EGIP Faces Uncertain Future
Scottish Labour Transport Spokesman, Mark Griffin MSP has criticised Scottish Ministers after the Government’s business case for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme revealed uncertainties around the long-term future of the programme.
Despite claiming in the past to fully support EGIP through to a conclusion, known as ‘Phase 2’, the Government’s business case has now highlighted doubts on the affordability of the programme over the next decade.
Mark said:
"It is becoming clear that the SNP’s flagship transport strategy is facing an uncertain future.
"First the Transport Minister, Keith Brown, cut £350 million from EGIP, and now costs are beginning to spiral. This was once a widely praised programme, with a vision of making significant improvements to our rail infrastructure. Now, the Government’s own business case questions the long-term financial viability of the project.
"Keith Brown really needs to get a grip on this project. EGIP is wholly unrecognisable to its original concept and I fear the government are trying to cut and run."
Voice of the People Ignored on Police Closures
--- Close to 1,000 locals ignored as opening hours slashed.
--- Cuts to police offices in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth get green light.
Mark Griffin MSP and Gregg McClymont MP have hit out at the decision by Police Scotland to ignore local concerns and proceed with the reduction of opening hours at police offices in both Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.
Mr Griffin and Mr McClymont have been vocal opponents of the plans, and along with Unison, the union of police staff, gained the support of 1,000 local people, who took the time to sign their petition.
The plans will see Cumbernauld Police Office close to the public after 6pm and remain closed until 8am. In Kilsyth, the office will close at 5pm and remain closed until 9am. It will be closed completely to the public at weekends.
Mark said:
"I am deeply disappointed by this decision and that the voices of so many local people have been ignored.
"I have been inundated by concerned local people from across Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, who are worried about the impact the cuts will have on our community, so much so that 1,000 local people took the time to sign our petition against the plans."It is so important that in towns the size of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth the local police office is open and manned if people require assistance, would like to inform staff of an incident or report lost property.
"It is a disgrace that the SNP Government have sat idly by and allowed yet another vital service to be cut from our community."
Gregg added:
"Alex Salmond has lots to say about breaking up the UK, yet he and his SNP colleagues go strangely quiet on the police cuts they are imposing on Cumbernauld and Kilsyth. The huge response from locals saying no to these police cuts has fallen on the deaf ears of an SNP Government interested only in the referendum."
MSP and MP challenge Government over mature students’ funding
Mark Griffin MSP and Gregg McClymont MP recently met with Cumbernauld man George Stirling to discuss lack of funding from the Scottish Government for over 55s who are embarking upon college courses.
Mr Stirling, a local DJ, has enquired about funding should he take up a place on an HNC Music Production course at Cumbernauld College, but has been told that he is not eligible due to a strict age limit. The pair have jointly written to the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education to ask why mature students are being excluded from funding opportunities.
Mr Stirling said:
"It seems unfair that because I’m just over the 55 age limit that I can’t gain access to the same funding as younger people doing exactly the same course."
Mark said:
"The SNP Government should be endeavouring to make it easier for people of all ages in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth and across Scotland to access further education courses. Instead, by cutting budgets and forcing colleges to merge, they have made it more difficult.
"It is deeply unfair that Mr Stirling is being discriminated against because of his age, and it is important that the Cabinet Secretary for Education looks into this matter and takes appropriate action."
Gregg said:
"Mr Stirling is a popular local DJ and gaining access to this course could only improve his prospects. There doesn’t seem to be any justification for the arbitrary age limit of 55.
"We know that The SNP have slashed college funding dramatically, which has resulted in college mergers amongst other things. This age limit is just further evidence of wrong priorities when it comes to Further Education."
Safer Internet Day 2014
Mark Griffin MSP is supporting the 2014 Safer Internet Day, a global bid to improve internet safety for children.
Safer Internet Day, which takes place on Tuesday 11 February, comes at a time when a ComRes poll shows that fewer than half of parents (43%) have had a conversation with their children about online threats and only 19% have spoken to their children about how to report something that they find upsetting on the internet.
The awareness day, currently in its 11th year, aims to promote more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people.
More than 500 organisations have given it their backing, including the BBC, supermarket giant Tesco, Facebook, Google and others.
Mark said:
"I fully support Safer Internet Day.
"The internet is playing a much greater role in all of our lives and children are no exception. It provides children with so many opportunities to learn and communicate, and with so many advances being made to phone, tablet, laptop and game console technologies, more and more young people are getting frequent access to the Web.
"However it is important that parents, councils and the government properly educate children on the dangers that the internet can pose, something that figures show is not being done enough; striking a balance that allows children to expand their minds, but protects them from the threats that sadly still exist."
Mark Welcomes Overdue U-turn on Bedroom Tax
Mark Griffin MSP has welcomed the long overdue decision of the Scottish Government to plug the £15 million funding gap to mitigate against the Bedroom Tax.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to the UK Government asking for rules to be changed so the money can be spent on discretionary housing payments (DHPs).
The decision comes after months of pressure from Scottish Labour, including a parliamentary Bill, lodged by Labour’s Welfare Spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP calling on the Scottish Government to take such action.
Mark said:
“I am pleased that after months of pressure from the Labour Party, the Scottish Government is finally taking action to protect people in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, and across Scotland, from the Bedroom Tax.
“This is a welcome U-turn, but it is not right that the Scottish Government have played politics on this matter. Only now, faced with heavy criticism, as well as a Members Bill from Labour’s Jackie Baillie, have they finally acted.
“The news will come as a welcome relief to social tenants, who have been unfairly targeted by the Con-Dem Government.”
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