Call for Clarification Over DEFRA Minister 'Downgrading' George Eustice in Peterhead

The Scottish National Party has called for clarification from George Eustice MP over the apparent downgrading of his position in DEFRA as he visits Peterhead harbour today [Thursday] with new Scottish Secretary of State, Alistair Carmichael.Eustice was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs in David Cameron’s recent government reshuffle, however Eustice’s predecessor was a Minister of State. The UK government website claims the titles are currently under review.

Commenting, Banff and Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford said:

“It would be helpful if George Eustice would provide some clarification on his new job title and tell us if, in fact, his position has been downgraded following the reshuffle.

“DEFRA represents Scotland in important EU negotiations on Common Fisheries Policy and so it is worrying if the ministerial position has been downgraded. Scotland is a fishing nation, and we need to be adequately represented. Former DEFRA Minster Sir James Paice has raised concerns that the role appears to have been downgraded.

“The new Scottish Secretary of State should also shed some light because already Scotland is being short-changed – we are not represented in the European Commission and at present, Scotland’s Fisheries Minister requires a permit from Westminster to attend EU meetings. 

“Rather than going via a UK government which doesn’t share Scotland’s priorities when it comes to the fishing industry, independence would allow Scottish interests to be better heard in Europe."

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Whiteford Brands Bedroom Tax 'Unjust and Unworkable'

Local MP and SNP spokesperson on Work & Pensions at Westminster Dr Eilidh Whiteford branded the Westminster Government's Bedroom Tax 'unjust and unworkable', speaking at the SNP Annual Conference in Perth.

The discriminatory tax affects around 80,000 households in Scotland, 80 per cent of which are the home of a disabled adult, and 16,000 of which are the home of families with children.

Following on from the SNP's spring conference where all SNP council's committed to a no evictions policy as a result of the tax, delegates have once again appealed to Labour, LibDem and Tory controlled councils to follow in the SNP's lead.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

"The message from SNP conference delegates in response to this damaging tax is clear - it is unjust and unworkable and has no place in a modern-day country.

“The token review of the Bedroom Tax that Westminster is engaging in is not enough – it must be scrapped entirely before it causes any more damage to people’s lives.

"The UK Government has showed a reckless lack of care and attention to the consequences of its introduction for low-income households.

"In contrast the SNP Government is doing all it can to help mitigate the impact of this divisive policy and Nicola Sturgeon pledged that our funding for Discretionary Housing Payments will continue next year with another £20 million to help victims of Westminster’s Bedroom Tax.

"One of the most significant gains of independence is that Scotland will have full control over its welfare system. That means only with a Yes vote will we finally be able to get ride of the unjust bedroom tax and have a welfare state that reflects the views and votes of the people of Scotland."

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MP Completes Surgery Tour

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has completed her annual surgery tour. The SNP MP was busy getting out and about in some of the constituency’s smaller communities with her mobile office during the recent Parliamentary recess.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

“Most of the casework I receive from constituents these days comes in via e-mail, post or by phone, but I think it’s still very important to be available for face-to-face discussions in people’s own communities and the Surgery Tour serves that purpose very well.

“People brought a range of issues to me, which I am progressing with the relevant authorities, but there was also great interest in the Independence Referendum with a number of people coming along simply to express their support or to ask questions.

“I’ll be holding more surgeries of the conventional type across the larger towns in the coming months but in the meantime, any constituent wishing to contact me can do so in a range of ways; by phone, e-mail, post, calling in at my Constituency Office or online via my website, www.eilidhwhiteford.info, which also has full details of how to get in touch.”

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Whiteford Welcomes 2013 Harvest Recovery

Banff & Buchan MP and SNP Westminster Agriculture spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the latest estimates from Scotland’s Chief Statistician which show that the cereal harvest is expected to make a partial recovery in 2013 after poor weather last year caused the largest fall in yields for more than two decades.

Eilidh Whiteford MP with
Ian Partridge of Boghead Farm, Memsie

In total, close to three million tonnes of cereals are expected this year, an increase of a quarter of a million tonnes on 2012. Despite the setback in productivity caused by last year’s weather, the longer term trend of improving yields continues, with the average cereal yield for the last 10 years seven per cent higher than in the previous decade.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician has released the latest estimates of the Scottish cereal and oilseed rape harvest. The figures show that the latest increase is due to an anticipated 11 per cent improvement in overall cereal yields. This follows a 15 per cent fall in yields last year. The total area of land sown has remained largely unchanged, though oats have replaced wheat and oilseed rape in some areas.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“After a difficult start to the year, growing conditions improved and allowed a relatively straight-forward harvest, although the high degree of variability across the country introduces additional uncertainty around current estimates.

“The statistics show Spring barley is estimated to increase by 15 per cent to 1.7 million tonnes and winter barley by 6 per cent to 294,000 tonnes. With both higher yields and areas, production of oats is estimated to rise by around 80 per cent to 195,000 tonnes. This is in part due to the replacement of wheat and oilseed rape which experienced a poor start in some places. Production is expected to fall by 6 per cent for wheat, to 630,000 tonnes, and 2 per cent for oilseed rape, to 104,000 tonnes.

“Scottish cereals are still being harvested and these figures are very much provisional estimates. Final harvest estimates from the Cereal Production Survey will be announced by Scotland’s Chief Statistician in December. Final estimates of overall cereal production are typically within five percent of the early estimates.”

These early statistics were agreed by a panel of experts from the Scottish cereal industry and professional statisticians at the annual Crop Report Meeting. They are used to assess the economic well-being of the cereal sector and in determining impacts on the market, and are required by law by the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

The figures released were produced by independent statistical staff free from any political interference, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

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