Let's "Switch Together"
Mark Griffin MSP and Gregg McClymont MP have announced the launch of a “Switch Together” campaign for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, to help local people with rising energy bills.
A number of UK energy companies have recently announced they are increasing their prices, Npower by around 9%, British Gas by 6%, Scottish Hydro by 9% and Scottish Power by 7%. And other companies are set to follow suit.
As prices have risen, the number of people switching energy provider has continued to decrease. Ofgem reported that 60% of customers have never switched, whilst Which? Magazine produced a report which showed consumers to be missing out on up to £4 billion of savings by not shopping around.
Through the “Switch Together” campaign, you can save money by joining with other people in West Dunbartonshire to switch to an energy provider which will offer everyone the cheapest price.
After registering your details on the website - www.switchtogether.org.uk - the Labour Party - along with an energy switching company - will negotiate with energy companies and the one which offers everyone the lowest tariff wins. This price will then be offered to all those local people who have taken part.
The deadline to register is 25th November. And people can find out more by calling the free Switch Together number on 0800-048 8112, Mark Griffin MSP on 01236 423555 or Gregg McClymont MP on 01236 457788.
Mark Griffin MSP said:
“I hope other political parties will join Scottish Labour in their campaign against rising energy prices. It is important to make people of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth are aware of the companies that can help reduce tariff rates for families in the area.
“Energy prices and fuel costs are already at a record high with families and pensioners struggling to make ends meet this winter.
“In the 21st century, residents across our area should not be forced to make a choice between heating or eating, yet this is the reality for many households.
“Both the SNP Government and UK Government really need to get a grip of this problem – supporting this campaign challenges energy companies to put their prices down or face losing customers.”
Gregg McClymont MP added:
"One of the biggest burdens which people here in East Dunbartonshire are currently facing is rising energy bills. And unfortunately, more and more of the UK’s major energy companies have signalled price rises as Winter approaches.
“In tough economic times, rising energy costs stretch further the already squeezed finances of people, here in West Dunbartonshire and up and down the country.
"The Government is simply not doing enough to help hard pressed households. Action is needed now.
“That’s why I, along with my Labour colleagues, have taken matters into our own hands to help consumers. I hope that by launching our own collective energy switching scheme, local people will be able to save money and find it a little easier this Christmas.”
Overwhelming Number Have Say on BSL Bill
Mark Griffin MSP is incredibly grateful to the high number of people who have taken the time to respond to his proposed British Sign Language (BSL) (Scotland) Bill.
At the close of the consultation - extended by a week – on Friday 9 November, 1,135 responses were received. The number is considerably higher than the traditional number of responses to Members Bills, which averages around 40.
Public Sector Organisations, deaf groups and hundreds of individuals, from across Scotland and beyond made their views known and their comments will now be analysed as the Bill progresses to the next stage.
Mark said:
“I am absolutely delighted by the overwhelming number of people who have had their say on my proposals.
“My proposed Bill seeks to increase awareness of BSL throughout Scottish society and would go some of the way to breaking down the barriers facing Scotland’s Deaf population on a daily basis.
“I would like to thank everyone for their contributions. We will now take some time to collate all of the responses we received, listen to what people have said and prepare to take the Bill to the next stage.”
Mark Pleased By Police U-Turn
Mark Griffin MSP has welcomed a decision by Strathclyde Police to retain public access to the police office in Cumbernauld, and others throughout the area.
Mr Griffin had written to Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Stephen House and Area Commander Brian Connel highlighting his concerns at the proposals. In his letter, Mr Griffin highlighted the fact that Cumbernauld is the largest town in North Lanarkshire, has 24 hour shopping at both Tesco and Asda in the Town Centre, and is home to local nightclub Basement.
Mr Griffin had asked the police to reconsider the proposals and is pleased that they have now done so.
Mark said:
“I expressed my concerns about the plans and I am pleased that the police have now reconsidered
“Cumbernauld is the largest town in North Lanarkshire, with officers responsible for policing over 51,000 people.
“It is important that local people know there is a place they can go to, day or night, if they require assistance, wish to report an incident or hand over lost property. I made this known to the Chief Constable and Area Commander, as did many others across the area.
“It is good news for Cumbernauld that the police office will continue to operate 24 hours a day.”
Mark Welcomes Success of Opt Out Campaign
Mark Griffin MSP has welcomed the support given to Opt Out Campaign for organ donation successfully run The Evening Times, and is delighted that the Labour Party have become the first polical party at Holyrood to seek a change in the law.
Mr Griffin's father Francis, the former Labour councillor for Kilsyth and Croy, died five years ago aged 47 after waiting almost 10 years for a heart transplant and the MSP believes he would still be alive if the law was different.
Mark said:
"The party recognises there is a massive need for organ donors and the benefits organs bring to those who have been waiting so long.
"I would hope to see a change come about within the lifetime of the Parliament, before the elections in 2016.
"I am delighted for the Evening Times campaign and am delighted the Labour Party has publicly backed the campaign."
Speaking about the difference it could have made in his father's life, Mark added:
"My dad didn't make it through the operation because his health had deteriorated so much.
"If the opt-out system had been in place with more donors I think he would have got his transplant a lot earlier and would still be alive."
The Labour move has also been welcomed by the British Medical Association.
Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: "We welcome Labour's support for an opt-out system for organ donation to be introduced in Scotland."
Government’s EGIP Cuts Widely Criticised
Mark Griffin MSP has hit out at the Scottish Government’s cuts to the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) during a Parliamentary debate on the issue on Wednesday 19 September.
EGIP has fallen victim to considerable Government cutbacks, and promises previously given to passengers, now will no longer be honoured, including the increased service at Croy, the loss of the Garngad Chord and the lack of line electrification beyond Cumbernauld.
Mark said:
“I am deeply disappointed by cutbacks being made to the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), considering it once appeared promising.
“What the SNP government has now done however, is reduce the programme by £350 million, which has resulted in a reduction in the planned number of services per hour going through Croy, seen vital plans for the Garngad chord scrapped, and electrification beyond Cumbernauld abandoned, something that now means that an alternative route is lost if there’s a blockage on the main line.
“The failure of the Scottish Government to see the overwhelming potential of this project is staggering, and the promises made to commuters have been broken.”
Cumbernauld Commuters Association and CBI Scotland have also criticised the decision of the Scottish Government to cut the programme by such a vast extent.
RSS
