WHITEFORD COMMENTS ON CUMINESTOWN AND ROTHIENORMAN POST OFFICE DECISION

Commenting following the announcement that, after a consultation period, Post Office management have decided to press ahead with the replacement of the Post Offices at Cuminestown and Rothienorman with a mobile service, SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford said:

"This is very disappointing news indeed although not unexpected given the track record of closure decisions made by Post Office management nationally.

"Post Offices provide an essential public service and in both Cuminestown and Rothienorman these could have been providing valuable support and footfall for established local businesses.

"The Post Office network cannot be treated as simply another private enterprise. It is an essential national provider of public services which should be maintained.

"It is an absolute disgrace that things have reached this stage and instead of stripping Post Offices of valuable functions such as television licensing, benefits payments and pensions to make them unviable in some cases, the London Government should have been supporting rural businesses and investing in their future as an essential service."

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"NEW DEER PLEDGE" TO FARMERS BEARS FRUIT

APPEALS REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPTED BY LOCHHEAD

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the announcement by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead that he has accepted sixteen of the seventeen recommendations made by a review team led by former NFU President John Kinnaird, including the principle of an independent appeals procedure.

The independent review is a direct result of a commitment given by local MP Alex Salmond at a meeting with local farmers at the 2006 New Deer Show that if the SNP won the 2007 election he would reform the appeals system which had been a cause of great concern among the farming community. The SNP's election manifesto contained the following commitment:

"…we will introduce a truly independent appeals panel in response to the existing system's shortcomings. SEERAD officials should not sit in judgement on decisions made by colleagues".

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford said:

"This is an excellent example of the SNP acting on the concerns expressed by farmers and following-through on our commitment made at the last election. John Kinnaird is highly respected across the industry and both he and his team have done an excellent job with their review.

"Nearly 700 Single Farm Payment claimants in 2005 and 2006 had penalties totalling over £1¼ million applied to their claims due to errors found within the completed forms.

"In the context of overall number of claimants, this is not a large number but it is still far too high and I believe more could be done to address this at an earlier stage in the process. The review is therefore absolutely right to have focussed in on the relationship between farmers and the department, with officials unfortunately being viewed as enforcers of rules rather than being there to offer help and advice.

"The positive relationship which once existed can and indeed must be rebuilt and positive assistance offered to claimants where necessary."

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson added::

"I am delighted by the progress made and particularly pleased that John Kinnaird, with his depth of knowledge of the system and its shortcomings, agreed to head-up the review.

"This is yet another example of the fresh approach of the new SNP Government and one which I am sure will be welcomed by North-east farmers."

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WHITEFORD COMMENTS ON TORY CANDIDATE SELECTION

Commenting on the announcement of the Conservative candidate for the Banff & Buchan Westminster seat, SNP Candidate Eilidh Whiteford said:

"I welcome the announcement from the Tories of their new candidate and congratulate Mr Buchan on his selection. I look forward to debating the issues with him and the other candidates once they are selected.

"The SNP has built up strong support in the coastal communities of Banff & Buchan through the tireless efforts of Alex Salmond, Stewart Stevenson and Richard Lochhead in championing the interests of the Scottish fishing industry in London and Brussels. I will be building on their formidable track record of supporting not only fishing but also the other local industries, like agriculture and energy, so important to the North-east economy and our way of life.

"During uncertain and difficult economic times for many people in this area, the SNP is the only party that can be trusted to stand up for the interests of people in Scotland."

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"NEW DEER PLEDGE" TO FARMERS ENTERS NEXT PHASE

APPEALS REVIEW PROGRESS GETS NFUS WELCOME

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the recommendations of the independent review into agriculture subsidy appeals which has called for has called for an abolition of the current three-tier mechanism and its replacement with an independent Appeals Agency.

The independent review is a direct result of a commitment given by local MP Alex Salmond at a meeting with local farmers at the 2006 New Deer Show that if the SNP won the 2007 election he would reform the appeals system which had been a cause of great concern among the farming community. The SNP's election manifesto contained the following commitment:

"…we will introduce a truly independent appeals panel in response to the existing system's shortcomings. SEERAD officials should not sit in judgement on decisions made by colleagues".

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

"I am delighted by the progress made and particularly pleased that John Kinnaird, with his depth of knowledge of the system and its shortcomings, agreed to head-up the review.

"This is yet another example of the fresh approach of the new SNP Government and one which I am sure will be welcomed by North-east farmers."

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford added:

"Nearly 700 Single Farm Payment claimants in 2005 and 2006 had penalties totalling over £1¼ million applied to their claims due to errors found within the completed forms.

"In the context of overall number of claimants, this is not a large number but it is still far too high and I believe more could be done to address this at an earlier stage in the process. The review is therefore absolutely right to have focussed in on the relationship between farmers and the department, with officials unfortunately being viewed as enforcers of rules rather than being there to offer help and advice.

"The positive relationship which once existed can and indeed must be rebuilt and positive assistance offered to claimants where necessary."

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