McMillan Welcomes Continued Support for Small Businesses

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) has today (Thursday) welcomed statistics showing 55 per cent of small businesses in West Dunbartonshire are benefitting from the Scottish Government’s Small Business Bonus scheme.

In a written answer Finance Secretary John Swinney MSP confirmed over half of non-domestic properties in Scotland are in receipt of rates relief.
　
Mr McMillan MSP said:

"Scotland’s small businesses play a vital role in our economy and are at the heart of our communities. So it is extremely encouraging to see that 55% of our small businesses in West Dunbartonshire are benefitting from reduced or zero business rates.

"This scheme is helping to create a fairer Scottish business rates system and giving a boost to small companies in the face of economic pressures.

"Only this week Energy Minister Fergus Ewing announced the small business loans scheme, giving £2.5million in funding to help companies install renewables technologies.

"These policies are making a huge difference to small businesses – but I would encourage even more to apply.

"Successful small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, create local jobs and are a fundamental source of entrepreneurship.

"That is why the SNP Government is committed to helping our small businesses withstand the current tough trading conditions and continue to make their crucial economic and employment contribution."

McMillan Welcomes Energy Efficiency Funding for East Dunbartonshire

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government that East Dunbartonshire Council is to receive £250,000 in grants to offer free insulation measures and provide energy saving advice to households.

Scotland's Energy Efficiency Action Plan includes a headline target to reduce total energy consumption by 12 per cent by 2020.

Mr McMillan said;

"This is fantastic news for East Dunbartonshire and the many households who will benefit from insulation measures and energy advice to their homes.

"This funding will help East Dunbartonshire residents cut their energy bills and save money which is of great importance during difficult economic times.

"By improving household energy efficiency, Scots could save an estimated £2 billion by 2020.

"I look forward to hearing how East Dunbartonshire Council will utilise this funding and assist constituents throughout the area."

McMillan Welcomes Flood Forecasting Service

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Monday) welcomed the news from the Scottish Government that a £750,000 flood forecasting service will soon help boost Scotland's resilience against the threat of flooding.

The Scottish Flood Forecasting Service, which should be up and running by March 2011, will link experts from the Met Office's operations centre in Aberdeen and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's flood forecasting team in Perth.

Daily statements will be produced for local authorities and emergency services detailing developing risks, creating early warning of potential flooding and more time to prepare fully for flooding events.

Mr McMillan said;

"The SNP Government is, once again, demonstrating its commitment to tackling the problem of flooding in our communities.

"This service will be a welcome tool for helping local authorities and communities prepare for the potential impact of flooding.

"I know, from speaking to constituents about flooding, this service will be vital for a community such as Inverclyde which has seen a lot of flood problems over the years.

"Therefore, it's vital when the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service is operational that Inverclyde Council and emergency services utilise the service in-order to fully prepare for any potential flood risk."

McMillan Welcomes Progress on High Hedges Issue

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement from the Minister for Community Safety that the Scottish Government is working on bringing forward a piece of legislation, with the target of introducing this to the Scottish Parliament after the May 2011 elections, to deal with high hedge and other nuisance vegetation disputes.

The Scottish Government is working on a cross party approach which it hopes will allow it to bring forward legislation to tackle this anti-social behaviour issue.

Mr McMillan said;

"I welcome the announcement from the Minister for Community Safety that the Scottish Government is working on a cross party approach to tackle high hedge disputes.

"I know, through speaking to constituents, that high hedge and other nuisance vegetation disputes can cause a lot of stress and worry for people. Some constituent have indicated to me they feel there is little assistance available to deal with the problem.

"Therefore, It's important that action is taken to tackle high hedge issues and highlight to constituents that assistance is available to deal with disputes and find a solution."

McMillan Welcomes Huge Savings for Inverclyde Businesses

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has welcomed figures from the Scottish Government showing almost £2,000 in savings for Inverclyde businesses through the Small Business Bonus Scheme in the last year.

Figures revealed through a Parliamentary Question by Mr McMillan’s SNP colleague Christina McKelvie MSP, show an average of £1,351 savings for small businesses in Inverclyde in 2008-209 and £1,757 in 2009-2010.

Mr. McMillan said;

"I have been an advocate of the Small Business Bonus Scheme from the outset and these figures prove just how much it has benefited businesses in Inverclyde.

"An average of £1,757 is a huge sum of money for many small businesses and to have saved in the last year alone is phenomenal.

"This is another example of what the Scottish Government has done to boost Inverclyde’s economy and I fully support anything that can assist businesses in what has been an extremely challenging financial climate".

McMillan Welcomes Government Commitment to Tackle High Hedge Disputes

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has welcomed the continued commitment by the Scottish Government to tackle high hedge and nuisance vegetation disputes. The response came to Mr McMillan from the Minister for Community Safety in a question raised in the Scottish Parliament chamber (Thursday 25th February).

The consultation on High Hedges and other nuisance vegetation closed on Friday 13 November 2009 with over 600 responses. Mr McMillan was one of those to respond to the consultation on behalf of a number of constituents who raised the matter with him.

Mr McMillan said;

"I welcome the Scottish Government's commitment to address the issue of high hedge and nuisance vegetation disputes throughout Scotland.

"I know, from dealing with constituent correspondence, that this is a major issue which is affecting people's lives and one where action can and must be taken.

"Therefore, I made representations to the consultation, undertaken by the Scottish Government, and I hope they will take onboard the concerns of all those people who responded and bring forward measures to address this issue of anti-social behaviour."

McMillan Challenges Labour to explain vote against boiler scrappage scheme

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Thursday) challenged Labour MSP David Whitton to explain why he voted against the Scottish Government’s proposal to implement a central heating boiler scrappage scheme last night after backing calls for such a scheme on his website and calling on the Government to introduce just such a scheme.

Mr McMillan said;

"Only recently Mr Whitton was calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a central heating boiler scrappage scheme to match the scheme which has been rolled out in England.

"With one of the coldest winters in Scotland for decades this is good news for people in East Dunbartonshire. However, Labour has turned its back on this scheme by voting against the budget.

"Considering how Mr Whitton was previously calling for the introduction of a boiler scrappage scheme this backtrack is appalling hypocrisy on his behalf.

"The Scottish Government are committing in full the £2 million Barnett consequentials they received, as a result of UK Government expenditure on its boiler scrappage scheme, to support the Scottish Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

"This will bring together existing schemes to replace inefficient boilers with broader energy efficiency measures.

"Faced with voting for the scheme, they called for, or voting against the SNP Scottish Government they put party politics before the welfare of those people facing fuel poverty."

McMillan Welcomes Scottish Government Programme

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Thursday) welcomed the Scottish Government’s programme for the coming year.

The First Minister set out the Scottish Government’s priorities contained in the document 'Towards a More Successful Scotland'.

The statement to parliament outlined 13 proposed bills, including plans to end the right-to-buy for all new social housing, tackle alcohol misuse and pave the way for a referendum to allow the people of Scotland a free and fair choice on the country's constitutional future.

Mr. McMillan said;

"The Scottish Government is continuing to repay the trust people showed by voting SNP in 2007.

"The SNP Government has made sure that economic recovery is central to its programme for the year ahead – and that includes giving people in Inverclyde a free and fair choice on the future powers of the Scottish Parliament.

"Plans to increase social housing stock and school building programmes will help support jobs and communities across the country in these tough economic times, building on the SNP’s strong record of delivering for the people of Inverclyde.

"The challenges facing Scotland will be all the more trying as the UK Government is cutting Scotland’s budget by £500 million next year. I believe this shows why giving Scotland the chance to choose the economic levers that come with independence has never been more relevant or urgent. It is time for people in Inverclyde to have their say".

McMillan Welcomes Enterprise Minister visit to Inverclyde

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Tuesday) welcomed the visit by Enterprise Minister Jim Mather MSP to Inverclyde. Mr Mather visited Gourock-based Invec Solutions Ltd, which repairs and services electrical equipment. The organisation recently accepted a £190,000 grant to help create 29 new jobs, through Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) from the Scottish Government.

Mr McMillan said;

"I am pleased to hear that the Enterprise Minister has visited Inverclyde and been able to attend Invec Solutions Ltd in Gourock.

"The funding support the organisation has received from the Scottish Government has been vital in allowing them to prosper and expand their workforce.

"During these difficult economic times it's essential that further employment opportunities are available within local communities and the Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) has allowed Invec Solutions Ltd to secure more jobs for Inverclyde.

"This is excellent news which I am sure will be welcomed by all in Inverclyde."

McMillan Celebrates Two Years of Delivery for Inverclyde

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) has celebrated two years of delivery by the Scottish Government for Inverclyde.

With many initiatives being implemented over the past two years Mr. McMillan has highlighted some of the benefits constituents have seen being delivered by the Scottish Government for Inverclyde.

Mr. McMillan said;

"Many people said an SNP Government wouldn’t last but here we are two years later, the only Government delivering for Inverclyde.

"We have seen exceptional benefits in Inverclyde by continuing to freeze council tax, reduce prescription charges to £4 with a view to scrapping them in future, scraping business rates for small businesses and reducing them for medium sized businesses.

"For education the accelerated capital investment from the Scottish Government for the refurbishment of James Watt College meant it being completed earlier this year.

"The announcement of the West of Scotland Loan Fund to be created using the European Social Fund is also great news for Inverclyde and another example of the SNP Government focusing support on the areas that need it most during the recession.

"Housing in Inverclyde has been support by the rolling out of the Scottish Government Open Market Shared Equity Pilot boosting potential for first time buyers.

"We have a record number of police officers on our streets with over 200 more already out in the Strathclyde region. Add to this the £26,000 for Inverclyde to fund community safety initiatives I’m sure people in the area will agree the Scottish Government are providing the resources to make Scotland safer.

"The local economy and communities in Inverclyde have benefited from an SNP Government and I am confident the next two years and beyond will be equally as successful for Inverclyde".

McMillan Says No April Fools

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) and member of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee has today welcomed a number of SNP Government initiatives rolled out across Inverclyde on 1 April to help constituents financially.

As well as a further full council tax freeze, prescription charges will be reduced to £4 paving the way for the complete abolition of prescription charges.

People in Inverclyde will also see the Small Business Bonus Scheme fully implemented with hundreds of small businesses paying no rates at all, and many more seeing rates reduced even further.

Mr. McMillan said;

"The SNP Government can’t be accused of being April Fools when we see prescription charges cut again, another council tax freeze, further cuts for small businesses and much more.

"The Scottish Government are actively helping people in Inverclyde during this economic downturn. It’s a pity the same can’t be said for the UK Government.

"Time and again we are seeing measures from the SNP Government to tackle the inefficiencies caused by successive previous administrations and I am sure these new actions will be welcomed across Inverclyde".