McMillan Visits Evergreen Home Support

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Tuesday) visited Evergreen Home Support, a social enterprise, based in Greenock as part of his West of Scotland summer tour.

Evergreen encourages people to live life more fully, within the boundaries of their own physical and mental capabilities. Evergreen has had five successful Care Commission inspections under its belt in as many years, plus positive reviews from the Office of Scottish Charities Regulations (OSCR) and Inverclyde Council Contracts Monitoring Teams.

Mr McMillan said;

"I was delighted to visit Evergreen Home Support and learn about the fantastic work they are undertaking to support people in the local community.

"It was also great to hear about where the organisation started from and where it has got to today. This has been made possible through lots of hard work from people like Pat Mooney and her dedicated team.

"The offices at Nicholson Street are a credit to Evergreen and I know the funding of over £34,000 from the Scottish Government has allowed Evergreen to expand and help build such offices.

"Therefore, I hope the social enterprise is able to go from strength to strength and continue the great work they currently undertake in our community."

Stuart on Real Radio Football Phone in at the Festival of Poltiics

McMillan Welcomes Kirkintilloch Canal Festival

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) and Member of the Scottish Parliament Tourism Committee has today (Tuesday) welcomed the upcoming Kirkintilloch Canal Festival which takes place on Sunday 29th August. Scotland's Premier Inland Waterways Festival will once again host a fantastic programme of free activity throughout Kirkintilloch.

Mr McMillan has also lodged a motion of support for the festival in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr McMillan said;

"The Kirkintilloch Canal Festival is a highlight in the calendar and a great opportunity to showcase the marina development.

"I've had the opportunity to sail on the canal, more than once, and thoroughly enjoyed my time on the 35 mile stretch of waterway. The scenery is some of the finest I've witnessed and I would encourage people to get along to the Canal Festival and see first hand the opportunities available.
"I would like to credit the work of Kirkintilloch Initiative in redeveloping the Southbank area and I hope this years festival is a great success."

Ends

Notes for editors;

Kirkintilloch Canal Festival website - http://www.kirkintillochcanalfestival.org/index.html

Motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament by Stuart McMillan MSP;

Short title: Kirkintilloch Canal Festival 2010

That the Parliament welcomes the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival which takes place on Sunday 29th August; notes the canal festival is a free entry event showcasing a mix of local musical talent, circus acts with exciting fire shows and dance, there will also be food stalls, exhibitions and market stalls for all to enjoy; further notes at 35 miles long, the canal passes through East Dunbartonshire from east to west, providing a route for sea-going vessels; acknowledges Kirkintilloch is known as ‘The Canal capital of Scotland’ as it’s the only town along the Forth and Clyde Canal corridor to have the canal passing through its town centre; wishes the festival every success for 2010 and hopes it will continue to go from strength to strength.

McMillan Highlights Council Tax Savings for Inverclyde Residents

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) had highlighted the savings for householders in Inverclyde that the council tax freeze has brought about.

Council tax has been frozen in Inverclyde since the SNP came to power and would have been £1,345 for Band D homes this year without the freeze. As it is the average Band D home in Inverclyde has saved £295 since 2007/08.

Mr. McMillan said;

"The SNP has made good our promise to freeze the council tax as we recognised that this is a high and unfair tax burden to many people who were struggling to keep on top of increasing bills.

"Labour’s mismanagement of the UK economy sent Scotland into a recession which means the freeze came along at the right time to benefit the honest, hard-working people in Inverclyde.

"With the average Band D home in Inverclyde saving £295 over the past four years the SNP has rightfully allowed people to keep their hard earned money for themselves at a crucial time for the local economy.

"The next financial settlement will be difficult as we wait to see how the Labour and Tory cuts bite but from the SNP's point of view if it is possible to keep council tax down then it should be kept down."

McMillan Supports Commonwealth Games Team

Stuart has lodged the following motion in the Scottish Parliament supporting the Scottish Commonwealth Games team that will be competing in Delhi in October.

Short title: Scotland's Commonwealth Games Hopefuls

S3M-06848 Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament wishes the Scottish Commonwealth Games team, announced this week, the best of luck and expresses the Parliament’s full support to the team; considers the games in Delhi in October 2010 will provide an excellent platform to promote sport in Scotland; acknowledges that the athletes have all been chosen for their hard work and dedication to their sports; hopes that a team full of such potential can inspire more people to take up sport in Scotland, and further notes the games will pave the way for the event taking place in Glasgow in 2014.

McMillan comments on HMP Inverclyde announcement

Following the announcement by the Scottish Prison Service that they have identified a preffered site for the new HMP Inverclyde prison.

Mr McMillan said;

"This choice of site isn't too much of a surprise. When I met with SPS representatives a few months ago they did highlight there was a range of possible options.

At the time I raised the issue of consultation with the public and they did state there would be extensive consultation.

I would now expect this consultation process to begin as soon as possible so that members of the public who live within the vicinity have an opportunity to make their feelings known."

McMillan Welcomes Funding for Safer Streets

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has welcomed Scottish Government funding to help ensure the streets of Inverclyde are kept safe.

The Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing MSP, has announced £400,000 of funding, which every local authority in Scotland can apply for.

Last year's Safer Streets funding awards benefited projects around Scotland. Community Safety Partnerships in all 32 local authorities used funding for community safety initiatives including high visibility police patrols in 'hot spot' areas, targeting of street drinkers and late night taxi marshals.

Mr. McMillan said;

"We have already made a positive step forward with recorded crime at a 30 year low and a record number of police officers serving Inverclyde, making our streets safer.

"This further funding, which is aimed at assisting local community projects to make our streets even safer at night, is a welcome boost to ensuring we, and our children, can enjoy a safer Scotland.

"I am delighted that the Scottish Government continue their commitment to safer streets in Inverclyde and I hope the local authority apply for the funding".

McMillan Kicks Political Football in to Touch

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) is taking part in a Festival of Politics event that will examine the politics of Scotland’s national game.

The event in the Scottish Parliament debating chamber on Tuesday 17 August at 6pm will give football fans, politicians and sports media alike the chance to discuss what needs to be done to improve the fortunes of our national team.

Other panellists include Jim Jeffries, Heart of Midlothian manager, Mark McGhee, Aberdeen manager, and Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the SPL. Tickets are available through the Real Radio football phone in.

Speaking ahead of the event Mr. McMillan said;

"I am delighted to be taking part in the sixth Festival of Politics, which takes place at the Scottish Parliament, right at the heart of the Edinburgh festival season and venues.

"As a massive football fan in general I always follow the progress of our national team, which we all know isn’t normally accompanied by victorious celebration.

"I hope this event will prove to be a lively discussion between fans, pundits and politicians to see if we can come up with some solutions to our disappointing status in world football.

"I can’t promise a pie and Bovril but I have no doubt the calibre of my fellow panellists will provide some entertaining debate".

McMillan Encourages Rural Inverclyde to Speak Up

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has called on the rural communities in Inverclyde to contribute to a new Scottish Government consultation on the future of such areas.

A three month consultation, which is open till 25th October 2010, has been launched on plans devised by the Rural Development Council to help economic recovery.

Mr. McMillan said;

"Whilst Inverclyde is not predominantly rural we still have a number of rural communities and I would like to see them have their say with regards to the future of rural Scotland.

"The Rural Development Council have published their report on the future of such areas and the Scottish Government are now seeking your opinion on the proposals.

"It is important to hear what you have to say and how you see the plans affecting individuals, families, businesses and communities.

"We have an excellent reputation for our rural areas providing an ideal place to live, work and raise a family it would be great to make sure it stays that way. But that can only be achieved if people in rural communities tell the Scottish Government what needs to be done in order to shape the policy direction of rural Scotland and ensure we are equipped to play a vital role in Scotland in the 21st century."

McMillan Attends HMS Waverly Commemoration Unveiling

Stuart has today attended a commemorative unveiling at Wemyss Bay Station.

The Freinds of Wemyss Bay Station created a plant reproduction of the crest of the HMS Waverly to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk, in which the Waverly took part.

Stuart commented:

"I commend Friends of Wemyss Bay Station once again for their efforts to preserve and improve the aesthetics of the Station.

"This mornings commemoration for the first HMS Waverly and the vital role it played at Dunkirk during the Second World War is a fitting addition to the history of the Station."

McMillan Visits East Dunbartonshire Food Co-op

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Monday) visited East Dunbartonshire Food Co-op project as part of his four week West of Scotland summer tour.

The East Dunbartonshire Food Co-op has now been operating successfully since 1st March 2010. The non-profit making project is run 'by the community for the community'.

During the visit Mr McMillan was accompanied by Andrew Robertson, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chairman.

Mr McMillan said;

"I was delighted to spend the afternoon with East Dunbartonshire Food Co-op and learn more about their local community project which educates the public on the benefits of healthy eating.

"This project plays a vital role in offering the people of East Dunbartonshire access to high quality affordable fresh fruit and veg.

"Therefore, I would encourage the local community to get down to the food co-op to learn more about healthy eating and the benefits this brings to all the family."