LOCAL MP ADDRESSES BANFF ACADEMY SENIOR PRIZEGIVING

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford gave the address and presented the prizes at this year’s senior prizegiving at her old school, Banff Academy.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“I was genuinely delighted to be invited back to the school, and very pleased to be able to be here for the senior prize giving. In my day it wasn’t quite so grand or formal an occasion, but I think it’s only right that the parents, teachers and friends come together to commend the efforts and achievements of Banff Academy pupils who have excelled over the last year.”

Addressing the pupils at the prizegiving ceremony, the MP said:

“The most important thing I can say this evening is to congratulate those of you who have been awarded prizes on your academic achievements, and your efforts on behalf of the wider community.”

Dr Whiteford went on to discuss the disincentive that tuition fees presents to aspiring students:

“I’m sure that quite a number of you here tonight have hopes and plans to go to university or college after the summer, or in years to come. In recent weeks, I don’t think I’ve spoken to any young people aspiring to university, or indeed their parents, who have not expressed concerns about the £9,000 a year tuition fees that will now apply at most of the top universities south of the border.

“I really cannot think of a greater disincentive to education, a greater barrier to opportunity for all according to ability, or a more short-sighted measure. I’m very proud that the Scottish Government has resisted immense pressure to go down a similar route for the Scottish universities, and that Scottish domiciled students studying in Scotland will still be able to enjoy a free education at our world class universities, based on ability to learn, not ability to pay.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the individual benefits that derive from a university education, and less about the benefits to society as a whole. It’s undoubtedly true that graduates tend to earn higher salaries, and are more able to choose careers that they find meaningful and fulfilling. But we also need to remember that those on better wages contribute far more in tax revenues, as you would expect in any progressive tax system; we also need to remember that many graduates do essential, highly skilled jobs that are not particularly lucrative. In my view we need to ask ourselves if we want to live in a low skill, low wage economy, or a high skill, high wage economy.

“If we see higher education only as a cost to the country, rather than an investment in our young people and the future of our country, in my view we’re in danger of becoming like the man the Irish poet and dramatist Oscar Wilde described as knowing “the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

“Or to put it another way, “Education is the wellspring of our health, wealth and happiness” Those were the opening words of a report that crossed my desk recently, and I don’t think I could have put it better. And nor could I think of a more appropriate way to conclude my remarks tonight.

“Congratulations to you all - and I wish Banff Academy, its students and teachers, every continued success.”

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Local MP Welcomes Growth of Fraserburgh Business

Local MP Eilidh Whiteford this week visited Mewstead (Fraserburgh) LLP to mark the ongoing success of the Fraserburgh-based business. Owners George Tait, Challenge Fishing Company Limited and Zander West, Daystar BF350 Limited welcomed Dr Whiteford to one of their Pelagic trawlers in Fraserburgh Harbour, along with Alan Smith and Mark Gall from the company’s banker, The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Challenge Fishing Company and Daystar BF350 Limited are members of Mewstead (Fraserburgh) LLP, which was created in 2001 between three well known local fishing families. The partnership has gone from strength to strength and in 2010, the LLP took up the opportunity to buy out one of the retiring members, with RBS providing support to assist in the acquisition.

George has subsequently explored other opportunities to diversify his business interests and most recently opened up the Dunes Golf Driving Range and restaurant adjacent to Fraserburgh Golf Club. The new range has created excellent facilities and has resulted in the creation of new local jobs. The new development was supported by RBS.

Eilidh Whiteford MP was delighted to visit the MFV Ocean Quest following discussions with local RBS management about support for small and medium enterprises in the area and said,

Alan Smith, George Tait, Mark Gall
Zander West, Eilidh Whiteford
(l to r)

“Small and medium sized businesses are vital to creating and sustaining jobs in our area and I was delighted to visit George and Zander and see for myself how well the business is doing. Their ambition and vision are to be applauded and although these remain tough times for many businesses, George and Zander’s success highlights how important it is for businesses and banks to work closely and the important role they will both play in the economic recovery.”

George Tait said:

“This is an extremely exciting time for our business and we’re delighted that Eilidh Whiteford has taken the time to come and see us. We’ve got a fantastic workforce and this will go a long way to help us grow and achieve long term success for the business. We also very much appreciate the support RBS has provided in helping us to move the business forward.”

Mark Gall, Regional Director for RBS said:

“George brings incredible experience and expertise to this business and our support recognises his outstanding commitment and professionalism, and reflects our focus on financing the investment ambitions of Scottish business. These are undoubtedly more challenging economic times for the business community but George and his team represent all that is good about the entrepreneurial spirit which exists in Scotland.”

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MP’s ENQUIRY REVEALS SHOCKING COUNCIL FIRE SAFETY BREACH

Enquiries made by Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford following a recent fire in an Aberchirder sheltered housing complex have revealed a shocking lack of basic safety procedures and contingency plans on the part of Aberdeenshire Council.

As Aberdeenshire Council prepares to force through cuts in warden cover in sheltered homes across the North-east, the local MP questioned what effect such cuts would have in the event of an emergency, and cited the recent fire in Walker Court, Aberchirder as an example. In his response to Dr Whiteford, Grampian Fire & Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer, David Dalziel, revealed:

“It became apparent to crews that there were no duty carers or wardens in attendance but, through local knowledge by the officer in charge, he was able to contact an assistant warden to get her to attend.

“There is no record of any consultation by Aberdeenshire Council with Grampian Fire & Rescue Services in respect of warden cover at Walker Court . Neither local crews nor our Control Room staff were aware of changes to warden arrangements.

“Given the change in circumstances, however, we have now arranged to conduct a test of the evacuation procedures and carer/warden response.”

The Chief Fire Officer went on to state:

“I have asked my Head of Community safety to contact the relevant head of service within Aberdeenshire Council (and our two other constituent councils) to ensure that there are robust fire safety procedures in place in Walker Court and similar establishments throughout the North east.”

The Banff & Buchan MP has recently met with representatives from a number of sheltered housing complexes in her constituency, and has been greatly concerned by their fears that warden cover was to be cut, with proposals that many of the smaller units would have to share wardens. She remarked:

“My SNP colleagues on Aberdeenshire Council proposed a fully-costed amendment to the budget which would have preserved much more frontline services, including sheltered housing warden cover, but that was rejected.

“I was already very disturbed to hear of the cuts to warden cover which the Liberal Democrat/Conservative administration in Aberdeenshire Council was proposing. Now I find that they have not even seen fit to ensure the safety of my constituents under existing arrangements.

“I therefore have no confidence in their ability to provide the standard of safety procedures required by such frail and elderly residents in the aftermath of the reductions in warden cover which they seem so determined to impose.

“Clearly, they have not fully thought through the implications of their proposals and I would urge them to reconsider their position on this as a matter of urgency. It is not acceptable that such vulnerable people should be left feeling so worried and uncertain of the Council’s plans for them.”

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WHITEFORD URGES UK FISHERIES MINISTER TO KEEP UP FIGHT IN MACKEREL ROW

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford urged UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon not to back down over the threat of a ‘mackerel war’ after raising the crisis in the House of Commons.

The SNP MP made the plea to the Minister after raising the issue during DEFRA Questions. Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“Action is needed. This matter is of critical importance to the North-east fishing industry.

“2500 jobs, many of them in the North-east, are dependant on the mackerel sector. I have been in close contact with industry representatives and will continue to press the case for them at the highest level in Westminster, while I know my colleague Richard Lochhead will do likewise from a Scottish Government perspective.

“The UK Government, as the EU Member State, must redouble its efforts to ensure a just and fair outcome for our pelagic sector in the face of outrageous and irresponsible behaviour by the Faroese.”

Note: Extract from Hansard follows:

4. Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): What assessment he has made of the outcome of the recent coastal states discussions in Oslo on mackerel fishing quota; and if he will make a statement. [47196]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Richard Benyon): The meeting of coastal states in Oslo from 9 to 11 March ended without agreement on the management of the north Atlantic mackerel stock for 2011. This is very disappointing as it puts the future sustainability of this extremely important stock at risk. The positions of the parties involved remain wide apart but we will continue to work with industry, other EU member states and the Commission to find the best possible outcome to this difficult situation.

Dr Whiteford: I hope the Minister shares my outrage at the 150,000 tonnes of mackerel that the Faroese have subsequently unilaterally awarded themselves as a quota for mackerel for next year, and I know he shares my concerns about the jobs that will be affected by that, both in my constituency and in other pelagic areas. As a matter of urgency, will he meet the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association and other key UK stakeholders to discuss this matter further?

Richard Benyon: I recently met stakeholders and raised the matter this week—yesterday, in fact—with Commissioner Damanaki, when I gave support to her strong call for measures to be taken against the Faroese and neighbouring states that cause so much damage to a sustainable stock. The problems that the hon. Lady’s constituents and others around our coast face are very much our priorities, and we will continue to support strong measures to deal with them.

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