Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop Donates to Mary’s Meals Backpack Project
Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has taken part in the Parliament wide Mary’s Meals Backpack Project by donating a backpack filled with basic school equipment to help with their education and everyday life.
Fiona said;
“I was delighted to donate a backpack to this project launched by Mary’s Meals which will go towards helping some of the world’s poorest children.
“This has been a hugely successful cross-party campaign and I am pleased to see that so many MSPs and staff taking part.
“We have a strong sense of charity in West Lothian and so I would encourage anyone not already aware of the project to find out more and perhaps even organise your own collection of backpacks to help chronically poor children in countries like as Malawi, Liberia and Haiti.”
http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/what-you-can-do/backpack-project/
Hyslop Attends Opening of Whitburn Foodbank
Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop attended the opening of the new Foodbank in Whitburn on Friday. (22nd March).
Fiona said;
“I was delighted to meet with the staff and volunteers of the Whitburn Foodbank and welcome them to their newest branch here in West Lothian.
“The foodbank workers dedicate much of their time and energy to building better communities and helping those who need it most. The opening of a Foodbank in Whitburn will strengthen our society and engage local residents and most importantly, prevent those who are worse off from going hungry.”
Anger as Labour Refuse to Support West Lothian Elderly
Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop has said she is angry and disappointed that Labour MSPs refused to support an Order for free bus travel for pensioners and disabled persons at Wednesday’s (March 20th) Scottish Parliament’s Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee.
Fiona said;
“I am extremely disappointed that the Labour MSPs in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee last week did not support the growing number of older people in West Lothian.
“The Scottish Government has always been committed to ensuring elderly and vulnerable people are looked after in our communities and while I can’t understand why Labour MSPs refused to support free bus travel for pensioners and disabled people, I am pleased that the rest of the committee members are looking out for the needs and interests of those affected by this motion and voted in favour resulting in it being passed.”
Hyslop Supports Young Peoples’ Entitlement to Share Views
Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop is supporting the Bill to give every 16 and 17 year old in West Lothian the right to have their say in the Scottish Referendum next year.
Fiona commented;
“Next Year’s referendum is one of the most important decisions to face the Scottish people in recent times and I am delighted that a bill has been introduced to allow 16 and 17 year olds the chance to have their say.
“In Scotland you can join the army, have a full time job, get married and have children at just 16 years old, our young people absolutely deserve the right to say how the future of their country should be run.
“Whatever views you may have on the issue, it is important that you use your vote and have your say in marking Scotland’s history.”
Fiona Hyslop MSP Joins Marie Curie Cancer Care at Scottish Parliament
Fiona Hyslop joined Marie Curie Cancer Care at the Scottish Parliament this week to learn more about the work carried about by the charity to provide free end of life care to people with terminal illnesses.
Sporting one of the charity’s daffodil pins in support of the annual Great Daffodil Appeal, Fiona Hyslop spoke to Marie Curie nurses and staff about the free end of life care available to local communities across Scotland.
Fiona said;
“I am very happy to support the good work of Marie Curie Cancer Care throughout West Lothian. Between 2009 and 2011, Cancer was the main cause of death in West Lothian and Marie Curie Nurses understand the importance of offering the best palliative care possible for their patients.
“The last moments of a person’s life should be as important as their first and I am proud to wear my yellow daffodil in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care this March.”
Commenting upon the importance of continued support for the charity, Emily Hogg, Legacy Adviser who organised the event for Marie Curie said:
“Every March, people can support our Great Daffodil Appeal by making a donation and wearing one of our daffodil pins. However, there are many ways for people to support Marie Curie all year round. For example, we depend greatly on the donations left to us in Wills and every gift, whatever size, helps us to meet the challenges of providing free care for terminally ill patients. Currently Gifts left in Wills fund the equivalent of two in every three Marie Curie Nurses so are a vital income stream to the charity”
Press Release
For Immediate Use:
St Johns Children’s Ward Given Strong Commitment
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
A firm commitment to a 24/7 service at St Johns have been given at two meetings with NHS in the last week.
MSP for Linlithgow Fiona Hyslop commented “At both the Blackburn Community Council hosted meeting on Thursday and the regular NHS Lothian/MSP meeting on Friday, we heard that NHS Lothian were on course to make the appointments they needed to the Children’s Ward at St Johns. This is to be welcomed but NHS Lothian were left in doubt of the strength of feeling on the matter. I call on NHS Lothian to continue to be open and proactive about communicating the on-going situation. ”
Angela Constance MSP for Almond Valley added “The Health Secretary Alex Neil has made clear the Scottish Government’s commitment to the long term security for the Children’s Ward at St Johns. With international recruitment challenges in this field it is reassuring to hear of interviews and appointments being made this week. NHS Lothian has said that they will remain vigilant over the next few years until the staffing arrangements across Scotland for paediatrics can be fully stabilised. As the local MSP with St Johns in my constituency I will ensure the needs and interests of our children are protected. ”
Hyslop Secures Council Commitment for Bathgate Parking
Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop who has been pursuing the case for more car parking at the railway station, has secured agreement from West Lothian Council to use the old railway station car park in Bathgate to host the overspill from the town’s new railway station car park while the finding and delivery for the new car park is being delivered.
She said,
“The new station has been a tremendous success since its opening and figures are very encouraging, of course, with this comes the issue of too few parking spaces.
“I wrote to the council to ask about the option of using the car park at the site of the old railway station as well as asking them to identify alternative parking options for commuters and travellers in West Lothian.
“I am delighted to confirm that from early 2014 Network Rail and Transport Scotland plan to extend the car park eastwards into the area that was utilized as a site compound during the Bathgate – Airdrie project. Furthermore, West Lothian Council are hoping that the old station car park can be re-opened for public use by mid-April 2013, which will help alleviate some of the problems identified by members of the public residing close to the new station in the meantime.”
Hyslop Supports West Lothian Tourism
Local constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has signed up to pledge her support for Scottish Tourism Week (4th – 13th March) marking the natural beauty of West Lothian in the Scottish Government’s Year of Natural Scotland.
Fiona said;
“Here in West Lothian we have no shortage of attractions or culture for local and international visitors and that is why I am proud to support one of our key industries in Scottish Tourism Week.
“Just last year, the number of visitors to Scotland rose by 5 per cent, just in time for our Year of Natural Scotland in 2013.
“I am confident that these numbers will have a local impact on tourism for West Lothian, with visitors flocking to see the beauty of the Bathgate hills, or Beecraigs Park or our towns that are steeped in history and culture.”
Hyslop Attends Linlithgow Community Development Trust Launch
Speaking after last Saturday’s (2nd Feb) Community Development Trust Launch, Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop commented;
“I was very pleased to attend the launch event of the Community Development Trust at the Burgh Halls on Saturday which I think will bring a big boost to the town.
“I have seen successful Community Trusts operating elsewhere in Scotland and they are a really good wave of local people in charge of developments in their community.
“We agreed this would be a long term project and I believe it is very important to involve young people living locally in any ideas about what could be done for their own town.”
Hyslop Secures Parking Commitment from Network Rail
Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has secured a commitment from Network Rail that they intend to expand the car parking facilities at the Railway Station in Bathgate.
Fiona Hyslop was contacted by a number of constituents on the issue so she wrote to Network Rail urging them to extend the car park. Network Rail has now replied acknowledging the problem at Bathgate Railway Station and has confirmed that they are currently working out costs and design development to expand the car park.
Commenting, Fiona said;
“I am very pleased that Network Rail appreciates the need for this development and is currently looking into ways to expand the car parking area at Bathgate Station.
“The new Bathgate to Airdrie line has been a great success and is bringing benefits to local commuters and so there is clearly a need for more space to accommodate the growing influx of train users.
“I understand that Network Rail are looking into funding options and anticipate delivering additional parking by early 2014 and in the meantime I have written to West Lothian Council asking them to identify areas in Bathgate – including the old Railway Station Car Park – that could be used for overspill parking in the short term.”
