MP Warns of Dangers of DEFRA CAP policy for North-East Farms

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has accused the Scotland Office of being “asleep at the wheel” and not understanding the dangers to Scotland’s farming industry shown by the aspiration of the current DEFRA Secretary to end direct payments out of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The Scottish National Party raised the issue during Scottish Questions in the House of Commons and said that the Scotland Office Minister David Mundell clearly did not understand the importance of the issue.

Local MP Dr Whiteford says that removing direct payments could put many farms at significant risk and is simply not feasible. The SNP say that such a policy would undermine food production and damage rural communities in areas of significant agricultural activity like Banff & Buchan.

Commenting on the issue, Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“The Scotland Office are again asleep at the wheel and failing to understand that the policy being pursued by the UK Government could have a very significant adverse impact on farming in Banff & Buchan and Scotland.

“The DEFRA Secretary has made clear his view that such payments should cease and matters be left entirely to the market, a view that has been rejected by both the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.

“Such a move would clearly give huge competitive advantage to food producers in other countries and must be ruled out completely.

“Removing direct payments for farm businesses would lead to bankruptcy for many and would be disastrous for economies like Banff & Buchan’s where significant employment and business activity is linked to food production. It would also undermine Scotland’s ability to produce food and safeguard rural communities.

“Agriculture is a vital industry for Banff & Buchan and for Scotland as a whole and the recent scandal over horsemeat has shown the need to have a strong and sustainable farming industry, a fact recognised and consistently pursued by the Scottish Government.

“The attitude of DEFRA illustrates, yet again, the need for Scotland to have the full powers of independence to ensure we have a real voice in Europe to protect our vital interests, rather than DEFRA acting against the interests of Scotland.”

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Whiteford Calls for Fairness for MoD Police in Pensions Debate

WESTMINSTER FAILS TO ADOPT FAIR PENSION REFORM
Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has called for fair treatment for Ministry of Defence police officers during a debate on pension reform in the House of Commons. St Fergus Gas Terminal is home to an MoD Police Station with a number of officers deployed there.

Scotland will suffer unfair pension reforms despite the majority of Scottish MPs opposing bill amendments in Westminster.

The House of Commons debated amendments by the House of Lords on the Public Service Pensions Bill based on findings of Lord Hutton’s Pension Reform Report which recommended a lower retirement age for “uniformed services” such a fire fighters, police and the Armed Forces. The report however failed to include Defence Fire and Rescue Service fire fighters and MOD police officers.

Local SNP MP and SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford said:

“The Pension Bill vote is a further example of Scotland suffering from legislation it does not want. This pension reform is unfair, and for that reason 83 % of Scottish MPs voted against it.

“This was an important vote for those concerned- yet Alistair Darling failed to turn up and instead played spokesperson to George Osborne.

“It is inconsistent that the Public Service Pensions Bill sets a normal retirement age of 60 for uniformed services, including the Armed Forces, civilian police and fire fighters, and yet links their counterparts in defence to the state retirement age, projected to be at least 68.

“The House of Lords passed an amendment that would have ended the discrepancy of a different retirement age, providing equality for Defence Police and Fire and Rescue Services who play an important role on the front line at home and overseas.

“The UK Government have failed to make a case for higher pension age for uniformed services in the defence sector; they need to follow the spirit of Lord Hutton’s changes to this discrepancy by supporting the Lords amendment.”

How Scottish MPs voted:
Aye-8
No-39

39 of 47 means 83% voted against the Government.

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/

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Flexibility Needed from UK Gov on Pension Reform

SNP Welfare spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP has urged the coalition government to show flexibility on pension reform during a Westminster debate on the Public Pensions Bill today.

The House of Commons debated amendments by the House of Lords on the Public Service Pensions Bill based on findings of Lord Hutton’s Pension Reform Report which recommended a lower retirement age for “uniformed services” such a fire fighters, police and the Armed Forces. The report however failed to include Defence Fire and Rescue Service fire fighters and MOD police officers.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford said:

“It is inconsistent that the Public Service Pensions Bill sets a normal retirement age of 60 for uniformed services, including the Armed Forces, civilian police and fire fighters, and yet links their counterparts in defence to the state retirement age, projected to be at least 68.

“The House of Lords passed an amendment that would’ve ended the discrepancy of a different retirement age, providing equality for Defence Police and Fire and Rescue Services who play an important role on the front line in the UK and overseas.

“The UK government have failed to make a case for higher pension age for uniformed services in the defence sector; they need to follow the spirit of Lord Hutton’s changes to this discrepancy by supporting the Lords amendment.”

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SNP Call for Early Winter Fuel Payments for Pensioners 'Off-Grid'

“MANY PENSIONERS DISADVANTAGED AT PRESENT” - WHITEFORD
In a Westminster Parliamentary debate on off-gas grid fuel the SNP has increased the pressure on the UK Government to pay winter fuel payments for off-grid pensioners earlier than currently happens.

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford says that ‘many North-east pensioners are disadvantaged at present’ because such a significant number of rural households in the region are off the gas grid and rely on tankered fuels for their heating requirements.

For off-grid customers tank gas and oil generally increases in price through the winter but because of the timing of winter fuel payments they are unable to take advantage of lower prices earlier in the year.

Changing the timing of payments would enable more fuel to be bought for the same price in preparation for winter and the SNP argue that it ‘just makes sense’.

The SNP’s Spokesperson on Energy at Westminster has put forward a Private Members’ Bill to make payment of the winter fuel allowance to pensioners off the gas grid at an earlier date from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Off-Grid Gas, and have called upon the new Energy Minister to take a grip of the issue and get some common sense action over the issue.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

“The SNP has long argued that bringing forward the payment of winter fuel allowance to eligible pensioners who are off the gas grid would allow them to make purchases of fuel before the winter sets in and prices normally rise substantially.

“Many North-east pensioners with off-grid oil and gas heating systems are disadvantaged at present with a system that was designed to work best for on-grid pensioner households. What is being proposed is simply common sense and not enough effort is being put in to make it work.

“The whole purpose of the payment is to ensure that funds are available when the winter fuel bill arrives, which the present system does very well for those who pay their bills quarterly. Unfortunately those off the gas grid, such as those with tanked oil and gas heating systems, will generally find prices more expensive at that time and may have had considerable difficulty in getting or paying for supplies over the winter months.

“Not only that but if pensioners in these circumstances find they can only order heating oil and gas during the winter, then there can be significant weather difficulties delaying or preventing delivery of fuel to their homes.

“What we seem to be getting from the Department is that it’s too difficult but what we’re saying is ‘you’re the Minister, make the change’!”

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