Window on Westminster : February 2010
Council Farce
Once again South Ayrshire Council has descended into farce at a crucial time with the sudden resignation of Hugh Hunter as Council Leader. This will no doubt be followed by wrangling for positions and it will be interesting to see the reaction of the so called independents who have consistently voted with the Tory/SNP coalition including their draconian cuts and closures in the Carrick area.
Their failure to support the Labour Group's motion as a practical solution to providing a swimming pool says it all when all they can offer is pie in the sky and at best a long way off. The people of Carrick are being short changed with breath taking arrogance.
Sat Nav Systems
I have been asked by one of my colleagues whether I have constituents who are badly affected by drivers using satellite navigation systems who are being directed along totally unsuitable roads. This occurs when drivers opt for the shortest route on their satellite navigation systems and are sent along two way but single width country lanes. This has been happening particularly in tourist areas and around visitor attractions where tourists are not familiar with the road network. I would be interested to hear from anyone if this has caused a problem locally and in which areas.
Carers' Rights
I was pleased to sit on the Statutory Instrument Committee that brought into being the regulations which will allow carers to be awarded National Insurance credits and will extend the range of carers whose entitlement to State Pension and Bereavement Benefits is protected. This will particularly, although not exclusively, benefit women who have been discriminated against for years because of their caring responsibilities in the family.
A roof over your head
Too many people who contact me do not have access to a reasonable roof over their head .I was delighted to attend the tenth anniversary celebration of local organisation Seascape which assists homeless people to get private rented accommodation. I have watched this group develop over the last ten years and they provide a vital service. With the shortage of available social rented housing it is very important that people can rent from responsible landlords. We are fortunate to have an active Landlords Association in South Ayrshire who cooperate fully with both the Council and Seascape.
Royal Mail
I met with representatives of the Communication Workers Union to get an update on the situation with Royal Mail. The union and management are currently in arbitration after the union agreed to suspend strike action pending an agreement.
The discussions are looking at the modernisation of Royal Mail in the face of an unfair playing field with competition. There is an urgent need to sort out the pension deficit and the arbitration process has fallen behind schedule. The union members I spoke to suspect this is deliberate on the part of management to avoid a settlement before the General Election. They also recognise that the return of a Tory government would mean full scale privatisation within months and a risk to the universal service obligation. It is time to get this matter settled and the union has plenty of ideas about what should be done without resorting to partial privatisation as put forward by Lord Mandelson (but not the majority of back bench Labour MPs). I am making further representations on the union's behalf.
Small Businesses
Between 2002 and 2007 over 84 per cent of new jobs were created by small businesses. As we begin to move out of the recession it is ever more important to support business in the recovery period and beyond. I was therefore interested to hear their views at a meeting in Westminster. 500,000 people in the UK start new businesses every year and they can play a huge part in tackling unemployment.
Law on Stalking
Congratulations to local woman Ann Moulds in her campaign to bring Scottish law in to line with England with a separate law to cover stalking. Ann endured a long and terrifying ordeal at the hands of an acquaintance who subjected her to a campaign of extreme mental torture. She was brave enough to speak out and the Scottish Government looks set to introduce legislation to cover stalking. When I first raised this with Kenny McAskill, the Justice Minister, he was not minded to do it, stating that current law was adequate. That was not the experience of Ann or many others. I am thankful at this about turn and that Scottish victims will have the same protection as in England.
New Air Traffic Control Centre
It is not often that politician's can blow their own trumpet but I must admit to a sense of satisfaction at the opening of the new Scottish National Air Traffic Services Centre which will secure hundreds of jobs in Ayrshire as well as bringing many up to Scotland from Manchester.
No longer in my constituency, but some years ago I campaigned very hard to ensure it got the go ahead and achieved an amendment to the Transport Bill.
I've lost count of the number of people who told me at the time it would never happen and here it is – a state of the art Air Traffic Control Centre- something else that would never have happened in an independent Scotland.
If only saving jobs was always so successful.
