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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the establishment of a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 to examine the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. The period covered by the inquiry will be from 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2022, but it will also consider pandemic planning undertaken prior to this. In a statement to Parliament on Tuesday 14th December 2021, Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed that the Honourable Lady Poole QC, Senator of the College of Justice of Scotland, will chair the inquiry. The chair will begin the process of appointing staff now so the inquiry can begin considering evidence without delay. The Deputy First Minister also published the terms of reference for the inquiry covering 12 areas of investigation, each covering a strategic element…

On Tuesday 14th of December, during a Ministerial Statement on the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland, Fiona Hyslop MSP, highlighted the impressive work of Aldi Bathgate in trailing a deposit scheme trial. Aldi in Bathgate has proactively begun a trial, in which the store accepts bottles and cans in exchange for vouchers for the business. Aldi plan to use feedback from customers using the scheme to inform their plans as it prepares to for the nationwide roll out. As well as highlighting the work of Aldi Bathgate, Fiona asked the Minister what support is available from the Scottish Government for businesses who wish to trial the scheme prior to the Government’s official launch date. Fiona has also written to Aldi Bathgate to congratulate them on their proactive…

Local Constituency MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has commented on the fact that as many as six children missed life changing surgery due to being missed out for assessment by NHS Lothian. The findings came to light following the British Academy of Audiology report on NHS Lothian's Paediatric Audiology Services which showed that at least half a dozen children had missed being referred for Cochlear Implantation Surgery.  It also reported on a systemic issue with a much larger number of cases affected and made a series of significant recommendations. Fiona attended a briefing on Friday (10th Dec) organised by NHS Lothian which set out how they were taking forward the recommendations of this Report. Fiona commented, “This is an extremely serious matter which will have caused a great…

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop, spoke in a Scottish Government debate on Wednesday (8th Dec) supporting the Scotland Loves Local Initiative, where she highlighted the unique collaborative approach of the One Linlithgow Group that connects community working with local business to support town centres and promote regeneration and resilience. Fiona said, “Local businesses are the beating heart of our communities and of course their contribution to the local economy offers opportunity for regeneration, resilience and development. “In my hometown of Linlithgow, the Linlithgow Community Development Trust along with the Business Improvement District together created One Linlithgow, which brings together local businesses of all sizes and the community groups that help them to thrive and survive. “With the Scottish Government’s Business Resilience Funding, One…

Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop, spoke in a Scottish Government debate on Wednesday (8th Dec) supporting the Scotland Loves Local Initiative, where she highlighted the community input of businesses and individuals across West Lothian. Fiona said, “Local businesses are the beating heart of our communities and of course their contribution to the local economy offers opportunity for regeneration, resilience and development. “In Bathgate, where I started my own Christmas shopping at the weekend on Small Business Saturday, the Choose Bathgate Group had actively been promoting shopping locally. And I was particularly impressed to see the Phoenix Health and Wellbeing Centre championing other businesses, encouraging shoppers to explore their high streets and support each other. “I also visited Whitburn South Church Hall craft fair, which brought local businesses and…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, praises the hard work and dedication of the Boghall Drop-in Centre team, particularly throughout the course of the pandemic. Fiona visited the Boghall Drop-in Centre to hear of their plans for Christmas and how the organisation adapted to the pandemic and the needs of the local population. The Boghall Drop-in Centre is a community led organisation which helps everyone from young children to the elderly in Boghall and beyond. The small team at the Centre worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide meals and services to all, with no barriers to access. Coming up to Christmas, the team are doing daily raffles and daily Christmas story time, Elf Academy activities, pensioner meals and providing Christmas toys and hampers.  Fiona commented: “Boghall Drop-in…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the announcement that projects in West Lothian will receive £48,000 from the first round of grants from the Scotland Loves Local Fund. The funding, announced this week, is supporting over 100 organisations, who will receive a share of the £1.5 million funding boost to help revitalise cities, town centres and neighbourhoods across Scotland. They will encourage support for local economies which were impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and help restore local tourism, make town centres more environmentally friendly and sustainable, and support communities to refurbish shop fronts and public spaces ahead of the festive season. In West Lothian, funding was awarded to three different organisations. Green Action Trust in Broxburn has been awarded £20,000 to support the creation of a new community park on…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the First Minister’s announcement that the Scottish Child Payment will be doubled from April 2022. The announcement will see at least 4,280 eligible children across West Lothian receiving £20 per week per child from spring next year, with more than 106,000 children across Scotland immediately benefitting from the increased payment. Since the launch of the Scottish Government payment on 15 February 2021, 1,143,880 has been issued in payments to families in West Lothian. It is now expected that over 400,000 children could be eligible for the doubled payment by the end 2022, which is when the benefit, which is unique in the UK, will be extended to children under the age of 16. Commenting, Fiona said: “I am delighted that at least 4,280 children across West Lothian will have…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, urged the Scottish Government, during First Ministers Questions in the Scottish Parliament on 11th November, to continue the discussions and networking established by the Glasgow Climate Dialogues as COP26 has now come to a close. Fiona asked the Scottish Government if they will use their role as the co-Chair of the Under2 coalition to promote a similar dialogue among members of the coalition and raise important issues such as ‘loss and damage’. The Deputy First Minister responded to Fiona’s question stating the Scottish Government’s intention to continue to engage with the Coalition after COP and highlighted the Coalition’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050 and the importance of a Just Transition. Fiona commented; “I am pleased to have raised this issue in Parliament…