• MSP HOPEFUL ABOUT BETTER RAIL SERVICES FOR BROUGHTY FERRY

    20Oct

    Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, while expressing disappointment at reports that the new First ScotRail timetable will not improve the low numbers of trains stopping at Broughty Ferry, referred to ongoing discussions with other key rail bodies on improving the service at Broughty Ferry and remains optimistic that improvements will be implemented.

    Shona Robison said: “I have had considerable involvement, along with other local politicians, over many years, in the campaign for more trains to and from Broughty Ferry and this has had little success to date.

    “Part of the difficulties we face in getting specific service improvements is that there are a number of organisations involved – First ScotRail, Network Rail, Transport Scotland and regional transport partnerships such as TACTRAN, all of whom have to be lobbied.

    “First Scotrail operate rail services in line with their obligations but Transport Scotland review the timetables strategically and they informed me in July that they are of the opinion that demand at Broughty Ferry is low. They point out that when there were more trains calling at Broughty Ferry, passenger numbers were very low. In their letter they state: ‘It was apparent that the more frequent bus service was preferred by the majority of bus users’. I am convinced however that if there were more trains at suitable times, they would be used by many people.

    “Most recently, I was in correspondence with TACTRANS (Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership) about proposals for a Tay Estuary Rail Service (TERS) which have been gestating for five years and which aims to offer the ‘opportunity to enhance service levels at stations along the line of route, including Broughty Ferry.’

    “TACTRANS had allocated £120,000 to take forward detailed appraisal of the TERS proposal and was in discussions with Transport Scotland, First ScotRail and Network Rail about commissioning a study on the Tay Estuary Rail Service, which was to report by the end of this year.

    “They hoped to be able to improve local/regional services and improve commuting possibilities and in particular to ‘improve service levels at existing, poorly served stations such as Broughty Ferry and Monifieth.

    “However, it now seems, that while First ScotRail services between Edinburgh and Dundee will double in frequency to a half-hourly service, there will be no extra trains stopping at Broughty Ferry or Monifieth – because of the aim of reducing journey times overall by 10 minutes between Aberdeen/Edinburgh and having to stop at the new Laurencekirk station.

    “I have today contacted TACTRANS to confirm that their report is still on target for the end of the year. The fight for better rail services at Broughty Ferry is by no means lost. I have every hope that the Tayside Estuary Rail Service proposals will transfer existing lightly-used halts onto the proposed hourly semi-fast local service giving much improved service levels at Broughty Ferry and Monifieth without impacting adversely on the core inter-city network.”

  • WELCOME FOR VOTE ON TACKLING BOOZE CULTURE

    20Oct

    Responding to the vote by SNP Conference welcoming the Scottish Government’s consultation on alcohol abuse Public Health Minister Shona Robison welcomed the commitment to enhance young people’s involvement in and benefit of legislative and administrative programme to address booze culture.Ms Robison said:

    “We know that many people in Scotland drink responsibly, but we also know that alcohol misuse is a serious problem, affecting our health and wellbeing.

    “We are a listening government and we will listen to what has been said by conference today.

    “The Young Scots for Independence have gone about this the right way, by responding to the consultation, in stark contrast to the opposition parties, who carp from the sidelines and couldn’t even respond to the consultation.

    “Our purchase age proposals are only one part of a much larger package of measures aimed at tackling Scotland’s relationship with alcohol.

    “Grandstanding for photo opps whilst doing nothing else is not an option. Radical action is needed, and that is what we will deliver.”

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  • Dundee Politicians Welcome Call For Additional Resources to Protect Scottish Economy

    15Oct

    Dundee could gain up to £32 million in investment if the Scottish Government’s call for a £1bn package of reflationary measures to support economic activity in Scotland is successful.

    SNP politicians in Dundee have supported the Scottish First Minister’s call to bring forward nearly £1bn of investment from a variety of sources, as well as  the speeding up housing investment and bringing forward money from the European Structural Fund. 

    Dundee’s SNP MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick have welcomed the move to protect jobs, investment and household incomes in the wake of the global financial crisis.

    Shona Robison, Dundee East MSP, said: “The SNP Government’s priority is protecting Scotland’s economy and this package of measures will accelerate investment and bring forward spending programmes from within our fixed budget which will help keep the economy moving.

    “The package could mean an additional investment of £15.83 million for Dundee East and £16.46 million for Dundee West on a pro-rata basis – which would be very welcome indeed.”

    Welcoming the package of measures, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “The Scottish Government has worked hard to come up with a variety of ways in which the Scottish economy can be strengthened in these difficult times and it is important to look at all possible measures that will help people to cope with the financial pressures.”

    Referring to the global crisis, Dundee Councillor Jim Barrie said: “Small independent countries can move quickly and decisively to protect and stimulate their economies and restore confidence. Although Scotland is not Independent, the devolved Government under SNP administration has been able to identify a considerable number of measures that could be taken within the Scottish Government’s devolved responsibilities to give maximum protection to the economy.”
    Notes
    First Minister Alex Salmond convened the special Economic Cabinet which considered additional options to bring forward investment and support economic activity in     Scotland. Additional Resources sought are:* Fossil Fuel Levy surplus, in excess of £120m.  This is a Scottish fund currently held by Ofgem for investment in microrenewables, but which accessing would result in the Scottish Government’s budget being reduced by an equivalent amount – unless Treasury restrictions are relaxed.

    * The Scottish Government’s £42m underspend, held at

    Westminster and which currently can only be sought during the next spending period from 2011.* The Council Tax Benefit mechanism, which has cost

    Scotland some £476m since its suspension in August 2004.  The mechanism was introduced at the start of devolution because the Treasury feared that devolved administrations’ policies on council tax and rents would cause increased calls on the DWP reserved budget.  In the event, instead of resulting in a clawback as the Treasury expected, council tax and rents in Scotland (and Wales) increased at a lower rate than in England, resulting in additional funding being paid to the devolved authorities.  It was agreed with the Treasury Chief Secretary in July 2005 that Scotland would receive a one-off payment of £57m.  It is estimated that the loss since 2004-05 has been running at some £100m a year.* London Olympics regeneration spending, which should generate £33m of spending per annum over the five years to 2012-13 for

    Scotland under the Barnett Formula.  The spending is on areas such as regeneration and transport, and there is a strong case argued by all three devolved administrations that this should be ‘Barnetted’ in the normal way.* The Carter Review of Prisons Spending, which should be worth £120m for

    Scotland.  As a result of the Carter Review of prisons and the overcrowding problem, £1.2 billion of spending on the prison estate in England and Wales was funded out of the Reserve – in the period after the Comprehensive Spending Review.  Scotland faces similar overcrowding, and had the funding been allocated in the usual way from the normal budget headings, full Barnett consequentials would have been generated for Scotland.* Police and Fire Fighter pension commutation costs, which should generate some £40m of Barnett consequentials for

    Scotland over the Spending Review period (2008-11) as a result of the pension costs being paid south of the Border.  This week, the Scottish Government and Scottish local government announced that the costs would be met on a shared basis from Scotland’s fixed budget, although we will continue to press the case for Barnett money.

    TOTAL: £963m

  • SNP Politicians’ Tributes to Eddie Thomson

    15Oct

    Dundee SNP politicians today paid tribute to Eddie Thomson, Dundee United chairman, who has died after five years’ battling cancer.

     

    Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “This is a huge loss to the city. Eddie Thomson was an ambassador not only to Dundee United but for the city and has shown great courage throughout his illness. Our condolences go to his family.”

     

    Shona Robison, Dundee East MSP, said: “Eddie Thomson’s dedication to the city as as well his commitment to Dundee United, means he will be sadly missed by a great many.” 

    Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie MP added: “Eddie Thomson has made a huge contribution to Scottish sport and has given everything he could give for Dundee United and the city of Dundee. Our hearts go out to his family.”

    Former Dundee United board member Councillor Jim Barrie also expressed his sadness at the news of Eddie Thomson’s death. “I want to pass on my condolences to the family. This is a huge loss for the club and the city.”

  • Dundee MSPs Welcome New £16.2m Forensic Lab

    07Oct

    Dundee’s constituency MSPs  Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick today warmly welcomed the announcement of the £16.2m police national forensic laboratory to be built in Dundee.

    When completed in 2009, this purpose-built facility will greatly enhance the provision of forensic services in Scotland, benefiting the Scottish police service and the wider criminal justice system.

    Shona Robison MSP for Dundee East said: “This is a huge boost to Dundee both in terms of the scale of the investment and the jobs that it will create.

     Joe FitzPatrick MSP for Dundee West said: “Added to existing Life Sciences investment, this will be a massive asset for the city. It is a great vote of confidence in the city as the centre of crime-fighting technology.”

    The new building which will be the largest office development in Dundee in a generation, will replace the existing cramped and unsatisfactory facility which will be used by all eight Scottish police forces, including Grampian and Northern.

    The decision on the forensic science labs had been pending for nearly five years but the SNP Government has acted quickly and decisively to enhance the provision of forensic services to Scottish Police forces.”

    The strength of existing science and bio-science establishments in the city may have played a part in the decision, as also the fact that Dundee is already home to the Scottish DNA database.

    The new lab is to be completed in 2009 and will bring huge benefits to all eight Scottish police forces in their battle against crime.

     

  • Ninewells Parking: Options For Buy-Out To Be Explored

    07Oct

    Commenting on the news that Vinci Park to to increase car parkign charges, the Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:

    “I am extremely disappointed by the price rise being imposed by the PFI
    contractors at Ninewells.

    “This Government has already made it clear that we expect NHS Boards to
    work with PFI contractors to reduce or limit charges imposed at
    Scotland’s three privately-run hospital car parks until these deals
    expire.

    “In the meantime, NHS Tayside are exploring options for terminating or
    varying the terms of the contract and will be reporting to the
    Government by the end of November, when we will consider what further
    action can be taken.”

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