PDE COLUMN, 30th NOVEMBER 2009 – SHOEBOX APPEAL, GARL SUPPORT, BANKING BONUSES, CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

A Christmas Gift…

Christmas is fast approaching. I was pleased this week to learn of the Shoebox Appeal by a Glasgow based group called HART in association with the services charity Help for Heroes. Courtesy mainly of M&S in the High Street my office filled a male and female box. The shoeboxes of gifts will be sent to serving military personnel in Afghanistan over the festive season, prioritised to those who have either, entered the forces at a young age from care institutions or otherwise have little in the way of family and are unlikely to receive Christmas gifts. The shoebox could contain a combination of books, magazines, socks, slippers , sweets , moisturisers , roll on deodorant , shower gel , toothpaste, toothbrushes, DVDs, CDs, playing cards , travel sized board games, t-shirts and at least one Christmas item. About a third of the boxes collected should be suitable for female recipients. I know there are some warm hearted Buddies who would like to take this opportunity to send such a gift to a young soldier far from home at Christmas, letting them know they are not forgotten. You will have to act quickly though, shoeboxes must be in by the end of this week, the 3rd. As I write this, arrangements are being finalised on the location of local collection points.

GARL garners support

Another early Christmas present for Renfrewshire would be the reinstatement of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link – worth 1300 much needed local jobs. I was delighted Scotland’s top six business organisations are backing the campaign to build the link. It is time the SNP Government admitted they got this one wrong and got the project underway again

Banking bonuses

Much of my time on Holyrood’s Economy Committee currently is looking at the impact of the financial crisis on small businesses. Last week Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce hosted its spectacular ROCCO awards highlighting the cream of Renfrewshire businesses. But too many businesses have had a tough year, courtesy of banks trying to change the terms of their finance.
In the midst of a recession few businesses want to change their bank, so bankers need to play fair with small businesses. Last week we were quizzing Stephen Hester, the Chief Executive of Royal Bank of Scotland about his lending practices. With the bonus season approaching no one wants to see a bonanza for bankers whilst small businesses are still struggling. If you know of a case of unacceptable behaviour by a bank – please get in touch with me.

A final thought…

Finally, before you spend spend spend this season stop and think. Paisley Citizen’s Advice Bureau has my full support in their current campaign to raise awareness of the debt crisis gripping the country. With Buddies approaching our local CAB having on average £20,000 of debt each – we need to act to stop people drowning in debt. Another early Christmas present would be to promise CAB their credit crunch funding from the Government will continue throughout 2010.