SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CENTRAL HEATING PROGRAMME

I am very disappointed that this Scottish Government has introduced new means testing for 60-79 year olds to qualify for Central Heating. Since 2001 the hugely successful Central Heating Programme gave all over 60s living in Scotland free access to Central Heating if they had none or their current system was unrepairable but effective from 3 pm on 22nd MAY 2008 after the statement in the Chamber by Cabinet Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, 60-79 year olds who have a system that is broken down beyond repair are now eligible only if they are in receipt of the guarantee element of Pension Credit. A real cut and a real blow to a great number of pensioners who now won’t qualify. Furthermore a Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum has been asked to examine the Central Heating and Warm Deal programmes and return in autumn 2008 with proposals.

BILL TO CHOP HOSPITAL PARKING CHARGES

I am pleased to tell you of my colleague Paul Martin MSP  announcement to launch a members bill to scrap all charges in hospital car parks. This bill will make it illegal for a health board to levy car parking charges on patients, visitors or staff. Commercial sites like Braehead can provide free car parking but people who are being cared for in hospital and their families have to pay to park. It is an extra that patients and their families do not need at what is already a stressful enough time. Some hospital parking charges have become a tax on the sick in many hospitals in Scotland. Even £3 a day is a significant amount, if you are low-paid or have to visit a hospital regularly. This bill is supported by NHS staff unions.

SCOTTISH STUDENTS SOLD SHORT

Last week the Scottish Government announced a £500 grant for new and existing higher education students earning £18,000 a year or less and studying at 50 per cent or more of a full-time course. The new £500 grant replaces the previous £500 loan available to part time students through SAAS. But the means test changes they have brought in will actually see cuts to funding for up to 17,000 students from single parent families, proposals for a local income tax will actually see over 50,000 students worse off, and most recently proposals for over £12m worth of cuts to student support will see fewer students qualify for any financial support at all in Scotland and those that do will face cuts to the money they receive. Additionally the Scottish Government has confirmed that 25% of full time students (over 55,000 in 07/08) would pay a Local Income Tax if it were introduced. The reality is that student support in Scotland is falling far behind the rest of the UK and this will do nothing to change that fact. When you look at the decisions the SNP have made since they came to power you see they are giving small amounts with one hand and taking away much more with the other. The SNP needs to fund student support in Scotland properly and rather than tinkering at the edges, they should come forward with proposals to reduce the levels of hardship we see at colleges and universities across Scotland.

Renfrewshire Education Budget Cuts Joint Meeting.

On Monday 23rd June, fellow Renfrewshire MSPs, Hugh Henry, Trish Godman and I met with invited parent reps and teachers, to discuss what the budget cuts meant for their school. The meeting was a well attended highly charged fact finding mission. Over the summer we will continue to gather information which illustrates the far reaching effects of such swathing budget cuts. Apart from job losses teachers are genuinely vexed about a real drop in standards and the future chances for the children of Renfrewshire but they reported a genuine fear of the threat of disciplinary action for speaking out, therefore a first priority is to secure the lift of this threat from the local authority.

New Helpsite for Young Adults suffering depression

As many as one in ten young Scots are affected by Depression. Suicide stories amongst young adults have become an all too regular sad feature in our national press. Depression Alliance Scotland (DAS) are an independent charity working to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and the challenge of the stigma associated with this misunderstood illness.
Within the last few weeks DAS launched a dedicated website aimed at young adults suffering from low moods and depression: www.lookokfeelcrap.org. This site provides valuable support information, encouragement to share personal experiences and opinions, and signposts onto local and national support agencies. Additional DAS contacts are 0845 123 23 20. They can also put you in touch with the Samaritans, Breathing Space and SANEline.