I am hoping that the new year will be one where in the Scottish Parliament we can move beyond spending so much time speaking about the powers we would like to have to a more focussed drive on what we will do with the powers we do have, the new powers that come through […]
It was encouraging to see large gatherings of people on Sunday attending the remembrance services across our communities. I laid wreaths at three services in my constituency over the course of the day and observed not just high numbers of people but also lots of younger people paying their respects and taking part in services. […]
LAST week I spoke in the First Minister’s debate on the outcome of the Referendum and gave my view that the outcome was not about who won and who lost as I believe that all 3.6 million people who voted are the winners. We are all winners for we all voted for change, we were […]
Over the last few weeks I have visited a number of employers in the constituency and have been impressed by the commitment of employer to growing their businesses and working with Fife Council to create training, skills and apprenticeship places for young people. What Fife is demonstrating is that by forming a partnership between colleges […]
Today I set out the challenges that my Constituents face in the wake of the UK governments welfare reforms and the significant impact the reforms are having in many areas of the Cowdenbeath constituency. I also discussed some of the important community events which are occurring in my constituency and how grateful we should be to those who put there time and resources in to making these events a great success. Welfare Reform […]
NHS Understaffed This week I have a question tabled in the Parliament which states; “To ask the Scottish Government at what percentage of staffed bed capacity the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy is operating.” I understand that the preferred capacity for the hospital to operate at is 85% and whilst I will wait on the answer […]
LAST week a motion was put to parliament proposing that the parliament had no confidence in the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil. This motion came as a result of his failure to disclose his involvement in the decision to reverse the planned closure of mental health services at Monklands Hospital; a decision […]
Bedroom Tax On the evening I was elected to the Scottish Parliament I highlighted the bedroom tax as a key priority that I would fight to get rid of. I did so because I believe this legislation is inhumane in that it attacks people on the basis of their income. If you are a couple and you […]
‘THE Parliament has been in recess for two weeks and I have used this time to visit a number of organisations that impact on the constituency.” Dunfermline Food Bank One such organisation is the Dunfermline Food Bank which has satellite centres in the constituency and is looking to open one in Benarty and Inverkeithing […]
Housing As a councillor the greatest volume of constituent issues I dealt with were housing related and in particular people trying to get a house or to get a transfer to housing that was more suitable to meet their needs. As an MSP I am finding this is still the case with […]