HMRC Economic Impact Assessment Gets Green Light
North Lanarkshire Council will undertake an economic impact assessment on the proposed closure of HMRC Cumbernauld as a result of pressure from Cumbernauld Labour politicians.
Mark Griffin MSP along with Cllrs Gillian Fannan, Tom Fisher and Allan Graham made representations to the council leader on this important issue and have been successful.
Mark Griffin said:
“I am pleased that the leadership of the council has listened and acted.
“The closure of HMRC Cumbernauld will not only seriously impact workers and their families, but the local economy of the town, where the tax office is a major employer.
“1,300 jobs will be relocated out of Cumbernauld, which will unquestionably have an impact on local businesses . I am pleased that following significant pressure from local Labour representatives this assessment will now take place.”
A joint statement from Cumbernauld Labour Councillors Gillian Fannan, Tom Fisher and Allan Graham stated:
“We fully support Cumbernauld residents who are concerned about the proposed closure of Cumbernauld HMRC office. The tax office is our town’s biggest employer and is crucial to the local economy. That is why Cumbernauld’s Labour Councillors and Mark Griffin MSP unequivocally supported the call for North Lanarkshire Council to carry out an impact assessment into the planned closure.
“The response from the council on this issue was made by Officers and did not reflect the position of Cumbernauld Labour Councillors.
“We made representations to the political leadership of North Lanarkshire Council that the impact assessment should be carried out as soon as possible and are pleased this will now go ahead.”
Central Scotland in Fracking Firing Line
A staggering four million people in Scotland live in a viable fracking zone, new Scottish Parliament figures have revealed.
3,910,000 people, or 73% of the population, live in areas where companies could bid for licences to engage in fracking activity.
With up to 87% of people in Scotland against fracking, Mark Griffin MSP has once again called on the Scottish Government to end their moratorium and support an outright ban.
Mark said:
"Communities in Central Scotland are fertile ground for fracking activities and therefore in the direct firing line of big companies seeking licences
"The Scottish Government have dragged their feet on fracking for far too long. It is time they take a firm stance.
"I fully support my colleague Claudia Beamish MSP's bid to enforce an outright ban through a Members' Bill.
"People have made their voices heard - they do not want these unnecessary activities taking place on their doorstep; they want to protect the environment, the air we breathe, and the water we drink."
Mark Congratulates Local Pupils
Mark Griffin MSP has congratulated young people across Central Scotland who have received their exam results and paid special tribute to teaching and non-teaching staff in schools for their efforts over the last year.
Mark also encouraged young people who did not receive the grades they would have hoped for to get in touch with Skills Development Scotland's pupil helpline.
Mark said:
"I congratulate all pupils who have worked so hard over the last year to achieve excellent results, and all staff in our schools, both teaching and non-teaching, for the support they have provided to our young people.
"Support and advice is available within schools and at Skills Development Scotland for any young person who has not received the results they would have hoped for.
"The results as a whole across Central Scotland are to be welcomed, and have been achieved against a backdrop of hundreds of millions of pounds of cuts to local budgets and the loss of 4,000 teachers in our classrooms.
"Steps must to be taken to build on these results going forward. Rather than making sweeping, unnecessary, structural reforms, which are proving deeply unpopular, the Scottish Government should reverse their cuts to education budgets and focus on tackling poverty, which is right at the heart of the attainment gap."
Any pupil concerned about their grades should contact Skills Development Scotland's Helpline on 0808 100 8000.
Compensate Passengers for Train Delays
Mark Griffin MSP has joined growing calls for Scotrail to automatically compensate passengers who are delayed for more than 30 minutes.
Plans unveiled by Scottish Labour would see a partial or full refund for people left stranded on station platforms and follows the release of latest figures which show trains fail to arrive on time at close to 60% of stations.
Mark said:
"Delayed trains cause significant disruption for passengers and although a percentage of compensation is available for those delayed over 30 minutes, many do not know what rights they have when their train fails to appear.
"The Scottish Government should commit to raising awareness about passenger compensation across Scotland, but should also go further and put pressure on Scotrail to introduce automatic compensation for people left stranded on station platforms."
Mark Backs Plans to Give Drinkers More Choice
Mark Griffin MSP has supported plans to give Scotland's pub tenants more choice over what they sell.
More than 1,000 pub tenants in Scotland are under tied agreements, which forces them to buy most or all of their drinks from the large companies that own the pubs, often at over-inflated prices.
The Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill, proposed by West of Scotland Labour MSP Neil Bibby, would establish a statutory Pub Code allowing pub tenants the flexibility to opt out of their tied agreements.
Mark said:
"Pubs in our community and across Scotland have struggled in recent years, with many closing their doors. I fully support my colleague Neil Bibby's Bill to support and protect tenants and give the pub industry a boost.
"Under the current system, pub tenants face real barriers. By being forced to purchase drinks from the company which owns the site, they often face inflated costs, costs they cannot afford and which are often passed onto customers. It is unfair and unsustainable and a change in the law is required.
"With rules in England and Wales recently changed and with broad support from tenants and trade unions, I hope that MSPs from all parties get behind Neil Bibby's Bill."
Read more about the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill here:
http://www.parliament.scot/S5MembersBills/tied_pubs_consultation_extended_deadline.pdf
RSS
