THREAT TO BROCH RETAINED FIREFIGHTERS DROPPED

WHITEFORD WELCOMES ‘NO CHANGE’ IN CURRENT STATUS

Scottish National Party Westminster candidate Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the news that the current threat to retained firefighters from the EU’s working time directive has been removed.

Eilidh Whiteford visited Fraserburgh Fire Station in February along with Ian Hudghton MEP and Broch councillor Brian Topping to meet staff and discuss the threat from the EU directive.

The European Parliament’s vote to end the UK opt out on the working time directive had caused concern particularly among retained fire fighters unions. SNP MEPs have called for future discussion on work time issues to support both workers rights and the provision of public services.

Talks broke down after attempts to reach compromise on ending the UK opt out from the package, the definition of on call time and issues over multiple contracts failed. There will now be no changes ahead of the European elections.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“This is excellent news and it will come as a great relief to the firefighters I met in Fraserburgh recently.

“I was left in no doubt by what I heard during my visit that we had to do all we can to save the retained duty system from the threat it faced.

“We are very fortunate to have such dedicated firefighters like the ones I met in Fraserburgh who also serve their community in this way in addition to their own full-time jobs. The consequences of losing such a dedicated band of people who serve in this way would have been unthinkable.”

Fraserburgh & District SNP councillor Brian Topping, who is also a member of Grampian Fire & Rescue Service Joint Board, said:

“I’m very grateful to our MEPs Ian Hudghton and Alyn Smith who have been strongly supportive of our firefighters from the outset.

“This has been a matter of great concern to the Fire Board for some time so I’m pleased that we have achieved a positive outcome today.”

SNP MEP Alyn Smith added:

“It is far better that we have no deal, than rush a bad deal through before the elections.

“In Scotland we’ve got what it takes to protect both public services and workers rights and the end of these negotiations gives us the opportunity to see legislation that works for Scotland, not damages us.

“Where other parties have scaremongered and sought to exploit this issue SNP MEPs have given Scottish concerns a voice in Europe, voting to protect Scottish interests and working with the Scottish Government. In the next Parliament we will continue to support our essential services and our public sector workers.”

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WHITEFORD WELCOMES HADDO HOUSE INITIATIVE

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the decision by Aberdeenshire Council to support the under-threat National Trust for Scotland property Haddo House, near Methlick.

The NTS have scaled-back operations at Haddo House and instead of the house being open to visitors it has reduced access to an afternoon guided tour only and pre-booked groups. Access to the grounds is unaffected. Councillors have backed a proposal at yesterday's meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee to underwrite the cost of introducing an additional guided tour in the morning at Haddo House to complement the NTS afternoon tour.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"I'm delighted with this helpful intervention from Aberdeenshire Council, but remain disappointed that the National Trust has found it necessary to reduce access to a magnificent local attraction during the year of the Homecoming.

"I visited Haddo House last summer and it is a truly magnificent building with a wonderful history. I hope that this funding will help to sustain local tourism in the longer term by demonstrating that there is a need for us to maintain the visitor attractions we have."

Peterhead South & Cruden SNP councillor Stephen Smith, who is a member of the committee which approved the support for Haddo House, has also expressed his delight at the scheme's introduction.

Councillor Smith had previously written to the National Trust's Chief Executive Kate Mavor pointing out that the NTS properties featured regularly on the tour itinerary of passengers from the cruise ships which berth at Peterhead harbour, and expressed concern at the potential knock-on effects on local tourism.

Councillor Stephen Smith added:

"This is an excellent example of partnership working. Like most people, when I heard the news about the National Trust's intention to scale-back its operations at Haddo House I was very concerned at the impact this might have on local tourism.

"I'm therefore very pleased that the council has stepped in and has been able to underwrite up to £5000 the cost of providing a guided tour for visitors during mornings. This should help establish the demand for such a facility and hopefully make it self-sustaining for next year."

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LONDON PARTIES VOTE TO SELL-OUT FISHERIES ONCE AGAIN – WHITEFORD

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has expressed her shock and anger at Conservative, Labour and Liberal Euro-MPs voting to allow unused Scottish fishing quotas to be transferred to other EU countries.

The vote means that fishing fleets from around Europe, including Spain, which currently does not have access to Scottish quotas in the North Sea, could gain access to Scotland's historic fishing rights.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"This is absolutely shocking behaviour from the Conservatives and the other Unionist parties which could see our important fishing rights transferred away from local boats to countries without even a coastline in the North Sea.

"Sadly, in spite of all the recent noises from the Tories about how they are reformed since the bad old days of remote control of Scotland from London, it seems that nothing has changed since the days of the Heath Tory Government which – according to Cabinet documents – described the Scottish fishing industry as "expendable".

"I really cannot fathom why the Tories thought that voting against the interests of Scottish fishermen was the right thing to do."

Notes:

The vote in the European Parliament was on proposed EU legislation on control and compliance in fisheries.

The vote included a text added by a Spanish MEP which allows the Commission to reallocate unused fishing quota during a year to other Member States (Amendment 41). Currently quotas within the EU are allocated to countries on the basis of their historic rights.

Records published after the vote show that whilst the SNP voted against the text, Scotland's other 5 MEPs (2 Labour, 2 Tory and 1 LibDem) voted in favour.

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SALTIRE COULD SIGNIFY BONUS POINTS FOR SHOPPERS SAYS WHITEFORD

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has called for action by leading supermarkets to encourage shoppers to buy Scottish produce, using a ‘bonus points’, similar to a system already operated successfully by retailers in Ireland promoting local products.

Shoppers in Irish supermarkets are to local produce by shamrock symbols on supermarket shelves, which then also appear on till receipts. These products can often earn bonus points through supermarket loyalty schemes. Eilidh Whiteford is suggesting that Scottish produce could be clearly ‘flagged up’ on till receipts with a small Saltire, which could also earn bonus points where loyalty scheme exist.

The SNP candidate has now written to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, to ask him to raise the idea with Scotland’s major retailers. The Scottish Government has already established working relations with the major supermarkets to promote environmentally friendly practices such as reducing carrier bag use.

Commenting on the scheme, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Earning bonus points for buying local could be an excellent way to boost Scotland’s economy and cut down on unnecessary food-miles.

“There are already a number of labelling initiatives run by the supermarkets and producer groups, and introducing a further incentive to buy local could be a shot in the arm for Scotland’s farmers and producers.

“Just like the shamrock in Ireland, a Saltire on the shelves and then on the till receipt would help to emphasise how easy and important it is to buy decent local produce, and reward shoppers in the process“

“I have written to the Cabinet Secretary asking him to look at the idea in more detail, and hopefully discuss it at his next meeting with the major supermarkets.

“We need to make full use of Scotland’s magnificent larder if we are to promote healthy eating, reduce pollution from transporting food, and boost the economy during the current downturn.

“A simple scheme like this could make all the difference.”

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