WHITEFORD PRAISES CUMINESTOWN ART EXHIBITION

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and local SNP councillor Sandy Duncan visited the exhibition held by the Cuminestown Art Group at the weekend and praised the quality of the exhibits.

Commenting after touring the exhibition, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“This was an excellent exhibition with a very high standard of work. The exhibitors and members of the Cuminestown Art Group can be rightly proud of themselves for putting on such a tremendous show.

“There was clearly a lot of hard work had gone into the paintings, photographs and other exhibits to produce such a worthwhile show so I congratulate everyone involved in making the event such a success.”

Local councillor Sandy Duncan added:

“I was very impressed with the work on show. The quality of the work was outstanding and it’s really good to have something like this to attract people into a small community like Cuminestown.”

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ROTHIENORMAN GALA ORGANISERS PRAISED

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and local councillor Sandy Duncan have praised the organisers of Rothienorman Gala after attending the event on Sunday.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“I was pleased to see that the organisers were rewarded with a good turnout of people for their efforts. The magnificent weather on Sunday also played a part I am sure!

“I know from chatting to local people that there is a real community spirit in Rothie when it comes to events such as this and fundraising for good causes and the annual gala is a vital component of that.”

Councillor Sandy Duncan added:

“This was another great event for Rothienorman and what a magnificent sunny day to get for it as well. I am delighted for the organisers for getting such a healthy attendance and wish them continued success in future years.”

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GOOD NEWS ON COST OF FARM FERTILISER

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the news that the UK’s only fertiliser manufacturer, GrowHow, has announced fertiliser prices for July of £175-£178 per tonne on-farm for Nitram.

Mr Stevenson had previously called for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to investigate the UK fertiliser market following meetings with concerned farmers in his constituency who highlighted a 200 percent increase in profits of fertiliser companies such as Yara. Fertiliser prices peaked at over £400 per tonne at the end of 2008 and today’s announcement puts prices back at 2007 average prices.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“Mergers and acquisitions in recent years have left the UK fertiliser market dominated by one or two major players, reducing choice and competition for the customer.

“As a result of that and also global factors, fertiliser prices rocketed, putting real pressure on North-east farmers.

“I’m therefore very pleased at today’s news from GrowHow on their pricing structure which also seems to have met with approval from NFUS.”

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford added:

“This is good news for customers of GrowHow and I recognise the good work done by the NFUS in building a constructive dialogue with the company.

“I hope that other fertiliser companies will follow this lead. If GrowHow can achieve this price reduction then there’s no reason why other companies cannot do the same to support Scottish farming.”

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WHITEFORD BACKS PIONEERING SCHEME FOR NE BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PEOPLE

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford attended the launch of a pioneering two-year pilot scheme in Elgin today (Monday) to help blind and partially sighted people find work.

'Work Focus', a project managed by the Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland and supported locally by Grampian Society for the Blind, has already helped over 40 local people with sight loss find work, go into further education or develop new skills.

Operating in Aberdeenshire, Banffshire and Moray, 'Work Focus' offers one-to-one support to clients by brokering job-placements with employers, providing motivational and job-search skills, and mentoring on the job.

RNIB Scotland plans to provide similar services nationally once the lessons of the pilot have been analysed.

At today's launch, Eilidh Whiteford met with Work Focus staff and clients alongside Moray MSP and Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"75 per cent of people in Scotland of working age with sight loss are unemployed - a figure that hasn't improved in a decade, although the employment rate for people with other disabilities has.

"That's why it is so encouraging to find an initiative in our area that is actually pioneering new approaches. Work Focus can support people in making that first step into work or further education, and in doing so help end the exclusion of blind and partially sighted people in the labour market."

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