Tag Archive for Scottish Government

City MSP Welcomes Wi-Fi For Dundee Station

May 15, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed the announcement that Dundee rail station is to benefit from the introduction of Wi-Fi for passengers.
In the latest phase of the move towards providing Wi-Fi services on Scotland’s trains and stations, Dundee has been named as one of 25 stations in Scotland that will see the service installed by December this year.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “The SNP Government promised to ensure Wi-Fi facilities was made available on trains and stations across Scotland’s rail network by 2019 and work is already under way to install these services with 59 ScotRail trains expected to be equipped with Wi-Fi by the end of 2013.

“Trains will be fitted with Wi-Fi facilities at a rate of six or seven a month from October this year thanks to more than £1million of Scottish Government funding.
“Free Wi-Fi will be rolled out across 25 of ScotRail stations and all 38 of their Class 380 trains.

“This is great news — with the new £14 million rail station concourse which the city is to get as part of the waterfront development by 2015 — and will be welcomed by commuters and passengers who use Dundee station on a regular basis.

“Dundee is home to a significant cluster of Scotland’s digital media and computer games industry and this will help to support the business community as well as individuals and make journeys more pleasant and productive.”

MSP’s Delight As City Shortlisted for Sports Centre

April 17, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Commenting on news that Dundee City Council’s bid for the National Performance Centre has been shortlisted, Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick expressed his delight.

Mr FitzPatrick, in whose constituency the Centre would be based if the bid is ultimately successful, said: “I’m delighted that Dundee’s first-stage bid for the National Performance Centre has been shortlisted.

“This is the result of many months of hard work and preparation by many people at Dundee City Council and its partners — Dundee and Abertay Universities, Dundee College, Dundee United, Dundee FC, NHS Tayside and Leisure and Culture Dundee.

“Everybody in the city got behind the City Council’s bid and congratulations are due to Ken Guild and the Dundee Council team who worked hard to get our bid shortlisted.

“The ambitious plans which Dundee City Council have put forward will give us some of the best sports facilities in Scotland. Dundee can be a centre of excellence and encourage participation by people of all ages across the city in healthy activity and sport.

“It would be a tremendous boost for the city to bring the National Performance Centre for Sport here and now we must all work hard to achieve that and back Dundee City Council’s bid.”

Dundee Students Welcome New Financial Support Package Pilot Scheme

January 11, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee student leaders today [9th Jan] welcomed news that Scottish students studying at European Union universities will be offered a full package of financial support for the first time under a £750,000 pilot scheme.

 

John Alexander, Treasurer of Dundee University Scottish Nationalist Association said: “The Scottish Government is moving ahead with this pilot scheme to offer what will be the best package of financial support for Scots students studying abroad.

 

“Previously, students studying in Europe were only entitled to whatever help with tuition fees is provided by the country in which their university is located.

 

“Loans of up to £5,500 and bursaries of up to £1,750 will be offered to about 250 students from Scotland attending European institutions in 2014/15.

“For the first time ever, students studying abroad will be entitled to the same help with living expenses as those studying in Scotland.

 

“If this package is successful it could lead to more Scots choosing to study abroad under schemes like ERASMUS and thereby extending Scotland’s international education links. And it would greatly help Scots graduates choosing to add to their qualifications by doing post-graduate and masters degrees at EU Universities.

 

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “This will help to encourage Scots to consider studying abroad and this pilot will be an opportunity to assess demand and allow us to roll out this support to all Scots studying in Europe.

 

“Scotland should be widening access to its education institutions and promoting international links at all levels of its education system as it moves forward to becoming an independent country in Europe.”


MSP Welcomes Additional Funding For Dundee Voluntary Sector Employment Projects

September 28, 2012 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today [28 Sept] welcomed additional funding of over £190,000 to two local agencies which help young people find work.

Nationally 24 voluntary-sector projects will benefit from the cash including Dundee-based training agency Claverhouse which is to receive £125,775 while Dundee Employment & Aftercare Project (DEAP) will get £64,670.

The money from the Scottish Government’s Third Sector and Social Enterprise Challenge Fund – spread across 24 organisations nationally – will mean over 2000 young people are given the chance to improve their employability.

Joe said: “This is excellent news for Dundee that will have a real positive impact on the lives of many young people – helping them into work and  to become positive contributors to society.

“I am well aware of the good work Claverhouse and DEAP do to make  a difference to the lives and opportunities of young people.

“The Third Sector Challenge and Social Enterprise Fund form part of a  unique guarantee to 16 to 19-year-olds that all will be offered a  place in training or education.

“I am very pleased the Scottish Government has funded these projects, all of which have the same aim of helping Scotland’s young people into a job.”

Capital Spending on Shovel Ready Projects is Key to Tackling Unemployment

August 17, 2012 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Stewart Hosie MP No comments

Responding to new figures of people in the city on jobseekers allowance, Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie said today [17 August]: “The city’s unemployment figures clearly are too high and it is a tragedy for every person who is unemployed. This is the biggest issue which both the Scottish and UK governments face.

“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 and that we have made a difference, moving Dundee forward.
“The Scottish Government has prioritised the issue by appointing the only dedicated Minister for youth employment in the UK.

“But the real challenge is to increase capital spending and we have demanded that the Chancellor of the Exchequer change tack and allow the Scottish Government borrowing powers to proceed with many shovel-ready projects that could create many job opportunities and apprenticeship places.
“Funding capital projects is the single most effective way in which we can get the economy moving again. Every new set of economic statistics outline the damage being done by the Tory-led coalition’s failure to act.

 

“The SNP Government has consistently called for investment in shovel-ready projects, so that we can get the economy moving again as swiftly as possible.

 

“Those calls have been backed by countless people, and even by economists who backed George Osborne before the 2010 general election.

 

“With the UK economy now back in recession it is time for Osborne to change course. “

 

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick added: “We should not forget that the cuts to the Capital Budget which the Tories are bringing in now were all planned by Alasdair Darling and the last Labour Government.

 

“I call on Labour politicians in the city to work with us now to force Osborne to change course and start investing in vital infrastructure projects.

 

 

 

“We need to persuade the Chancellor to invest in new building projects to allow us to create hundreds of new jobs – only significant extra resources can make inroads and get Dundee’s jobless figures down.”

MSP Involved in ‘Showcasing Scotland’ During The Olympics

August 1, 2012 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Shona Robison, Scotland’s Commonwealth Games and Sports Minister and Dundee City East MSP, has said that the London Olympics is a “huge opportunity to showcase Scotland to a global audience” and is in London as part of Scottish Government efforts to promote Scotland during the London Olympics.

Shona Robison said: “People and companies from all over the world are here in London to meet, interact and do business during the Olympics, and we want to maximise the opportunities of having representatives of all 204 Olympic countries in London.

“With representation from our enterprise, tourism, sport, creative and event agencies, Scotland House is hosting an eye-catching programme of formal and informal events, including promoting the best of our food, drink and music.”

Celebrities, including musician Nicola Benedetti, singer Emilie Sande and golfer Colin Montgomerie, have already given their backing to Scotland House, which has been set up in the UK capital during the sporting event.

Like the Scotland House that was staged at the previous two Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and Dehli, it is hosting a mix of formal events and receptions as well as providing a base for business meetings and the families of Scottish athletes competing at the Olympic Games.

Scotland House, a partnership between the Scottish Government, tourism body VisitScotland, EventScotland, enterprise agency Scottish Enterprise, arts body Creative Scotland and the sports body sportscotland, is in Pall Mall, close to both the British Business Embassy and the Scotland Office at Dover House.

Organisers of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have also had an input along with marketing bosses from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Violinist Ms Benedetti said: “I’m delighted to be part of a team representing Scotland in showing London the best of what we have to offer during the Olympics this summer.”

 

Enthusiasm For Climate Change Action Behind Dundee Group’s Funding Success

June 25, 2012 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today [23rd June] welcomed the award of nearly £182,000 from the Climate Challenge Fund to an innovative Dundee group which is bringing together people of all ages with students in projects that will reduce carbon emissions. 

By harnessing the enthusiasm of individuals of all ages and bringing them together to share skills that might otherwise be lost, the group, Skill Share Dundee, will empower and inspire members of the local student community and residents.

And the work of the group was commended by the Scottish Government’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson, who said he was “proud of Skill Share Dundee for setting a strong example to encourage and inspire others to take action.”

Joe FitzPatrick said: “I am delighted that a Dundee group from my constituency has been awarded nearly £182,000 for work to reduce our carbon footprint.

“Skill Share Dundee is a unique group working to restore practical life skills within the student community.

“They believe University prepares the student academically but that living the campus life means that the student misses out on a lot of life skills which Skill Share Dundee hopes to provide in a fun and informative way. 

“But the group reaches out to local residents of all ages and involves them too because they have the skills and experience of doing things in a greener way that predates the wastefulness of our consumer society. The success of the group shows that there is genuine enthusiasm out there to tackle climate change.

“Since it was launched in June 2008, the CCF has made 525 awards to 383 communities in Scotland and has been a spur to help us make real progress towards reducing our carbon footprint and moving Scotland towards its ambitious, world-leading carbon targets.”

MSP’s Call to Young People to Take Advantage of Scottish Government’s ‘training for all’ scheme

April 4, 2012 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today encouraged young people to take advantage of a scheme which offers training opportunities and to contact their local Skills Development Scotland or Jobcentre Plus offices to find out about opportunities in their area.

 

The MSP was commenting following a statement by Scotland’s Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance that the ‘training for all scheme’ is now active and every 16 to 19-year-old in Scotland will be guaranteed an offer of a place in education or training.

 

Joe FitzPatrick said: “Prolonged periods of unemployment can be very damaging on our young people, particularly if they’re unable to improve their employability or skills or build their experience.

“The message to young people is if you are not currently in education or have a training place, then help is available.

 

“You can find out more about opportunities in your area and how to take advantage of them by contacting your local Skills Development Scotland or Jobcentre Plus offices.”

 

“The scheme, which involves £30m in investment, aims to provide skills that could lead to employment.

 

“The Scottish government’s pledge on training is the first of its kind in Scotland and builds on the impetus to existing activity being taken forward through the 16+ Learning Choices, Post 16 Education Reform and our record achievement on Modern Apprenticeships.

 

“It represents an unprecedented commitment to young people and forms a central part of our work to tackle youth unemployment in Scotland.”

Local MSPs Welcome Dundee Rail Station Upgrade Investment

December 7, 2011 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

Dundee’s constituency MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed the Scottish Government’s financial boost for Dundee rail station.

The Minister for Housing and Transport, Keith Brown MSP announced the £1 million investment for station improvements  during a meeting in Dundee yesterday.

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick, who attended yesterday’s meeting said:  “Rail users in Dundee will welcome the news that £1 million is being invested towards much needed station improvements.

“The Scottish Government is driving forward the modernisation of Dundee rail station and this boost is fundamental to the overall Waterfront development.

“More train services have already been provided and this investment should further help to encourage more people to use the train.”

Commenting, Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee City East said: “With the imminent arrival of the new Victoria & Albert museum we need to improve Dundee’s transport links, as well as continue to tackle congestion and reduce carbon emissions by promoting public transport.

“This funding will help to create a new Rail Station Concourse at the heart of Dundee Waterfront which will be completed in time for the opening of the V&A at Dundee in 2015.”

The Scottish Government funding will contribute towards an over £7 million cost of the Council developing a new station, which will be managed and maintained by Network Rail.

MSPs Comment On Transport Scotland Trains Consultation

November 16, 2011 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

Dundee’s MSPs today spoke out on speculation that new train services would involve a substandard level of service when the franchise for operating Scotland’s trains is renewed.
Shona Robison said: “This is simply speculation and is unhelpful. We are at the earliest stage of consultation on the future of the rail network in Scotland. The current funding arrangements for Network Rail in Scotland and the current ScotRail franchise are in place until 2014.
“The Transport Scotland consultation will give everyone, rail passengers and public alike an opportunity to contribute on the future shape of services. There are many important issues and it is vital that users and public in Dundee and Tayside take a big part in the consultation.
 “We are already heavily involved in trying to promote and improve Dundee’s transport connections to the rest of Scotland and beyond and are working to ensure that proposals for example for a Tayside Estuary Rail Service will  lead to much improved service levels in Dundee in the future.”
Joe FitzPatrick said: “The Scottish Government intends to promote more use of trains as part of our move to cut our carbon footprint.
“The arrival of the V&A museum and Dundee’s increasing role in internationally-significant sectors such as computer games and bio-technology will require faster access to and from the city.
“People should welcome this opportunity to make their views on rail services known to ensure that Dundee’s case for investment in infrastructure and the quality of rolling stock is heard. This consultation gives them the chance to do that.
“Our rail network is vital for commuters, for business and leisure and for getting freight and other traffic off our roads. We would not accept substandard or lesser services just at a time when a developing Dundee needs even better access than it has at present. We will have to fight our corner, and this consultation gives us the opportunity to do that before the present franchise comes to an end in three years’ time.”

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