MSP Supports Big Energy Savings Week
Mark Griffin MSP has shown his support for the third Big Energy Savings Week, undertaken by Citizens Advice Scotland, which runs from 27 to 31 January.
The national campaign encourages local people to ‘check-switch-insulate’ to save themselves money; aims to help people cut their fuel bills, get the financial support they are entitled to, and offer advice on energy bills.
Mark said:
"I fully support Big Energy Savings Week, and encourage people from across Cumbernauld and Kilsyth to get in contact with the Citizens Advice Bureau to get more information.
"Across Scotland, many are suffering as a consequence of Welfare Reform and high energy bills, and are frequently forced to choose between feeding their family or heating their home. It is deeply concerning that 27% of people in Scotland are currently in fuel poverty.
"It is important that support and advice is easily accessible to assist those facing such difficulties, especially as the Energy Savings Trust estimates that the average home wasted £280 last year simply due to not being energy efficient."
Further Police Cuts to Hit Forth Valley
Central Scotland Labour MSP Mark Griffin has slammed plans by Police Scotland to cut police command and control centres across Scotland, including in Forth Valley – a move that could result in hundreds of job losses.
Mr Griffin has also criticised the way in which Police Scotland have handled the process, with little notice given of the plans and no level of public consultation.
The cuts will mean that residents in Forth Valley will be redirected to a control centre in Edinburgh when making 999 or 101 calls and is yet another example of the SNP's centralising agenda.
Mark said:
“I have grave concerns about the way Police Scotland is handling these proposals.
“There are currently 1,495 police staff and police officers who work in control centres. Over 1,200 civilian staff jobs have been lost in the last two years, and I fear that more could following as a consequence of this announcement.
“I have been in dialogue with Unison – the union of police staff - about the unacceptable level of cuts civilian staff have been forced to absorb recently.
“The SNP Government also have a role to play. Despite all the bluster and rhetoric, it is clear that the Justice Secretary is consistently refusing to protect police staff jobs.”
Damning Reports Highlights Perpetual Failings of NHS Lanarkshire
NHS Lanarkshire has received a damning report from Health Improvement Scotland (HIS), which has highlighted significant failings on the quality of care, staffing and record-keeping at Lanarkshire’s three acute hospitals – with the most significant failings falling at Monklands.
HIS spoke to more than 300 patients and carers, more than 200 health board staff and reviewed 152 patient records, before reaching their conclusions. HIS criticised the Health Board and hospital management for poor leadership, unsafe staffing levels, poor patient support and a lack of accountability, and have made 21 recommendations, to be implemented urgently.
Mark said:
"This is a scathing report and outlines serious failings in our local hospitals - particularly Monklands."People I speak to in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth fear being admitted to Monklands and would much rather go to the new hospital at Forth Valley or go into Glasgow for care and treatment.
"There is no doubt in my mind that people have died unnecessarily due to the failings of NHS Lanarkshire while the SNP Health Secretary, Alex Neil, is trying to blame officials and deflect attention. The real question here is if the SNP Government is failing to run hospitals properly in the Health Secretary’s own constituency then what is happening across the rest of the country?"
Gregg said:
"This report is a damning indictment of the SNP’s stewardship of the NHS. Understaffing, unacceptable quality of care and poor patient record keeping are seriously failing patients in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth. My constituents deserve better. We have every right to expect a top-class health service. Under the SNP we are not getting it."
MSP and MP get into the Christmas Spirit
Mark Griffin MSP and Gregg McClymont MP invited all of the Primary 5 pupils in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth to design their official joint Christmas Card.
Mark and Gregg have visited all local schools who took part to give every child a certificate for taking part, as well as hand out the runner up prizes.
Last week pupils of Eastfield Primary learned that one of their own, Sophie Barker, had beat competition from every other school to claim first place.
Mark said:
“The competition was to design our official Christmas card which goes out in Cumbernauld & Kilsyth and across the country to hundreds of people including the Prime Minister and First Minister.
“Thank you to everyone who took part and special congratulations to our winner Sophie.”
Gregg said:
"For the third year in a row I have stunned by the quality of entries for the competition. All of the pupils should be very proud of their efforts – none more so than Sophie.
“I have enjoyed visiting each school, and presenting those who took part their certificates and prizes for all of their hard work.”
Watch Us Grow From Strength To Strength
Mark Griffin MSP and Gregg McClymont MP stopped by the Watch Us Grow town centre plant sale on Friday 22nd November to show their support for the popular Palacerigg-based social firm, which offers training and employment in horticulture to adults with additional support needs.
Mark and Gregg also helped sign up members to ‘Friends of Watch us Grow’, the volunteer arm of Watch us Grow which helps raise funds for the organisation.
Mark said:
"Watch Us Grow is a tremendous local organisation but they depend on the support of our community.
"It was great to help by recruiting new volunteers and show how much local people support the work they do."　　
Gregg said:
"It was nice to be able to show my support for Watch us Grow again and not only support existing volunteers, but assist them in signing up new ones."
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