Category: News

Following a visit this week by the First Minister John Swinney, to the charity Play Works in Broxburn this week, local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has highlighted new Scottish Government support for parents in West Lothian to increase their incomes and reduce the burden of everyday costs. Commenting Fiona said: “The Scottish Government have been clear that eradicating child poverty is their driving mission, and this work has been essential in providing much needed support to families across West Lothian. “I was pleased to see the First Minister visit the Play Works in Broxburn on 11th March, an excellent charity within my Constituency, which supports local families and gives children a safe place to play in their community. “Following this visit, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice,…

Following a visit this week by the First Minister John Swinney, to the charity Play Works in Broxburn this week, local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has highlighted new Scottish Government support for parents in West Lothian to increase their incomes and reduce the burden of everyday costs. Commenting Fiona said: “The Scottish Government have been clear that eradicating child poverty is their driving mission, and this work has been essential in providing much needed support to families across West Lothian. “I was pleased to see the First Minister visit the Play Works in Broxburn on 11th March, an excellent charity within my Constituency, which supports local families and gives children a safe place to play in their community. “Following this visit, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice,…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has announced, in her role as Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport, that free rail travel for visually impaired people and their companions will be made permanent. From 1 April 2026, anyone with an Eye Plus One National Entitlement Card can now travel with a companion throughout Scotland at no extra cost. Commenting Fiona said: “After a successful year-long pilot, I was delighted to announce on 11th March that the Scottish Government are making free rail travel for visually impaired people and their companions free permanently from 1st April 2026. “During the pilot we worked with Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans to gather feedback, and I was pleased to see more than 1,500 National Entitlement Card (NEC) holders took part with…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has welcomed record funding from the Scottish Government of £22billion for the NHS and Social Care Including over £2.3billion for front line services in NHS Lothian, an increase of 8.9%. The Scottish Government’s budget which passed in February, also contained £2.4billion for primary care, including £36 million for new walk-in GP services, with the first launched in Edinburgh last month. Fiona commented, “West Lothian has both a growing and ageing population, and I am very aware of the pressures around access to GP services across the region. This record health and social care spend will be welcomed by many in my Constituency and will transform access to GP services. “The Scottish Government’s most recent budget included record funding of over £2.3bn for frontline…

Fiona Hyslop Marks Apprenticeship Week in West Lothian Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has marked Apprenticeship Week this year by visiting apprentices and staff at a Compressor Station in West Lothian. The Compressor Station is a vital part of the National Gas Network responsible for transporting gas to homes, businesses, power stations, and heavy industry across Scotland and the rest of Britain. They play a vital role in Scotland’s energy security, and will be essential in the transition to net zero – supporting the Acorn carbon capture and storage project, as well as enabling the future use of hydrogen. Commenting, Fiona said, “Scottish Apprentice Week is a great opportunity to recognise the work of our young apprentices and celebrate the contribution they make in transforming businesses, organisations and communities.…

Fiona Hyslop Welcomes latest Scottish Child Payment Figures 12,105 Children in West Lothian Receiving Support Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has welcomed the latest Social Security Scotland’s Scottish Child Payment figures which show that 12,105 children and young people are benefitting from the payment in West Lothian. A recent report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that child poverty rates in Scotland are the lowest in the UK thanks to policies introduced by the SNP including the Scottish Child Payment.  The Scottish Government is now going even further with provision in its budget for 2026/27 to increase the payment to £40 per week for children under one-year-old. Fiona commented, “The Scottish Child payment is making a real difference to the lives of children and young people and their families across West Lothian. With 12,105…

“As many of my Constituents will be aware, I have been working on the issues relating to Linlithgow Loch for a number of years. “I attended the latest public meeting on Linlithgow Loch on Monday 9th February. “At this meeting updates were provided by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Historic Environment Scotland, and Scottish Water. “SEPA have advised that they are continuing to collate information on the causes of the issues at Linlithgow Loch and again stressed the need to ensure mitigation measures are followed by members of the public to prevent any further damage. Scottish Water explained lack of SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) in the Springfield estate when it was built for surface water as opposed to sewage is an ongoing issue. “I will continue to work on this…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has welcomed the recent figures that show that 64,860 baby boxes have been delivered across the NHS Lothian region since the inception of the initiative in 2017.  A total of 366,950 boxes have been delivered across the whole of Scotland in the same time. Fiona commented, “Scotland’s baby box, which was introduced in 2017 by the Scottish Government, is brim full of essential items to give every baby in Scotland the best possible start in life. “I am pleased to see such a good up take – 64,860 boxes delivered across the Lothians since 2017 - and I know from speaking to many of my Constituents that this support has been a lifeline to many hard pressed families. “Combined with the game-changing Scottish Child…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has welcomed new measures to support local businesses in West Lothian. The recent Scottish Budget includes a range of measures designed to support businesses that is not available anywhere else in the UK. Fiona commented, “Businesses sit at the heart of our local economy, and I am pleased that the Scottish Government is able to ensure 15% non-domestic Rates relief in 2026/27, reduce the Basic, Intermediate and Higher Property Rates, while also providing transitional relief worth £184 million nationally over the next three years.   “These measures also include the continuation of the Small business bonus which will see around 2,760 businesses across West Lothian pay no business rates at all. “I am proud to support the Scottish Government’s budget which supports the…