Category: News in Lothian

Hyslop Welcomes £1 Billion Child Care Investment Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the news that West Lothian Council will receive a share of Scottish Government Investment of almost £1bn for free childcare. Following extensive engagement to reach a shared understanding of the costs of the expansion, Scottish Ministers and COSLA Leaders have reached agreement on a multi-year funding package.  Commenting, Fiona said; “West Lothian families will benefit from a share of almost £1 billion funding each year to support our ambitious expansion of free childcare. “All three and four year olds, and eligible two year olds, will be entitled to 1140 hours of free childcare – effectively mirroring the primary school week. This means we are almost doubling the availability of free childcare, saving parents hundreds of pounds…

  Hyslop Highlights Scotland Malawi Links at Youth Event Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has highlighted the links between Scotland and Malawi at the Scotland Malawi Partnership youth event in Edinburgh last week (Wednesday, 25th April). President Peter Mutharika of Malawi also addressed the Scottish Parliament when he visited Edinburgh. Fiona commented; “Scotland and Malawi have long-standing ties of friendship and shared history, and I was delighted to welcome the President Peter Mutharika of Malawi and the First Lady Gertrude Maseko to Scotland in my role as Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs. “There are Malawi connections and strong links in local towns across Scotland and I know that many of the schools and churches across West Lothian have raised money for Malawi. “The engagement with and between…

Hyslop Welcomes Scotland’s First Social Security Service and Job Launch in Bathgate Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the unanimous vote in Parliament which passed Scotland’s first social security system and the launch of the recruitment process to support the new services which took place at Bathgate Partnership Centre on Tuesday (24th April). The new Social Security Scotland service will have a presence in every local authority area, with staff co-located in existing public and third sector services – all of which will make it easily accessible to local communities and anyone looking for information and support. Fiona Hyslop commented; “This is a historic moment for Scotland and I am delighted that the Minister for Social Security, Jeane Freeman, came to Bathgate to launch the Scottish Government’s recruitment process…

Hyslop Congratulates all Female STEM Group Local MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop has written to the group of young S3 women from Linlithgow Academy to congratulate them on their success at getting through the Scottish and UK Finals of the Formula 1 in Schools Challenge. Team Manager Louise Patterson, Manufacturing Engineer Molly Ganner, Graphic Designer Louise Murray, Design Engineer Isla Petrie and Resource Manager Aoife Sutton are all S3 pupils at Linlithgow Academy and were tasked with a design projects to design and develop a mini Formula 1 race car. The young women will now travel to Singapore in September to compete in the Formula 1 in Schools Challenge International Final in Singapore.   Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop said; “This is a fantastic achievement for the girls and for…

  Hyslop Welcomes Lottery Fund’s Spark a Change Campaign Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the launch of a new National Lottery fund to help young people Spark a Change in their lives to mark the Scottish Government’s Year of Young People. The new fund called the Year of Young People National Lottery Fund will offer between £3,000 and £10,000 to heritage, community and sports projects that are run for and by young people aged 8 to 26. The deadlines for applications fall on April 30th 2018 and June 18th 2018. Fiona commented: “Young people across West Lothian can Spark a Change in their lives thanks to the new Year of Young People National Lottery Fund. This funding during our Year of Young People is welcome news…

Winchburgh Winner Local MSP Fiona Hyslop presented the Scottish Teen Book Prize for the 2018 Book Trailer Competition to Ciara Wilkie, of Winchburgh, at the Scottish Book Trust’s Award Ceremony for Children and Teenager’s Books on 6th March. Fiona said: “I was delighted to present Ciara with her award for winning this year’s Book Trailer Competition. Ciara wrote, filmed and edited her trailer for Elizabeth Laird’s Welcome to Nowhere, and the panel praised her highly for all aspects of her work. Ciara is from Winchburgh in my constituency and I am always pleased to see the success and talent of young people from West Lothian.” ENDS Notes Ciara’s trailer is featured on the Scottish Book Trust website: www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/teachers-librarians/the-scottish-teenage-book-prize/competition-winners-2018    

Hyslop Marks Abolition of University Tuition Fees 10 years on and 270,000 students benefit  Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the news that 270,000 graduates have benefitted from free tuition fees since she scrapped the Graduate Endowment Fee as Education Secretary in 2008. Commenting Fiona said; “As the Government Minister who abolished this unfair tax on education, I am delighted that 270,000 graduates across the country have benefitted from not paying the graduate endowment fee. “Over the last decade in my role as Linlithgow Constituency MSP, I have spoken with a number of families and students across West Lothian who were very pleased to not have to pay the back-end tuition fee of £2,300 in order to graduate. “This is very welcome news and I would pass on my…

Hyslop welcomes funding boost for Linlithgow charity Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed £6000 in grants funded by the Corra Foundation for Eczema Outreach Scotland based in Linlithgow. Eczema Outreach Scotland has been awarded a grant of £6,000 Towards the salary of a Commenting, Fiona said; “I’m delighted to hear that Eczema Outreach Scotland has been awarded this funding. With £6,000 going towards a part-time Family Support Worker, Eczema Outreach Scotland will be able to reach even further with the good work they do offering one to one health care and support to families. “I have written to them to congratulate them on their funding and hope to visit them in Linlithgow soon to hear more about their work.” ENDS Notes to Editors Each year, the foundation distributes just…

Hyslop Welcomes £10m Budget Boost for Local Services Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the recently passed (Wed 21st Feb) Scottish Budget which announced more cash for local services. West Lothian Council is set to receive a significant funding boost as a result of this year’s SNP Scottish Government budget – with local services across the region benefiting from an extra £9.99million. Commenting, Fiona Said; “This extra funding for West Lothian Council – an additional £9.99 million for the coming year – is a great settlement for our communities and a welcome investment. “This takes the total resource budget for our council’s services – such as schools, roads and housing – to £316.739m for the coming year, an increase of over 3% when compared with last year. “Considered together…