MP Welcomes Peterhead Carbon Capture Announcement

Commenting on today’s announcement from the Department for Energy & Climate Change, Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Today’s announcement is very welcome news indeed and is another step on the road to making Peterhead the centre of excellence for carbon-capture technology.

"I pressed Ed Davey during a Commons debate two years ago to set out a clear timetable for progressing the Peterhead project but I'm pleased he has now recognised the case for Peterhead is extremely strong not only in terms of location, but also the expertise and knowledge that has been built up over a long period.”

Scottish Government Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“We welcome today’s announcement that the Peterhead CCS Project will now proceed to the FEED stage – an outcome we have been campaigning for since the inception of the UK Government’s CCS Commercialisation Competition.

“Indeed, we have been robust advocates of CCS for over a decade now, recognising the strong comparative advantages that Scotland has in academic expertise, industrial know-how and the unrivalled storage capacity in the North Sea – enough to store at least 50 years of current annual CO2 emissions from the European Union. There is also potential to store captured CO2 in depleted oil fields, further maximising oil production.

“To secure a wider CCS industry, it is important that the UK Government continues to encourage and incentivise other highly-innovative CCS projects such as the Captain Clean Energy Project.”

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People Stripped of Benefits Could be Charged for Challenging Decision

“POOREST IN SOCIETY BEING HIT THE HARDEST"

The Scottish National Party have condemned the UK government as it is revealed people who have been stripped of benefits could be charged £250 by the government for trying to appeal against the decision to an independent judge.

In a leaked document from the Department of Work and Pensions, officials say the “introduction of a charge for people making appeals against (DWP) decisions to social security tribunals" would raise money. Other suggestions include selling off child support debt to “the private sector to collect."

In the past year nearly 900,000 people have had their benefits stopped, the highest figure for any 12-month period since jobseeker’s allowance was introduced in 1996. In recent months, 58% of those who wanted to overturn DWP decisions in independent tribunals have been successful.

The latest revelation follows reports that the government is considering saving money by privatising the delivery of the state pension - despite 93% of pensioners being satisfied with the current model.

Commenting, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford said:

“This is yet another example of how the poorest people in society are being hit hardest by the Westminster government.

“It is ludicrous to suggest someone receiving benefits would be in a position to pay to appeal. The UK government seems to be absolutely ruthless when it comes to welfare cuts.

“Scotland generates massive wealth yet the Westminster system means we do not reap the rewards, and instead our most disadvantaged people are facing the brunt of government cuts through unfair measures such as this."

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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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