Thursday, 29 September 2011
Fight to Save Clyde Coastguards Continues
Stuart McMillan MSP joins a delegation to meet with First Minister Alex Salmond MSP. The First Minister added his full support to maintaining Coastguards services on the Clyde:
Monday, 26 September 2011
McMillan Welcomes Action to Combat Fuel Poverty
Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) and Member of the Scottish Parliament Energy Committee has today (Monday) welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government that 200,000 homes across Scotland will be offered free help to save on energy bills.
Over the next year, the £12.5 million Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) will be administered by local authorities to offer a range of free home insulation measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty.
Mr McMillan said;
“I’m pleased to learn the Scottish Government continues to take the issue of fuel poverty very seriously and this funding announcement further demonstrates that commitment.
“With the onset of winter just round the corner, now more than ever, we need to offer support and immediate assistance to those most in need to help them heat their homes and stay energy efficient.
“Therefore, I welcome the Universal Home Insulation funding of £ 175,000 for West Dunbartonshire.”
Over the next year, the £12.5 million Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) will be administered by local authorities to offer a range of free home insulation measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty.
Mr McMillan said;
“I’m pleased to learn the Scottish Government continues to take the issue of fuel poverty very seriously and this funding announcement further demonstrates that commitment.
“With the onset of winter just round the corner, now more than ever, we need to offer support and immediate assistance to those most in need to help them heat their homes and stay energy efficient.
“Therefore, I welcome the Universal Home Insulation funding of £ 175,000 for West Dunbartonshire.”
Friday, 23 September 2011
McMILLAN CALLS TO HALT COASTGUARD CLOSURE
SNP MSP AT THE CENTRE OF FIGHT TO SAVE CLYDE COASTGUARD WITH LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT OF CONSULTATION
SNP MSP Stuart McMillan will make a final plea tomorrow (Saturday) to the UK government to reverse their current proposals to close the Clyde coastguard station.
The Tory-Lib plans will see the Clyde MRCC in the next four years with responsibility for the busy and extensive waters being divvied up between centres at Belfast and Stornoway.
At a meeting in Greenock tomorrow Mr McMillan will join campaigners at a rally in the fight to keep Scotland's busiest coastguard station open.
There is now only 13 days until the end of the consultation and the West of Scotland MSP will be joined and supported in a show of local solidarity by other elected political representatives and trade unionists.
Mr McMillan said:
“As the clock ticks the people of Inverclyde and all over the West of Scotland are becoming increasingly aware of just how serious this is.
“We can only hope that the Westminster Government pay attention to the specialist needs of our rugged coastline which has some of the busiest waters for tourists and most significant shipping channels for trade anywhere in the UK.
“I got involved in politics to try and help people, not to put peoples’ lives into danger, and putting peoples’ lives into danger is exactly what the UK government proposals will do if the cuts are made.
“I wonder if the people behind these proposals have looked into the possible loss of lives when there is a delay when there is a call out from Belfast or Stornoway?
“And there is no substitute for local knowledge. Not only will the teams from the other centres be stretched if they have to look after Clyde’s huge and busy area but they won’t know the coastline the way the team here do.”
SNP MSP Stuart McMillan will make a final plea tomorrow (Saturday) to the UK government to reverse their current proposals to close the Clyde coastguard station.
The Tory-Lib plans will see the Clyde MRCC in the next four years with responsibility for the busy and extensive waters being divvied up between centres at Belfast and Stornoway.
At a meeting in Greenock tomorrow Mr McMillan will join campaigners at a rally in the fight to keep Scotland's busiest coastguard station open.
There is now only 13 days until the end of the consultation and the West of Scotland MSP will be joined and supported in a show of local solidarity by other elected political representatives and trade unionists.
Mr McMillan said:
“As the clock ticks the people of Inverclyde and all over the West of Scotland are becoming increasingly aware of just how serious this is.
“We can only hope that the Westminster Government pay attention to the specialist needs of our rugged coastline which has some of the busiest waters for tourists and most significant shipping channels for trade anywhere in the UK.
“I got involved in politics to try and help people, not to put peoples’ lives into danger, and putting peoples’ lives into danger is exactly what the UK government proposals will do if the cuts are made.
“I wonder if the people behind these proposals have looked into the possible loss of lives when there is a delay when there is a call out from Belfast or Stornoway?
“And there is no substitute for local knowledge. Not only will the teams from the other centres be stretched if they have to look after Clyde’s huge and busy area but they won’t know the coastline the way the team here do.”
Thursday, 22 September 2011
McMillan Secures Enterprise Zone Meeting
Stuart McMillan MSP SNP has today secured a meeting with Minster for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing MSP, to discuss the possibility of bringing a new ‘Enterprise Zone’ to Inverclyde.
Mr McMillan raised the issue in a question in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament, asking what consideration has been given to creating an enterprise zone in Inverclyde, and about the possibility of linking enterprise zones with the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund (NRIF) . Mr Ewing commended Mr McMillan on his persistence on this issue and agreed to meet with Mr McMillan to see how the proposal could be taken forward.
Mr McMillan said;
"I believe there is a massive opportunity to create something positive in Inverclyde via the creation of an ‘enterprise zone’ in the area.
“I propose that this is done in conjunction with the NRIF as the renewables industry is vital to the future of Scotland and I believe Inverclyde is well placed, in terms of knowledge and workforce, to help drive this industry forward.
“Inverclyde was an enterprise zone in the past and it wasn't a success. At the time, the Tories were in power at Westminster and Labour were in power in Inverclyde. It really was a missed opportunity, but I am sure that if organised properly it can be a success and bring massive benefits to the area.
“Inverclyde deserves better and I am pleased the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, has agreed to meet with me to see how we can take my proposals forward.”
Mr McMillan raised the issue in a question in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament, asking what consideration has been given to creating an enterprise zone in Inverclyde, and about the possibility of linking enterprise zones with the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund (NRIF) . Mr Ewing commended Mr McMillan on his persistence on this issue and agreed to meet with Mr McMillan to see how the proposal could be taken forward.
Mr McMillan said;
"I believe there is a massive opportunity to create something positive in Inverclyde via the creation of an ‘enterprise zone’ in the area.
“I propose that this is done in conjunction with the NRIF as the renewables industry is vital to the future of Scotland and I believe Inverclyde is well placed, in terms of knowledge and workforce, to help drive this industry forward.
“Inverclyde was an enterprise zone in the past and it wasn't a success. At the time, the Tories were in power at Westminster and Labour were in power in Inverclyde. It really was a missed opportunity, but I am sure that if organised properly it can be a success and bring massive benefits to the area.
“Inverclyde deserves better and I am pleased the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, has agreed to meet with me to see how we can take my proposals forward.”
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
McMillan Welcomes Budget for Scotland
Stuart McMillan MSP SNP has welcomed today’s Budget announcement and three year spending review by Finance Secretary John Swinney MSP.
The budget has set out the Scottish Government’s spending commitments for the year 2012-13 and the spending review set out spending plans for the subsequent two years.
Key announcements include plans to maintain the Council Tax freeze, an increase in real terms funding for frontline NHS and the creation of a £50 million Early Years Fund.
Commenting on the spending review announcement Mr McMillan said:
“Today’s spending review shows why the SNP Government’s economic strategy is working, whilst the UK Government’s is failing, with Scotland having lower unemployment and higher employment than in the rest of the UK.
“John Swinney has invested in jobs, in infrastructure and in real change to Scotland’s public services so we can prevent the problems facing our society instead of meeting the cost of cleaning them up.
“The news of investment in the housing sector through the building of 30,000 news homes is to be welcomed, particularly in Inverclyde where we have seen record investment in social housing by the Scottish Government in recent years.
“With a council tax freeze continuing to deliver support for Scotland’s households we are seeing Scotland through the tough times and with investment in early years, broadband and renewables we are backing the future of our nation.
“Instead of cutting too far and too fast like the UK Government the SNP Government has delivered a balanced budget that protects investment and supports jobs. Meanwhile Labour has put their heads back in the sand demanding everything with no indication of how they would fund anything.
“We must all work together to get Scotland through the tough times imposed by Tory/Lib-Dem London coalition.”
The budget has set out the Scottish Government’s spending commitments for the year 2012-13 and the spending review set out spending plans for the subsequent two years.
Key announcements include plans to maintain the Council Tax freeze, an increase in real terms funding for frontline NHS and the creation of a £50 million Early Years Fund.
Commenting on the spending review announcement Mr McMillan said:
“Today’s spending review shows why the SNP Government’s economic strategy is working, whilst the UK Government’s is failing, with Scotland having lower unemployment and higher employment than in the rest of the UK.
“John Swinney has invested in jobs, in infrastructure and in real change to Scotland’s public services so we can prevent the problems facing our society instead of meeting the cost of cleaning them up.
“The news of investment in the housing sector through the building of 30,000 news homes is to be welcomed, particularly in Inverclyde where we have seen record investment in social housing by the Scottish Government in recent years.
“With a council tax freeze continuing to deliver support for Scotland’s households we are seeing Scotland through the tough times and with investment in early years, broadband and renewables we are backing the future of our nation.
“Instead of cutting too far and too fast like the UK Government the SNP Government has delivered a balanced budget that protects investment and supports jobs. Meanwhile Labour has put their heads back in the sand demanding everything with no indication of how they would fund anything.
“We must all work together to get Scotland through the tough times imposed by Tory/Lib-Dem London coalition.”
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
McMillan Welcomes Reduction in Flytipping
Stuart McMillan MSP SNP has welcomed figures released today that show the number of instances of flytipping in West Dunbartonshire has reduced significantly.
Figures released by the Scottish Government show that instances of flytipping in West Dunbartonshire have reduced from 860 in 2009/2010 to 446 in 2010/2011.
Mr McMillan said;
"I was pleased to learn of the dramatic reduction in instances of flytipping in West Dunbartonshire.
“This demonstrates the success of work undertaken by West Dunbartonshire Council and the Scottish Fly-tipping Forum, funded by the Scottish Government through Zero Waste Scotland, to help remove flytipping from our society.
“Flytipping blights far too many beauty spots and communities in Scotland and any action to help reduce its prevalence is to be welcomed.
“There is still plenty work to be done on this issue and I am sure all parties involved will be working hard to bring this figure down further in 2011/2012.”
Figures released by the Scottish Government show that instances of flytipping in West Dunbartonshire have reduced from 860 in 2009/2010 to 446 in 2010/2011.
Mr McMillan said;
"I was pleased to learn of the dramatic reduction in instances of flytipping in West Dunbartonshire.
“This demonstrates the success of work undertaken by West Dunbartonshire Council and the Scottish Fly-tipping Forum, funded by the Scottish Government through Zero Waste Scotland, to help remove flytipping from our society.
“Flytipping blights far too many beauty spots and communities in Scotland and any action to help reduce its prevalence is to be welcomed.
“There is still plenty work to be done on this issue and I am sure all parties involved will be working hard to bring this figure down further in 2011/2012.”
Thursday, 15 September 2011
McMILLAN SPEAKS OF ADMIRATION FOR UCS WORKERS
The Scottish Parliament is this evening to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’(UCS) work-in. The members debate will see politicians from all sides of the chamber speak in commemoration of the industrial action which gained worldwide prominence before First Minister Alex Salmond speaks at a reception to honour those who took part.
Ahead of the debate, SNP parliamentarians spoke of their admiration for those involved in work-in.
SNP MSP for the West of Scotland Stuart McMillan said:
“The UCS dispute was an event of great historical significance which had long term effects many years afterwards.
“I had the pleasure of campaigning with the late Jimmy Reid in 2005 and 2007 and we discussed the events of the time.
“It was obvious the men were determined to fight for their livelihoods in the face of great adversity. Listening to Jimmy explain these events was an education.”
Ahead of the debate, SNP parliamentarians spoke of their admiration for those involved in work-in.
SNP MSP for the West of Scotland Stuart McMillan said:
“The UCS dispute was an event of great historical significance which had long term effects many years afterwards.
“I had the pleasure of campaigning with the late Jimmy Reid in 2005 and 2007 and we discussed the events of the time.
“It was obvious the men were determined to fight for their livelihoods in the face of great adversity. Listening to Jimmy explain these events was an education.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)