News archivesMSPs back call for ferry between
Lochboisdale and Mallaig
17 January 2012
Highlands & Islands Labour MSPs, David Stewart and Rhoda Grant, are backing
Storas Uibhist in their call for the introduction of a ferry between
Lochboisdale and Mallaig.
David Stewart said "My colleagues and I have campaigned long and hard for
this service to be introduced.
"We have waited years for this ferry review and are immensely disappointed
that, once again, the Scottish Government has failed to take into account the
views of the community of South Uist.
"When we carried out our own consultation on this, over 1200 people responded
to us in favour of such a service being introduced, the vast majority of whom
were from the South Uist area."
Mr Stewart continued,
"We understand the questions in the Scottish Government’s survey were too
vague and clumsy to make the responses valid and we believe that the people of
South Uist were at no point asked if they would prefer Oban or Mallaig as a
mainland port."
Mrs Grant said,
"We are seeking urgent clarification from the Transport Minister about the
wording of the survey as the results of this conflict directly with everything
we have heard from the local community over the last few years."
Mr Stewart said,
"We intend to again seek the views of the local community on this important
matter as we cannot believe local opinion on this could have changed so greatly
in such a short space of time."
Link :
http://www.storasuibhist.com
David Stewart MSP : 7,500 could be cut from incapacity benefits in Highlands and Islands 10/11/2011
Rhoda Grant MSP : H and I unemployment amongst 18-24 year olds almost doubles in 4 years.
10/11/2011
MSP's concern over Rise in Diabetes in the Western Isles
18 August 2011
A dramatic rise in the numbers of people diagnosed with diabetes
in the Western Isles is causing huge concern for Highlands & Islands Labour MSP
David Stewart.
A 2005 pharmaceutical industry report had predicted that the
number of cases of diabetes in the Western Isles would be 772 by 2013.
However, the latest annual Scottish Diabetes Survey indicated
that the numbers in the Western Isles diagnosed with diabetes had already soared
to 1,170 last year.
The official estimate of those with diabetes is put at 1,868
This includes a further 698 undiagnosed cases .
This number of undiagnosed cases represents 2.7 per cent of the
population of the health board area.
Mr Stewart acknowledged the "dedicated work" that the NHS were
carrying out in the Western Isles in treating diabetes.
He said,
"Diabetes is not just simply a life-long condition. It also has
a host of potentially serious complications such as heart disease, eye problems,
strokes and kidney disease if the condition is not treated properly."
He continued “If we want the NHS to be a 21st. century leader in
preventative health, then we must take co-operative action towards that goal.
The public can expect quality advice on risks to health that
certain conditions pose, quality care to enable self-management by those
indentified with that condition, as well as the best possible information on how
to minimise the risks at the outset”.
Notes
For further information, see
http://www.scotpho.org.uk/home/Healthwell-beinganddisease/Diabetes/Data/diabetes_undiagnosed.asp
- from the Scottish Public Health Observatory
In 2005, ABPI Scotland (the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
in Scotland ) published a report called “The Future Burden of CHD ( coronary
heart disease) and Diabetes in Scotland” which outlined great concern about the
increase in the number of cases of diabetes across the country.
It said that diabetes was “ growing dramatically” and that “the impact of living
with diabetes has potentially devastating consequences for individuals, the NHS
in Scotland and our society as a whole.”
It indicated that there were 735 cases of diabetes in the Western Isles in 2004.
It forecast that by 2013, the number of cases of diabetes would rise to 772.
This prediction was made on the basis of population-based changes .
It did add that, “Given lifestyle trends, especially increasing levels of
obesity, the true number with diabetes is likely to be even greater.”
Those diagnosed with the various types of diabetes were :
Type 1 - 177 ( 15 per cent )
Type 2 - 993 ( 85 per cent)
Others - 0
Total - 1,170
Rhoda Grant questions OFGEM on Western Isles link
19/08/2011
MSP presses Westminster and Scottish Government to commit more rural
broadband funding 18/08/2011
Rhoda Grant calls for SNP to reverse Fuel Poverty Budget
Cut as yet another Fuel Company Announces Price Hike
22 July 2011
Speaking today as Scottish & Southern Energy announced that
household gas bills will increase by an average 18% and electricity bills by an
average 11%, Scottish Labour's deputy finance spokesperson Rhoda Grant MSP said,
“With energy company after energy company announcing price hikes
like this it is our duty to help the poorest and most vulnerable in our society,
who will be hit hardest by soaring bills in these already tough times.
“The fact that one in three Scots are now struggling to heat
their homes – almost twice as many as in England – underlines just how wrong it
was for the SNP government to slash the fuel poverty budget by almost a third.
“I urge the SNP government to wake-up to the reality facing
hard-pressed Scots and urgently reverse its cut to the fuel poverty budget."
Notes :
(1) Citizens Advice Scotland recently warned of a growing ‘crisis’ of fuel
poverty in Scotland, after official figures showed that the problem is
significantly worse in Scotland than in the UK as a whole. The UK government
report showed that Scottish fuel poverty is running at 33% while the rate in the
UK as a whole is 20%.
http://www.cas.org.uk/news/2011-news/July/Fuel+poverty+approaching+crisis+levels+in+Scotland
(2) The Scottish Government spending on fuel poverty has been cut by £22.9m
(32%) in the last year.
Total fuel poverty spending:
2010-11: £70.9m
2011-12: £48.0m
Details of 2010-11 budget: http://bit.ly/j5xdJI
Details of 2011-12 budget: http://bit.ly/jDtzyW
(3) Definition of fuel poverty:
A person is living in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory
heating regime, they would be required to spend more than 10 per cent of their
household income (including Housing Benefit or Income Support for Mortgage
Interest) on all household fuel use.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/FP
Rhoda Grant's delight at Western Isles specialist nurse
appointment
18 July 2011
Rhoda Grant her expressed her delight with the news that a nurse
dedicated to provide care for Multiple Sclerosis patients for the Western Isles.
Mrs. Grant who has worked closely on this campaign with local campaigner
Christine Stewart and the MS Society (Western Isles Branch) said,
“ I am absolutely delighted that all the hard work and effort of those involved
in this campaign have paid off.
"The sufferers of MS in the Western Isles will now receive the service they
require and deserve which will without doubt enhance their overall care”
The MS Society and NHS Western Isles have come to an arrangement
whereby the Society will fund the nursing post for nine months after which the
health board will assume funding after that.
NHS Western Isles had previously made an unsuccessful plea to
the Scottish Government for funding for the post.
Link :
Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland
http://www.mssocietyscotland.org.uk/index.html
Rhoda Grant urges participation in BBC 3G mobile phone
Coverage Study
18 July 2011
The BBC is conducting a major survey into the state of mobile phone coverage in
the UK.
Over the course of the next month, the project will attempt to chart the
availability of 3G and 2G services up and down the country.
Mobile operators offer their own coverage maps but no independent survey has yet
been carried out.
Measurements will be made using an app developed by network analysis firm
Epitiro.
The software can be downloaded by anyone with an Android handset and will record
street level coverage across Britain.
At the end of the test period, the BBC aims to display the results on a
clickable map.
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, who is campaigning for improved
broadband services across the Highlands & Islands said,
“ This is the opportunity for those that have poor mobile reception and
broadband connectivity to take part and help identify all the areas in the
Highlands & Islands which suffer from a very poor or weak signal”
Ms. Grant went on to say,
“ I understand that those wishing to take part will need an Android handset to
download the app.
"Once downloaded, data will be collected without you having to do anything more.
"If you wish to see what coverage is like in a particular place, simply click on
the app.
"The app is free to download and it uses very little bandwidth .
"The data is anonymised and neither Epitiro nor the BBC will collate or store
any personal data”.
Links
BBC to survey UK mobile coverage
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13874818
Download the UK 3G Survey App - BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/uk/11/3g_survey/inc/disc.inc
Ed Miliband - The Labour Party that I'm Determined to Lead
single click on the video to view it
Notes
For further information, see
http://www.scotpho.org.uk/home/Healthwell-beinganddisease/Diabetes/Data/diabetes_undiagnosed.asp
In 2005, ABPI Scotland (the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in Scotland ) published a report called “The Future Burden of CHD ( coronary heart disease) and Diabetes in Scotland” which outlined great concern about the increase in the number of cases of diabetes across the country.
It said that diabetes was “ growing dramatically” and that “the impact of living with diabetes has potentially devastating consequences for individuals, the NHS in Scotland and our society as a whole.”
It indicated that there were 735 cases of diabetes in the Western Isles in 2004.
It forecast that by 2013, the number of cases of diabetes would rise to 772.
This prediction was made on the basis of population-based changes .
It did add that, “Given lifestyle trends, especially increasing levels of obesity, the true number with diabetes is likely to be even greater.”
Those diagnosed with the various types of diabetes were :
Type 1 - 177 ( 15 per cent )
Type 2 - 993 ( 85 per cent)
Others - 0
Total - 1,170
(1) Citizens Advice Scotland recently warned of a growing ‘crisis’ of fuel poverty in Scotland, after official figures showed that the problem is significantly worse in Scotland than in the UK as a whole. The UK government report showed that Scottish fuel poverty is running at 33% while the rate in the UK as a whole is 20%.
http://www.cas.org.uk/news/2011-news/July/Fuel+poverty+approaching+crisis+levels+in+Scotland
(2) The Scottish Government spending on fuel poverty has been cut by £22.9m (32%) in the last year.
Total fuel poverty spending:
2010-11: £70.9m
2011-12: £48.0m
Details of 2010-11 budget: http://bit.ly/j5xdJI
Details of 2011-12 budget: http://bit.ly/jDtzyW
(3) Definition of fuel poverty:
A person is living in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, they would be required to spend more than 10 per cent of their household income (including Housing Benefit or Income Support for Mortgage Interest) on all household fuel use.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/FP
Mrs. Grant who has worked closely on this campaign with local campaigner Christine Stewart and the MS Society (Western Isles Branch) said,
“ I am absolutely delighted that all the hard work and effort of those involved in this campaign have paid off.
"The sufferers of MS in the Western Isles will now receive the service they require and deserve which will without doubt enhance their overall care”
Link :
The BBC is conducting a major survey into the state of mobile phone coverage in the UK.
Over the course of the next month, the project will attempt to chart the availability of 3G and 2G services up and down the country.
Mobile operators offer their own coverage maps but no independent survey has yet been carried out.
Measurements will be made using an app developed by network analysis firm Epitiro.
The software can be downloaded by anyone with an Android handset and will record street level coverage across Britain.
At the end of the test period, the BBC aims to display the results on a clickable map.
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, who is campaigning for improved broadband services across the Highlands & Islands said,
“ This is the opportunity for those that have poor mobile reception and broadband connectivity to take part and help identify all the areas in the Highlands & Islands which suffer from a very poor or weak signal”
Ms. Grant went on to say,
“ I understand that those wishing to take part will need an Android handset to download the app.
"Once downloaded, data will be collected without you having to do anything more.
"If you wish to see what coverage is like in a particular place, simply click on the app.
"The app is free to download and it uses very little bandwidth .
"The data is anonymised and neither Epitiro nor the BBC will collate or store any personal data”.
Links
BBC to survey UK mobile coverage
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13874818
Download the UK 3G Survey App - BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/uk/11/3g_survey/inc/disc.inc
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