Category: News in Lothian

Hyslop Meets with Airport Chief Executive over Flight Path Route Fiona Hands Over Public Petition When Meeting Edinburgh Airport Chief Executive Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has met with Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport and Gordon Robertson, Director of Communications to relay her concerns about the flight path trial and express the views and experiences of her constituents from the affected towns in West Lothian. (On Wednesday, 9th September) The meeting took place the day before a Parliamentary Debate (Thursday 10th September) on the issue was held at Holyrood. Fiona, who is in the process of conducting a survey of thousands of households, has said; “I have now received an overwhelming number of complaints from residents regarding the flight path trial so I was pleased to…

Hyslop Welcomes Government £1m Funding for Refugees Support Linlithgow MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the Scottish Government’s stance at the Humanitarian Summit last week (4th Sept) announcing a Government Taskforce to be set up to ensure that services in West Lothian and across Scotland are prepared to deal with the arrival of refugees. The taskforce first met this week and will be chaired by the Minister for External Affairs and International Development, Humza Yousaf. Commenting after briefing the Scottish Government Cabinet on the issue, Fiona said; “I welcome the Government’s Taskforce and commitment to help local services cope with any incoming refugees from Syria and elsewhere. “The initial £1m in Scottish Government funding will ensure that the frontline organisations who will help refugees integrate into Scotland will have the resources…

Hyslop Conducts Flight Path Survey Fiona Hyslop MSP asks for your views on flight path trial Monday, 31 August 2015 Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop is conducting a survey to obtain the comments and concerns that her constituents have regarding the new flight path trial at Edinburgh Airport. Commenting Fiona said; “I have now received complaints from well over 80 households across Linlithgow, Bridgend, Broxburn, Uphall, Dechmont, Philpstoun and Ecclesmachan regarding the proposed flight path which began on June 25th this summer. “I have been pursuing this issue with the Airport since my first meeting with them in June. There are clear issues around why they need the trial flight path in the first place, why this particular route and whether planes are sticking to it. “I am pleased that…

Hyslop Comments on Children’s Ward Fiona Hyslop, Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, has added her welcome to the news that the overnight readmissions will resume at the Children’s Ward at St John’s Hospital on August 17th. Fiona commented; “I am pleased that the Children’s Ward will resume from August 17th and that Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has listened to concerns that have been raised with her by myself and Angela Constance MSP – the two local West Lothian MSPs. “Shona Robison always indicated that the closure was temporary, but with a national wide shortage of Paediatricians we need to ensure that the service is sustainable in the long run. The review announced by NHS Lothian of Paediatric Services across all of the Lothians must recognise…

Fiona Delighted with Unanimous Candidate Endorsement Fiona Hyslop, the current constituency MSP for Linlithgow, has been unanimously selected by members from Bathgate, Whitburn, Broxburn, Armadale and Linlithgow – all five branches in the constituency - to stand as the SNP candidate for Scottish Parliament Elections in May 2016. Commenting after the meeting where Fiona received full endorsement from members, she said; “I am absolutely delighted to have been reselected by our members to stand as the SNP Candidate for the Linlithgow Constituency at next year’s Scottish Parliament Election. “To serve as the local MSP for Linlithgow for the last five years has been a privilege and an honour and I look forward to continuing my hard work for and on behalf of my constituents and ensuring that West Lothian remains…

St John’s Children’s Ward Health Secretary Shona Robison says “Measures are only Temporary” – Hyslop Comments Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has said that the statement from the Health Secretary, Shona Robison that the measures to close St John’s Paediatric ward overnight are only temporary is reassuring. It follows a warning that it would pose a risk to safety if the ward remained open 24hrs a day after a series of staff pressures with annual leave, sick leave and maternity leave all coinciding. Fiona said, “I share my constituents’ concerns about the restrictions on the Children’s Ward opening times overnight but the intervention by the Health Secretary stating that these measures are only temporary are welcome. “As the local MSP for Linlithgow I will be meeting with the Chief Executive…

Hyslop Welcomes World Heritage Status for Forth Bridge Local Linlithgow MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the news that the Forth Bridge has become the sixth Scottish landmark to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. World heritage status is given to sites of "outstanding universal value" with the aim of protecting them for future generations. Commenting, Fiona said; “I was delighted to see the Forth Bridge inscripted as a World Heritage Site as the Government Minister who has led and supported the nomination over these past few years. “We have established the Forth Bridge Forum to bring partners together and a big thanks is due in particular to Government Agency Historic Scotland, Network Rail who own the bridge and Transport Scotland for a great deal of hard work in putting…

Fiona Addresses Flight Path Noise Local MSP Fiona Hyslop has contacted Edinburgh Airport after a number of constituents approached her regarding noise levels caused by the new trial flight path particularly over Broxburn and Uphall. Fiona said; “I met with airport bosses back in early June to discuss what the proposed new flight path, which will run from June 25th – Dec 23rd 2015, meant for my constituents. They gave me a commitment to monitor sound levels and tracking the planes to ensure they remained en route to minimise the impact on residents. “Given the recent correspondence I have received from constituents in the last week, I have written to airport bosses to request that they move sound monitors into the Broxburn/Uphall area once they have gathered the necessary information…

Top Japanese golfer appointed golf ambassador ahead of The Open One of Japan’s top golfers has been announced as Scotland’s first Goodwill Golf ambassador to Japan ahead of next month’s Open Championship at St Andrews. The 2014 Japanese Open champion, Yuta Ikeda was appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop at a ceremony at the British Embassy in Tokyo earlier this morning. As a Goodwill Golf Ambassador, Mr Ikeda will represent the Japanese Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) and fellow Japanese professionals during the competition. He will also be competing in The Open at St Andrews. Ms Hyslop said, “Yuta Ikeda is a talented professional and I wish him the best of luck at St Andrews. As our first goodwill ambassador to Japan, I am…

External Affairs Secretary sets out priorities for exports growth Scotland’s priorities for strengthening business and trade links with Japan were set out in Tokyo this morning by the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop. Life sciences, food and drink and the renewable energy sectors will be the Scottish Government’s priority areas for growing the value of Scotland’s direct exports to Japan – currently worth £295 million. With a combined turnover of £1.4 billion, the latest figures show 80 Japanese businesses are investing in Scotland employing 5430 people. Between 2012 and 2014, Scottish businesses secured six new projects with Japan creating 153 new jobs and safeguarding 227 more. Ms Hyslop was speaking at the British Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo to representatives of Japanese and international businesses. Ms Hyslop said:…