Crown Estate Lease Puts Peterhead CCS Project Ahead

UK GOVERNMENT MUST ‘PUT ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS’

Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed confirmation from the Crown Estate today (Wednesday) that the UK's first agreement for lease (AfL) for the permanent geological storage of carbon dioxide has been signed with the Peterhead CCS Project at the offshore depleted Goldeneye gas field.

The decision paves the way for plans to capture carbon dioxide from the Peterhead power plant in Dr Whiteford’s constituency. The SNP MP is now urging the UK Government to press on and make an early funding decision on the Peterhead project which has faced uncertainty as a result of Treasury delays in two previous CCS competitions.

Dr Whiteford said:

“This is good news from the Crown Estate which again puts the Peterhead project out in front – we now need the UK Government to put its money where its mouth is and deliver the funding to make this happen.

“After two previous competitions which came to nothing and Treasury confusion on the availability of the fund it essential that the UK Government seize the moment. We need a clear guarantee and timetable from the UK Ministers.

“Previous delays mean that other countries are powering ahead with their projects, leaving us in their wake rather than leading the race.

“The UK Government must now recognise the very strong case which exists for the Peterhead Project going ahead.

“Scotland has some of Europe’s largest carbon storage reserves in our North Sea oil and gas fields combined with the expertise on how to access them. And carbon capture investment can also be a key driver of economic recovery in Scotland. For the sake of both the environment and the economy, we need progress now.”

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Whiteford Supports Robust Arms Trade Treaty

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford is supporting an international campaign calling for a robust and human rights-based arms trade treaty to be negotiated this July at the United Nations in New York.

Dr Whiteford took part in a photo action event in the House of Commons, which saw MPs having their photo taken whilst holding a sign stating their support for a bulletproof arms trade treaty. The Control Arms Coalition (including Amnesty International, Oxfam and Saferworld), which organised the event, has been calling on MPs to demonstrate their support and urging David Cameron to publicly commit to a bulletproof arms trade treaty.

Every day, 1,500 people die as a result of armed violence and conflict. The current poor regulations on arms trades allow these weapons to fall into the wrong hands, where they can be used to fuel conflict, poverty and human rights violations. Amnesty is calling for a treaty based on a simple principle: no transfers of weapons likely to be used for violations of international law.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“This July, we have a once in a lifetime chance to create this historic treaty that could help save thousands of lives every year. Eight-five per cent of all killings documented by Amnesty involve the use of guns, and an effective treaty would reduce this figure significantly, by keeping arms out of hands that would use them to violate human rights.

“We simply cannot let this opportunity pass us by. The support of MPs in pressuring Cameron for a public commitment to a bulletproof treaty is absolutely essential.”

Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“There are so many issues in the world today, and it is appalling how many are facilitated or even caused by an unregulated arms trade – unlawful killings, poverty, sexual violence, - and the list goes on.

“This is an issue that we should all be concerned about, and I will be following up at the earliest opportunity.”

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Social Care Bill - Only Independence Will Fully Protect Scotland

As the UK Government publishes its White Paper on social care, Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford said she ‘thanked heaven’ that Westminster no longer made decisions on Scotland’s health policy but warned that only independence would allow Scotland to protect its progressive health and social policies from regressive Westminster decisions.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“Looking at the UK Government’s proposals on social care in England I thank heaven that Westminster no longer make the decisions that affect Scotland’s elderly on health and social issues like these.

“Quality, compassionate care for older people that protects their dignity and independence, is one of the most sacred duties of any civilised society. Westminster may not value services like free personal and nursing care but the SNP do and so do the people of Scotland.

“As we have seen with the budget the Tory-led Westminster government keep making the wrong choices. Scotland has made a conscious decision to provide certain core universal services, rights or benefits, some of which are no longer prioritised by political leaders elsewhere in the UK – such as free university tuition, abolishing prescription charges, and free personal and nursing care for the elderly.

“With the UK Government slashing benefits to old and young it is important we protect the policies and values Scotland holds dear and that includes services like free personal and nursing care.

“The Scottish Government is using the independence that we already have on health policy to protect the elderly and vulnerable. However as the Tory-led government’s plans for the health service in England to get money from private patients show, future Westminster governments will use that as an excuse to freeze or reduce public funding for health overall which will have a direct effect on Scotland's Budget.

“The independence we have allows us to protect the principles of Scotland’s health system. But if we want to make sure that Tory health policies can't damage Scotland’s health and social care policies in any way, then we need independence. Only independence can fully guarantee we protect Scotland’s progressive policies for pensioners.”

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Local MP Comments on Farepak Settlement

Local MP Eilidh Whiteford has commented on the news that customers and agents of Farepak, the Christmas savings firm, will ultimately receive half of the money they lost when the company collapsed – after liquidators BDO said that final payments will be made to those who lost out at the end of August.

Numerous savers and agents in Banff & Buchan were affected by the Farepak collapse, losing hundreds and even thousands of pounds in some cases.

Since the firm collapsed in October 2006 owing £37m to more than 119,000 savers (20,000 customers in Scotland) over 200 people have died before the lengthy liquidation process proceeded.

Eilidh Whiteford MP says it is ‘utterly shameful’ that savers are to recover just half of their money back while the final bill for the administrators and their legal advisers has already exceeded £8 million.  It is understood that the UK Government will also meet the legal costs of the company directors - costs estimated as much as £6million.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“After a six year wait it is utterly shameful that customers and agents will only receive half their money back while administrators pocket millions and taxpayers pick up the tab for the company directors’ legal costs.

“The impact on families in Banff & Buchan and elsewhere, who had put their Christmas savings in the trust of Farepak was devastating, causing real distress for people who could not have the family celebration they had planned.

“When you have worked hard and put money away for children’s presents and then to lose it all because of other’s failures was incredibly hard.  Getting some of the money back is better than nothing but to only receive half and see much more going into the bank accounts of accountancy and legal firms is really galling.

“There is something seriously wrong when liquidations can take years to finalise and people are actually dying before the insolvency gravy train comes to a halt.  My colleague Mike Weir MP, as the SNP’s Trade & Industry Spokesperson has been leading calls for a major review of insolvency regulation, which has clearly failed in the case of Farepak and in many others that may not be so high profile.

“Self-regulation appears to be a major part of the problem. Insolvency work is handled by licensed practitioners, most of whom work for accountancy firms.  The practitioners are in turn regulated by accountancy and law professional bodies, which have no independence from the firms they regulate.

“What’s more, there is no independent complaints investigation procedure or ombudsman to adjudicate on malpractices – and there are no questions over fees or delays.

“The sorry saga of Farepak has put this industry firmly in the spotlight and action needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

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