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Highlands and Islands Labour MSP is frustrated that the Best Start Plan has been delayed by the Scottish Government and says that this “will push maternity services into further crisis in Highland and Moray”.

 

The MSP submitted a PQ into the Scottish Parliament asking when in 2022 the The Best Start: five-year plan for maternity and neonatal care, will be published. This plan outlines how to improve maternity and neonatal services in Scotland over a five year period. The last plan was published in January 2017.

 

The PQ was answered yesterday by the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, Maree Todd, where she reveals to the MSP that she agreed to a two year extension last year as NHS Boards prioritised the response to Covid-19.

 

It is now expected that NHS Boards will implement all of the recommendations of the 2017 plan by mid-2024. She further goes on to say that: “the Scottish Government is working with Public Health Scotland on the overall evaluation of the Best Start approach.”

 

Rhoda Grant MSP said: “This is incredibly frustrating, and I refuse to believe that Covid-19 is wholly responsible for this delay.

 

“Maternity services in Highland and Moray are in dire need of attention and kicking this plan into the long grass will push services into further crisis in both Highland and Moray.

 

Rhoda Grant continues: “I have been pressing the Cabinet Secretary for Health to come to Moray and Caithness to get the full picture of the maternity crisis locally and this is something I will continue to press for.”

 

 

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, said that it was good news indeed that flights from Wick to Aberdeen were being relaunched in April under a PSO.

She paid tribute to the hard work of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Highland Council, all involved in Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership and agencies such as Transport Scotland and HIE, in bringing back the vital economic link and keeping the airport alive.

“A PSO to protect air services was something myself and my former Labour MSP colleague, David Stewart, were calling for, long before air services collapsed at Wick, because they were in a fragile state prior to Covid.

“Hopefully this will allow air connections to grow, helping the local economy and tourism and allowing access to new international routes, although it is disappointing that the Edinburgh link has not been mentioned as being able to be reinstated.

“It is also disappointing that the Tory Government refused to inject funding into the PSO despite my suggestion that it would be a good use of Levelling Up money!”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has welcomed some progress being made regarding safety concerns around the railway underpass in the centre of Aviemore but says she intends to keep the pressure on the council to see the job through to completion.

Mrs Grant has been pursuing the issue for many months now after constituents contacted her advising of their fears about the poor lighting in the area and the perilously high level of water in the burn itself during periods of heavy rain.

Rhoda Grant said “Constituents are concerned at the condition of the area and having visited the area myself, I share their concerns.

Constituents asked if it was possible to have the existing lighting repaired while we wait for the new lighting system to be installed and they wanted the burn area itself cleared of mud and leaves.

“The council has told me that the existing lighting is beyond any temporary repair. The old lights are recessed into the footway in the underpass and both the units themselves and the cabling feeding them is faulty/damaged. The new lighting which is being proposed will be mounted on the roof of the tunnel so shouldn’t suffer from the same issues once installed.” she said.

The MSP has been told however that some works have been carried out on the burn itself to drop the water level through the underpass. She said “This should go some way to helping the problem with high water levels adding risk in the area.

She continued “I’m pleased some progress has been made here but I will be keeping on at the council to get the new lighting installed as soon as the equipment is available.”

Picture courtesy of Strathspey and Badenoch Herald.

 

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is encouraged that it is unlikely that home insurance will become invalidated if customers fail to comply with new fire alarm laws but asks: “how long will this be the case?”

 

The MSP was concerned that home insurance would be invalidated if homeowners fail to comply with the new fire alarm laws which are now in place in Scotland. However, she has since received reassurance from the Association of British Insurers (API) that this is unlikely. In their email to the MSP, they say: “Our members are aware of the new regulations coming into force and are unlikely to invalidate a home insurance claim for existing customers who haven’t yet complied with the new law in Scotland. Anyone who is unclear on their policy terms and conditions should speak to their insurer.”

 

They later go on to say that that major insurers such as, Aviva, AXA, Admiral Group and LV= have  confirmed that they will not invalidate claims where their customers have not yet been able to install the new interlinked fire and smoke alarms.

 

Following this response, the MSP has further enquired whether there will be a time that these new fire alarm laws will invalidate home insurance. In addition, she has enquired on whether the current position will extend to new customers who are changing provider.

 

Rhoda Grant MSP said: “I’m glad that this is the current position of most home insurance companies and I wish to spread this reassuring message from API.

 

“I will continue to investigate to ensure that this policy is iron tight and  that no one will fall through the cracks. I will also continue the fight to see that help is extended to further help more low-income households install these fire alarms as its vitally important that we are all as safe as we can be within our homes.”

 

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has supported a motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament which calls on the Scottish Government to reverse its reported decision to increase water bills by 4.2%.

The motion, submitted by Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, asks for the decision to be reversed and, instead, asks that the Scottish Government freezes water prices at the 2021 level in order to help people in the grip of the cost of living crisis.

Mrs Grant, who last year called for a £100 water rebate to help struggling families, says this latest increase is unnecessary and will pile on the pressure families are already dealing with due to the energy price cap increase announced last week.

Rhoda Grant said “It is completely unnecessary to increase water charges in this way. Scottish Water has reserves of over £400 million of taxpayers money in its coffers so to introduce this rise, which is 2% higher than the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation, beggars belief. It is another devastating blow to Scotland’s already stretched household budgets.

“This is a tumultuous time for everyone with the rises in the energy price cap, the interest rate, National Insurance and now this water rise, on the back of the financial impact of the pandemic suffered by many.

Mrs Grant concluded “This is an appalling decision from a Scottish Government who, day on day, continue to display blatant disregard for the circumstances households up and down the country are facing. This decision shows the SNP Government is not only out of touch, but out of control. They need to reverse this decision, and reverse it now.”

The text of Jackie Baillie’s motion is below.

Motion Number: S6M-03101
Lodged By: Jackie Baillie
Date Lodged: 07/02/2022

Title: Freeze Scottish Water Charges

Motion Text:

That the Parliament believes that the new Scottish Water charges, which will begin in April 2022, will add pressure to the household finances of thousands of people across the country; understands that the increases, which it considers to be inflation-busting, were signed off by the Scottish Government and that charges for water have been set at the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation, plus 2%; further understands that Scottish Water has reserves of over £400 million, which, it considers, is taxpayers’ money, and calls on the Scottish Government to reverse its reported decision to increase water bills by 4.2% and, instead, to freeze water prices at the 2021 level in order to help people across the country who, it believes, are set to be far worse off because of the reported cost of living crisis.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is eager to see the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf, come to Moray and to Highland to meet with clinicians at Dr Grays Hospital and Raigmore Hospital to hear their views on Moray Maternity Services.

 

The MSP wrote to the Cabinet Secretary asking when he will deliver on his promise to come to Moray and Highland to meet with clinicians, to hear their views on the recent review into Moray Maternity Services. This comes after 18 senior clinicians from Raigmore Hospital released an open letter criticising the review. In this letter they say that they were never consulted on whether Raigmore Hospital could deal with extra births from Moray.

 

In his response to the MSP, The Cabinet Secretary for Health says: “I intend to travel to Moray to meet with NHS Grampian and NHS Highland as well as local clinical teams from Dr Grays and Raigmore and local people as soon as is practicably possible” and that “his office are currently identifying a date as a matter of priority.”

 

Rhoda Grant MSP says: “I think it is imperative that the Cabinet Secretary delivers on his promise to come to Moray and Highland to meet with clinicians and locals because right now there is little local trust in this review, as shown by the clinicians concerns.

 

“I think everyone who lives locally understands the fear and concern caused to pregnant woman on having to travel these great distances to give birth and also the pressures on Raigmore Hospital should this go ahead. I hope the Cabinet Secretary will visit sooner rather than later to hear to those concerns.”

 

The Cabinet Secretary for Health was supposed to travel to Dr Grays Hospital in Elgin before Christmas to meet with stakeholders however, this was changed to a virtual meeting as covid restrictions were tightened because of the Omicron variant.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, is appealing to people throughout the region to support her Right to Food Bill proposal before the consultation closes next week (16 February).

 

In the wake of Ofgem’s eyewatering increase in the energy price cap last week, which will see already struggling households having to wrestle between paying for heating or paying for food, Mrs Grant says the Right to Food has never been more needed.

 

Rhoda Grant said “If the SNP and the Greens hadn’t played party politics and kicked my Bill back we could have already been working on ensuring the Right to Food is enshrined in Scots law.

 

“Instead, we are having to reconsult at a time when the country is already grappling with a cost of living crisis.”

 

On Thursday Ofgem announced that from April the energy price cap would rise 54% to £1,971 – that is an extra £693 that households will have to find just to keep their homes warm and the lights on. Forthcoming increases to the interest rate and rises in National Insurance payments will exacerbate the situation further.

 

Mrs Grant continued “It is heartbreaking. I have had foodbank helpers in tears saying we can’t wait another year for the Right to Food to kick in. People need help right now. Foodbank volunteers need assurance that the invaluable support they provide in their communities will end one day, when wages and benefits are adequate enough for proud families to be able to stop using the foodbanks.

 

“New statistics show rising homelessness across Scotland. Foodbank use is soaring. Illnesses of the past like rickets and malnutrition have reappeared. In a rich nation like Scotland, in the 21^st century, this is appalling. It’s Dickensian.

 

“People are struggling right now – it’s time the First Minister stops commentating on the cost of living crisis and starts doing something about it. She could start by allowing her MSPs to support my proposal.”

 

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant yesterday submitted her opposition to the Scotrail consultation on the proposed changes to Scotrail ticket office opening hours calling it a “cash saving exercise.”

 

The MSP has submitted her opposition because she has concerns about traveller safety and the future of jobs in the sector in the Highlands. Specifically, she raises concerns on connectivity, staff wellbeing, women’s safety and disadvantaging the disabled and elderly.

 

Scotrail have previously indicated to Mrs Grant that they would not make anyone redundant and that they wish to distribute more staff on the platform. However, the MSP wants guarantees that they will replace staff, at the same station with the same number of hours, should a staff member choose to leave.

 

In her submission she says: “In my constituency there are nine stations affected by these proposals of varying amounts. This results in an overall significant reduction in hours that these ticket offices are open.

 

“I would like to see guarantees that where staff leave, they will be replaced at that Station with staff working the same amount of hours. I fear that this is in reality, a cash saving exercise.

 

“In Wick, for example, the proposed changes would result in the office being closed on Saturdays. That singularly is a loss of 7 hours and 4 minutes in one day.

 

“Should a staff member be on a platform they would be exposed to the extreme weather and potentially to anti-social behaviour with very little support.”

 

Additionally, the MSP has suggested, should these plans go ahead,  that the Kyle of Lochalsh  station have “booking assistance” like Scotrail have proposed for Aviemore and Kingussie train stations. It is understood that “booking assistance” is when staff are available longer than advertised to help travellers should the station be busier than predicted.

 

Mrs Grant has suggested this idea as Scotrail have rightfully used 2019 data to create these proposals as 2020 and 2021 data are not representative of footfall or travelling habits (due to the pandemic). Since that time, Kyle of Lochalsh train station has gained further popularity with visitors and tourists.

 

Lastly, she has enquired about the future of waiting rooms as some Highland and Moray stations have waiting rooms attached to their ticket office.

 

Rhoda Grant said: “I believe that Scotrail are pulling the wool over our eyes with these proposals and that it is in fact a cash saving exercise which will lead to further job losses and further closures.

 

“I appreciate that buying habits have changed and that Scotrail have to modernise with these changes but in a time where we are seeing tickets prices go through the roof paired with the lowest traveller satisfaction, I don’t trust Scotrail to follow through with their promises.

 

“That is why I’m wanting guarantees that should a staff member leave their post, that they are replaced at the same station and with the same amount of hours.”

 

Scotrail were in public consultation to change the opening hours of 120 stations and to close three stations across Scotland. The stations with proposed changes in the Highlands and Islands constituency are: Aviemore, Dingwall, Elgin, Forres, Keith, Kingussie, Kyle of Lochalsh, Nairn and Wick.

 

Advancing the Right to Food in Scotland – we have an unmissable opportunity to strengthen the #righttofood in our law.

Join us at 6pm – 7.15pm on Tuesday 8th of February for a virtual event hosted by me in partnership with the Scottish Food Coalition.

Speakers will discuss how we can ensure that food policy is founded in human rights, with social and environmental justice at its heart.

We will explore the Right to Food consultation (open until 16 February), and the Good Food Nation Bill as key opportunities to strengthen human rights in food policy.

Register here: https://bit.ly/3r6OHK3

Unite the union has today (Friday 28 January) hit out at the Scottish Government in a dispute over the imposition of the 2021 pay award at Marine Scotland claiming that it could be potentially ‘illegal’.

Unite who represent around 50 workers based at Scotland’s fisheries protection fleet has reacted furiously to the 2% pay imposition by the Scottish Government stating that it could constitute an ‘illegal inducement’. The trade union has also confirmed that it is now considering balloting its members for industrial action over the dispute.

The Scottish Government confirmed the imposition of the pay award this week which represents a substantial real terms pay cut with CPI standing at 5.4% and RPI hitting 7.5%.

In August 2017, members of Unite voted to take strike action in a dispute over Marine Scotland staff being paid less than those in comparable jobs in other publicly-owned organisations.

Unite industrial officer, Sandy Smart said: “We are very disappointed that pay talks for last year with Marine Scotland dragged on into the winter and then the Scottish Government came back to us stating that all they were prepared to put forward was the 2% pay policy, which we rejected.” 

“The Scottish Government confirmed this week that they would impose the pay award and they were not prepared to continue negotiations to their conclusion. We believe that this could constitute an illegal inducement on the basis that the Scottish Government have terminated negotiations with Unite and imposed a real terms pay cut. All options are now on the table including an industrial action ballot as this disgraceful behaviour will not go unchallenged.” 

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, said it was a real kick in the teeth for Marine Scotland seafarers to be facing a similar pay fiasco as happened in 2017.

“What’s incredible this time around is that the Scottish Government is simply imposing a pay deal on them after dragging its feet over negotiations.

“There should be equity when it comes to public sector pay and workers in fisheries protection have fallen far behind those who work for CalMac which is also publicly owned. The government should get around the table to avert strike action or legal action and show these workers some respect.”