MP Highlights Boost to Rural Banking with Expanded Service

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has praised the introduction of an expanded mobile banking service for customers in the Central Buchan area following a visit to New Pitsligo today to meet with staff and see the service in action.

 (l to r): Fiona Kearney, RBS; Eilidh Whiteford MP
Moira Smith, RBS

The Royal Bank initially introduced its local mobile service in 2006 after the Clydesdale Bank closed the majority of its branches in the North-east. The service was recently expanded to include New Pitsligo and Mintlaw every Thursday.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“While a lot of banking transactions can be carried out online these days, there is still a need for a counter service for obtaining cash, paying in cheques or settling bills so I’m delighted that RBS has made this strong commitment to our rural communities by expanding this service to include more villages.

“The service is perhaps particularly important to rural businesses, cutting down time spent travelling to a bank, as well as elderly or less mobile customers who can take advantage of the fact that an RBS branch now comes to their village.”

Anne Dewar, Local CEO at RBS said:

"RBS has been running its mobile banking service in Scotland since 1946 and we have 15 mobile banks, which support 209 communities, five days a week.

“The mobile bank is important to local communities as it gives our customers another way to bank with us, in particular our elderly and vulnerable customers in rural areas of Scotland, so they can still have access to banking services. We were recently given recognition from the RNIB, who awarded RBS an Exemplar award, for our mobile banking service."

Communities in Banff & Buchan served by the RBS Mobile Bank are:

Portsoy	Every Wednesday	1.45pm to 2.15pm	Main Street
Aberchirder	Every Wednesday	2.40pm to 3.10pm	The Square
Cruden Bay	Every Thursday	10.15am to 10.40am	Main Street
Mintlaw	Every Thursday	11.10am to 11.30am	The Square
Maud	Every Thursday	11.50am to 12.10pm	Station car park
Strichen	Every Thursday	12.30pm to 1.00pm	High Street
New Pitsligo	Every Thursday	2.00pm to 2.20pm	High Street
Methlick	Every Thursday	2.50pm to 3.15pm	Car park
Rothienorman	Every Friday	9.50am to 10.20am	Car park
Fyvie	Every Friday	10.35am to 11.00am	Main Street

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Whiteford Visits New Pitsligo Social Enterprise

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has praised Fraserburgh Development Trust, after a tour of the John Smith and Sons bakery in New Pitsligo.

Dr Whiteford met with Ian Watson, Chair of Fraserburgh Development Trust, and General Manager Andy Leiper, before taking a tour of the current facility and meeting staff members.

Eilidh Whiteford MP, Andy Leiper with
Fraserburgh Development Trust Director Ian Watson

The family business was established in 1903, and remained in family ownership until earlier this year, when it was sold to Fraserburgh Development Trust for conversion into a social enterprise. The business employs 25 people locally, and sells baked goods across the north-east of Scotland. The Trust plans to replace the current premises with a new, state of the art bakery within the next two years, at a site close by.

Speaking afterwards, Dr Whiteford said:

“These are truly exciting plans, and a long-term blueprint for a business that is both socially and financially sustainable. The Smith family deserve congratulation for building and developing the business over the 20th century, and Fraserburgh Development Trust deserve credit for taking it into the 21st.

“Naturally, I am pleased to hear that those who currently work at the bakery will keep their jobs, and that further opportunities may arise when the business moves to its new premises. As part of my visit, I was able to view the plans for the new bakery. The building is set to be truly innovative, and I would like to wish Fraserburgh Development Trust the best of luck in their funding applications.

“I look forward to seeing the business develop in years to come. And I look forward to enjoying John Smith’s butteries long into the future!”

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Local MP visits Peterhead Foodbank

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford visited Joseph’s Storehouse – Peterhead’s foodbank – yesterday (Monday) to meet with the volunteers who run it and hear at first hand about the lifeline support which it provides to the local community.

(l to r): Christine Summers and Sheena Gordon
of the Joseph Storehouse with Eilidh Whiteford MP

The facility, which started operations in April 2013, is based at the Apex Centre in Broad Street and is run by volunteers from the church.

Speaking after her visit to Joseph’s Storehouse, Eilidh said:

“I was very pleased to be able to visit Joseph’s Storehouse to learn about the very valuable support the volunteers are providing to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“It was good to meet the volunteers from the Apex Church who manage the foodbank, who work with a wide range of statutory and voluntary sector agencies to make sure that those in need get support. Most of the donations come through church members who give small amounts on a regular basis.

“Across Scotland, foodbank use has increased fivefold in the last year, with increases driven by mostly steep hikes in the cost of living – especially for essentials like food and heating – and the UK Government’s cuts to welfare provision.

“No-one in a country as prosperous as Scotland should be dependent on food parcels. Although Peterhead is one of the wealthier parts of Scotland, it’s important to remember that there are significant numbers of people struggling on very low incomes in our community.”

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Labour Vote Against Welfare Inquiry

SNP EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT FOLLOWING WESTMINSTER DEBATE ON “FAIRNESS & INEQUALITY”

The Scottish National Party has expressed disappointment following a House of Commons debate on “Fairness and Inequality” where Labour chose to vote against a SNP motion which calls on the UK government to halt further spending and welfare cuts.

The ‘opposition day’ motion recognised that the UK is one of the most unequal states in the OECD ranking 28th out of 34 countries for income inequality in the developed world, and called for the UK government to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the impact of the Government’s austerity measures on the incidence of poverty and inequality.

Commenting after the debate, SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“Inequality in the UK is the biggest scandal of our age.

“We had this debate at Westminster because the Westminster system is driving so much of the inequality and unfairness blighting our society which has got us into this sorry state.

“It was very disappointing to see such low numbers of the UK government on the benches for this debate when they were perfectly happy to turn up and show contempt for Scotland during a recent debate on Scotland’s future.

“And Labour have stuck to the ‘Bain’ principle of not voting for an SNP motion - putting tribal party politics ahead of common sense.

“In September this year people in Scotland have a choice of two futures, and today’s debate focused on the dangers for Scotland of remaining in a system in which austerity, cuts and even greater inequality appear to be the only things on offer from a No vote. The Westminster system is letting Scotland down badly, and in the referendum we have an opportunity to change the future and create a fairer and more prosperous society.”

The motion:

11 people voted in favour, 283 against.

OPPOSITION DAY (20th ALLOTTED DAY)
Until 7.00pm (Standing Order No. 9(3))
Fairness and inequality
Angus Robertson
Mr Elfyn Llwyd
Caroline Lucas
Dr Eilidh Whiteford
Jonathan Edwards
Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil

That this House notes that the United Kingdom is one of the most unequal states in the OECD, ranked 28 out of 34 countries for income inequality and the fourth most unequal country in the developed world according to some analyses; further notes that low and middle income families have borne the brunt of the Government’s austerity measures; further notes that the Government has plans to cut a further £60 billion in public spending over the next four years; further notes that successive governments of all political hues have presided over an underlying trend of rising income inequality since the early 1980s; recognises that men have consistently higher employment rates than women and that women are more likely to work in lower paid, low-skilled occupations; further notes the growing numbers of workers on minimum wage and zero-hours contracts, and that there are more people now in working poverty than out of work poverty; further notes with concern the sharp rise in the number of people relying on foodbanks across the UK, including significant numbers of people in work; and calls on the Government to halt its further spending and welfare cuts and to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the impact of the Government’s austerity measures on the incidence of poverty and inequality.

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