MP SEES AWARD-WINNING 'Walkodile'® IN ACTION

Banff & Buchan MP Dr. Eilidh Whiteford recently had the opportunity to see a demonstration of the award-winning 'Walkodile'® in action at Peterhead. 

Children of the First Class Nursery in Peterhead were very enthusiastic about demonstrating the unique road-safety device, which facilitates the safe conduct of small groups of children by foot. 

The product's inventor, local woman Elaine Stephen, gave the MP a demonstration of the unique advantages of the product, and briefed the MP on the many awards which both she, and the 'Walkodile'®, had won for the invention and its development. 

Commenting on the demonstration, Dr. Eilidh Whiteford said: 

"I have followed the development of the 'Walkodile'® with considerable interest, and it was a great pleasure to finally see it in action for myself.  Elaine's invention has made a contribution to the road safety of small children. 

"I was particularly impressed by the very positive and constructive comments from the existing users of the product.  The 'Walkodile'® is now enjoying global recognition and is being exported world-wide.  It is a huge success, both as a safety device, and as a business model.  I wish Elaine continued success, and Peterhead should be proud to be the home of this innovation." 

Elaine Stephen said:

"The main reason I came up with my idea was to make sure the children in my care were as safe as possible.  Taking large groups of unpredictable young children outside class is not an easy task." 

The 'Walkodile'® will feature as part of National Road Safety Week later this month, when it is planned to have a nationwide co-ordinated walk by users of the device, and will feature in Global Entrepreneurship Week.

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LOCAL MP RAISES MACKEREL DISPUTE AT COMMONS QUESTIONS

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has raised the mackerel dispute with the UK Fisheries Minister in the House of Commons.

The SNP MP used the opportunity of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Question Time to urge the UK Government to take a robust line in defence of our historic fishing rights.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Dr Whiteford said:

“I am sure that Ministers share my disappointment that last week’s talks aimed at resolving the mackerel dispute between Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway and the EU ended without resolution. The ongoing uncertainty is causing great distress to the pelagic fleet and parts of the processing sector in my constituency, where much of the industry is based. Those people have much to lose and little to gain in the negotiations.

“Will the Minister update the House on the outcome of those negotiations, and assure us that the Government will take a robust line in those talks to defend our historic fishing rights and to ensure that the EU does not acquiesce to the unreasonable and environmentally destructive demands being made by Iceland and the Faroes?"

UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon gave an assurance to the Banff & Buchan MP that both he and his department would take a firm line with the Icelandic and Faroese proposals.

Commenting afterwards, Dr Whiteford said:

“I am grateful to the Minister for his assurance. However, we need to keep pressing for strong action from the EU over the unilateral quotas set by Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

“Our fishing communities need strong action - and it's also what needs to be done to protect the health of our mackerel stocks. That's why we need a strong Scottish voice speaking-up for the historic rights of our coastal communities.”

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LOCAL MP TO PRESENT COMPUTER EQUIPMENT TO SCHOOLS

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford will present four local schools with computer equipment as part of the Tesco ‘Computers for Schools’ scheme on Friday 5 November (tomorrow) at 2.00pm at Tesco, South Harbour Road, Fraserburgh.

Store Manager Fraser Wenseth will meet the MP on arrival and teachers and pupil representatives from Fraserburgh North School, St Andrews School, South Park School and Inverallochy School will be on hand to receive their equipment.

Dr Whiteford commented:

“I am delighted to be handing out computer equipement to local primary schools.

“‘Computers for Schools’ has been running for nearly 20 years now and a lot of very welcome additional equipment has gone into Banff & Buchan schools during that time. I think it is important that large national chains recognise that they have a duty to put something back into the community and I congratulate Tesco on this excellent initiative.”

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WHITEFORD RAISES POSTAL CONCERNS IN COMMONS

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has raised continuing concern regarding the Tory and Lib Dem plans to sell-off the Post Office and the possible impact on rural areas during a debate in Westminster. 

Speaking during the debate in the House of Commons, Dr Whiteford said: 

"I represent a very rural constituency, and one thing that we have seen over recent years is new businesses springing up and using the internet to sell goods further afield than the isolated rural areas in which they are based.  I am very concerned that the loss both of the universal service commitment and of Post Offices is inhibiting business growth.  That will absolutely undermine existing small businesses and disincentivise new ones, not only in the Post Office network but in the wider rural economy." 

Responding to the debate, the Minister responsible for the Post Office, Edward Davey, confirmed that the UK Government would announce its policy statement soon. 

Speaking afterwards, Dr Whiteford commented: 

"The Post Office plays a vital part in the life of local communities, and the UK Government needs to follow the lead of the Scottish Government and do much more to secure the future of the network in challenging times. 

"While the UK Government claims that there will be no more closure programmes, the fact is that the current privatisation plans threaten the future of deliveries, jobs and services. 

"We need clarity from Ministers over the implications that the Postal Services Bill will have for the network and how, for example, plans for mutualism will work. 

"With so many Post Offices interlinked with other businesses, for example, located in branches of supermarkets or newsagents, it is difficult to see how this diverse structure can easily work as a mutual organisation. 

"The UK Government should follow the lead of the Scottish Government who are doing what they can to support the network through initiatives like the business bonus scheme to provide rates relief and the Post Office diversification fund. These are concrete examples of how relatively small sums of money can be utilised to help strengthen the Post Office network."

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