2013/14 Budget

21/02/2013

Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney’s completion of the Scottish Government’s spending plans for 2013/14 is a major achievement in difficult times. Mr Swinney has to work within a budget fixed by Westminster at £30 billion, which has decreased over the last 4 years by a whopping 8% in real terms.  By law, the budget must be balanced with no borrowing.

Since NHS spending is protected, “health and wellbeing” take almost 40% of public spending. The remaining 60% is divided among many competing areas, ranging from local government and infrastructure to education and justice. Many painful decisions must be made and not everyone will be satisfied with the outcomes, but those politicians calling for more spending should say where they would get the money from. Read more of this post

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Dobbies in Dunfermline seeks Local Charity of the Year

20/02/2013

DobbiesDobbies Garden World in Dunfermline is inviting applications for a Local Charity of the Year from charities based within a 20-mile radius of their Fife Leisure Park store. Their chosen charity-partner will become the first recipient of fundraising activities at the Leisure Park store for the remainder of 2013.

The successful charity will be concerned with the welfare of children, elderly people, people with disabilities or with major health concerns, or else with environmental, wildlife or conservation issues. In-store fundraising events at Dobbies could include collection tins at till points, themed charity events, and fundraisers being invited into the store at key trading times. Read more of this post

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A Viennese evening in Dunfermline

24/01/2013

We are fortunate in west Fife to have two major theatres with first-class facilities: the Alhambra and the Carnegie Hall. These provide a great boost to the profile and cultural fabric of Dunfermline.

Both venues host an impressive variety of performances all year round, including the prestigious Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s annual Viennese New Year concert in the Carnegie Hall. My wife and I were among a full house for the 2013 performance of this popular event. In addition to the traditional Strauss favourites, the RSNO played pieces from Bach, Lehar and others, along with the customary special helping of Scottish reels to complete the evening.  A great treat, according to everyone we chatted with.
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Carnegie Trust Centenary

24/01/2013

One hundred years ago, Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie UK Trust, based here in Dunfermline, to improve the well-being of people throughout Britain and Ireland.

The Trust will mark its centenary with a variety of events and projects including a book and short film charting its ground-breaking work over the years, a centenary website documenting this work and publicising upcoming commemorative events, and an online searchable archive. Read more of this post

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Positive future

24/01/2013

By nature, I am a positive person. I believe my fellow Scots are perfectly capable of operating our own country successfully in the modern world. I, therefore, find it difficult to understand the perpetual negativity of the No Campaign – the Tory-Labour-Liberal Democrat alliance opposed to Scotland achieving political independence from Westminster. These people tell us we are “Better Together”, but instead of explaining why 21st century Austerity Britain is the positive outcome of 300 years of London domination, their single tactic is to trot out a continuous diet of gloom and despair. This seems to be based on the notion that Scotland is a lost cause, though perhaps it isn’t surprising as politicians who owe their careers to Westminster will campaign on that basis.

As a campaigner for the return of our country’s independence, I want to see Scotland re-join the international community of nations, free to prioritise our specific needs and make our own links, including with our immediate neighbours in England and the rest of Europe. We now have a chance to restore our identity and to present our own outlook and set of values to the world. Read more of this post

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Duloch School Visit

08/01/2013

On an MSP visit to Duloch Primary School, along with regional colleagues Willie Rennie and Claire Baker, I was impressed by the enthusiasm and awareness of the primary 4 and 5 pupils.

Set with the task of founding new political parties, the children came up with names, objectives, manifestos and even rosettes. They asked wide-ranging questions during a lively Q&A session, with environmental issues a recurrent theme.

I have visited a good number of schools over the last year, where the pupils have ranged in age and in the level of support they needed, and have invariably found the pupils to have a lively interest in politics. It is great to see them so engaged, particularly in times of general voter apathy. In a few short years, it will be their time to play a productive role in making our society a better one.

The above was originally written for Bill’s Dunfermline Press column. This version may vary slightly.

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Fracking in Fife?

08/01/2013

Many constituents have contacted me with concerns about fracking, the hydraulic fracturing of underground shale rock to release gas. This procedure, though known for decades, has come to prominence following massive exploitation in America, which has seen gas released for use at greatly reduced prices.

Masses of gas, reasonably accessible at current economic costs, lie underground throughout the UK. When used to generate electricity, shale gas produces less CO2 emissions than coal. But potential downsides of fracking include the risk of interfering with the underground water-table on which we depend. Also, explosive charges used underground in Lancashire caused two minor tremors. Another concern is that funding could be diverted from long-term development of sustainable and renewable natural energy sources such as wind and marine.

I believe there is a case for further practical evaluation of shale gas extraction but am opposed to public funding of fracking in the form of tax allowances or price subsidies levied on customers, as happens currently with windfarms. Also, since Scotland has a wealth of alternatives for long-term energy generation, fracking must be found to be at least as safe as other energy sources.

The above was originally written for Bill’s Dunfermline Press column. This version may vary slightly.

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Chief Constable Stephen House

08/01/2013

I recently met up with the new Chief Constable of Scotland, Stephen House, at Tulliallan Castle, where the restructured single national police force has its interim headquarters.

As a supporter of making Tulliallan the permanent HQ, I was happy to note that the Chief Constable does not seem opposed to the possibility, though the police service will have to weigh up the pros and cons of all alternatives. Tulliallan is a convenient central location with an established Police College and with many facilities already in place, but the cost of installing a modern command and control centre will likely be key to the final decision.

Something Mr House made crystal clear is his long-standing support for the national police force. At this significant juncture in Scottish policing, his ‘can-do’ manner and impressive experience – 37 years’ service by the time his current four-year contract ends – give the reassuring feeling that he is the right man to deliver greater efficiency and effectiveness. Read more of this post

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Remembrance Ceremonies

06/12/2012

On Remembrance Saturday and Sunday, I was honoured to lay the Scottish Parliament’s wreaths at the Royal Naval Memorial and First and Second World War Memorials.

The Remembrance Parades held across Scotland were especially poignant in light of the UK’s on-going operations in Afghanistan. Regardless of whether we agree with the conflicts our service personnel take part in, we should never forget those who have lost their lives and those who risk them every day. While I do not glorify war, I believe in paying respect to the fallen, including the generations who, during the World Wars, had little choice but to face unthinkable horrors in distant fields.

I was particularly impressed by the respectful conduct of all the senior pupils who laid wreaths on behalf of the local high schools. I was also heartened by the exceptionally high turn-out at both Douglas Bank Cemetery in Pattiesmuir on Saturday and the World War Memorials in Dunfermline on Sunday.

The above was originally written for Bill’s Dunfermline Press column. This version may vary slightly.

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Parliamentary Conduct

06/12/2012

The behaviour of MSPs in Parliament has deteriorated to such an extent that not only has First Minister’s Questions on Thursdays become half-an-hour of ritualised invective from political leaders, but this atmosphere has seeped into Chamber debates, such as the recent one on college education, and even committees.

Politicians name-call across the Chamber and while asking or taking questions. The latest tactic is to persistently question human errors for which an MSP has clearly apologised. Disrespect has extended to bad-mouthing the Presiding Officer in the chair, previously unheard of. Read more of this post

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