Whiteford Calls for Westminster Action on Anonymous Voting for Abuse Victims

NO EXCUSE FOR FURTHER DELAYS
SNP MP Eilidh Whiteford has called for an end to delays from the UK Government in revising rules which could stop women who have been domestically abused from safely voting in Scotland.

Across the UK, anonymous registration is available to voters who can provide evidence of a court order offering legal protection from an abusive ex-partner to an electoral registration officer. But this direct route is not open to women who hold some interdicts commonly granted by courts in Scotland.

Instead many women in Scotland face a two-tier system and must apply to the Chief Constable or chief social work officer who has to “attest" that they have experienced abuse. Concerns have been raised by Scottish Women’s Aid that the added complication could make women less likely to vote and potentially add to the risk.

Dr Whiteford, the MP for Banff and Buchan, has written to the Scotland Office raising the matter and called for a timetable and action plan from the UK Government to bring forward the necessary changes. The response from the Advocate General for Scotland, Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC, noted the concerns from Scottish Women’s Aid, but still offered no clear timetable for progress. The response indicated that work still needed to be undertaken, including consultation with the Electoral Commission, EROs and others.

Dr Whiteford said:

“The UK Government has had six years to revise the rules and make sure all women in Scotland feel able to safely vote. There is no excuse for further delays.

“If the need for protection has been justified to a Scottish court, then surely this is evidence enough to justify anonymous registration. Women should not have to go through further scrutiny, recounting their experiences again to another third party. The route to anonymous voting should be straight-forward and stress free.

“Voting is a right and it is not in the interests of democracy to make it more difficult. There is no reason why this cannot be resolved before the next elections - the European elections and the referendum on Scotland’s future in 2014.

“According to Scottish Women’s Aid, one in five Scottish women experiences domestic abuse at some point in their lives. It affects women from all walks of life, and is a hidden scourge on society that cannot be tolerated. Those who have experienced domestic abuse must have the support and protection they need to help rebuild their lives. One part of this is the ability to vote safely.

“The UK Government has been sitting on its hands for six years – it’s time to stop procrastinating and revise the rules so that all women in Scotland feel able to exercise their right to vote free from fear."

NOTES:

The general provisions setting up the process of anonymous voting registration were introduced in the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

Direct application for anonymous registration is not available because the most commonly used Scottish civil protection orders were not included in the list of prescribed orders which can be used as evidence. The prescribed requirements are set out in the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001 and equivalent regulations in Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Of the 11 orders only 2 are orders issued under Scots law in terms of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 – no other Scottish protective orders are included.

Scottish Women’s Aid have had meetings with The Scotland Office to rectify this issue since 2006.

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Longhaven Pupils Honoured by MP at Commons Visit

Pupils from Longhaven School were honoured by local MP Eilidh Whiteford at the House of Commons this week.

The small rural school which has only 15 pupils beat off stiff competition to become the award winners for the whole of Scotland.

As Scottish champions, the children of Longhaven School attended the award ceremony at London Zoo yesterday to receive their certificate and £1000 cheque.  The children were joined by pupils from England and Wales to find out won the title of overall UK Champions for 2012, which was awarded to an English school.

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford invited the school pupils to the House of Commons during their visit to London.  The MP has also tabled a Motion in Parliament congratulating the children on their huge achievement.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“I’m so thrilled for the children.  This is a magnificent achievement, particularly in light of the fact that the 15 pupils at Longhaven School have triumphed in an all-Scotland competition.

“It says much about the quality of education at the school and the commitment of the teaching staff that a small rural school like Longhaven has won this prestigious award.

“The children thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Westminster and I was pleased to be able to host their visit and celebrate their achievement by tabling a Motion in Parliament."

Meanwhile, Peterhead South & Cruden councillor Stephen Smith has proposed the school be given a ‘Pride of Buchan’ award for their achievement.  The awards, which are made by Aberdeenshire Council’s Buchan Area Committee, are to recognise regional or national achievements.

Commenting, Cllr Stephen Smith said:

“This is tremendous news for the school.  When you consider that Aberdeenshire Council wanted to close the school back in 2005 in the face of massive community opposition, to have come from that position to a point where the school is winning national awards it really tells us something about the standard of teaching which children can receive in our small rural schools.

“The award is well-deserved and I send my congratulations to the pupils and their Headteacher, Mr Loney."

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MP Welcomes Action to Help Pensioners Beat Winter Heating Bills

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed a Private Members’ Bill that would help off-grid pensioner households beat soaring winter energy costs which is to be launched by SNP MP Mike Weir this week.

Mr Weir – one of just 20 MPs successful in a ballot to present a Bill in the House of Commons – said the Bill (the Winter Fuel Allowance Payments (Off-Grid Claimants) Bill) would provide for the early payment of Winter Fuel Allowance to pensioners whose homes are not connected to the mains grid and whose principal source of fuel is home fuel oil, liquid petroleum gas or propane gas.

Bringing forward payment of Winter Fuel Allowance would allow vulnerable consumers to fill up their tanks prior to the onset of winter and at a time when prices tend to be lower.  Mr Weir, who has long campaigned on the difficulties faced by off-gas grid energy consumers, now hopes to build cross-party support for the proposal.  Mr Weir’s Bill will formally be presented to Parliament on Wednesday 20 June.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“I’m pleased to back the Bill that Mike Weir is putting forward as many of my constituents are “off-grid” and are hit hardest at the worst time of the year. 

 “To bring payments forward would mean very little to the Treasury as the cost would be the same as if the payments were left as they are.  The difference, however, would be that many elderly people would not be left in the predicament where they have to decide whether to eat or heat their home.”

Mike Weir, the SNP Energy and Climate Change spokesperson at Westminster, said:

"While all households have been hit by rocketing energy prices, off-grid customers, who have no access so social tariffs, are especially vulnerable.  This Bill would bring forward payment of the pensioners winter fuel allowance earlier in the year so households can fill their tanks prior to the onset of winter and when fuel prices tend to be cheaper.  Not only would this be a real help to older consumers but would be revenue neutral for the Treasury - merely bringing forward payments by a few months. This would provide real help at little or no additional cost.”

Mr Weir said the Scottish Government is doing everything in its powers to tackle fuel poverty but that off-grid customers have been ignored by the UK Government.

He added:

"The heating oil market is subject to sudden and very high price spikes and there is real concern amongst consumers that there is very little competition in the market, leaving them effectively with no option but to pay up.  Off-grid users are the only customers not to have access to social tariffs and a large number of the rural fuel poor are unable to get help with heating bills at all. It is vital that this situation is addressed, and action taken to introduce robust regulation to protect consumers."

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Questions Remain Over Crisis Loan Funding

The SNP’s Work and Pensions Spokesperson, Eilidh Whiteford MP said urgent questions remain over funding and implementation of crisis loans and community care grants ten months before the schemes are devolved next year.

The Banff and Buchan MP was speaking after a parliamentary debate she led today (Tuesday) on the lifeline welfare support. During the debate, Dr Whiteford urged the UK Government for clarity over available resources and greater detail on plans for the transition to the replacement schemes.

Dr Whiteford called on the UK Government to address the likely £5-£10million funding gap the Scottish Government will inherit following cuts to the schemes being implemented this year. Dr Whiteford pointed out that cuts were being made at a time of recession, when economic turbulence, financial insecurity and high unemployment made the lifeline support in even greater demand.

The budget for community care grants in Scotland has been cut by 7% this financial year, after being frozen since 2005-06. The spend on crisis loans for living expenses is being pulled back to 2005-06 levels and is expected to be halved this year, at around 4.7 million in comparison to £10 million in 2009-10.

Parliamentary under-Secretary for Work and Pensions, Maria Miller MP agreed to write to Dr Whiteford with information on resources being made available for the administration of the replacement scheme.

Dr Whiteford said:

“With just ten months to go before crisis loans and community care grants are devolved to Scotland, I am disappointed that questions over the funding and set-up of the new scheme are still not being addressed by the UK Government.

“The Scottish Government is planning for a replacement scheme with one hand tied behind its back. It still does not know what resources will be made available for the administration costs - I look forward to greater detail on this issue from the Minister in the letter she has promised.

“There was also a total lack of recognition from the UK Government of the funding gap the Scottish Government will inherit, following Draconian cuts to the schemes put in place this year. While demand for Social Fund support has risen dramatically since the start of the financial downturn, budgets have not kept pace with growing need.

“The growth in applications for crisis loans in recent years is clearly linked to the onset of the recession – and reflects the growing demand for the fund. It beggars belief to cut this lifeline support at a time when millions of people are living on the breadline.

“Cuts to crisis loans and community care grants are the cruellest cuts yet from the Tory-led government. They impact on the most vulnerable households at exactly the time when they most need a helping hand. By their nature crisis loans are a last resort, and so cutting their availability causes real hardship and drives people towards loan sharks and high interest lenders.

“The devolving of funds for crisis loans and community care grants is to be welcomed – it will allow the Scottish Government to build a fairer, simpler system, better integrated with other aspects of Scottish welfare policy - but it must be properly resourced, and properly implemented.

“The UK Government must provide clarity over the resources to make sure the new system can work for all those who need it."

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