Local MP Comments On Oil Industry Warning

LOCAL MP COMMENTS ON OIL INDUSTRY WARNING


Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has commented on the results of Oil & Gas UK's updated Activity Survey which warns that unless mitigating measures are put in place, at least 25 projects which account for over a billion barrels of oil and gas and investment worth £12 billion are unlikely to go ahead and the lives of at least 20 producing fields will be shortened by up to five years.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

"Even the Chancellor must now recognise the immense damage that his ill conceived tax grab will have, and the Treasury must step back before it is too late.

"The Chancellor's decision to hike tax on the North Sea oil and gas sector has already put investment and job creation in this vital industry at risk. There is widespread opposition to the way the UK Government is treating the North Sea industry, and I hope that the Chancellor will listen to the case for an alternative approach which protects exploration and development activity.

"We need, as the First Minster called for last week, a progressive system that puts more of the tax burden on the gatherers of North Sea oil and gas rather than the investors.

"There is no clearer demonstration of the need for Scotland to have responsibility for our North Sea than the misguided tax plans of the Tory and Lib Dem government.

"This year North sea revenue will raise £13.4 billion - a record amount of money flowing from Scotland's seas to the UK Treasury. Scotland's oil is bankrolling this Tory government just as Scotland's people are paying the price in rising taxes and now this Lib Dem /Tory tax is putting jobs at risk."

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Mutualisation Not An Excuse For UK Government To Ditch Responsibility

MP WARNS OVER POSTAL PLAN

Commenting on the publication of the report on the possible mutual structure for the Post Office network published by the UK Government, Banff & Buchan SNP Member of Parliament, Eilidh Whiteford, says that the structure is less important than a guarantee from the UK Government of future business, which they have so far refused to give.

Without that guarantee the SNP believe that the Post Office Network will be at significant risk and there will a major lack of incentive for much needed new investment.

Commenting, the SNP’s Eilidh Whiteford said:

“The idea of a mutual Post Office network is not in itself a bad one, certainly far better than any straight privatisation, but the absolutely vital point for the future of the network is whether it will continue to receive business from the Royal Mail delivery system after privatisation.

“Throughout this process the SNP has been pressing the UK Government to guarantee the post office network the business from a privatised mail delivery company for a lengthy period, giving it a stable environment for investment.

“The Tories and Lib-Dems continue to refuse to grant such an agreement with the result it is still far from certain what level of business will be available for sub post offices should privatisation of the delivery system proceed. This leads to huge uncertainty and lack of confidence for investment.

“There remains a real danger that the Post Office network, so vital in rural areas like Banff & Buchan, could be devastated by the privatisation of the delivery service. The UK Government must not be allowed to use mutualisation of the network as an excuse to ditch that responsibility.”

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Turriff Restaurant Wins Place In Tiffin Cup Scottish Final

Turriff’s Moon Light Tandoori has won a place after being chosen to represent Banff & Buchan by Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP in the prestigious Lyca Tiffin Cup 2011 Competition.

The national competition is held each year to find the best South Asian restaurant in the UK.

This year 60 restaurants were nominated. Moon Light Tandoori, having won a place in the Scottish final will battle with other restaurants to become one of the UK finalists in the Lyca Tiffin Cup 2011 grand Final.

Within the next few weeks a mystery diner will visit the restaurant and judge whether the restaurant deserves to represent Scotland.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

Mr. Choudhury, Proprietor, Moon Light Tandoori
with Eilidh Whiteford MP

“I am delighted that my nomination for Moon Light Tandoori has been accepted. I hope that Moon Light Tandoori will be chosen to represent Scotland in the UK Final of such a prestigious award. I am sure that everybody in Banff & Buchan will be supporting our restaurant.”

Keith Vaz MP, Chair of the Tiffin Club said:

“We are delighted with the nomination of Moon Light Tandoori. It will really put Banff & Buchan on the culinary map.”

Eilidh Whiteford MP will visit the Moon Light Tandoori, 34 Balmellie Street, Turriff at 4.45pm on Friday 20 May (today) to meet with the proprietor Mr Choudhury and staff.

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MP REPEATS WARDEN CALL DURING FIRE-STRUCK SHELTERED HOUSING COMPLEX VISIT

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has met with concerned residents of Walker Court sheltered housing complex in Aberchirder to discuss Aberdeenshire Council’s plans to cut warden cover at each complex in favour of itinerant teams of wardens providing part-time cover.

The MP’s visit was sought after enquiries which she made following a recent fire at the complex revealed a shocking lack of contingency planning for such an emergency. Dr. Whiteford was able to reassure the tenants that these shortcomings had now been addressed by Aberdeenshire Council and Grampian Fire & Rescue Service - but the tenants remain worried that Aberdeenshire Council’s plans to press ahead with reductions in warden cover will place them at additional risk during emergencies.

Of perhaps even greater concern to the tenants, however, was the loss of the day-to-day services and security provided by having full-time wardens on site.

Commenting after the meeting, Dr. Whiteford said:

“Having heard how the Council’s plans will impact on the lives of the residents in sheltered housing complexes across my constituency, I remain very concerned, and I am not at all convinced that these proposals will produce the level of savings expected. What we will see, however, it a very real reduction in the peace of mind and quality of life which these vulnerable members of our society deserve.

“Residents and their relatives are making their feelings plain, and the Council needs to listen. I don't think the informal role that wardens play in our sheltered housing complexes has been fully appreciated by those managing the services.

“I also doubt the cost savings to be gained. Wardens will end up spending their time in cars, traveling from complex to complex at great expense, instead of spending time 'on the job'. Given our experiences over the past couple of winters when villages like Aberchirder have been badly affected by prolonged periods of adverse weather, it is hard to see how this scheme will work in practice. We know that last winter there were occasions when wardens had to stand-in to help residents when care workers could not reach their clients.”

The Banff & Buchan MP repeated her pledge to urge Aberdeenshire Council to reconsider its position as a matter of urgency.

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