Tag Archive for alex salmond

DUNDEE MSPS WELCOME AWARD OF MAJOR LIFE SCIENCES CONTRACT

February 7, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

Joe ShonaBoth Dundee’s constituency MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick have welcomed the major announcement this morning that a £10 million international project  to research new drug treatments will be undertaken by Dundee University researchers in collaboration with a Lanarkshire-based Life Sciences company and the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance.

 

The announcement was hailed this morning by First Minister Alex Salmond as “putting Lanarkshire and Dundee at the heart of international drug discovery”.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “This fantastic news is further evidence of the strength and international competitiveness of Scotland’s – and Dundee’s – Life Sciences research teams.

 

“This is the biggest-ever contract of its kind and has been attracted because of the world-class quality and talent of Scotland’s Bio-Medical and Life Sciences sector, in which researchers at Dundee University are playing a key part.”

 

Shona Robison said: “This gilds the reputation and quality of Dundee’s Life Sciences teams, and demonstrate the capacity of the industry across Scotland to collaborate and win projects of this scale.

 

“It also mean that the discovery of many innovative medicines to defeat chronic diseases and achieve scientific breakthroughs to benefit the world —  will increasingly be made in Dundee and Scotland.”

Local MSP Welcomes Proposal for Constitutional Ban on Nuclear Weapons

October 8, 2012 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Commenting on First Minister Alex Salmond’s announcement at the weekend  that the SNP believes that an explicit ban on nuclear weapons should be included in an independent Scotland’s written constitution, Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said:

“The SNP is resolutely opposed to nuclear weapons and is leading the fight against the replacement of Trident.

“Renewing the Trident system will cost the Tory-led Westminster Government up to £100 billion at the same time as they are cutting jobs and welfare for the most vulnerable in our society.

“Independence offers a huge opportunity for the people of Scotland to make clear that these costly weapons of mass destruction are not welcome here.”

SNP Leader Alex Salmond reinforced the Scottish National Party’s complete opposition to Trident nuclear weapons in Scotland at the weekend by saying that the SNP believe this should be enshrined in a written constitution for an independent Scotland.

The SNP leader said: “The SNP Government will be bringing forward a white paper on independence which proposes a written constitution for an independent Scotland, and that constitution will have to be ratified by the Scottish Parliament elected in 2016.

“The SNP position on this is that the constitution should include an explicit ban on nuclear weapons being based on Scottish territory.

This reinforces the SNP’s unshakable opposition to nuclear weapons, and that is the context in which we will debate NATO at the forthcoming party conference.

“The resolution to be debated at conference does make an independent Scotland’s membership of NATO conditional on the acceptance of Scotland’s non-nuclear status, in line with the vast majority of current NATO members.”

Alex Salmond Congratulates SNP Councillors from Dundee and Angus

May 6, 2012 Council Group No comments

First Minister Alex Salmond came to Dundee today [5th May] to congratulate SNP Councillors from Dundee and Angus who had won overal majorities on their Councils. The SNP won the largest share of councillors overall in Scotland, with 424 elected members and, in Dundee, the largest share of first preference votes as well as the majority of seats.

The picture shows Alex Salmond with Dundee and Angus Councillors on top of Dundee Law.

[pic courtesy Alan Richardson]

DUNDEE SNP LAUNCH COUNCIL MANIFESTO

April 17, 2012 Council Group No comments

The First Minister with SNP Council candidates today on top of the Law for the Manifesto Launch

VISION WILL SEE RENEWABLES REINDUSTRIALISE CITY

JOBS AND FAMILIES AT THE HEART OF COMMITMENTS

Dundee SNP have today (Tuesday) launched their manifesto for the upcoming council elections, with a commitment to put jobs and families at the heart of the Council’s work, while pledging to reindustrialise the city in the renewables sector.

The First Minister Alex Salmond attended the launch in Dundee where, under the SNP since March 2009, it has gone from being a council with the second highest council tax in Scotland to being one of the most cost-effective councils in Scotland.

Key pledges include transforming the city to make it a hub for renewable technology industries, creating new jobs and apprenticeships as well as investing in education to improve performance and invest extra in leisure and sport facilities.

The SNP pledges £320m to support the local economy through building council houses and five new primary schools, as well as freezing council tax until 2016 and introducing a living wage for all council staff.

Speaking at the launch, Dundee SNP Group Leader Councillor Ken Guild said:

“Dundee SNP are very excited about our policy platform for the years ahead. Since taking over the administration in 2009, Dundee has gone from being a council with poor education inspection reports and the second highest council tax in Scotland, to being one of the most cost-effective councils in Scotland

“Over the next few years we will work tirelessly with other councils and the Scottish Government to build for recovery. Together we will continue to invest in Housing, in schools, support the redevelopment of the Waterfront, and ensure Dundee cashes in on the booming renewables industry.

“Our manifesto commitments include supporting families and creating the right environment for jobs, to make Dundee an even better place to live, work and bring up a family.

“Dundee has real ambition and real potential. We want to re-industrialise this city in the renewables sector, as well as investing in our life sciences, video games and digital media sectors.

“We have achieved a lot in the last three years – but we want to go so much further. We will build for recovery, and above all we will give Dundonians the Council they deserve.”

ENDS

SNP contact 0131 348 5684, local media contact: 01382 903202, media@dundeesnp.org

Notes:
Key manifesto pledges include:

•       Transforming Our City: We will make our city a hub for renewable technology industries creating new jobs and apprenticeships. Our V&A and Waterfront projects are already transforming Dundee and bringing investment and jobs.
•       Investing in Education: Your SNP Council is improving educational performance and investing extra in the city’s education, leisure and sport facilities.
•       £320 million To Support Local Economy: investing £320 million to support the local economy. Building Council houses and five new primary schools; completely rebuilding Harris Academy.
•       Freezing Council Tax until 2016: Committed to freezing your Council Tax until 2016. This has already saved the average Band D householder more than £700 over the last four years.
•       Council Efficiency Improved: Council services have been streamlined; cost-savings have been made on back-room functions while front-line services have been protected. Dundee is now one of the most cost-effective local authorities in Scotland.
•       Introducing a Living Wage for lower-paid staff and sticking to our no-compulsory redundancies policy for Council employees.
•       A Healthier and Greener Dundee: Our investment in sport and leisure facilities, recycling and green initiatives will keep Dundee in the forefront of the SNP Government’s ambitious targets for reducing Scotland’s carbon footprint.

Alex Salmond with SNP Council Leader Ken Guild

MSPs Welcome Games Boost For Dundee

February 10, 2011 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

Dundee’s SNP MSPs Joe FitzPatrick and Shona Robison welcomed the jobs boost announced today [Thurs 10th] by Scotland’s First Minister.

Shona Robison said: “I welcome this fantastic news of 150 new high quality jobs in Dundee from Outplay Entertainments establishing a new headquarters in the city.

“It is a huge vote of confidence in the Scottish Games Industry and in Dundee.

“But while the efforts of the games industry itself and the Scottish Government to support it are considerable – you have to ask how more could be achieved if we also had the full backing of the UK Government in the form of tax relief for research & development for the games sector.

“The creative industries employ around 3,000 in Dundee. It is time for the Coalition to do its bit too and reconsider its opposition to tax relief so that we can develop even more jobs in the industry.”

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “I am delighted to welcome Outplay to Dundee’s thriving games development sector. Although the computer games sector is clearly thriving – as this fantastic announcement shows -  we are still at risk of losing ground to overseas competitors.

“Significant tax credits are on offer for companies developing games in Canada and France which the UK government refuses to match.’

 “Tax relief for games development would create more money for the taxpayer than it would cost.

“Now is the time for stronger support and investment from the UK Government to the Computer Games Industry – to match the support coming from the Scottish Government.

 “There are huge opportunities available globally and we want the Scottish-based games industry to remain competitive in world terms.

“Fantastic as today’s announcement is, we can grow the sector even faster with everyone pulling together on behalf of the industry.”

SNP Welcome Major Energy Company’s Interest in Dundee

January 20, 2011 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP, Stewart Hosie MP No comments

Dundee’s SNP politicians have welcomed the announcement from First Minister Alex Salmond today that world-leading Spanish energy company Gamesa hope to establish a manufacturing and logistics operation for offshore wind projects in Dundee. The company also announced proposals to establish an Offshore Wind Technology Center in Glasgow, which could create 130 engineering jobs. It is hoped that hundreds more jobs will develop in Dundee if plans go ahead successfully. 

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick gave his support to the announcement that Dundee is in line for a major manufacturing facility as plans for off shore wind turbines in the area move forward. He said: “Dundee is a developing centre for green energy jobs and the understanding between Gamesa, Dundee’s SNP council and Forth Ports that Dundee will be home to a major manufacturing centre for offshore wind turbines is a huge step forward for the city that could lead to hundreds if not thousands of jobs being created.”

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison added: “This is great news for the city and has the potential to make Dundee a centre of excellence for renewables in Scotland and the world.

“Gamesa are serious players in the renewables business and their interest in Dundee and in Scotland offers great opportunities for the city.”

The news was also welcomed by Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie who said: “The Scottish Government, Dundee City Council, Forth Energy and other partners have worked very hard to attract major investment to the renewables sector, and I am delighted to hear today’s announcement by the First Minister of the deal with Gamesa – the third largest manufacturer of wind turbines in the world.”

“The SNP is committed to Scotland becoming a world-leader in renewable energy. Our ambition to take full advantage of our unparalleled location and geographical assets will include Dundee as an important centre for this key new industry and today’s announcement will lead to significant numbers of new jobs.”

Scottish Life Sciences – New Engagement for Success

October 20, 2008 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

One of the driving forces of Dundee’s economy has received a boost today with the announcement of a single new body to oversee policy on Life Sciences.

At today’s SNP Conference in Perth, First Minister Alex Salmond has unveiled plans to create a high level Life Sciences Advisory Board for Scotland to be co-chaired by the Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP and a leader from the Life Sciences community. The board, which will also be attended by ministers for both enterprise and skills, will bring together medicines industry chief executives, leading scientists, civil servants and funders.

Mr Salmond said: “Scotland’s life sciences sector has a bright future, one that is based not only on our research and scientific excellence but also on sustainable, high quality jobs and the delivery of improved health outcomes for people both in Scotland through access to the best most innovative medicines. The Scottish Government will continue to work with the pharmaceutical industry, to achieve that vision.”

Welcoming the decision, Dundee MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “Dundee punches well above its weight when it comes to world-class technology and clinical and research facilities. This announcement is to be welcomed for the future of the industry, and for the impact it will
have on the city. Scotland has one of the largest and fastest growing life science communities in Europe, with about £220million invested in research and development every year.

 

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