STAMP PRICE HIKE 'BAD NEWS FOR BUSINESS', SAYS WHITEFORD

SNP Candidate says increases will hit those on fixed incomes

Scottish National Party Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has described this week's increase in the price of stamps as ‘yet another blow to small businesses and those on fixed incomes’.

The price of a first class stamp is now 39p, with a second class stamp costing 30p. The Royal Mail's Special Delivery Next Day service has also increased in price, up 35p to £4.95 for mail weighing up to 100g.

The SNP candidate is concerned that rural and home-based businesses in Banff & Buchan and pensioner households will be particularly affected by the rise.

Commenting Eilidh Whiteford said:

"This is yet another blow to small businesses and those on fixed incomes.

"These are substantial increases which will hit those who rely on the Royal Mail - individuals and small businesses - very hard indeed.

"Those Banff & Buchan businesses that do not have access to alternative carriers or bulk mailing arrangements will suffer as a direct result of this increase.

"This is particularly the case for rural and home-based businesses in Banff & Buchan. What we need from Westminster are incentives for businesses, like the SNP's Small Business Bonus Scheme has provided, and not a constant undermining of Royal Mail's position forcing it to make eye-watering price hikes.

“Although many people now use e-mail as an alternative to the post, those folk who continue to rely on letters for their family and personal communication will be hard hit. It will tend to be pensioners and those on fixed incomes that are affected, and this price hike is a cruel blow to them in the midst of a recession.

"I fear that this could well be a sign of further rises to come if Lord Mandelson pushes on with his crazy privatisation plans.”

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WHITEFORD WELCOMES REVIEW OF FREE-TO-AIR SPORTING EVENTS

SCOTTISH SPORTS FANS MUST MAKE THEIR OPINION KNOWN

The SNP’s Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the announcement of a review of the list of events which are protected for free broadcast coverage.

The Broadcasting Act 1996 allows the Secretary of State to draw up a list of sporting and other events of national importance reserved for broadcast by public service broadcasters with the aim of giving them the widest possible broadcast coverage. The list was last revised in 1998 and is now under review by a panel of sport, broadcast and business experts. The panel have also invited the general public to submit their views.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Calling for the revision of this list has been a long running SNP campaign so this consultation is warmly welcomed.

“This review must listen to the voices of Scotland fans who want to watch our national team qualifying matches with their friends or family in the comfort of their own homes.

“I encourage all sports fans in Banff & Buchan to make their opinions known to the panel.”

Notes:

The consultation document is available here:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/freetoair/Consultation/introduction.html

Submissions should be sent by 3 July 2009 (at the latest) to:

David Patterson
5th Floor
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
LONDON
SW1Y 5DH

or to the Review’s e-mail address – freetoairevents@culture.gov.uk

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BOOST FOR PORTSOY AS LIFELINE FILLING STATION RECEIVES SCOTTISH GOVT SUPPORT

A Banffshire petrol station is to receive financial support to help it remain open and support the rural communities it serves.

Almost £20,000 will be pumped into the garage in Portsoy, enabling it to upgrade its fuel supply equipment, become more economically viable and less vulnerable to closure. As well as maintaining an essential service for local people and businesses and safeguarding local jobs, supporting the petrol stations will also make the town more attractive to tourists.

The move has been welcomed by SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford who said:

"I'm delighted that the SNP Government is helping Portsoy to retain this vital local facility.

"We've seen a lot of petrol stations along the Banffshire coast close down in recent years and this scheme will help keep the local infrastructure in place."

Announcing the grants, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead MSP said:

"Our rural communities are part of the economic and social fabric of Scotland and to keep them vibrant and viable we have to ensure they have a robust infrastructure.

"Local petrol stations help keep rural communities moving. Without them local people and local businesses have to splash out extra money to fill up elsewhere. And, with rural garages employing on average four full-time staff, they also boost the local job market.

"The Scottish Government is doing all it can to help hard-pressed communities and businesses through the economic downturn. This investment is further proof of that commitment and will help ensure the rural economy is well-positioned for recovery."

June Masson of Portsoy Motors, one of the recipients of the funding, said:

"Without this support the future of fuel retailing in Portsoy could not have been guaranteed. This would undoubtedly have had a detrimental effect in the local area."

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WHITEFORD WELCOMES POSITIVE ACTION ON SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

STEVENSON ANNOUNCES NEW SAFETY MEASURES FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN

Innovative new technology which aims to improve the safety of children boarding school buses is to be trialled across the North-east.

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson who is also the Scottish Transport Minister announced the measures during a meeting with the Scottish Parliament's Petitions Committee, which met in Fraserburgh Academy this week.

Following a meeting with bereaved parents, Mr Stevenson has been keen to work jointly with councils to look at what further measures can be taken to improve school bus safety. The local MSP then arranged to meet with Aberdeenshire Council officials, local safety campaigner Ron Beaty and bereaved parents at Aberdeenshire Council's headquarters where various ideas were discussed.

SNP Westminster candidate Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the positive progress from the Scottish Government on this important issue and expressed disappointment that the UK Transport Minister Geoff Hoon had not shown the same level of support.

The "SeeMe Bus Stop" technology, which warns drivers to exercise extreme caution when school buses are in operation, has already proven a success in Sweden.

The six month trial is part of a range of measures councils and the Scottish Government is looking at within their devolved competencies as they seek to improve school bus safety.

Other measures include:

• Options to increase the visibility of the school bus sign
• Reaffirming the appropriate use of the school bus sign
• Clear requirement within current bus contracts for the use of hazard warning lights when picking up and dropping off pupils
• Requesting that all operators also use dipped headlights when picking up and dropping off pupils
• Education resource and publicity campaign for schoolchildren and drivers urging extreme caution when approaching school buses (entitled "1 second, 1 life")

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

"The families who have lost children as a result of road accidents have faced unimaginable tragedy.

"The Scottish Government doesn't currently have powers over road safety legislation, but I am determined that we make full use of our devolved responsibilities to ensure action is taken in Scotland.

"This is very much a work in progress, but the Scottish Government is considering a wide range of measures to increase the safety of our children, through better education of children and drivers, through to greater visibility.

"We are looking at measures to increase the visibility of school children, new education resources, and advanced warning systems which urge drivers to exercise extreme caution.

"The SeeMe technology has proven successful in Sweden and looks promising, but we also want to look at what other technology is available elsewhere in the market. This trial will allow the Scottish Government to properly assess its impact.

"These measures being outlined today have the potential to improve child safety and as we move forward we want to identify further action which can be taken over the short, medium and long term to make school bus services safer."

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford added:

"This is very good news indeed and I very much welcome the fact that these safety measures will be implemented in the North-east first as part of their evaluation. It is just a pity UK Transport Minister Geoff Hoon has not shown as much engagement with the issue as Stewart Stevenson and the Scottish Government has done.

"It is also a testament to the hard work of local campaigner Ron Beaty and the effort he has put in over a prolonged period on this issue.

"We now have to see how these safety measures being piloted locally work out but improving safety on school buses will be a continuous campaign as new generations of schoolchildren – and drivers - will require constant reminders."

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