Fishing Funds for Scotland Can Go Elsewhere Says New Tory

TORY MEP CLAIMS SCOTLAND'S FISHING COMMUNITIES NOT 'STRUGGLING'
New Scottish Tory MEP Ian Duncan has been widely criticised following his claims that Scotland's Fishing industry should not receive vital European funding - even though Scotland accounts for over 80% of all fish landings - but only receives 40% of the UK share of the European Fisheries Fund. Mr Duncan said - 'The funds should go to those places which are struggling - the Scottish industry is not struggling.'

Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP for Banff and Buchan commented:

"This is a quite extraordinary claim. Not content with negotiating a poor deal in Europe the Tories' new MEP now wants other countries to get the funds which should come to Scotland. Mr Duncan says Scottish fishing communities are not struggling - which suggests incredible complacency. Only a Yes vote in September will ensure that Scotland's fishing communities get a fairer deal."

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Universal Credit Cover Up Shows Why Scotland Needs Responsibility for Welfare

The revelation that damning criticism over the mess Westminster's Universal Credit is in was suppressed has shown why Scotland needs to be able to make our own choices on Welfare.

Reports in today's Independent make clear that Iain Duncan Smith halted Universal Credit's inclusion on the Major Project Authority's register of major public risks as it was set to receive a 'red' rating – showing the reforms are “unachievable within reasonable timescales and to a reasonable budget without urgent remedial action”.

While the Westminster Government claimed that Universal Credit was not included because the project had been 'reset' in February 2013, the Independent also revealed that the deeply critical assessment was in fact carried out over seven months after this reset had taken place.

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

“The revelation today that the Westminster Government is apparently determined to gloss over the mess that Universal Credit is in will surprise no-one.

“Westminster governments have shown time and again that they have no understanding and no concern for just how much their damaging welfare changes affect people's lives.

“Their attempts to pretend that everything is fine when clearly it is not are fooling nobody.

“The shambles that Westminster has presided over when it comes to welfare is one of the clearest demonstrations possible of why we need to be able to make our own decisions on tax and welfare in Scotland.

“Instead of having people's lives ruined by Westminster's incompetence, with a Yes vote we will be able to build a system that reflects the values of people in Scotland and does not let people down in the way that successive Westminster Governments have.”

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Local MP Says Ignoring SNP Warnings Could be Death Knell for Universal Service

SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS FROM WESTMINSTER SET TO BE BROKEN
The worst fears of Banff & Buchan’s rural communities, postal workers and others over Royal Mail privatisation are set to come true, local MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has said, after reports that the company is struggling to meet its Universal Service Obligation (USO).

Dr Whiteford, along with SNP colleagues at Westminster, has been warning over many years that the continued erosion of Royal Mail services, the failure of the regulator to prevent cherry picking of lucrative work by other companies and, ultimately, last year’s widely opposed privatisation would put huge pressure on the Universal Service.

The privatisation has already proved controversial, after the UK Government reportedly undervalued Royal Mail shares to the tune of almost three quarters of a billion pounds and Royal Mail is now saying that it is struggling to keep it’s obligation - the basic Universal Service principles have been in place for over 175 years.

Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“People in Banff & Buchan continue to place a great deal of value on the postal services we receive from Royal Mail, which has been reflected in my constituency office mailbag year after year. In Westminster the SNP has been warning repeatedly of the huge risk to the Universal Service from the continued erosion of Royal Mail which culminated with the disgraceful sell off of what was a valued publicly owned institution.

“It will be absolutely no surprise to anyone following that this new threat to the Universal Service that underpins our mail service has emerged. As soon as the Tory-led Westminster coalition decided to sell off the Royal Mail in their rushed - bargain basement sale – we again predicted that the USO – which is so vital to Scotland – and to rural businesses and communities in particular – would be threatened.

“For the North-east’s rural economy and the vitality of our rural communities the Universal Service is critical. By allowing other private companies to cherry pick the most profitable parts of the business, which help to support the USO, the UK Government and the regulator are failing Scotland.

“Royal Mail should never have been privatised. Figures showed 77 per cent of people in Scotland were totally opposed to the privatisation of Royal Mail - more than any other part of the UK.

“Only a Yes vote in September can ensure that Scotland will be assured of a mail service that meets the needs of our communities – and one which is brought back into public ownership."

Commenting on the announcement on the Royal Mail’s profits and performance following privatisation, Scottish Government Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“Postal services are a vital lifeline for many of Scotland’s communities, particularly in some of the nation’s more remote rural areas.

“Those communities depend on the delivery service guaranteed by the Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation (USO) – which is why it is so deeply concerning to see the concerns now being raised about the Royal Mail’s ability to fulfil the USO.

“We are concerned by anything which might undermine the USO in Scotland, and the Scottish Government is absolutely committed to maintaining at least the level of universal service provision inherited upon independence.”

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SNP Comments on Child Maintenance Changes

SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP has raised concerns over changes to child maintenance payments which could see children lose out on support.

Thousands of letters are to be sent to single parents in the UK informing them of changes to their child maintenance arrangements. The UK government wants parents to agree their child maintenance agreements "amicably" or face a charge. The charges will be introduced later this year, and all single parents will be charged an upfront fee of £20 for registering with the new service.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford said:

“While most parents who have separated manage to agree child maintenance arrangements, some parents find this impossible. However, children still need support.

“These changes will make it harder for parents who take care of the child to secure support from non-resident parents, and may lead to child maintenance agreements which are unstable. The bottom line is that children will lose out on the support they need.”

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