McMillan Underlines Progress Made on Inverclyde Regeneration

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) today (Wednesday) spoke in the Scottish Government’s Parliamentary debate on regeneration to commend the SNP’s record on investment in Inverclyde, against the background of unprecedented cuts from Westminster.

Mr McMillan highlighted the success that millions of pounds of central government funds have brought about through various initiatives. High on this list was Riverside Inverclyde who have received more than £52.3m since 2006 through a combination of Government, Scottish Enterprise and Inverclyde Council funding.

He went on to outline the other ways that regeneration in Inverclyde has benefited from Scottish Government funding under the SNP, including:

£99m invested in Social Housing, £18m in the Fairer Scotland Fund, £2.2m for Town Centre Regeneration, half the funding for the new additional needs school to be built in Port Glasgow, half the cost of the new Wellpark Centre dealing with addictions funded by the SNP.

Mr McMillan also fiercely defended the Scottish Government’s record against its detractors, instead condemning the Labour party’s record of government by saying;

"In the Greenock Telegraph of 3rd November, Duncan McNeil MSP is quoted as saying:

"Riverside Inverclyde has only just begun its mission to attract jobs and business to the area, and it appears the Scottish Government is pulling the rug from under their feet.’

"If Mr. McNeil actually believes that after receiving £52.3m that the job of job creation has only just begun, and I dare say he does, this just goes to show the state in which Inverclyde was left after decades of Labour misrule in Inverclyde."
　
Mr McMillan also reminded Parliament that the regeneration of Inverclyde and other such areas in Scotland takes place against the backdrop of very challenging economic circumstances, and noted that the job is made no easier when Parliament’s hands are tied by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition in Westminster. He said;

"I appreciate the Scottish Government does have some difficult decisions to make as a result of the ‘never, never’ borrowing of the previous Labour UK Government getting the UK into a mountain of debt and the current ‘too far and too fast’ cuts being implemented by the Tory / Lib Dem Coalition. This Scottish Government and indeed Parliament are at the mercy of political decisions made elsewhere.

"If ever there was an argument for this Parliament to become a normal Independent Parliament then the regeneration debate is it."

McMillan Highlights Bank of Scotland Foundation

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) has today (Monday) highlighted that the Bank of Scotland Foundation first tranche of funding for 2012 is now open and charities have until Monday 16 January to send in their applications.　

Applications are accepted up to and including £20,000 for the Small Grants Programme and grants are awarded for one year only.

Since the Foundation was formed, over 200 charities supporting communities across Scotland have shared just over £1 million of funding through its Small Grants and Matched Giving programmes.

Mr. McMillan said:

"I would encourage local organisations and charities to consider making a submission to the Bank of Scotland Foundation.

"I know in 2011 over £55,000 was given to charities in West Scotland.

"Therefore, a grant of up to £20,000 is an ideal opportunity for charities to obtain much needed funding to allow them to continue or even expand their organisation."

McMillan Welcomes Clamp Down on Metal Theft

An SNP MSP has welcomed news that laws for metal dealers will be tightened –in the wake of reports that thieves are targeting war memorial plaques.

Stuart McMillan SNP MSP for West Scotland wrote to Kenny MacAskill about the increasing number of thefts from railway lines in his constituency.

The Justice Secretary said the licensing regime would be toughened to bring more metal dealers into the scope of licensing rules.

Stuart McMillan, SNP MSP for West Scotland, said:

"This is very welcome action from the Scottish Government which I hope will curb the disgraceful increase in metal thefts which has become a growing problem.

"Tightening of these laws will properly bring more metal dealers into the scope of licensing rules.
"I am pleased at the way the SNP Government has committed to tackling this problem. I welcome the Justice Secretary’s determination to bring nearly all metal dealers into the scope of licensing by dramatically increasing the level of turnover required for exemptions.

"This commitment is particularly welcome at a time when the War Memorials Trust said monuments are increasingly being targeted for metal.

"This issue was originally brought to my attention by constituents who were concerned with delays in train travel – being caused by rail line thefts.

"The current legislation has clearly not deterred thefts and something must be done to get a solution that targets this crime, which is why I welcome the Scottish Government’s plans for secondary legislation in this area beginning with a consultation."

RI Will Survive - McMillan Gets Assurances from Cabinet Secretary

Stuart McMillan MSP SNP has today (Thursday) met with Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment regarding the future of Riverside Inverclyde.

Mr McMillan has won a key concession from the Cabinet Secretary that RI will survive beyond the next financial year (2012/13). The Cabinet Secretary has agreed that RI has an important part to play in Inverclyde’s regeneration and that the URC will be able to bid for government funding up until 2015/16, thereafter the assets of RI will be transferred to another organisation.
RI have a lifespan of 10 years and this is due to come to a natural end by 2016.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr. McMillan said;

"I would like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for agreeing to meet me so soon after I made the request yesterday. I think this shows the importance the Cabinet Secretary places upon the regeneration of Inverclyde and wider Scotland.

"The Cabinet Secretary agreed with me that Inverclyde has made positive strides due to the work of RI. He has listened to my arguments and provided me with an assurance that RI will continue up until the end of its natural life (2015/16).

"Riverside Inverclyde will get funding for next year and thereafter they will be in a position to bid for funds from the new regeneration strategy that will be introduced.

"The news yesterday will have come as a shock to everyone but I am delighted the Cabinet Secretary has listened to my arguments and conceded on the future of RI.

"Acting decisively and pushing Inverclyde’s case forward was the right course of action to take here. I am elected to play my part in moving Inverclyde forward and will always fight Inverclyde’s corner."

‘Shipbuilding Coming Home’

MSP and Local Councillor Welcome Awarding of Shipbuilding Contract to Port Glasgow Yard

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) and local Ward 1 Councillor, Jim Macleod have today (Thursday) welcomed the news that Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow have become the preferred bidder to build the world’s first two ‘hybrid’ ferries. The order for these two ferries totals £20m and it will create an additional 100 jobs including apprenticeships as well as safeguarding another 75 jobs.

Speaking after the announcement, Stuart McMillan MSP, who grew up in Port Glasgow, said:

"This is a tremendous announcement for ‘the Port’, shipbuilding on the lower Clyde and for Inverclyde. Once again the SNP Government are living up to the promises and helping to deliver for Inverclyde.

"These two vessels being built in the town will safeguard employment but also provide new opportunities for young people. The creation of apprenticeships is the icing on the cake for me and I’m sure that whoever obtains these positions will be grateful of the chance.

"Mixing the traditional Clydebuilt skills as well as newer green technologies shows that Port Glasgow can once again be at the vanguard of the shipbuilding industry. These world first vessels will prove to the world that commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde is not over but can be the start of something bigger.

"I grew up in Port Glasgow and my father worked in Ferguson’s before passing away. I know what shipbuilding meant to him and I know what it means to the whole town. Portonians are proud of their history and legacy to the world and we know that we can still contribute to the shipbuilding world.

"I wholeheartedly congratulate everyone associated with Ferguson’s for winning this order. The skills of the workforce are well known and they deserve every credit. I know they will deliver top quality vessels enhancing their reputation even further.

"I also congratulate CMAL for their innovative specification and I welcome the SNP Government providing the finance for this fantastic news.

"Shipbuilding is returning home and I look forward to seeing the progress of these world leading Clydebuilt vessels."

SNP Councillor for Ward 1 (Inverclyde East), Jim MacLeod said:

"I live in Port Glasgow and understand the importance of shipbuilding to the local community as well as to Inverclyde as a whole. This announcement is fantastic news for everyone associated with Fergusons, Port Glasgow and Inverclyde.

"A great news story that will not only help sustain existing jobs at the yard but create many new jobs for people in this district.

"We must also not forget the spin off that these new jobs will create for our local economy.

"Congratulations must go to Alex Neil and the Scottish Government in awarding this order to Fergusons and bringing these new jobs to Port Glasgow. It’s also imperative that the management who won the order and the workforce who will build the vessels deserve credit. Their hard work in this instance has paid off."

McMillan to Meet Infrastructure Secretary over Regeneration Strategy

Tory Lib Dem UK Budget cuts of £1.3bn affect Scottish budget

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) has today (Wednesday) reacted to the announcement surrounding the funding of the Urban Regeneration Company (URC), Riverside Inverclyde (RI).

Mr McMillan has been a supporter of the work of Riverside Inverclyde since his election in 2007 and regularly meets up with RI representatives to keep fully abreast of progress with the URC. Stuart recently met up with RI to discuss renewable opportunities and the promotion of Inverclyde as a place with renewable opportunities.

Mr McMillan said;

"It’s clear that the UK Government budget cuts are having an effect on every part of the UK. Their slashing of the Scottish Government budget by £1.3billion makes the task of trying to keep the economy working even more challenging.

"The Scottish Government have difficult choices to make with £1.3billion less to spend. The current Scottish Budget process is underway and it is proposed that the regeneration budgets were to be amended with a new regeneration strategy to be announced later in the year.

"This morning during the Economy Energy and Tourism Committee budget meeting, Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary, Alex Neil MSP was giving evidence. I asked him about the future of the URC’s and Riverside Inverclyde in particular. He acknowledged that there are challenges facing the URC’s and that work is taking place on the new Regeneration Strategy.

"The Cabinet Secretary has agreed to meet me to discuss the situation facing the URC’s and also to provide an update on the new Regeneration Strategy.

"It is important to acknowledge the vast sums of finance from the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise that RI has received so far – over £39million since 2006. This is in addition to the £2.2million from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

"The current proposals are of course a surprise but I will be pressing the case yet again for RI as I have done consistently over the last 4 years.

"I would hope that elected members of all sides act in a constructive manner to press the case for RI and to ensure Inverclyde gets a good deal when the new Regeneration Strategy is announced. This is a time for a measured response not the histrionics of a bygone era."

McMillan Meets With Minister to Discuss Enterprise Areas

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) and Member of Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy & Tourism Committee has today (Tuesday) met with the Minister for Enterprise, Fergus Ewing MSP, to discuss the Scottish Government’s plans to create four enterprise areas throughout Scotland.

Mr McMillan has recently raised the issue with the Minister in the Scottish Parliament chamber and through Parliamentary Questions. This has now been followed up by a meeting to put forward the case for Inverclyde to be included in the Scottish Government’s plans for enterprise areas.

Mr McMillan said;

“I was pleased to have the opportunity today to sit down with the Minister for Enterprise and Scottish Government officials to highlight the case why Inverclyde should be seriously considered as a future enterprise area.

“As I stated before, I believe Inverclyde is well placed, in terms of knowledge and workforce, to help drive the renewables industry forward. Therefore, the benefits of an enterprise area to Inverclyde would be vast, in-terms of employment opportunities and growing the local economy.

“The Minister is firmly aware of the issues surrounding Inverclyde, such a population decline and unemployment, and I hope he will take on-board my proposal as to why Inverclyde should be considered as an enterprise areas.”