Monday 9th February 2015

MAKE WORK PAY 

Work can have a direct impact on our mental health and well-being, of this there is no doubt. Needless to say, people who are subject to poor working conditions and poor pay are far more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety and indeed, in some cases a sense of helplessness.

So it is with real concern that last week the Citizens Advice Bureau published a report showing that thousands of Scots are facing poor working practices.

They found over 45,000 instances of people working under unacceptable conditions. Non-payment of wages, unfair dismissal, denial of sick pay, zero hour contracts and bullying are just some of the examples highlighted by the organisation.

But if this wasn’t bad enough, I attended a recent debate in Parliament, sponsored by my Labour colleague Neil Findlay highlighting the plight of workers at the mercy of some of the biggest players in the construction industry.

These companies who have been awarded significant public contracts have come up with a new scam which is piling on the misery for workers.

The umbrella companies’ scam, as it has been called, involves passing on the costs of processing wages, employers’ national insurance and holiday pay onto workers. It has also resulted in workers receiving a significant reduction in their wages.

In light of what we have heard this week, it is clearly time that both the UK and Scottish Governments showed the political will and took action through legislation and procurement. Companies that don’t respect workers’ rights and conditions should not benefit from public contracts.

If we are to make Scotland a socially just place to live then we need to make work pay for all workers.

Monday 2nd February 2015

Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill

The Scottish Parliament’s health committee which I convene is currently scrutinising the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill.

As part of our inquiry we have taken evidence about the complex legal and ethical implications surrounding the proposed legislation.

Last Tuesday we held two separate panels. In the first we heard from those involved in palliative and end of life care. And in the second, we listened to the views of those from the various faith groups.

The proposals to legalise assisted suicide have clearly polarised opinion on both sides of the debate.  As head of the health committee and as a constituency MSP who has received numerous emails and letters from constituents on the matter, I fully understand the strength of feeling that the subject generates.

The committee has already received the views of over 800 people and will continue to examine evidence in the coming weeks, provided from those with knowledge, expertise and interest in the Bill and its implications.

MSPs have a duty to scrutinise the detail behind any proposed piece of legislation but given that this particular bill adjudicates on life and death, it is imperative that the committee robustly and transparently examines what is being proposed.

We will report to Parliament in spring 2015. After this time, all MSPs will have an opportunity to debate and exercise a free vote on the issue.

In the meantime if you would like to access all the written and verbal evidence that has been provided to the committee, you can do so by visiting the Scottish Parliament’s website at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/

Monday 26^th January 2015

NEW POWERS TO IMPROVE PEOPLE’S LIVES

Following the Independence Referendum, the Smith Commission which included all the political parties was set up to begin to deliver change for Scotland.

Last week, we moved a step closer to making this change a reality, as the UK government published draft legislation to deliver the findings of the commission.

The announcement generated much activity in and around Parliament as the Prime Minister David Cameron came to Edinburgh to discuss the draft legislation with Nicola Sturgeon.

Under the plans the Scottish Parliament will be given new responsibilities over welfare, borrowing and taxation with more of the money the Scottish Government spends being raised here in Scotland.

With new powers on the way, the work is now shifting as to how we use these powers in order to improve the lives of people here in Inverclyde and around Scotland, whether it’s ending in-work poverty or delivering affordable childcare.

To this end, the Scottish Parliament’s Devolution (further) powers committee, which I have joined as deputy convener, has been engaging with organisations across the country including those from the voluntary sector and the business community.

While there are certainly differences about how the new powers can be used to best affect, there is a consensus that we have the potential to build a stronger economy and a fairer society.

I hope that all the political parties will unite in the coming weeks and months to work together and ensure that change is delivered for the people of Scotland.

Monday 19^th January 2015

PUBLIC SERVICES

“Public services are the bedrock of a fair and prosperous society”.  This was the opening line in the Scottish Government’s motion for the debate in Parliament last week about protecting public services.

There are few politicians who would disagree with this sentiment. Indeed, this winter we witnessed the hugely important role they play, whether it was the nurses and doctors working round the clock treating patients in A&E, the gritters on the roads or the police on the beat keeping our communities safe.

It’s disappointing therefore, that when there is such consensus on this issue, there has been little progress made in protecting our public services.

Over ten years ago Professor David Kerr, well known to us here in Inverclyde, warned that there were serious challenges facing our health services including the rise in our elderly population.

And five years ago this government’s economic advisor Crawford Beveridge told us that we face the worst financial crisis since the war.

If Beveridge provided the economic imperative for politicians in Scotland, Campbell Christie outlined the moral imperative for us to act.

The failure to pay heed to these warnings is there for us all to see here in Inverclyde with NHS buildings in dire need of repair, cuts to college places and a regeneration budget that has been slashed.

Instead of trading insults as politicians did in the debating chamber during last Tuesday’s debate, we should use the massive consensus that exists about the importance of our public services to get things moving.

Let us have a constructive debate and let us use the money that we have wisely to fulfil our commitment to protect our services and ensure they continue to be the bedrock of our society for many years to come.

Monday 12^th January 2015

OIL PRICE FALL MUST NOT COMPROMISE HEALTH AND SAFETY 

For those of you following the news in the last few weeks, I’m sure you would not have failed to notice reports regarding the looming oil crisis.

Independent research from the Scottish Parliament’s research centre and the Oil and Gas sector, suggests that as a result of the drop in oil prices there could be as many as 15,000 job losses here in Scotland.

Indeed, Robin Allan of Premier Oil recently said that the North Sea Oil industry is “close to collapse”.

While there is rightly a focus on trying to prevent job losses, it’s vital that the fall in oil prices, and the reduction in revenue to the sector that will come as a result does not also have a knock on effect on health and safety standards.

The Piper Alpha Disaster that happened over 25 years ago and which tragically claimed the lives of 167 people, five of whom were from Inverclyde, has shown us what can happen when proper health and safety measures are not applied.

And with oil in the marginal fields now more difficult to extract and the rigs themselves beyond their design life the need to maintain health and safety standards is all the more important.

This is why in Parliament last week, I asked the Scottish Government to give a commitment to bring together the contractors, the operators, the unions and the Health and Safety Executive to clearly establish that there will be no compromise in safety.

While I was disappointed that the Minister did not categorically agree to bring these stakeholders together, I did welcome that he at least acknowledged the crucial importance of health and safety and I hope he will do all he can to prevent not only a job crisis but also a health and safety crisis.

Monday 5^th January 2015

HEALTH INEQUALITIES

For my first column of 2015, I would like to start by wishing you all a Happy New Year. I hope you had enough time to recharge your batteries, enjoy the company of family and friends and reflect on your plans for the year ahead.

This week many of you will be returning to work. Well, politicians will be getting back to the day job too. And at the top of the agenda in Parliament will be the publication of the health committee’s report into health inequalities.

Our investigation has found that despite significant investment in tackling health inequalities in Scotland since devolution, the gap between rich and poor remains persistently wide.

Successive Governments have made this a political priority and invested significant amounts of public money in tackling this complex issue. But sadly none have made any significant difference.

The Committee has also concluded that while the NHS has a key role to play in tackling health inequalities, it cannot do so successfully on its own and the efforts to address the issue need to be made on a much wider number of fronts.

Our NHS can offer a sticking plaster, but without a new approach, we will not tackle the root causes of inequality and improve the health outcomes of thousands of people across Scotland.

Low pay, poor housing, a lack of jobs and educational opportunities all contribute to poor health. For real progress to be made significant efforts will be required across these areas and by different agencies collaborating and working more effectively together.

If there is one issue that the Parliament gives focus to in the New Year, then I hope it’s this.

Monday 29^th December 2014

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

A column for the New Year wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the New Year’s resolutions.

At this moment in time, millions of individuals across the world will be taking the opportunity to recognise their shortcomings and promising to get into better habits, whether it’s a commitment to stop smoking, to get more exercise or to spend more time with the family.

I hope that politicians are also looking to the future and are writing down some New Year’s resolutions of their own.  If they are doing so, there would be two things that I hope would be at the top of the list.

The first would be a promise to make devolution work by using the significant powers the Scottish Parliament already has, as well as the additional powers that are on the way, in order to change people’s lives for the better.

By change I mean such things as ensuring that we make work pay, that our young people get access to good quality jobs, that those people who want to return to college to have a second chance of getting an education have the opportunity to do so, and reducing the scourge of anti-social behaviour in our communities.

Second, and just as importantly, I hope that politicians also make a resolution to bring the country together, both young and old and both ‘yes’ and ‘no’ voters. A united society is a stronger society and is better placed to make significant progress on the issues that matter to people’s everyday lives.

Wednesday 24^th December 2014

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Putting aside the constant re-loop of seventies and eighties Christmas songs in the supermarkets and shops, I think most people would agree that Christmas is a really nice period of the year.

The carols, the lights, presents under the tree, the excitement in kids’ faces, and of course, spending some quality time with the family, all make for an enjoyable experience.

Needless to say, not everyone will be able to sit back and relax for the holidays. As I often do at this time of year, I would like to pay tribute to all those people who are working through the holiday period and who help to make Inverclyde the great community that it is.

The shop workers serving queues a mile long of people getting the last minute Christmas presents or the best offers on the sales while doing it all with a smile on their face.

The Police officers walking the streets on the cold winter nights keeping our communities safe and giving us a friendly nod whenever they pass us by.

The nurses and doctors run off their feet tending to patient after patient in wards at the Inverclyde Royal Hospital and doing so with compassion and kindness.

The ambulance staff attending emergency calls throughout the night encountering some really harrowing situations.

And of course, those armed personnel who are away from their loved ones serving overseas, putting themselves in harm’s way.

I would like to say a big thank you to all these people for their dedication, decency and hard work and I wish them all the best for the New Year when it comes.

Monday 22^nd December 2014

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Last week in Parliament, the Scottish Government presented its own strategy to reduce youth unemployment which unfortunately stands at 67,000 in Scotland.

The ambition to get more young people into work is something that we can all support. But the aim shouldn’t be simply about getting young people jobs it should also be about getting them good quality jobs.

Essential to this objective of course is the role of the college sector, which for decades has provided access and opportunities for the younger generation putting them on the career ladder. The James Watt College was a case in point.

However, if our colleges are to continue playing this vital role then we need to ensure that they are properly funded.

The problem here is that the Scottish Government has been raiding Further Education budgets since coming to power.

In last week’s statement regarding the strategy, the Minister for Youth Employment, Roseanna Cunningham, said that colleges would be allocated monies to support the drive to get youth unemployment down.  I sincerely hope that she holds to this promise.

But the commitment of finance and investment in the future must be seen in the context of the huge cuts that the Scottish Government has already implemented to the college sector.

There must also be recognition that the funding should be allocated on a needs basis. It’s clear that a place such as Inverclyde which has suffered from depopulation and as a consequence has fewer jobs and business opportunities requires greater support than other parts of Scotland.

Getting more young people here in Inverclyde and across Scotland into work is a great ambition which I support. Investment in our young people is an investment in our future.

Monday 15th December 2014

A RENEWED PARTNERSHIP

Ardgowan Hospice has been a cornerstone of the Inverclyde community for over thirty years, leading the way in terms of providing high quality, end of life care for patients and their families.
Indeed, my own family, as do many other families, continue to benefit from the first class services provided by its staff. Their focus on choice for patients and personalised care is something the wider NHS could learn from.

So it was with pleasure that on Friday I had the opportunity to speak at the launch of a renewed partnership which has worked so well for a number of years, between the hospice and another esteemed institution, the University of the West of Scotland, the largest provider of health and nursing education in Scotland.

Since it was established, Ardgowan hospice has constantly looked to innovate itself, in order to tailor its services to meet the needs of patients and families.

The renewed collaboration with the University has been enshrined so that the hospice can continue its journey as a centre of excellence providing high quality evidence based care.

With the elderly population set to rise significantly and people with complex needs such as dementia living longer the pressure on our NHS will increase. To help relieve this pressure, the Scottish Government wants to see more people cared for within the community.

It’s in this context that services such as those provided by Ardgowan hospice will become even more important, and it should be applauded for its continuing attempts to innovate which will allow it to adapt to the changing care landscape.

I wish the hospice well in its new endeavour, and I’m sure it will be leading the way for another thirty years to the great benefit of patients, their families and the wider community.