SAVE SEARCH AND RESCUE SERVICES URGES FISHING MP

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has appealed to the UK Government to stop the closure of Search and Rescue (SAR) services from RAF Lossiemouth after a parliamentary question revealed the role played by the helicopter cover in operations involving fishing boats.

Dr Whiteford’s constituency, which neighbours Moray, is home to a large part of the UK’s pelagic fleet - with Peterhead being Europe's premier white fish port, and Fraserburgh, Europe's biggest shellfish port. A Parliamentary Question – detailed below – has revealed the number of times search and rescue helicopters have been called out to rescue troubled fishing vessels.

The SNP MP is now calling for the UK Government to consider the impact that the closure of the UK Air Rescue Coordination Centre and Search and Rescue Squadron 202 at RAF Lossiemouth would have on the fishing and offshore oil and gas industry, as well as mountain rescue.

A decision on SAR privatisation had been expected before Christmas, but has been indefinitely delayed after the preferred bidder said it had become aware of a possible issue with its bid. The UK Government has also announced plans to cut Coastguard stations from 18 to 8 with only one in Scotland.

Commenting Dr Whiteford said:

“The UK Government will put lives at risk on sea and land by closing the search and rescue services which currently serve the fishing and offshore oil and gas industry.

“The Search and Rescue helicopters and their military crews from Lossiemouth have played a key role is the rescue and location of fishing boats over many years, indeed they have been called out five time in the last year. The loss of this cover would be extremely troubling.

“The UK Government must consider the impact that the closure of the Rescue Coordination Centre and Search and Rescue Squadron 202 at RAF Lossiemouth would have on the fishing and offshore oil and gas industry. Lossiemouth is the obvious and best strategic location for this cover.

“It would be extreme stupidity to withdraw military aircrews and privatise search and rescue cover from Lossiemouth, given the massive capability gap already created by the decision to axe the Nimrod fleet at RAF Kinloss.

“The military training and excellence of our RAF and Royal Navy helicopter crews have helped to save so many lives and maintain the highest rescue standards, and these skills and services must not be lost.

“Given a decision on privatisation has already been delayed because of problems with the preferred bidder, the UK government must step back from making a reckless decision that will put lives at risk.”

Notes:

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times search and rescue helicopters based at RAF Lossiemouth have been involved in operations involving fishing vessels in each of the last five years.

Nick Harvey: The information requested is shown in the following table:

RAF Lossiemouth call-outs to fishing vessels

2005 1
2006 12
2007 10
2008 1
2009 3
2010 5

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SCOTLAND OFFICE COMPLACENT AND UNCARING OVER CRISIS LOAN CUTS

TORIES BACK TO BEING THE NASTY PARTY

SNP Work and Pension spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford MP has branded the Scotland Office as ‘complacent and uncaring’ over cuts to the level and availability of Social Fund Crisis Loans, warning that the decision would force people on low incomes towards high cost or illegal lending.

Dr Whiteford raised concerns at Scottish Question today (Wednesday) over the announcement that the Tory Government will no longer pay Crisis Loans for items such as cookers and beds; the rate paid for living expenses will be cut from 75 per cent down to 60 per cent of benefit rate; and the UK government will implement a cap of three Crisis Loan awards for general living expenses in a rolling twelve month period. In the last 12 months alone, over 17,000 people received ten or more Crisis Loans.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“It seems that the Tories have gone back to being the nasty party with this complacent and uncaring dismissal of the impact that cutting crisis loans will have on the poorest households.

“By their nature crisis loans are a last resort, and it is appalling that the Tory Government are cutting this safety net. The only winners from this will be loan sharks and high interest lenders.

“The fact that so many people have had to take out these loans should underline the difficulties that households are facing, but instead of trying to help the UK Government are making things much more painful.

“These are loans that people pay back, so these cuts are not about saving money. What they will do is force people who are in crisis to take out high interest loans or to go to loan sharks.

"With further powers over the economy and over the welfare system that supports our most vulnerable people we could put a stop to the Tories dismal decade of cuts, invest in growing our economy and support our most vulnerable properly so that together we can make Scotland better.”

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UK GOVERNMENT EXPOSED OVER WOMEN’S DAY HYPOCRISY

Revelations, on the 100th anniversary UN International Women’s Day, that the UK Government is trying to water down an international agreement to protect women against domestic and sexual violence have been condemned by the SNP.

Reports that UK officials have frustrated members of the Council of Europe with a last-minute intervention arguing that violence against women is not a violation of human rights, and that the UK Government wants the suggestion removed from the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence and replaced with a weaker phrase. In addition, it is also understood that the UK want to change the document, which has taken almost two years to negotiate, so that it only applies during peace time and not during armed conflict.

SNP International Development spokesperson, Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, who is taking part in the International Women’s Day march in Westminster today, said:

“These revelations are all the more shameful emerging on International Women’s Day and expose shocking hypocrisy on the part of the UK Government.

“On the day that the Home Office publish an action plan to end violence against women and girls, behind the scenes they are trying to water down an international agreement to protect women. It is disgraceful double standards.

“What a contrast between the UK Government and the SNP Scottish Government that is taking action improve and support women across all parts of Scottish life and to help Scottish organisations support women in developing countries.”

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SNP WARN OVER TORY CUT TO CRISIS LOANS

RULE CHANGE WILL PUNISH POOREST

SNP Work and Pension spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford MP has expressed concern at an announcement by the UK Government, that it is to cut the level and availability of Social Fund Crisis Loans, warning that the decision would force people on low incomes towards high cost or illegal lending.

In a Written Statement published today (Thursday), the UK Government announced that it will no longer pay Crisis Loans for items such as cookers and beds; the rate paid for living expenses will be cut from
75 per cent down to 60 per cent of benefit rate; and the government will implement a cap of three Crisis Loan awards for general living expenses in a rolling twelve month period. In the last 12 months alone, over 17,000 people received ten or more Crisis Loans.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“By their nature crisis loans are a last resort, and it is appalling that the Tory Government are cutting this safety net for the very poorest people in our society. The only winners from this will be loan sharks and high interest lenders.

“The fact that so many people have had to take out these loans should underline the difficulties that households are facing, but instead of trying to help the UK Government are making things much more painful.

“These are loans that people pay back, so these cuts don’t really save money. This is a cruel cut that will force people who are in crisis to take out high interest loans or to go to loan sharks.”

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