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MP Comments on Employment and Unemployment Improvements

April 17, 2013 Uncategorized No comments

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie commented today as new official figures showed that the unemployment rate in Dundee East at 5.7% is lower than in February and lower than this time last year. It also compares favourably with the Scottish average of 7.3% and the UK average of 7.9%.

The Scottish Government have also released new figures today which show that Scotland’s growing economy has helped to secure significant increases in employment and reduction in unemployment.

Employment in Scotland rose by 39,000 or 1% in the first quarter of 2013, the largest increase since 2000, taking the headline employment rate 71.7% which is higher than the UK rate of 71.4%.

Meanwhile unemployment fell by 11,000 or 0.5% in the first three months of the year to a rate of 7.3%, lower than the UK’s unemployment rate of 7.9%. UK unemployment rose by 70,000 to 2.56 million during this period.

Progress on tackling youth unemployment also continued, with the rate of youth unemployment now down 6.8% in the past year. Scotland’s youth unemployment rate of 16.1% compares to a higher UK rate of 20.6%, while Scotland’s youth employment rate of 56.7% is higher than the UK’s rate of 49.7%.

Figures also published today show that Scotland’s GDP increased by 0.5% in the quarter from October to December last year, which compares extremely favourably to the performance of the UK economy during the same period where GDP reduced by 0.3%.

Commenting on both sets of figures, Stewart Hosie said: “Obviously, these new figures show better news for Scotland and Dundee and that we are moving in the right direction.

“Unemployment is still the main issue which the Scottish and Westminster Governments deal with and it is a tragedy for every person who is unemployed.

“The UK Government is in control of the big levers of government including the tax system but the Scottish Government is doing everything it can within its powers to tackle unemployment and has prioritised the issue by appointing the only dedicated Minister for youth employment in the UK — and that action is starting to show results.

“Funding capital projects is the single most effective way in which we can get the economy moving again.

“The Scottish Government and Dundee City Council have brought forward infrastructure projects in Dundee and secured investment to keep the waterfront project moving forward with the V&A and the replacement Olympia, seven new schools and we are funding a record number of apprenticeship places in Dundee.

“We can always do more but I think that most people accept that we are doing the best we can with the powers we have to tackle unemployment and that we have made a difference, moving Dundee forward.”

 

Mark McDonald’s High Hedges Bill Awaiting Royal Assent

March 29, 2013 Uncategorized No comments

North East SNP MSP Mark McDonald’s Member’s Bill the High Hedges (Scotland) Bill has passed another hurdle on its way to becoming law after being approved at the Scottish Parliament.

Mr McDonald lodged the bill last October, winning the full support of the Scottish Government in taking forward the SNP’s manifesto pledge to deal with the problem of nuisance high hedges.

The High Hedges (Scotland) Bill tackles the issue of both evergreen and deciduous nuisance high hedges after Mr McDonald accepted an amendment expanding the definition to include deciduous hedges in recognition of the problems these hedges can cause in cutting light levels to domestic properties.

The Bill enables individuals to take complaints about hedges to their local authority if other efforts to resolve disputes have been unsuccessful. Local authorities will have the power to compel hedge owners to act, or to take action on their behalf, if the hedge is deemed to be a high hedge under the terms set out by the bill. Both the complainant and hedge owner will have the right of appeal.

Following parliamentary approval, the bill now awaits Royal Assent and a discussion period with a variety of organisations as guidance is drawn up for local authorities on how the bill will operate. It is anticipated the bill will come into force in the first half of 2014.

Commenting, Mr McDonald said, “I am delighted that the bill has been passed by parliament.

Given that there have been a number of unsuccessful attempts to pass this legislation since 2000, it has been a long time coming.

“I am grateful to the many organisations and individuals who have had an input to this process, and who have been working hard to ensure not just that the legislation came into effect, but that it was as robust and effective as possible.

“This legislation will provide an effective means of resolving high hedge disputes. It remains my wish to see disputes resolved amicably and without the need for any form of action by local authorities.

“I have no doubt that campaigners will be delighted to see this legislation come into effect.”

Stewart Hosie MP: “This Bedroom tax only works if the policy fails!”

February 28, 2013 Uncategorized No comments

UK Minister Questioned on Remploy Dundee Business Case

February 5, 2013 Uncategorized No comments

Shona Joe Tay BridgeDundee’s constituency MSPs today questioned Esther McVey, UK Minister for the Disabled, on the timetable for consideration of bids for Dundee Remploy at a meeting in City Chambers convened by the Lord Provost.

 

The Minister, who was accompanied by Tim Matthews, CEO of Remploy and senior staff at Remploy and KPMG who are considering bids for the factory network, told the meeting that there were three notes of interest at present including one for all three of the Frontline textile factories, one for the Dundee factory and another specifically for the assets of the Dundee site.

 

Shona Robison MSP said: “It was a constructive meeting. We questioned the Minister on the notes of interest that had been obtained so far and learned that one is potentially a bid for the assets of the Dundee Remploy factory – which is concerning.

 

“The Working Group is seeking more information on the business viability of the Dundee factory in order to support the possibility of a phoenix company or social enterprise or some other means of saving the factory as a going concern.

 

“We were pleased to receive firm assurances from the Minister and her team that in terms of evaluating any bids, the first and ‘overriding priority would be to sustain employment’ at the factory.

 

“As well as expressing our concern about asset-stripping, we were looking for assurances on flexibility over timescales given the time required to build a bid for a new social enterprise at the Dundee Remploy site.”

 

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “It is a complex process as the Dundee factory undertakes certain processes in the completion of products and is integrated into a network where costs and overheads including design of products are shared with other parts of the network.

 

“The challenge remains to get specific information relative to the Dundee factory to allow a business case to be developed.

 

“The most realistic prospect for the factory to continue in some form might be for a phoenix organisation to be created in place of the current organisation, with this perhaps taking the form of a social enterprise, or a co-operative as we understand has successfully taken place in Aberdeen.

 

“That might take time and so the least that the UK Government should do is offer flexibility in the timescale to allow any social enterprise bid to get underway.”

 

North East Scotland MSP Mark McDonald who also attended the meeting, said: “The experience of Aberdeen Remploy and Glencraft shows that it is possible to develop viable co-operatives or social enterprises to safeguard jobs.

 

“There is a clear marketplace for the product that Dundee and the other Remploy factories in the Frontline textiles division produce.

 

“It is therefore important to make every effort to get both the private and public sectors involved in any phoenix company or bid.

 

“I questioned Tim Matthews, Remploy CEO about their involvement up to now in tendering for private sector work and it seems that Fergus Ewing, Scottish Enterprise Minister has managed to assist the company in liaising with the Oil sector which may be a productive new avenue for orders.”

Dundee Yes Supporters Enjoy First Independence March & Rally

September 24, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

Some of the Dundee contingent in the Meadows as the marchers assemble.

SNP Members and Dundee Yes supporters enjoyed the first Independence March in a very sunny warm Edinburgh on Saturday and heard a wide range of speakers at the rally in Princes Street Gardens.

The event was organised by a small group outwith the official Yes Campaign who are planning a further two similar events in 2013 and 2014. Speakers spanned the full breadth of the Yes coalition and included Alex Salmond, Margo McDonald, Patrick Harvie, Colin Fox, Aamer Anwar, Ruth Wishart, Dennis Canavan, Alan Grogan (Labour for Independence), writer Alan Bissett,  trade unionists and many more with live music from Ted Christopher, The Wakes and Dougie McLean.

An estimated 10,000 took part in the March from the Meadows into the city centre including contingents from Catalonia, Venice and Flemings from the Netherlands.

A Dundee Yes organiser said: “This was a huge march and the scale of it was bigger than we had expected. The first marchers had reached Princes Street Gardens long before the tail end of the march had left the Meadows.The sunshine obviously brought out the supporters.

“It was a very enjoyable and joyful day and has buoyed up our campaign. One speaker said that it was like a campaign launch. We heard that 100,000 YES declaration pledges had been signed since the official launch which is a fantastic start. We will be back next year and we will put on more buses from Dundee to cater for demand.”

 

 

Folk For Independence a Big Success

September 18, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

To view the Folk for Independence picture gallery please click on the photo below:

Organiser Tony with Gaberlunzie

With a stellar line-up involving some of the biggest names in Scottish Folk, including Alastair McDonald, Gaberlunzie, Rod Paterson and Kirsten, Ted Christopher and Whiterose, the audience was treated to a sensational evening that went on till well after midnight.The Folk For Independence event held by Dundee Yes campaign supporters at the Friary on 14th September has been declared a big success — and may lead to similar events in the future.

The event drew supporters from as far as Inverness, Aberdeenshire, Falkirk, Edinburgh and the Lothians and Glasgow as well as from the Tayside area.

Organiser Tony Waters was delighted with the event and the bands were delighted with the enthusiasm of the large audience.

“It was a risk to have such a big event on a Friday night involving so many top bands but it has paid off and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves — which is the main thing.”

HOSIE HAILS CHANCELLOR’S FUEL DUTY U-TURN

June 26, 2012 Stewart Hosie MP, Uncategorized No comments

The SNP welcomed confirmation from the Chancellor this afternoon that the planned August 3 pence rise in fuel duty has been cancelled. The latest Treasury U-turn comes on the day that an SNP- drafted clause – supported by 54 MP’s from across nine parties – was to be formally tabled at Westminster.

SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP, who was leading the campaign at Westminster, said:

“This is a great result, not just for our cross-party campaign with FairFuel to scrap the August increase, but for households and businesses up and down the country.

“I am delighted that the SNP was at the forefront of this campaign and the Chancellor’s cave-in comes on the day that our Budget clause, supported by 54 MP’s from across nine parties, was due to be tabled ahead of the Finance debates next week.

“The SNP led campaign was gaining momentum every day, with hauliers, business leaders and householders all uniting against a further 3p hike. I am very pleased that Chancellor has listened but this is not the end of the battle – we now need to make the chancellor see sense and deliver investment in the shovel ready projects that we need to get the economy growing – that must now be top priority.”

Public Sign the ‘Yes’ Declaration in Dundee

June 25, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

Yes Supporters out in Dundee [pic: Tony Waters]

Yes Scotland activists including SNP supporters were out and about in the Murraygate on Saturday [23rd] meeting the public and distributing campaign material.

Over one hundred and fifty members of the public signed the ‘Yes’ Declaration in the space of an hour. The Declaration says:

“I believe that it is fundamentally better for us all, if decisions about Scotland’s future are taken by the people who care most about Scotland, that is, by the people of Scotland.

Being independent means Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands.

There is no doubt that Scotland has great potential. We are blessed with talent, resources and creativity. We have the opportunity to make our nation a better place to live, for this and future generations. We can build a greener, fairer and more prosperous society that is stronger and more successful than it is today.

I want a Scotland that speaks with her own voice and makes her own unique contribution to the world: a Scotland that stands alongside the other nations on these isles, as an independent nation.”

A local spokesman for the Yes Scotland campaign said: “We are holding numerous events across the country to build broad community support for independence in the build-up to the Referendum.

“Next Sunday [1st July] we will have a gazebo at the Broughty Gala and over the summer we will attend many other community events.

“We are already finding great enthusiasm for our basic proposition that decisions about Scotland’s future are best taken in Scotland.

“Further information can be found at: http://www.yesscotland.net

 

 

Labour’s Inconsistency Over Bus Investment Highlighted

April 19, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

North East SNP MSP Mark McDonald has highlighted the Labour Party’s inconsistency over investment in bus services in a Labour Party debate on bus services in Scotland at Holyrood.

Speaking in the debate on 19th April, Mr McDonald focussed on Labour’s calls to invest in bus services being out of step with the actions of the Labour Party on Dundee City Council, who introduced a budget proposing a cut of £210,000 from bus route investment funding.

Mr. McDonald raised the issue during the debate on transport in the Scottish Parliament.

Commenting, Mr. McDonald said, ‘“It is scarcely credible for the Labour party to claim it is backing investment in buses in Dundee, when its own council budget would have slashed bus route funding by £210,000.

“MSP Jenny Marra appeared to be oblivious to the actions of her fellow councillors, as she confidently claimed that Labour was backing bus route investment in Dundee.

“In reality, it is the SNP in Dundee which delivers, while Labour in Dundee dithers.”

MP Concerned Over MOD Lack of Assurance over Dundee RMR base

March 1, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has expressed concern over a reply he has received from the MOD which fails to offer an assurance over the Dundee base of the Royal Marine Reserve in Strathmore Avenue.

 

Stewart Hosie said: ‘The RMR do a fantastic job and I am pleased that the UK Government has confirmed that “there is no intention to cut the number of RMR personnel in Scotland.”

 

‘However it is concerning that the Minister has not given me the same assurance about the RMR HQ in Dundee.

 

‘So I have written to him again today pointing out the value of the Dundee HQ and reminding him of the benefit of having such a facility in the City so close to the Barry Buddon firing range.

 

‘It is essential that he makes clear the MOD’s intention for the RMR HQ in Dundee and that the UK Government end any uncertainty about this to provide the right support for our reservists who in the future will be an even more important part of the UK forces.’

 

‘My question concerned the issue of the Dundee RMR HQ but the reply made no reference to its continuing use.

 

‘I hope that the exclusion of any reference to the Dundee RMR HQ was an oversight; that it will be maintained and that the Minister might be able to reply again soon to give me, and all of those who operate out of it, the assurance they need that it will not be closed.”

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