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MOD QUESTIONED OVER REDUNDANCIES IN SCOTLAND |
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Thursday, 19 January 2012 00:00 |
Responding to the second round of armed forces cuts by the UK Government, the SNP called for clarity form the Ministry of Defence over how many of the 4,500 redundancies would be made in Scotland. Over the last decade 10,500 defence jobs have been lost in Scotland accompanied by a £5.6bn underspend.
Commenting, SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said:
“ Given the disproportionate defence cuts Scotland has already endured, we must have absolute clarity from the UK Government over where this latest round of redundancies will be made.
“ Any further defence cuts in Scotland will compound the 10,500 defence job losses and £5.6billion underspend Scotland has been hit with over the last decade from Westminster.
“ People in Scotland will be appalled that whilst the Westminster government is forging ahead with cuts to basing and personnel they can find the money for a nuclear weapons system that offers little defence in the 21st century. The UK government has its priorities all wrong when our conventional, front-line forces face redundancy, while the Trident nuclear weapons system is treated like some sacred cow.
“ Majority Scottish opinion, our churches, the Scottish Trade Union Congress and Civic Society, all oppose Trident, yet the UK Government wants to use Scottish tax-payers money to pay for these weapons of mass destruction while cutting conventional defence.
“ Any way you look at it - on moral, financial, or defence grounds - renewal of Trident is completely untenable in the face of these redundancies. A normal country with the power to decide its own defence and security policy would never be pushed into this crazy situation. Scotland must have independence to determine its own priorities, rather than have somebody else's imposed on it.” |
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WELCOME FOR ENTERPRISE ZONE AT FORRES |
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Tuesday, 17 January 2012 00:00 |
Moray’s MSP, Richard Lochhead, MP, Angus Robertson and Forres SNP Councillor Irene Ogilvie have all welcomed the announcement of 4 Enterprise Zones, with Forres being included as a Lifesciences site.
The announcement was made by Scottish Government Finance Secretary John Swinney.
The Forres site covers 10 hectares and offers a strong opportunity to build on the cluster of expertise in the P4 Digital Healthcare sector which has developed along the Inverness-Elgin corridor, the sector having expanded from 50 to 80 active businesses between 2009 and 2011.
SNP representatives from Moray have supported the development of the area’s economic strategy and have made strong representations to the Scottish Government in support of the region’s economic development, particularly in light of the Strategic Defence Review which has seen the RAF lose thousands of personnel from the area.
Welcoming the news Richard Lochhead MSP said:
" An enterprise zone for Forres and Moray to attract high value and prestigious life science jobs is a huge boost for the area's economic recovery.
" This great news will help open a new chapter in Moray's economic future and will benefit the whole area. Indeed, this breakthrough will build on existing plans to establish Moray as an international centre of excellence for life sciences and digital health care.
“ I congratulate everyone involved who has campaigned to have such a zone established in Moray and I thank Scottish Ministers for recognising our case.
“ This latest development is hot on the heels of a flurry of announcements amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in Moray relating to the whisky, life sciences, energy and food sectors.
“ It is heartening to see so much confidence returning to Moray.”
Angus Robertson MP said:
“ This is a good day for Forres and for Moray.
“ Lifesciences is set to play a major role in Moray with companies investing in the area and Moray College developing a state of the art Lifesciences Centre at its Elgin Campus.
“ The creation of an Enterprise Zone will offer significant incentive to attract and accelerate investment into the area. This will provide a boost for other sectors of the economy and support employment in other sectors.
“ Our efforts to grow the Moray economy don’t stop here of course. We must continue to use every tool at our disposal to attract new business across a range of sectors.”
Forres SNP Councillor Irene Ogilvie said:
“ Local businesses have been under sever pressure with the major reductions in personnel at Kinloss, combined with the wider economic issues that are hitting us all.
“ The Scottish Government has shown their commitment to the Forres area with regular visits by Scottish Government Ministers and they have clearly taken away the issues and acted upon them in a very positive way.
“ We have been given a significant opportunity with the announcement of Forres as an Enterprise Zone and we now have our own job of work to do with this important economic tool.” |
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MORAY MP & MSP WELCOMES ‘HISTORIC’ DECISION ON 2014 REFERENDUM |
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Wednesday, 11 January 2012 00:00 |
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Referendum - ‘an opportunity not to be missed’
Moray’s Member of the Scottish Parliament, Richard Lochhead, has commented on the news from the Scottish Government that an independence referendum will be held in Autumn 2014.
Local Member of the Westminster Parliament, Angus Robertson, has also called on the UK Govermnent to stop interfering in the planning of the referendum when the Scottish Government clearly has the mandate of Scotland’s people to hold the referendum.
Richard Lochhead MSP said::
“ These are exciting times with the Scottish Government having confirmed that Scotland’s independence referendum is to be held in the autumn of 2014. People across Moray will now have the exciting opportunity to join the rest of Scotland in voting in a referendum on Scotland's future.
“ Here in Moray, as across Scotland, people voted overwhelmingly for the SNP resulting in a SNP majority in the Scottish Parliament. In our election campaign we clearly stated our intention to hold a referendum in the latter part of the parliamentary term and that is exactly what we are planning for.
“ In recent days, Labour and the Lib-Dems have been falling over each other to agree with David Cameron's insistence on trying to interfere in a referendum that is clearly up to Scotland to run. It is clear that Unionist politicians have nothing positive to add to this debate.
“ However the Scottish Government is sticking to its election promise to hold the referendum in the second half of this parliament to allow time for an educated debate on independence to be held. That is only right and proper. And I myself am happy to take part in any local debates that community councils, churches, or other groups would like to organise.
“ It is also right that 16 and 17 year olds should be allowed to vote in the referendum. The SNP has long believed that people who are entitled by law to work full time, get married and pay taxes should have a say in how their country is run and in the future of that country. Our young people are our future, they have a right to express their view at the ballot box.”
Moray’s MP Angus Robertson said:
“ It seems that the unionist London based parties have suddenly discovered that there is a major debate in Scotland about our country’s constitutional future. Given that the people of Scotland are well ahead of them in the debate their interference this week seems to have largely caused a reaction of ‘who do they think they are’!
“ The London parties have gone from wanting no referendum to wanting one as quickly as possible. This is patently nonsense. The decision in a referendum on Scotland’s future will be one of the most important decisions made by the Scottish people and that being the case it must not be hurried but properly considered, debated and voted upon.
“ Above all, this is a matter for Scotland. The people of Scotland gave the SNP a mandate to bring forward a referendum. The Tories, Lib-Dems and Labour would do well to come to terms with that fact and respect the people’s decision." |
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MORAY MP BACKING CAMPAIGN FOR CHANGES TO VAT LEGISLATION |
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Monday, 09 January 2012 00:00 |
 Moray’s MP Angus Robertson is giving his support Linda Fabiani MSP’s campaign to have assistance dogs – including guide dogs and caring support dogs - classed as working dogs in regards to VAT legislation.
Currently, food for assistance dogs is not VAT exempted which adds £120,967 per year to the food bill for dogs in Scotland. £40,000 of which relates to Guide Dogs Scotland’s bill alone. Other ‘working dogs’ such as sheep dogs and greyhounds currently enjoy VAT exemption from their food.
Mr Robertson joined Guide Dog Puppy in Training, Dusty, along with his trainer, Elaine Cooper, at the Springfield Retail Park in Elgin to highlight the issue.
Angus Robertson MP said:
“ Under current legislation only dog food which is high in protein is zero rated. As this food is designed for dogs who are active for the majority of the day this food is simply not suitable for assistance dogs.
“ This means that whilst working dogs such as sheepdogs and greyhounds are not subject to VAT on their food, assistance dogs such as guide dogs and hearing dogs are.
“This is completely unfair on the owners of these assistance dogs who rely on their animals in order to carry out daily tasks and on the charitable organisations who work so hard to train and support assistance dogs through their working lives.”
“ It is often the owners of the assistance dogs who are required to pay this bill although some of the charity organisations who train the dogs do cover these costs.”
Although the VAT bill only comes to around £84,340 per year for all of the assistance dogs in Scotland changes to the VAT legislation will help all of the assistance dog owners in the UK and will save these charities more money.
Guide Dogs Scotland added:
“ In Scotland alone, VAT on dog food costs Guide Dogs more than £40,000 each year, which is money that could be spent on helping blind and partially sighted people live independently. Guide Dogs is backing MSP Linda Fabiani’s campaign for changes in legislation that would enable us to reclaim VAT on food for guide dogs.”
“ Guide Dogs Scotland use premium dry dog foods which are able to provide a range of diets which meet the needs of the diverse dog population. These include feeding pregnant bitches, weaning diets, growth diets suitable for large breed puppies, maintenance diets for adults, reduced and lower activity diets for adults, diets to suit the older/senior dog and a range of veterinary prescription diets.
“ In addition to having the different life stages/ranges of diets the quality/digestibility of the diets is important to ensure low or moderate faecal output which is important to the work of the guide dog on the street and management by a blind or partially sighted user.” |
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MORAY MP WARNS ON RURAL DELIVERIES AS OFCOM CONSULTATION CLOSES |
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Monday, 09 January 2012 00:00 |
Speaking after Ofcom's consultation on 'Securing the Universal Service Obligation' closed Moray’s SNP MP, Angus Robertson, has warned that the proposed changes could leave rural and remote communities with a second class postal service.
As part of a consultation on the future of the universal service obligation, which ensures it costs the same to send and receive mail wherever you live, Ofcom are proposing to give Royal Mail full commercial freedom to determine contracts with large companies and other postal providers as to what they will charge for the final delivery of items.
Ofcom suggest there should be no cap on prices for the vast majority of Royal Mail's services, including business post, bulk mail, and large letters and parcels sent second class.
Local MP Mr Robertson says that this could lead to higher prices in rural and remote areas and the SNP has raised the matter at a meeting with Ofcom.
Angus Robertson MP said:
" Everyone understands that it is more expensive to deliver items to rural and remote areas, but up to now we have always had a one price anywhere policy which ensured that we did not have the situation that has developed in the parcels market where some companies will not deliver to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
“ The issue of parcel delivery was highlighted recently by a major survey carried out by Citizens Advice Scotland and it is an issue I regularly hear about in my own postbag.
" Under the Ofcom proposals Royal Mail will be able to negotiate a contract directly with other companies but it does appear that it is the intention of Ofcom that such contracts should be cost reflective, which means that we could reach a situation where different prices were being quoted for different areas.
“ A move like this would be very worrying as I firmly believe it undermines the Universal Service Obligation. The USO must not be eroded as it provided vital protection of postal services in rural areas like Moray and the wider North and North East of Scotland.
" The removal of the cap would have very serious consequences for small businesses who rely heavily on Royal Mail's services and the proposals come at a time when many are all ready under real pressure.
" The Ofcom proposal would allow Royal Mail to charge whatever it wanted for first class services while the cost of second-class postage could rise by more than 50 per cent.
" Large businesses who send a lot of mail will never pay the full first class price but will always be able to get a better deal or bulk discount from Royal Mail. They would also have the option of doing a deal with one of the alternative private providers.
" These options are not available to our small businesses. They rely on Royal Mail's service to be able to deliver letters and small packages around the country. They could be priced out of the market risking their very survival.
" These are very serious issues which Ofcom do not appear to have taken on board with their proposals. The Postal service remains vital to our communities and they must look at them again before it is far too late." |
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SNP POLITICIANS CALL ON UK GOVERNMENT TO ACT ON PAYDAY LOANS |
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Thursday, 05 January 2012 00:00 |
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MORAY MP SAYS ‘UK GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE IS CREATING MISERY’
Moray’s MP, Angus Robertson, has joined with SNP colleagues in both the Scottish Parliament and the European Parliament to renew a call for the UK Government to intervene on payday loan companies offering short-term loans at astronomical rates of interest.
The companies often charge extortionate rates of interest, some eclipsing 4000% APR. At a European level SNP MEP Alyn Smith has written to the European Commission seeking their
guidance on the issue who confirmed that it was the competence of each Member State to regulate these companies.
SNP MSP for Cunninghame South Margaret Burgess is calling for cross party support for a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the issue in January. Over the past five years the number of credit companies offering short-term loans has increased dramatically and often see an increase in customers over the festive period, with the promise of ‘quick approval’ and access to cash ‘within minutes’.
With financial regulations remaining reserved to Westminster local SNP MP Angus Robertson, who is also the SNP’s Westminster Leader is pledging that SNP MPs will keep the issue on the agenda and has welcomed the efforts being made in Europe and the Scottish Parliament to keep up the pressure.
Angus Robertson MP said:
“ I can understand why many people turn to these companies to meet unexpected bills or to make the money stretch a little bit further but the lack of regulation is a real problem.
“ The rates of interest being charged are simply unbelievable, running to an incredible several thousand percent.
“ These companies are often targeting the least well off at the most difficult economic times and can lead to families being in almost perpetual rolling debt at an incredibly high cost.
“ This has been exacerbated by the banks failing to support ordinary families with more structured debt management which can lead to people seeking unsustainable measures in desperation.
“ We must see better regulation from the UK Government in this market place.”
Alyn Smith MEP said:
“ Over this festive period many payday loan companies are targeting hard hit, vulnerable Scots who are in need of a little extra cash in the run up to Christmas. Far from helping though, these sort of loans often lead people deeper into debt with more severe financial difficulties.
“ It is clear that some legal restrictions must be put in place in order to curb the ludicrous rates of interest. This has already happened in many other European nations as well as 35 US States, where there is a limit on the maximum interest these companies can charge, so it is possible.
“ The UK Government have consistently failed in regulating the financial markets and have done absolutely nothing to reform the system despite an almost global agreement that change must happen. Their ignorance is now leading to misery for thousands of Scots who are turning to these companies at this time of year.
“ The European Commission has confirmed that it is up to Member States to enforce regulation on these companies, and with the Scottish Parliament currently lacking the powers to make such an intervention then it is up to the UK Government. Cameron and his cronies must get their act together and regulate these companies out of existence before more people face financial ruin as a result.”
Cunninghame South SNP MSP, Margaret Burgess, who was previously a director of
Citizens Advice Scotland and manager of a large Citizens Advice Bureau has lodged a motion for debate in the Scottish Parliament on the issue of payday loans.
Welcoming Ms Burgess’ motion Angus Robertson MP continued:
“ Getting involved with these companies often just traps people in a downward financial spiral which is hard to escape from. It is high time that the UK Government got their act together and properly protected the most vulnerable in our society.” |
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SNP DEMANDS INQUIRY INTO INSOLVENCY INDUSTRY |
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Wednesday, 28 December 2011 00:00 |
The SNP have called for an investigation into the insolvency industry amid concerns that administrators are cashing in at the expense of creditors.
Moray’s SNP MP Angus Robertson says figures obtained by the SNP show a shocking amount of money tied up in the system and an outrageous number of insolvencies that have not been resolved after over 20 years.
Questions tabled by the SNP spokesperson on regulatory reform, Mike Weir MP, revealed a worrying picture of how the insolvency industry is operating.
The SNP concerns have been sparked over delays and the level of compensation for the Farepak victims - the Christmas hamper firm collapsed in October 2006 owing £37m to more than 119,000 savers. More than five years later, savers are likely to recover just 5p in the pound, while the final bill for the administrators and their legal advisers has already exceeded £8 million.
In Moray alone there have been hundreds affected by the Farepak collapse alone not to mention those affected by the administration of other companies over many years.
High Street and high profile examples include:
- Zavvi, the music retail chain which went into administration in November 2008, owing unsecured creditors nearly £185m – including 510,000 unredeemed vouchers worth an estimated £4.1m. Creditors are just receiving 15p in the pound, while administrators Ernst & Young collected millions in fees.
- Furniture chain, Land of Leather, went into administration with debts of £37m in January 2009. Creditors received just 9p in the pound, while administrators Deloitte and Touche collected fees of £2.5m.
The staggering scale of the situation is reinforced by parliamentary questions tabled by the SNP in the House of Commons which reveal that:
- For the year 2008/09, the mean level of debt owed by companies in compulsory liquidation was £584,134 and the median was £67,500. For 2009/10 the mean level of debt owed by companies in compulsory liquidation was £1,132,000 and the median was £81,000.
- Liquidations have no statutory time limit and some, such as the Israel-British Bank, which entered liquidation in 1974 was only finalised in September 2009. Also in 1974, holiday firm Apal Travel went into liquidation – finalised only in August 2008 by which time some of the holidaymakers entitled to receive the 74p in the pound settlement had probably died in the intervening 35 years.
- indeed, more than 19,500 liquidations started five years or more ago have not yet been finalised.
- 6,629 liquidations started 20 years or more ago have not yet been finalised.
- The level of fees charged by insolvency practitioners is not regulated.
Local Moray MP Angus Robertson said:
“ Many people in Moray have been directly affected by the high-profile Farepak collapse which still, after over 5 years, remains unresolved and when it does get resolved the amount due to creditors is a tiny percentage while administration costs continue to rise.
“ The UK government must take a serious look at the workings of the insolvency industry which appears to be raking in a fortune at the expense of creditors. It looks like another example of rip-off Britain, and another failure by Westminster to regulate properly.
“ There is something seriously wrong when liquidations can take a generation to finalise and people are actually dying before the insolvency gravy train comes to a halt.
“ I can think of no reason why the Government should allow this scandal to continue. Not only does it fail thousands upon thousands of creditors but it also means uncollected tax debts and money that is stuck in limbo rather than being paid out and helping to get our economy going.
“ Just like the banks, current UK insolvency regulation has failed. Part of the problem seems to be that the industry is largely self-regulated. Insolvency work is handled by licensed practitioners, most of whom work for accountancy firms. The practitioners are in turn regulated by accountancy and law professional bodies, which have no independence from the firms they regulate. What’s more, there is no independent complaints investigation procedure or ombudsman to adjudicate on malpractices – there are no questions over fees or delays.
“ There will be many, many people in Moray who have lost money through firms going into administration including the many hundreds hit by the Farepak collapse. It is time the lid was lifted on the administration industry and a much fairer, more efficient system implemented." |
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