Dundee SNP

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick accompanied Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop on a visit to two of Dundee’s leading computer games development companies today, visiting Tag Games at Greenmarket and Dynamo Games at Springfield.

Pictures show Joe with the Minister and Paul Farley, Managing Director of Tag Games and with the Minister and Lucy Milne, an artist developing content for Dynamo Games.

Joe said: “I am delighted that the Minister has come to Dundee to show support for the computer games industry in the city which is diverse, vibrant and at the cutting-edge of the industry.

“Both of these companies have recently received investment from the Digital Media IP Fund, jointly financed by Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland Innovation Fund to encourage co-investment from the private sector to generate revenue and stimulate development of innovative non-broadcast interactive digital content.

“At Tag, we saw the progress being made on development of games apps based around Channel 4 programmes which includes ‘Come Dine With Me’ and at Dynamo spoke about their new game, ‘Soccer Tycoon’ which is available free on Facebook.

“There is a lot happening in the games industry in Dundee which continues to expand and reach new heights of success.”

The Minister is to speak later today at the Digital Spark Intellectual Property Conference at Abertay.

Dundee’s MSPs today reacted to the weekend’s horrific dog mauling of a 10 year old girl in the city’s Dryburgh area. The 10 year old was pulled from her bike and mauled by two rottweilers and is presently recovering after emergency surgery. She has been left with two permanent pins in a broken jaw and severe damage to her arms and legs.

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “This horrific attack has appalled everyone and our sympathies go to Rhianna and her family. The big question here which we must have answered is why these rottweilers were roaming about unsupervised to carry out this horrific attack. The dogs have been caught and impounded and will no doubt be put down but I hope the authorities will take action against the owner.

“Most dog owners are reponsible, but the new Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act moves the onus from the dog to the minority of irresponsible owners who should not have a dog at all. It goes further than ever before in ensuring safe and responsible dog-ownership.”

“It was precisely dog attacks like this over previous years which has led to the new legislation at the Scottish Parliament.

“The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 received its Royal Assent and became law on 26 May this year. It is presently in process of implementation by local authorities and was introduced because there were loopholes in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 which had failed to make the public any safer from dangerous dogs.

“In fact, statistics showed that the number of people attending hospital following a dog bite doubled since the Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced. It was this that forced Scottish MSPs to take action.

Joe FItzPatrick continued: “The remit Councils now have under the new law means they have to compile a list of potential dangerous dogs and it is up to everyone to ensure that that list includes dogs ‘at risk’ of getting a ‘doggie asbos’.

“It is not possible to ensure dog attacks never occur, these are animals – unpredictable. No-one is trying to pretend that we can do that, but these new provisions seems to go as far as is possible to prevent it.

“The public can help by drawing the attention of the new local authority ‘authorised officers’ to incidents which have occured which may have given rise to alarm or apprehension for an individual’s own safety, the safety of some other person or the safety of an animal other that the dog in question.”

“The Act will operate on a preventative basis. Control Orders – a written notice –  will be issued to owners of dogs that have on at least one occasion been out of control. This ‘doggie asbo’ requires the owner to bring and keep the dog under control and to have it microchipped within 14 days of the notice.

“These orders will be issued if the behaviour of any dog gives cause for alarm or makes an individual apprehensive.

“Once an order has been issued, the owner must comply with the terms of it. If the owner fails to comply, the local authorities can take immediate action to ensure public safety. This means that where certain circumstances warrant, local authorities have the power to order the destruction of a dangerous or unresponsive dog and this could apply even if a dangerous dogs order had not previously been issued, or in place of a further order if they had been.”

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said: “The new Act was specifically introduced to put an end as far as is possible to dog maulings and the type of the horrific incidents such as we have seen in Dundee over the years.

“It is more comprehensive that previous legislation and gives the authorities more powers to tackle irresponsible dog ownership and dangerous dogs.

“A new national database, known as ‘The Scottish Dog Control Database’ may be set up as part of the Act after consultation with local authorities to monitor the effectiveness of Dog Control Notices. The public will have a right to access information about the database.

“The Bill was originally introduced by Alex Neil but continued by MSP Christine Grahame when Alex became Housing Minister and it should offer a greater degree of control on dangerous dogs and on who can own them and should allow us to reduce the number of incidents by making the keeping of these types of vicious breeds a thing of the past.”

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick paid tribute to Barnardos Family Support Team which yesterday celebrated its 25th year of service in Dundee. The MSP attended the organisation’s drop-in event at its premises in 14 Dudhope Street.

Joe said: “I’m happy to congratulate the Family Support team staff and volunteers on their twenty five years of service to the community. They do a great job and make a big difference to local families by intervening and offering support, information, short breaks and activities for children and young people. 

“Dave Anderson and his team have, over the years, made a big difference not just in the service they provide themselves but in their promotion of new services towards inclusion, disabled children and young carers which are now provided by other new groups in the city. They have been a force for change.”

Picture shows; front left: Dave Anderson, Children’s Services Manager, Martin Crewe, Director, Barnardo’s Scotland, Cllr Liz Fordyce, Dundee City Council Education Convenor and Joe FitzPatrick Dundee West MSP, with staff, volunteers and parents.

For further information about Barnardos, contact Marina Sinclair, email: marina-sinclair@barnardos.org.uk  or visit website: www.barnardos.org.uk/familysupportdundee

The first major study of the potential impact of the offshore wind industry in Scotland, jointly commissioned by Scottish Renewables and Scottish Enterprise, was warmly welcomed today in Dundee.

The city’s constituency MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick reacted positively to the new 56 page report, launched earlier today, which suggests the new industry could lead to the creation of up to 48,000 jobs – 28,000 directly in the industry with 20,000 in related sectors – by 2020.

The Report, ‘Scottish Offshore Wind: Creating an Industry’ claims the Scottish industry could achieve an output of between 1.3 GW to 10.6 GW dependent on the success of strategic investment and other factors.

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said: “This comprehensive report proves that Scotland’s renewables industry is the biggest economic prize on offer for decades. It can become the nation’s biggest employer – but only if we can grasp the opportunity and work together to make it happen.

“Other areas in the UK and across Europe are fighting for the same jobs but Scotland starts with many natural advantages which they do not have, not least the length of our coast and the force of the wind and tidal power that can be harnessed off our shoreline.

“We have superlative academic research expertise at the top end of the industry finding ever more efficient ways of harnessing green power and we can deploy a highly-skilled workforce. We also have considerable technical resources in marine engineering and have already made strategic investment in suitable locations, such as at Dundee Port, to help maximise our potential in the new industry.”

Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee West and Vice-Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Renewable Energy at the Scottish Parliament, said: “Coming close on the heels of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan, this report by Scottish Renewables and Scottish Enterprise confirms the scale of the opportunities within our grasp.

“We are totally committed to Dundee being at the heart of the Scottish renewables industry, not just for the huge scale of jobs it might bring but because our society will benefit from lower carbon emissions as we move to greener energy.”

“Dundee Renewables, which brings together all the key players in the public and private sectors locally, is working hard to ensure that Dundee grabs a significant share of the new industry and attracts major offshore turbine manufacturing companies to the city to build turbines and to provide maintenance and support for the offshore industry.

“We are also working with Scottish Government and Dundee City Council to ensure that we have the required road and rail infrastructure in place at Dundee Port along with grid connections to make this happen in Dundee.”

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has welcomed a Big Lottery Fund award of just under £10,000 to Broughty Ferry Development Trust to enable the group to go ahead with a feasibility study of the central esplanade area.

Broughty Ferry Development Trust’s project, which secured £9,800 funding from the Lottery’s Investing in Ideas programme, aims to commission a feasibility study into the buildings located around Broughty Ferry beach and esplanade, located in Dundee.

Community consultations carried out by other groups have already identified services that are not currently available, such as a cafe/shop, changing facilities and extended leisure facilities.

The study would audit the existing buildings in the area and determine what could be provided from these buildings and will also look at whether a new build community building would be a better alternative for the community.

Stewart Hosie said today: “I am delighted that Broughty Development Trust has secured this money for their consultation and study.

“The group has rapidly built a significant membership from the local community and regularly consults with statutory and voluntary bodies and local people for their views as to how Broughty can be improved.

“The award will let them get ahead with the work and the local community are bound to benefit from it.

“My congratulations go to Anya Lawrence and the Committee of the Trust for their hard work on this project.”

Rushton Court, the brand-new police forensic laboratory in the Dundee One building at the waterfront, could be the key to winning the battle against crime over the next decades according to Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick.

The MSP was speaking after a national report showed that a re-organisation of Scotland’s forensic laboratories was vital to provide a more cost-effective and consistent crime-detection service to the nation’s eight police forces and procurator fiscals.

The Scottish Police Service Authority’s paper, ‘Forensic Service Modernisations Options’ raises four options for the future structure of the service and the Dundee West MSP believes that the new Dundee lab should be one of two – along with a new lab to be built at Gartcosh – to provide the national service.

This will mean an increased role for the new Dundee lab and its state-of-the art facilities and may bring more civil service jobs to the city.

Joe FitzPatrick, who has raised a Parliamentary Motion on the subject (see below) said: “Since it was set up in 2007, the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) has aimed to provide Scotland’s police forces with a more effective and consistent national forensic service to meet an ever increasing demand.

“DNA fingerprinting and analysis and scenes-of-crime support are benefiting from advances in technique and technology.

“A national forensic service is vital and a key element is consistency and standardisation. At the same time, we need to take account of financial challenges facing the public sector.

“At present there are four laboratories but the report identifies the real opportunities for more effective utilisation of resources through a two laboratory structure as the most cost-effective option.

“Local Crime Scene Examination Services at each of the eight police forces HQs will stay under the new structure.

”As a brand-new custom-built laboratory, Rushton Court here in Dundee is crucial to the future of the service. I believe a two-lab option will provide the highest level of efficiency for the lowest cost – allowing savings of £3.5m by 2015 – and therefore will provide the best possible crime detection service to Scotland’s police forces and the wider public at optimum cost.”
The report follows a year long analysis by the SPSA management of how to provide a forensic service which better meets the national needs of police forces and fiscals. It is presently being considered as part of a six-week consultation process on the service structure options which aims to reach consensus on the best way forward.

SNP President Ian Hudghton MEP today commented on the recent unilateral action by Iceland to extend their mackerel quota and on their forthcoming referendum on EU membership.

Mr Hudghton participated in the debate in the European Parliament on Iceland’s application for EU membership on 7 July while formal talks between the European Union and Iceland continue.

Of a total of 22 MEPs who won speaking time in the debate, 6 of whom were from parts of the UK, with Ian Hudghton the only MEP from Scotland who spoke in the debate.

Ian Hudghton said: “I was the only MEP who took advantage of the opportunity in the general debate to refer to the mackerel issue.

“I fully support the Scottish pelagic industry in its view of recent actions by Iceland on mackerel quota. That is why in the debate I said that there is a need for urgent discussion with Iceland on the issue of the mackerel fishery and that these discussions should be brought forward.

“Action on the mackerel issue cannot wait to be included in the one or two year process of detailed membership negotiations with Iceland. Existing bilateral agreements ought to be enforced.

“Very recently it has been reported that there is increasing opposition to EU membership among Icelanders. There is no attraction whatsoever for Iceland in being offered the opportunity to join the EU Common Fisheries Policy as it stands. Therefore there is no leverage to be had, on the mackerel issue, from threatening to block Iceland’s accession to the EU and the CFP.

“Following the debate, a very large majority of MEPs approved a 32-paragraph resolution on Iceland’s EU membership bid. One section acknowledged that ‘Iceland has managed its marine resources in a responsible and sustainable manner’, and called for a ‘constructive attitude in fisheries talks so that the outcome may be a mutually satisfactory solution based on best practices and protecting the best interests of both fishermen and consumers in the EU as well as in Iceland’.

“All 6 of Scotland’s MEPs supported that resolution.

“If Iceland does agree a deal on EU membership terms, do not be surprised if independent Iceland demonstrates that it has more clout on CFP reform than Scotland has as part of the UK.

“But, if Icelanders perceive that Brussels is determined to retain an over-centralised and dictatorial CFP regime, promising equal access to waters and resources, do not be surprised if Icelanders reject EU membership in their referendum.

“There are few people who would say that the CFP has managed the EU’s fisheries in a responsible and sustainable manner. That is why I will continue to speak out strongly for a very radical approach in the current CFP reform process, calling for the return of real management power to fishing nations such as Scotland.”

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie today congratulated Council staff and volunteers who look after two green spaces in Dundee East which have won Green Flag awards.

Barnhill Rock Garden and Baxter Park – along with Trottick in Dundee West – have won the highly-regarded award for raising and maintaining the standards of UK green spaces.

The annual scheme, run by a partnership which includes the Department for Communities and Local Government, Keep Britain Tidy, GreenSpace and BTCV, has proved an effective means of promoting well-cared for and maintained public parks and green open spaces.

Commenting on the awards, Stewart Hosie said: “I am delighted that two awards have come to Dundee East and three to Dundee overall, out of 26 across Scotland.

“Barnhill Rock Garden and Baxter Park are wonderful green spaces which enhance the quality of life of an increasing number of people.

“Every community needs access to good quality green spaces and Dundee is very lucky to have some wonderful parks and gardens.

“It is a particularly timely award for Baxter Park as this weekend the local community will gather for the annual Celebration in the Park [Saturday 7^th August, 1pm-4pm]

“Barnhill Rock Garden is the jewel in the crown of local green spaces and its success is largely due to large numbers of local volunteers who have worked hard to keep it looking at its best.

“Dundee City Council staff and numerous public-spirited volunteers who maintain and cherish these places deserve our congratulations for winning the Green Flag Awards and deserve our thanks and congratulations for the work which they continue to do.”

SNP MSPs Joe FitzPatrick and Shona Robison are putting together a team for this year’s Relay for Life, on the 28^th of August.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “We will be taking part in the fourth Dundee Relay for Life and are putting together a team to walk in relay for 24 hours around the track in Caird Park.  It’s great than we can help to promote these important fund-raising events for Cancer Research UK.

“There is still plenty of time for local businesses,  individuals and community groups to get involved and set up a team to take part. To find out more, visit the website: www.cancerresearchuk.org/relay/venues/dundee or email: dundeerelayforlife@live.co.uk and help to make the Dundee Relay event the biggest yet.”

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health & Sport, said: “NHS Scotland met the national target to treat 95% of urgently referred cancer patients within two months in the reporting period between October and December 2008 and this has continued through the period October to December 2009.

“While this is excellent news, we should be doing all we can to raise money to fund the treatment of those already suffering from cancer, and to find new cures. A great way of raising money for this valuable work is to take part in the Relay for Life.

“The event has a particular resonance to many families who have had family members or friends affected by cancer. People in Dundee are also aware of the battle being waged right here in Dundee at the Bio-Medical campus to find long term cures and prevention strategies for the most virulent forms of the disease.

“In February, Cancer Research UK opened its first Scottish Cancer Research Centre in Dundee. With funding of £7.5m per year, the Dundee Cancer Research UK Centre is setting the pace in finding cures for bowel, breast and skin cancer, and building on Dundee’s world class research Bio-medical reputation.

“Every year, approximately 30,000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with cancer, and studies show that this figure is set to increase to almost 35,000 in 2016-2020 due to the rise in our elderly population.

“Although in the past five years, overall cancer mortality rates have decreased, cancer remains a National Clinical Priority for the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland who set up ‘Better Care Scotland’ in 2008 to focus on providing qualitative improvements to the services and support provided in Scotland. “