding from the Scottish Government's Cashback for Communities scheme.

" The Cashback for Communities scheme allows the money to be invested in youth projects which will give our young people a purpose and direction in their lives.

"I am sure the money will be welcomed by football club and it will play an important role in giving our young people more opportunities to use state of the art facilities."

McMillan Urges Against ID Cards

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has today urged the Westminster Government to scrap the ludicrous idea of introducing a National Identity Scheme. The scheme will cost taxpayers within Scotland £430.5 million which equates to £7.16 million for Inverclyde constituents.

Mr McMillan said;

"The introduction of a National Identity Scheme is a complete waste of taxpayers money and resources.

"The £7.16 million would be much better spent on further investment in schools, police officers and hospitals within Inverclyde rather than making constituents stump up their hard earned money to purchase an ID card.

"Once again the Westminster Government has seen fit to play Big Brother and do as they please rather than listening to members of the public who are crying out for investment in the economy and financial stimulus packages offering much needed jobs and security.

"I am pleased to see the Scottish Government is continuing to oppose the ID card scheme."

McMillan Welcomes Proposal for National Coastal Path

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has today welcomed the proposals that are to be laid down in parliament by Alasdair Morgan MSP for a long-distance coastal path around Scotland .

Mr Morgan first raised the idea of a national coastal route with the former Scottish Executive in 2005 - since then he has pursued the issue researching other long-distance routes and found that Scotland already has many coastal paths which could be joined together into a unified long-distance route.

Mr McMillan said:

"I am pleased to welcome Alasdair Morgan's proposals particularly in relation to the potential effect they could have on Inverclyde. Inverclyde has a wonderful coastline and beautiful scenery and whilst it is utilised by some it has massive potential as an untapped natural resource.

"The proposals would help open up the coastline by not only making it more accessible to locals but also by making it inviting to tourists. This would provide a welcome boost to Inverclyde at a time of economic turmoil."

McMillan Concerned About RAC Job Losses

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) has today condemned the possible loss of up to 100 jobs at the RAC call centre in Bishopbriggs. Those who would be affected by such job cuts are the workers who directly answer the telephone calls from motorists who have broken down.

Mr McMillan said;

"I am disappointed to hear of the possibility of around 100 job losses at the RAC call centre in Bishopbriggs.

"This will come as another harsh blow to workers who are witnessing job losses in all sectors during these difficult economic times.

"I hope the organisation will listen to the views of the workers during the 90 day consultation period and keep job losses to a minimum".

McMillan Welcomes SNP Commitment for Council Tax Freeze

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has welcomed a commitment from the SNP Government that funding will be made available for a Council Tax freeze until 2012.

This means the average Council Tax payer in Inverclyde will save up to 22% over the four years of the SNP Government.

Mr. McMillan also welcomed the reaffirmation by the Finance Secretary John Swinney that the SNP was determined to scrap the unfair Council Tax by seeking a majority mandate in 2011 to ensure the final abolition of the tax and the introduction of a system based on ability to pay.

Following the good news from the Scottish Government Mr. McMillan also criticised opposition parties for their lack of support for the local income tax.

Mr McMillan said;

"Under the SNP people in Inverclyde will not pay a penny more in council tax in 2011 than they did in 2007.

"In the ten years up to 2007 people in Inverclyde saw an increase in their council tax by 57%. We cannot let this happen again in future.

"If council tax had increased at the same rate that it did under the previous Labour/LibDem Executive, average council tax payers in Inverclyde would have been faced with paying an extra £258 by 2012.

"The next stage in our plans is to seek a majority mandate in 2011 to ensure we can finally scrap the council tax and save low and middle income families in Inverclyde even more of their own money.

"It is frustrating that the Labour and Tory parties have blocked SNP plans in the Scottish Parliament as they insist on keeping the unfair council tax system.

"They are denying the average single pensioners a saving of £390 a year and the average pensioner couple a saving of over £730 a year. Families are also losing out due to Labour/Tory obstinacy to between £150 to £280 a year.

"And thanks to this Labour/Tory pact 85,000 people will remain in relative poverty - including 15,000 children.

"The SNP Government is determined to ensure that the Labour/Tory pact does not succeed and that pensioners and families in Inverclyde can enjoy a fair system of local taxation based on the ability pay".

McMillan Hails Prescription Charge Reduction

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) today welcomed news that further reductions in the cost of prescriptions are to be introduced by the SNP Government. With the second phase of prescription reductions, a single prescription will be reduced from £5 to £4 under the plans. This is expected to be agreed by the Scottish Parliament in short course with a proposed implementation on 1st April 2009.

This reduction continues on from last year when the price of a prescription was decreased from £6.85 to £5. The SNP government has laid out a programme of gradual price reductions until prescriptions are entirely free by 2011.

Mr McMillan said:

"I am delighted that the SNP Government are able to bring about this further reduction and continue on with the plan to rid our country of charges for people who are ill."

"In this present climate of economic uncertainty, it is a positive move for all those who may require medical assistance that they will be required to pay less for their prescriptions in this coming year, before not having to pay anything at all in due course. The SNP are working to get rid of this ridiculous tax on ill health".

McMillan Urges Constituents to Obtain BT Communications Solutions Booklet

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has today welcomed the recent publication of the Communications Solutions Booklet by BT which offers assistance to constituents who have communication difficulties. The booklet is if full of practical advice and pointers to further information and includes details of standard products with features which have proved of benefit to constituents who have difficulty using the telephone.

Mr McMillan said;

"I believe this is an important booklet which offers practical advice to constituents who have difficulties with communicating through the use of a telephone.

"During these cold snaps its important that constituents feel comfortable with using a telephone in case of an emergency. What this booklet offers is recommendations and tips as to gain the most out of the telephone and this is especially helpful for elderly constituents who may not be accustomed to the advances in technology.

"I urge constituents who wish to obtain a copy of the booklet to contact 0800 800 150 free of charge."

McMillan Comments on RBS Jobs Announcement

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has today commented on the announcement by RBS that it will cut up to 2,300 jobs from its back office operations across the UK.

Mr McMillan said;

"RBS have a highly skilled workforce based in Greenock and the West of Scotland and any concerns about those jobs must be addressed as soon as possible to ensure these skills remain.

"With the UK government now the major shareholder in RBS I would hope that they can provide the certainty that the staff in Greenock and West of Scotland require to plan for the future.

"Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown must not turn their backs on the need to maximise jobs and decision making in Scotland where their constituencies are."

McMillan Urges Town Centre Funding for Inverclyde

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has today written to the Scottish Government to ask how town centres in Inverclyde can benefit from a £60m Regeneration Fund announced in the Scottish Budget.

Mr McMillan said;

"It is no secret that the town centres within Inverclyde require much needed investment and regeneration to stimulate the local economy.

"Now the SNP Government has dedicated £60 million for Town Centres in Scotland, and I am determined to press the case for town centres in Inverclyde such as Gourock, which has seen a major lack of investment for decades as well as many proposals which have unfortunately been false dawns.

"That is why I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance as a matter of urgency, and I look forward to hearing from him soon."

Celebrity Backing for Scottish Independence

Stuart McMiall MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has warmly welcomed actress Daniela Nardini's public backing for Scottish independence.

Speaking in a Sunday newspaper today, Ms Nardini, who starred in This Life, reflected on her experience of working for the BBC and said checks on the independence of BBC Scotland by London made her question the current constitutional settlement.

Commenting, Mr McMillan said:

"Daniela joins the increasing number of Scots backing independence.

"The latest TNS System Three poll published in the Sunday Herald today shows support for independence increasing to 38 per cent while opposition has fallen to 40 per cent.

"MoreScots - like Ms Nardini - are realising that independence will bring equality to Scotland.

"The SNP Government will bring forward a Bill in 2010 for a referendum, and challenge the London parties not to stand in the way of the people's right to choose Scotland's future. Today's poll shows that support for independence is high enough and strong enough for that referendum to be won."

McMillan Offers Support to HMRC Workers

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has recently met with Her Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC) workers from Greenock at a reception held in the Scottish Parliament. The workers were there to highlight the predicament many of them face due to centralisation of the services.

Mr McMillan said;

"I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with some of the workers from Custom House and Dalrymple Street who raised their concerns about the Westminster Governments changes to HMRC services.

"Many of the workers have young families and their current working pattern allowed for them to keep down a job in Greenock and look after their children. However, the proposed changes will see them moved to Glasgow based offices which will cause problems for those with families.

" I believe these closures will cause many differing problems for the staff based in Greenock and at the same time leave many skilled workers facing the real possibility of financial difficulty due to job losses.

"This is why I have written to the Treasury urging them to re-consider their proposals."

McMillan Welcomes Abolition Of Business Rates For 1,141 Small Businesses in East Dunbartonshire

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has today welcomed the abolition of business rates for 1,141 businesses in East Dunbartonshire as part of the SNP Government's budget.

Businesses with a rateable value of £8000 or less will have their business rates abolished. Other small businesses with rateable values of between £8001 and £10,000 would have their business rates halved and those between £10,001 and £15,000 will now have their business rates reduced by 25%.

Mr McMillan said;

"The success of the SNP Government's budget is most welcome and highlights yet again the stark difference between the competence of the Scottish Government and the chaotic posturing of the Labour opposition, who have accepted the same deal they rejected last week.

"I particularly welcome the removal of business rates for 1,141 businesses in East Dunbartonshire, and a reduction for a further 457 businesses.

"The Scottish Parliament has limited powers but this will undoubtedly help small local businesses, who play a key role in our economy, in this time of uncertainty.

"The abolition of business rates underlines the Scottish Government's commitment to small businesses, in Scotland".

Scottish Government Provides Funding To Deliver More Police On The Beat

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) and Member of the Justice Committee has welcomed the funding from the SNP Government's budget which ensures for extra police officers for Strathclyde after the opposition parties attempts to block the budget would have meant this funding could have been delayed.

The successful vote, after the opposition compromised in the face of public outrage, ensures that Strathclyde is guaranteed the twelve million pounds required to fund the recruitment and training of new officers in 2009/2010.

Mr McMillan said:

"In 2007 the SNP pledged a major increase in police numbers and, in particular, front line police numbers. The securing of this funding ensures that the people of Strathclyde can be assured that our plans for safer streets are on track.

"In Strathclyde as a whole police numbers are steadily rising and we have already seen 205 new front line officers on our streets since October 2008.

"It is good news that the additional funding for police officers secured by the SNP Government is delivering more police on the ground. This will be reassuring for communities, good for police morale and very bad for criminals.

"This great news for Strathclyde highlights how the SNP Government is delivering for the people of the area."

McMillan Welcomes Launch of BusinessClub Scotland

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) today welcomed a new initiative to help Scotland's businesses capitalise on the massive economic opportunities offered by major events held in Scotland.

The launch of BusinessClub Scotland by First Minister Alex Salmond will see a unique collaboration of Scotland's business organisations. The initiative is supported and funded by the Scottish Government, to ensure that firms across Scotland capitalise on the business opportunities from the Year of Homecoming, the 2014 Commonwealth Games and other major events in Scotland.

Mr McMillan said;

"The launch of BusinessClub Scotland will create unique opportunities for businesses throughout Scotland during these difficult economic times.

"It will offer businesses the chance to compete on an international level and develop further, to the benefit of the people of Inverclyde.

"The Scottish Government is demonstrating time and time again it's commitment to business and enterprise, and I believe this scheme can only be good news for local businesses and job prospects in Inverclyde.

"Alongside this announcement, I hope that the Scottish Budget Bill is passed as soon as possible so that local businesses can also benefit from the increased local business bonus scheme on offer."

McMillan Welcomes New Alcohol Sponsorship Guidelines

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) and Member of the Justice Committee has today welcomed new sponsorship guidelines on alcohol announced by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government has reached an agreement with distillers, brewers and alcohol retailers to promote sensible drinking and ensure young people are not targeted under new sponsorship guidelines.

The new guidelines agree that alcohol should not be used to sponsor teams, brands, celebrities or events with particular appeal to under-18s.

Mr. McMillan said;

"I am pleased the Scottish Government has announced new sponsorship guidelines on alcohol.

"This announcement highlights positive, joined up, thinking between the Scottish Government and the alcohol industry and at the same time demonstrates that tackling the issue alcohol misuse is a top priority for this Government.

"All parties involved recognise the need for a cohesive approach to promoting responsible drinking and this announcement will go some way to achieving this."

McMillan Welcomes HMIE Report

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has today welcomed the HMIE report on services to protect children and young people in the Inverclyde Council area by lodging a motion in Parliament praising its findings

Mr McMillan said;

"The hard working groups and individuals who have helped to achieve such a positive report should be incredibly proud of their achievements. They are a credit to Inverclyde and the communities in which they serve.

"The report was universally positive. Of the 18 quality indicators, the Inverclyde Council area achieved 15 very good, two excellent and one good evaluation. It is important to recognise these achievements and the dedication of all those involved".

McMillan Fears For Councils Progress

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has today spoken of the potential dire consequences for Inverclyde Council in light of the Budget being voted down.

Mr McMillan had been encouraged by the latest Audit Scotland report on Inverclyde Council which showed it was finally beginning to make progress after previous damning reports. He stated that Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, had jeopardised this progress by voting against the budget.

Mr McMillan said;

"I fear that Inverclyde Council might now regress into its previous, shambolic, incarnation because of Labour and the Lib Dems at national level voting against the budget. It sends a very conflicting message to the people of Inverclyde.

"The consequences of the decision made by Labour and the Lib Dems could be dire for the people of Inverclyde. It may mean a massive reduction in public services or a huge increase in Council Tax, those on Council Tax Band D could potentially see an increase of £246.79 to their 2009/10 rates.

"In a time of recession the last thing the hard-working people of Inverclyde need is a huge council tax bill. Labour got Scotland into this recession, which has seen jobs being lost in Inverclyde, and now it looks like they want to leave us there".