10th August, 2015

Housebreaking is a serious crime

Victims of housebreakings can be left feeling frightened and on edge long after the crime has been committed.

Every sound, every creek they hear during the night can raise alarm bells that another intruder may have entered their home.

It is of real importance therefore that the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice. Worryingly, however, figures released last week, show that many across the country are not being caught.

In Inverclyde 85% of housebreakings (including attempts) committed in 2014/15 have not been solved. That represents 307 out of 361.

The data also shows that were you live can determine the likelihood of the crime being investigated.

For example, in Inverclyde South 91% of housebreakings are unsolved compared to 68% in the South West Ward.

A failure to catch burglars will only encourage these criminals to commit further break-ins.

Moreover, it will serve to lessen the public’s faith in the justice system and discourage people from reporting crimes.

I will be seeking a meeting with the local police commander to establish the reasons behind the poor detections rates and the significant discrepancies between council wards.

My feeling is that that many police officers are doing the best with the resources given to them.

Ever since Police Scotland was established by the Scottish Government there have been numerous stories about police being stuck behind desks taking over the work of support staff that have been laid off.

Whatever the explanation it is clear action needs to be taken. Housebreaking is a serious crime and it must be treated as such.

26th July, 2015

Inchgreen Drydock has real potential

When Inchgreen Drydock first opened in 1964 it was an exciting time for Greenock. But despite an initial flurry of ships sailing into the River Clyde to benefit from the services provided by Britain’s largest drydock, it never reached its full potential as a shipbuilding hub.

Nevertheless, since then, its presence has been valued by the likes of BAE systems, the MOD and Yarrow Shipbuilders. Most recently, the large ferry named Finnarrow was towed all the way from Wales to receive repairs following a berthing incident.

It’s no surprise therefore that last week leading entrepreneur Jim McColl of Clyde Blowers, confirmed what I and the community have been arguing for some time, that Inchgreen is a national asset. Indeed, it has also been rumoured that Cammell Laird, Britain’s biggest shipping repair operator has expressed interest in the drydock as well.

Just recently, I met with the site’s owners Peel Ports and I know they would welcome a range of proposals for a major new project. Given the substantial interest it’s clear we have a real opportunity here. We must act quickly and strike while the iron is hot.

Certainly we should examine how we can best maximise the opportunity through the major City Deal Project which involves the Scottish, UK and local governments. This is why I am calling for a taskforce including all the relevant stakeholders alongside Inverclyde’s elected representatives to be formed.

I hope that by acting together we can bring manufacturing back to the Lower Clyde and ensure a long-term future for Inchgreen Drydock.

20^th July, 2015

Safety of Oil industry

Due to the economic downturn the oil industry is facing one of the most challenging periods in its long history.

Many of my constituents who work in the sector and who have come to me with their concerns will testify to this.

The price of oil has plummeted. Jobs have been cut. The infrastructure of the rigs is ageing. And oil is becoming more difficult to extract.

It’s during times like this when we have to be particularly vigilant that health and safety standards are not compromised.

With the 30^th Anniversary of Piper Alpha disaster just passed, nobody needs to be reminded of how disastrous this can be. 167 people lost their lives on that fateful day, including 5 from Inverclyde.

I relayed these concerns to the Government Minister, Fergus Ewing, when I questioned him in Parliament earlier this year.

In the last week, I also received a letter from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following my meeting with them in Glasgow.

I was pleased to hear that throughout the economic downturn they have made it clear to the oil industry that there should be no relaxation in health and safety.

It has stated that operators must be able to demonstrate that they have the necessary inspection and audit personnel to ensure that critical maintenance backlog on the rigs is being actively managed.

It hasalso emphasised that shift patterns must be properly managed to prevent staff fatigue and avoid errors or accidents occurring.

To reinforce their message the watchdog plans to inspect over 150 offshore installations in this work year aloneandhas made it clear that they will take enforcement action if standards are not met.

Falling oil prices should not result in a fall in health and safety standards.

13^th July, 2015

A Divided World

When Roman Abramovich’s super-yacht sailed into the River Clyde just over a week ago, it provided a stark reminder of the divided world in which we live.

On the same day it arrived, I attended the Trussell Trust’s foodbank at Tesco’s Port Glasgow store, for families who can’t afford the groceries, let alone a multi-million pounds yacht.

The huge gulf which exists between the rich and poor is not the fault of those at the bottom. It is a result of the political decisions made by those at the top.

Those governments with the will power and a belief in redistribution can act to reduce inequality. Here at home the Scottish Government could use the real and substantive powers it has to make a difference.

For a start, it could ensure that people earning below the Living Wage get a pay rise. There are over six thousand jobs in Inverclyde that would benefit from this.  With rents and poverty levels soaring in our private rented sector it could also put a stop to rip off rent rises.

The UK government has a very important role to play too. For one, it needs to find a better way to reduce the deficit. Its decision announced in last week’s budget to cut tax credits will hit hundreds of working families in Inverclyde who are struggling to get buy.

Inequality is not only bad for the individual. Its impact can be felt throughout society. It demotivates the workforce. It slows down economic growth. And it puts huge pressure on our public services.

Both governments therefore need to make the right political choices and take concerted action to reduce poverty. There has to be a better way for us all.

29th June, 2015

Assurances required for CalMac workforce

The last thing any worker wants to do is go on strike. The prospect of days or weeks without pay is a daunting one, particularly when there are bills to pay and a family to provide for.

Furthermore, no worker wants to cause inconvenience to the public or be put in the firing line.

However, speaking from experience as a former trade union official, there are times when there is no choice but to take industrial action.

This is certainly true of the CalMac workforce 200 of whom are employed at the headquarters in Gourock.

For over two years now, they have been seeking assurances regarding safe staffing levels, protection of services and pensions, yet no such assurances have been forthcoming.

The reason for their concerns is that CalMac services are being put out to tender and may be privatised as a result of one of the companies who is looking to secure the takeover.

Last week in Parliament I backed calls for the concerns of the workforce to be fully addressed.

It’s unacceptable that they have been left in the lurch for so long, particularly when you consider that they play a vital role in maintaining essential lifeline services to Scotland’s Western Islands.

I’m also supporting calls for CalMac services to remain within the public sector in order to provide protection and certainty for the workforce, passengers and tax payers.

I sincerely hope that the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister and Inverclyde MSP Derek Mackay, will listen to the many voices urging him to resist the temptation of the short-term savings that privatisation seems to offer.

Instead, he should come down on the side of the workers and the Inverclyde economy which would suffer if 200 jobs were to go at CalMac headquarters.

June 22^nd, 2015

Votes at 16

In the past, attempts to extend the franchise have been hard thought, from votes for working men in the 19^th century and to women in the 20^th century.

Last week’s decision by politicians to give sixteen and seventeen year olds the right to vote in the Scottish Parliament and local council elections required no such struggle.

There was an overwhelming consensus that following the energy and enthusiasm they showed in the build up to the Independence Referendum that they deserved it.

I have to say that I was particularly impressed by the level of insight that the thousands of young people here in Inverclyde showed during the debates in the build up to September 18^th.

Similar to the extension of the franchise to 18 years olds introduced by the Harold Wilson Government in 1969, the decision to lower the voting age to sixteen reflects the spirit of the times.

However, extending the franchise on its own is not enough. We now have to ensure that we sustain the interest that has been generated by the Referendum.

Our schools with the support of the Scottish Government should continue to educate our young people about the political system, how it operates, the constraints that are imposed upon on it and the opportunities it has to achieve change.

We also need to maintain and develop forums, which allow young people to debate the issues, express their views and to get even more involved in politics. The Scottish Youth Parliament and Young Scot organisations have helped lead the way in this showing it’s not simply about voting but it’s also about making informed choices.

15th June, 2015

Community Care vital to future of NHS

The pressure is on and has been for some time. Hospital wards at bursting point. Queues at A&E. Unfilled vacancies. Increased working hours. These are all symptoms of an NHS that is in poor health.

Last week in Parliament, there was consensus that there should be a full public debate on the future of Scotland’s National Health Service, to ensure that it adapts and evolves to meet the changing nature and scale of demand that is being placed upon it.

This consensus followed a call made by the Royal College of Nursing a few days earlier for such a debate and my motion in Parliament supporting this call.

The challenge will be to engage everyone in this debate including patients, families, carers and professionals at all levels. The Cabinet Secretary for Health Shona Robison, indicated that she wanted the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee which I convene to assist in meeting this challenge, and I am confident we will help ensure the widest possible participation.

In the coming months there needs to be recognition that we must do far more to ensure that more people are cared for in the community close to home or in a homely setting. Good care in the community reduces the risk of people being admitted to hospital and will ease the build-up in our A&E departments.

Protecting the NHS budget is of course of crucial importance, but we also need to ensure that the social care sector is properly funded to help shift the balance of care into the community.

Ultimately, rather than looking at the issues in isolation, we need to look at the whole system if we are to improve the health of our NHS. Patients and staff deserve nothing less.

8^th June, 2014

Time for a public debate on our NHS

“Without change now, we’re putting at risk the sustainability of our National Health Service”.

These are not the words of a politician, but those issued last week by a leading medical professional Theresa Fyffe, Director of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland.

We are all committed to an NHS that is free at the point of need. However, every day we are witnessing the huge strain it is under as demand grows and funding struggles to keep up.

Indeed, we only have to look at Inverclyde Royal Hospital to see this. During the winter period for example, there were times when a number of the wards were operating at 100% capacity, well above the level deemed to be safe by experts.

Furthermore, my recent freedom of information request revealed that between Jan 2014 and March 2015 over 1,000 patients were moved wards to relieve pressure on the hospital.

Theresa Fyffe also said last week, “tinkering around the edges and simply putting more and more money into the current system is not the answer”.

It’s clear a fundamental rethink is required about what our priorities are for our NHS and the way in which we deliver health services.

And while it’s important that the medical professionals and politicians debate these issues, it’s even more important that the public who rely on the NHS everyday have their say too.

Yesterday I tabled a motion in Parliament (copied in below) noting the calls made by the Royal College of Nursing and also the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland, for a public debate. The motion has now received cross-party support.

Motion Title: NHS Scotland: Time for a Public Debate

That the Parliament notes the joint call by the Royal College of Nursing and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland for a public debate on what are considered to be the difficult decisions that need to be made about future investment in Scotland’s NHS; believes this to be a measured and considered approach that could kick start changes to the way the NHS provides services; considers that, while the NHS budget is protected and, in recent years, the number of staff employed by the NHS has increased, demand for care from Scotland’s growing and older population has increased in places such as Greenock and Inverclyde, and notes the joint call for a mature debate involving the public, health and care professionals and MSPs from all political parties so that there is a consensual approach to future changes to Scotland’s beloved NHS to ensure that it does not only survive but evolves to meet the future needs of the people of Scotland.

Supported by: Stuart McMillan*, Dennis Robertson*, Jim Hume*, Tavish Scott*, Lewis Macdonald*, Elaine Smith*, Graeme Pearson*, Elaine Murray*, Jackson Carlaw*, Jackie Baillie*, Richard Simpson*, Johann Lamont*, Jayne Baxter*, Cara Hilton*, Neil Findlay*, John Pentland*, Margaret McDougall*, Malcolm Chisholm*, Hanzala Malik*, Patricia Ferguson*, David Stewart*, Hugh Henry*, Michael McMahon*

1^st June, 2015

Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill

Last week, a majority of members of the Scottish Parliament voted against the Bill to legalise assisted suicide.

As an MSP for over fifteen years, there are very few issues that I can think of that have evoked such strength of feeling.

The huge number of emails that have flooded into my inbox over the last few months regarding the subject will testify to this.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contacted me with their personal and heartfelt accounts of caring for a seriously ill loved one.

Prior to the debate last week, the health committee which I convene examined the Bill in great detail and reached the conclusion that it contained some significant flaws.

While we acknowledged that a desire to be compassionate towards those suffering is a key factor that motivates the Bill there were a number of areas that gave cause for concern.

My colleague Bob Doris who spoke on behalf of the committee during the debate noted the concerns from witnesses about the potential for coercion of vulnerable people.

The committee also acknowledged concerns about the lack of definitions in the Bill. Surprisingly, there was no definition of assisted suicide.

Moreover, the terms “terminal” and “life shortening” appear in the Bill.  As Bob Doris said in his speech, these terms are absolutely central in delineating the range of persons who would receive assistance in ending their lives, yet neither was defined.

It is in part for these reasons that I said no to the Bill. In voting no, I also took on board the views of those who say the answer is not to legalise assisted suicide but to do more to improve end-of-life care which as it stands is wholly inadequate.

Tomorrow the committee will begin its investigation into the quality of palliative and end of life care.

25^th May, 2015

Anomaly in blue badge law

Looking after a friend or member of the family who is disabled can be a challenging experience.

The simple things that we all take for granted like going to the supermarket for our weekly groceries or getting into town for an afternoon can be difficult.

And while there has certainly been real progress over the years in providing greater support and improved facilities for those with disabilities there is still more to be done.

One notable example relates to the Blue Badge Scheme. For those of you unfamiliar with this initiative, it allows people with disabilities to access disabled parking spaces whether it is outside the shops, public facilities or on the street.

I was recently made aware that there is anomaly in the law, which means that many people with Down’s syndrome (DS) under the age of 16, are likely to be denied a blue badge because they can walk and thus do not meet the eligibility criteria.

However, my constituent who alerted me to this, informed me that while his son who has DS can walk, he also has low sensory awareness and is often unaware of the potential danger around him. Without a blue badge to access disabled spaces life is made very difficult for him and his parents.

If my constituent’s son lived in Wales he would automatically qualify for a blue badge due to a recent change in the law.

The Scottish Government consulted last year on extending the law up here in Scotland. There was overwhelming support for doing so but nothing has happened yet.

I have written to the relevant Government Minister asking him to look at where things are regarding a change in the law so that people like my constituent get the improved support they need to go about their daily lives.