Back to Holyrood

Parliamentarians were back to work in Edinburgh this week after spending the summer recess (hopefully like myself) getting out and about seeing constituents in their own towns and villages. So we should all have come back with a sack load of concerns and problems from constituents that need addressing, the term ahead should be a busy one as we are now leading up to next May’s election. However before the elections there is a lot of work that needs to be finalised and health is always a major area that takes up a lot of parliamentary time, and with the recent stories circulating in the media about hospital cleanliness (or lack thereof), nurses' time pressure and hospital services closing the nation’s health will be paramount to future debates.

Drink and Drugs

On the subject of Scotland’s health the sad fact of our nations' chronic problem with drugs and alcohol was hit home recently with the release of figures which highlighted the deaths from these two vices has increased significantly since 1999. There has been a 20% rise in alcohol-related deaths since 1999. There has also been a rise in drug-related deaths - with fatalities involving heroin up by 25%. Unfortunately this means that there were 1,513 alcohol-related deaths across Scotland in 2005, we should remember that this figure is not just a statistic as each preventative death represents a lost human life, a father, a mother, a sister a bother lost due to drink.

The Lib-Lab government in Scotland must get a hold of the situation and find ways to tackle the root cause of alcohol and drugs abuse.

The fact that more people are dying from drink as well as drug related deaths should come as a stark warning that we have a lot of work still to do to combat Scotland's drink and drugs problems. The effects of both drugs and alcohol on our communities are plain to see up and down the country, not just on individuals who choose to take drugs or drink.

Next year an SNP Government will prioritise rehabilitation and counselling services for those with addictions and start to address the root cause of this growing problem, social deprivation, instead of sticking to a failed plan.

Christmas lights

I know that summer has just ended and that Christmas seems like a long way off, but for those that organise the preparations for the festivities that we all enjoy their planning has gotten underway in earnest for this years event. However I must admit that I am worried that there appears to be a lack of volunteers and businesses willing to help with the Christmas lights display for Banff. Too many people think that it is the Council that sorts the lights out, however this is not the case and it would seem that the same people are being relied upon year on year to manage the light display. I would like to appeal for local business to come forward and pledge their financial support to this years Christmas light fund, and I would also ask those of you that think you can help to offer your assistance to those you are volunteering this year. The Christmas lights may seem trivial to some but they not only brighten up dark winter days and nights for both children and adults but it is also a major selling point for the town This cause is deserving of our support and I intend to get behind the project.

Travel for young people

The Scottish Executive has gone back on it’s promise to give all students subsidised travel. The fact that a similar scheme which afforded free travel for all pensioners proved to be such a success this should encourage not dissuade the Executive in offering students with the chance to enjoy cheaper public transport.

The Executive’s own partnership accord committed Ministers to ensuring that all young people in full time education would gain a level of subsidised travel, however yet again ministers seem to be back-peddling over this promise.

They have done this by stating that subsidised travel will cover only those aged 16-18 and those, up to the age of 25, who are full-time volunteers. All other students over 18 will not get access to the scheme.

If this scheme is not given to every student it will be another blow to rural communities, our constituency will soon be the only one to have no rail or air link in Scotland. So to attract and retain young people the subsidised travel scheme would of course have helped in this regard.

Especially if we take into account the rising price of fuel, giving young and senior citizens the chance to use public transport more could stop many forms of exclusion, from Economic: if no alternative transport is available people have to pay for taxis which is expensive, it can also harm peoples chances of keeping a part-time job, which relies on flexi-time shifts. Social exclusion is also rife as a lack of transport will hamper people attending facilities such as swimming pools, banks, cinemas, libraries and doctor surgeries. This means people have a lack of choice; the stark reality is either stay at home, or pay large sums of money to enjoy some form of simple activity and/or attend an essential service/ appointment.

It is time for politicians and minister’s to stand by the decisions and promises that they make, no wonder people despair that you can’t trust a politician, I hope that my conduct as an MSP will have changed people’s view on this subject.