Monday 1^st September 2014

HONEST DEBATE NEEDED ON THE NHS 

As the postal vote ballot papers drop through your letter box, many of you will let out a sigh of relief that the two year campaign is coming to an end, and the constitutional question that has dogged Scottish Politics will finally be settled.

If people vote ‘No thanks’, as I expect they will, the prize will be a return to normal politics in which we focus on the issues that are clearly important to the majority of Scots.

One such issue is our National Health Service, which has shamefully been used as a scare story in the last couple of weeks in order to deflect from the currency debate that has caused the ‘Yes’ campaign great difficulty by their failure to answer the most basic questions.

In light of all the scaremongering, I think it’s important that we lay out a few facts regarding the National Health Service. First, no political party, not even the Tories wants to privatise the NHS. Indeed, it would be political suicide for any political party in any part of the UK to do so.

Second, the NHS has been independent in Scotland for 15 years. And throughout this time, funding available to the NHS in Scotland has increased. It follows therefore, that the serious problems facing our NHS including bed blocking, missed A&E targets and failings in elderly care, are not simply a matter of finance. There are far more complex issues at hand here. Indeed, senior medical professionals have said so themselves.

We must be big enough to recognise the failings and have an honest debate about the challenges facing our NHS. I hope that politicians of all political colours come together on September 19^th to ensure a bright future for our NHS for many years to come.

30th August 2010
More than hot air

The gales that combine to keep us indoors on a windy day may just be good for something after all.

A new study this week claimed that the offshore wind sector could produce 28,000 jobs in Scotland.

Any boost to the jobs market, particularly for our struggling manufacturing sector, has to be good news for Scotland.

But as the elected member for Inverclyde, I was less than thrilled about the news.

After all, it was only a month ago that we learned the Scottish Government will be investing more than £200 million in 11 ports around the country to serve and maintain these wind farms but had overlooked Inverclyde.

Despite the good work being done by the Inverclyde Renewables Alliance, rival ports in places like Hunterston and Campbelltown have been made priorities.

That investment puts Inverclyde at a competitive disadvantage when these power schemes are rolled out and these jobs are being created.

The River Clyde has sustained our community in the past and can again.

But if they do not respond to my pleas, the Scottish Government will have excluded Inverclyde from these green jobs to the benefit of other areas.

I find it extraordinary that Inverclyde is having to fight to be part of this given the infrastructure, skills and workforce we have already in place.

At a time when speed is of the essence, a relatively modest investment could have the Inchgreen site up and running.

And that is why I am working with other agencies to get Inverclyde back in the game.

I have challenged the Enterprise Minister Jim Mather, who has been able to ensure his own constituency will get the benefit of these renewables jobs, as have others on the SNP benches.

In my dealings with him on this important issue, he has been long on words, short on action.

When it comes to creating jobs for the whole of Scotland and here in Inverclyde, we expect more than hot air.

Monday 25th August 2014

FERGUSON’S SHIPYARD

As we go to press, a week on from the announcement that Ferguson’s shipyard would close, there have been four parties who have expressed interest in taking over the company.

Indeed, it is expected that a preferred bidder will be announced by the administrators early this week.  The First Minister Alex Salmond has also conveyed his high hopes that a new owner will be secured.

These are positive developments and a vote of confidence in the yard, the workforce and the future. But nobody will be celebrating just yet.

Only when a new owner is confirmed, only when the workforce is re-employed, only when new contracts are secured, and only when the Scottish Government confirms that it will support long-term investment in Ferguson’s, will the ‘Save our shipyard’ banners be taken down.

In the meantime, in my role as the constituency MSP for the area I will be keeping up the pressure on the First Minister to ensure all the agencies that are under his control share his ambition to secure the future of shipbuilding in the lower Clyde.

While the prime focus for now is rightly on getting the yard up and running again, the workers and the Port Glasgow community understandably want a number of questions to be fully answered.

Why did CalMac Ferries and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd fail to place orders for further ferries that were expected following the successful builds of MV Hallaig and MV Lochinvar?  Why was the yard allowed to slip into receivership?

And, why, when the government were made aware of the financial difficulties at Ferguson’s eight months ago, where they left in the dark all this time? The workforce and the Port Glasgow community deserve answers to all these questions.

23rd August 2010
ONE HUNDRED DAYS
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected US President in 1933, he set about reforming the Depression-hit country from the second he took office and famously passed a dozen landmark bills in his first 100 days.

Ever since then, new governments of all stripes have been subject to snap judgements after this period and this week it was the turn of the Con-Dem coalition at Westminster.

The unholy alliance of Nick Clegg and David Cameron has received mixed reviews in the media.

But most reasonable people will realise that governments will be judged over their full term in office and this is merely an exercise in filling column inches for newspapers during the quiet summer period.

With elections to be held for the Scottish Parliament next May, more pressing questions are being asked of the SNP government in Edinburgh and their record since getting in to power in 2007.

In the first 100 days of a SNP government, the novelty factor and the cheap giveaways ensured they enjoyed rave reviews but the tide has slowly and surely turned.

In a YouGov poll just this week, 70 per cent of people thought the SNP’s policy on crime wasn’t tough enough and 68 per cent thought offenders had more rights than victims.

In our community, we know the failures of this government to put people first, rejecting the public’s call for a mandatory knife sentence despite a spirited local campaign.

This has been compounded by a watering down of anti-social behaviour legislation and the ending of short-term prison sentences.

And of course, another reminder this week as the Lockerbie bomber celebrated the anniversary of his release at his home in Tripoli, feted as a hero despite his despicable crime and public outrage here in Scotland.

The complacency of this government, its failure to respond to the concerns of the innocent majority and the litany of broken manifesto promises mean its days are numbered.

Monday 18th August 2014

PRESSURES ON THE NHS

The NHS is one of the Labour Party’s proudest creations. For decades it has provided people with security and care at the point of need.  Sadly, however, it would appear that all is not well with our beloved institution.

In the last year we have had staff speak out about the enormous pressures they are under, elderly patients being left on trolley’s in corridors and A&E waiting times being missed.

If this wasn’t enough, only last week, an investigation by the BBC found that hospitals across Scotland were operating above capacity. Indeed, according to the broadcaster the lack of beds in medical wards at Inverclyde Royal Hospital led to occupancy rates which medical professionals would deem to be unsafe.

 This has been reinforced by data I have obtained under freedom of information laws which shows that in August and September last year, the General Medicine wards at the IRH were operating at over 90% and the Palliative Care wards were operating at 100%.

To put this in some sort of perspective, Dr Neil Dewhurst – the former head of the Royal College of Physicians and one of Scotland’s senior doctors – has said that if the rate goes above 85% then the risk of harm to patients’ increases.

The Scottish Government – which is responsible for the NHS in Scotland – has disputed the BBC’s findings.  However, irrespective of what the government says, the data released to me shows that a number of wards at the IRH have operated above levels which Dr Dewhurst would deem to be safe.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Alex Neil, must address this serious problem which is impacting on staff and the most vulnerable patients. One wonders if the Scottish Government hadn’t been so focused on the Independence debate our NHS would be in better health.

CRIME LEVEL CONCERNS

The big debate with Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling dominated political discussion last week.

But as I have often said in this column, debates such as these are not always relevant to peoples everyday lives.

Indeed, for many there are far more pressing issues at hand.  One such issue is the anti-social behaviour and criminality in certain parts of the town.

I’m saddened to report that my casework in this area is increasing.  Only this week, I have been contacted by several residents who have told me horror stories relating to violent crimes in their neighbourhood.

Life can be stressful enough without having to deal with this problem on your door step.

The police, of course, have done their best to respond to these concerns as quickly as possible.

And while this short-term response is welcome and necessary, we need all the powers to come together to urgently develop long-term strategies, to help bring to an end the unsatisfactory conditions residents are living with.

Landlords need to take full responsibility for their housing allocation and managing their tenants.

The legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament to deal with anti-social behaviour needs to be enforced.

And the courts have to ensure that there are consequences for those who commit crimes. They need to remember that offences that they might regard as minor are causing misery for residents.

The people that have contacted me are honest, hardworking individuals who are not asking for much. All they want is to live in peace and to be able to get on with life.

At the moment they are finding this impossible.  We have a responsibility to put this right.

I’ll be doing my bit to bring all the agencies together to ensure that people can live their lives in peace.

RESPONSE TO STUART MCMILLAN SNP MSP WEST OF SCOTLAND REFERENDUM DEBATE

01 August 2014

Mr Stuart McMillan MSP

West of Scotland

4 Argyle Street

Greenock

PA15 1XA

Dear Stuart

Thank you for your letter requesting a debate which I received on Thursday 31^st July.

I share your recognition of the need to engage with genuine undecided voters.   I believe it is in all of our intereststhat people have the information necessary, which in turn would increase turnout and bring about a conclusive result.

Indeed, it has been a rewarding experience over the last few months speaking with undecided voters on the doorsteps and at our locally organised events, answering their questions, listening to their concerns and discussing the implications of Independence.   Personally, I think this is one of the best ways to engage with the public.

This is in contrast with the adversarial politics which have unfortunately been evident at some local public events, which sadly have not engaged with undecided voters but which were dominated by people who have already made up their minds.

While I welcome the opportunity to debate with you and others as to the merits of devolution versus Independence, I cannot accept your suggestion that you should be the sole facilitator of this event.   I believe strongly that in the interests of fairness that we have an independent facilitator for the debate.

In order to be of assistance I have approached local radio presenter Willie Stewart who we both know and trust.   I am sure you would agree Willie would make a good facilitator and convenor of such an event.     Willie is well known in the community and has a wide knowledge and has attended many various local events on the referendum debate across Inverclyde.   I think we could be confident he could do this job in a fair and impartial manner.

I believe the radio would be an excellent medium, to cover a one to one debate, as you have suggested, and would have the great advantage of reaching people in their homes right across Inverclyde.

Willie has confirmed his interest in convening and broadcasting the debate on local radio.   May I suggest we both nominate a colleague to discuss the necessary rules of engagement on our behalf to bring about a debate which we both believe would be considered to be fair and informative with the focus on genuine undecided voters that we both agree we need to engage with.

Yours sincerely

Duncan McNeil MSP

INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM

Ever since the date for the Independence Referendum was announced it feels like Scotland has been put on hold.

Issues that clearly matter to working people have been put to one side.   Thankfully the end is almost near with only six weeks to go.  

Those campaigners from Yes and No will soon be joined by staff from the Electoral Registration office on your doorstep.   But they will not be looking to find out your voting intention but simply to make sure you are registered to do so.

It was revealed last week that nearly a million people living in Scotland are still not registered.

You shouldn’t leave it to others to express your view. You don’t want to wake up the day after the referendum and wish you had voted or got involved in the campaign.

It is really important that the final decision of the Scottish people is conclusive. To ensure that we settle this issue once and for all it is important to vote. A return to what we all recognise as normal politics is the prize.

The last chance you will be able to register to vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum is Tuesday 2nd September (less than four weeks away).

Whether it’s ‘Aye’ or ‘Naw’ just make sure you sign up. You can do so by visiting www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

Monday 28th July 2014

HEALTH INEQUALITIES

The great health divide is one of the biggest challenges we face as a society.

Despite the best efforts of successive governments and their raft of strategies and initiatives, stark health inequalities still exist between the poorest and richest parts of the country.

Indeed, males who live in poorer areas in Scotland can live 20 years less than those in better off areas.

Here in Inverclyde, mortality rates from all causes including coronary heart disease are higher than the Scottish average.

The Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee, which I convene, is currently conducting an inquiry to see how the health gap can be reduced.

One of the clear messages coming from those who have given evidence is that we can’t view health inequalities in isolation.

Poor health is also a product of such things as low pay, lack of jobs and educational opportunities and poor housing.

To reduce health inequalities, health measures on their own are important, but won’t suffice. As one of the bodies providing evidence put it “The fundamental challenge presented is how we tackle unjust inequities across society as a whole.”

Another key message coming from witnesses to our inquiry is the importance of early intervention. By providing children with a healthy, nurturing, stable environment early on, the better the chance they will have of living a long and healthy life.

Tackling health inequalities is not simply a matter of social justice.   As one economist said in his appearance before the committee “the earlier in life that a pound is spent, the greater the economic benefit.” It would seem that it makes good economic sense as well.

Monday 21st July 2014

TAIL O’ THE BANK CREDIT UNION 

I was delighted to be invited to the 30^th Anniversary celebration of the Tail O’ The Bank credit union.

While talking to the volunteers, we recalled the work of the Rev Ian Fraser, East End Community Minister and Father Thomas Jamieson, Parish Priest at St Lawrence’s Church who joined forces with the community to bring about the east end credit union.

The old payment cards, the volunteers sitting at a table in the old St Lawrence’s School.   This work was enhanced over many years taking the credit union from strength to strength which went on to become the Tail O’ The Bank credit union that we know today.

The hard work and the legacy of the founders is in good hands.   From a small and extremely busy office in Kilblain Street they now have four part-time members of staff who are ably supported by thirteen volunteers, who as well as giving of their free time also hold down full-time jobs.

Together they are providing a great service to over 5,000 adult members and 1100 children under 18, who regularly make saving deposits.   But they are not resting on their laurels.  They are ambitious and hope to reach out into workplaces and schools, which in turn will secure the future of the Tail O’ The Bank credit union for the next 30 years.