Dundee SNP

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie reacted with incredulity at the latest Conservative plan to jail dangerous prisoners in former NHS property in Broughty Ferry.

Stewart Hosie said: “The Tories must have taken leave of their senses. The Scottish Government is already building prison capacity elsewhere, at Addiewell in West Lothian, in Bishopbriggs and a North Eastern replacment for Peterhead.

“No-one in their right mind would suggest that the former Armistead Child Development building in Monifieth Road could be converted into a prison. I cannot see the residents there welcoming the building of higher walls and the addition of razor wire, not to mention dangerous prisoners arriving.

“It is adjacent to the popular Orchar Park and Reres Park, near popular beaches and Eastern Primary School and in the centre of residential property where there is a high proportion of elderly people – who would be petrified to have a prison in their midst.

“The Scottish Government prisons are specifically designed as prisons, with suitable facilities and in appropriate surroundings. To suggest that former NHS properties could be used shows just how desperate the Conservatives are for a headline. Their policy is in tatters.”

Picture shows Stewart Hosie MP at the front of the disused Armistead building in Monifieth Road

Commenting on David Cameron’s proposals to impose public spending cuts in 2010/11, the Scottish National Party’s Westminster Treasury Spokesperson Mr Stewart Hosie MP said:

“The Tories have been shown up in their true colours as slashers of public services.

“And every pound of spending cuts they imposed on health, education and housing south of the Border would have an impact on the Scottish Parliament’s budget north of the Border. If the Tories had their way, the Barnett Formula wouldn’t just squeeze Scottish spending – it would cut Scotland’s budget.

“Scotland already more than pays its way in the UK, as proved by the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report – which shows that Scotland paid more than £800 million to the UK Treasury than it received in 2006-07, and in a substantially stronger budget position than the UK as a whole.

“David Cameron’s cuts agenda shows exactly why Scotland needs to move towards full fiscal autonomy, so that the Scottish Parliament is responsible for Scotland’s resources.

“It is essential that the Scottish Parliament gains control over Scotland’s finances, as well as borrowing powers to allow it to respond to economic circumstances, which it can’t do within a fixed budget. The need for such powers is glaringly obvious given the downturn – and now even more clear in light of the Tories’ plans to slash spending on vital services.

“This development underlines the toothless nature of the suggestions emanating from the Calman Commission – which would leave Scotland exposed to damaging decisions taken by Westminster governments of whichever party.

“And it leaves the Scottish Tories completely exposed – with no say over the policy, but having to defend proposed spending cuts in Scotland because of the failures of UK economic policy.”

FIRST LABOUR, NOW THE TORIES, JOIN THE RACE TO CATCH UP WITH THE SNP

Commenting on the Shadow Chancellor’s announcement that a Conservative Government would seek to freeze the council tax, SNP Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said:

“In a time of rising food and fuel bills, the SNP Government is doing everything in its power to make life easier for hardworking Scots: scrapping prescription charges, cutting or abolishing small business rates, and freezing the unfair council tax through a historic concordat with local government.

“The people of Scotland know that the SNP are on their side, and the London parties are struggling to catch up with us. We called for the planned road fuel tax increase to be wiped out, and Gordon Brown caved in under pressure in Glasgow East.

“Now, the Shadow Chancellor says he would freeze Council Tax. The SNP Government already has – just as we proposed a fuel duty regulator, which the Tories copied after refusing to vote for it in the House of Commons!

“Last week, the Prime Minister announced he would abolish prescription charges for certain patients, and have more flexible GP surgery opening times. The SNP Government has already introduced a policy to make prescription charges free for all, and over half of GP surgeries in Scotland already provide extended hours.

“The SNP Government is leading the way, and the London parties are falling over each other as they try to play catch up.”