Category: News in Lothian

Monday, 27 February 2012 Hyslop Congratulates Bathgate Academy as Pupils Make their Mark on Society Wednesday 22nd February SNP MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop attended and gave the opening speech at Bathgate Academy’s S6 Ethics Conference on Wednesday, 22nd February. Fiona Hyslop addressed the London Riots and Arab Spring motivations and effects and discussed with the pupils the differences between protests and riots. Bathgate Academy also performed on Wednesday night at the Scottish Parliament’s Trade Union Week Reception. Commenting after the two events, Ms Hyslop said; “This is a great day for Bathgate Academy. I was very impressed with the pupils’ intelligent and creative analyses during their Ethics Conference and enjoyed listening to their interpretation of events. “Furthermore, later in the evening, Colum Findlay and Ruaridh and Aidan McCucker (AKA…

Hyslop Supports Local Fundraising for Kenya Hospital February 4th 2012 Fiona Hyslop MSP for Linlithgow attended St Michael’s Parish Church’s Fundraising coffee morning this weekend, which raised money for the “Friends of Chogoria Hospital, Kenya” Charity. Fiona said; “This morning’s coffee fundraiser has been a great success and a well turned out event. “The funds raised this morning will be used for training new medical staff, purchasing medical equipment and aid with the challenges of improving the health of the Chogoria community. “I am very pleased to have contributed to this morning’s event and met the local volunteers who have given their time and efforts to a very worthy cause.”

Hyslop Welcomes Report of Strong Case for Railway Station in Winchburgh Friday, 3rd February Local MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the report that Network Rail, which is delivering the Edinburgh – Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), has indicated that a proposed site of a new station at Winchburgh would have a clear business case that could make them attractive. Reports in the Glasgow Herald on February 2nd indicated that of all the 12 new stations that are being campaigned for, the Winchburgh site is only one of two that may be a possibility. Fiona commented, “I am very pleased that Network Rail has recognised that there is a case for a railway station in Winchburgh. “It will be dependent on the progress of the Winchburgh Development now that this positive response…

Hyslop Welcomes Funding For New Primary in Armadale Wednesday, 01 February 2012 Fiona Hyslop MSP for Linlithgow Constituency has welcomed the announcement from West Lothian Council Leader, Peter Johnston that a £4 million boost is to be invested in a new Primary School in Armadale and to aid with improvements to the current Armadale Primary, St Anthony’s Primary and Eastertoun Primary in Armadale. Ms Hyslop commented; “This is fantastic news for the parents and pupils of Armadale and I am delighted that the new Primary is due to be up and running as early as Spring 2013. “As well as a new school building, the three other Primary Schools in Armadale can also look forward to needed improvements, so that all residential areas of Armadale will benefit from this funding.…

HYSLOP CONGRATULATES ARMADALE ACADEMY IN CONSTRUCTION AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGE Local MSP, Fiona Hyslop has written to Armadale Academy after a team of pupils came second in the 2011-2012 East of Scotland Construction and Built Environment Challenge – a competition involving over 26 other schools from across Edinburgh and the Lothian’s. Fiona said; “I am very pleased for the pupils at Armadale Academy. The pupils who participated should be extremely proud of their achievement. “The enthusiastic pupils were judged on teamwork, following instruction, working safely, tidiness, time and accuracy and have proved to have mastered these valuable life skills. “This experience will have provided the pupils with an opportunity to swap classroom learning with practical hands-on learning as well as perhaps establishing some future employees of the West Lothian construction…

Monday, 16th January Hyslop Brings Wallace Letter Back to Scotland Local MSP Fiona Hyslop has unveiled a 700 year old letter believed to have once been in the possession of William Wallace, in her capacity for Cabinet Secretary for Culture. The letter has been held in England since being discovered in the Tower of London in the 1830s. It is now on long-term loan to the National Records of Scotland after an agreement was reached with The National Archives in Kew. Fiona said: "I am delighted to have played a part in bringing the Wallace letter back to Scotland. “It is one of the few surviving artefacts with a direct link to William Wallace and a fascinating fragment of our nation's history. To have it here in Scotland, where it…

Fiona Hyslop welcomes referendum announcement SNP MSP for Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop today welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government that the independence referendum will be held in the Autumn of 2014 and urged people across the West Lothian to join the debate. Fiona Hyslop, who attended the Cabinet Meeting that led to the announcement of the referendum date said, "The people of West Lothian will have the exciting opportunity to vote in a referendum on Scotland's future in 2014. "It is important that the decisions about Scotland are taken by the people of Scotland and I hope everyone will take part. “It is also right that 16 and 17 year olds should be allowed to vote in the referendum. I have long believed that people who are entitled by…

Resolution to Find Roots: Local MSP discovered links to West Lothian in Family History Papers Many people make a resolution in the New Year to search through their family history. Anyone wishing to explore the fascinating world of Scottish family history over the New Year can access digitised sources - birth, marriage and death records, wills, census records and coats of arms - going back almost 500 years from the Scotland’s People Website: (http://www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk/) or visit Register House in Edinburgh or the local History Library in Linlithgow. Local MSP for Linlithgow Constituency Fiona Hyslop has discovered from searching that her Great Great Great Grandparents resided in Armadale and Broxburn, and her Great Great Grandmother was from Bathgate. Her Great Great Grandmother Mary Neish from Jeffrey’s Land in Bathgate was born…

Christmas and New Year Message from Fiona Hyslop MSP December 2011 “As your new MSP for Linlithgow, I am delighted to wish my constituents a Merry Christmas and all the very best for the year ahead. “Christmas provides us all with an opportunity for family and friends to spend valuable time together and I hope that my constituents get the chance to relax and celebrate over the festive period. It is also a time of year when we remember those who are no longer with us. We also remember our troops serving abroad and their loved ones. “2011 has also been a difficult year for many of my constituents. I have been working hard to help those facing the prospect of redundancy or benefit cuts. The Scottish Government is confronting…

HYSLOP WELCOMES BUSINESS LINKS WITH DECHMONT SCHOOL Fiona Hyslop has today (Monday, 19th Dec) visited Dechmont Infant School to highlight the work the school has done in connection with Energy Assets based at the Almondvale Business Park. The pupils were asked to design a picture about what energy meant to them, the first second and third place pictures are hanging in the school’s offices. The P2 pupil that won first prize was invited to the official opening of the company and was awarded with his certificate and prize by Fergus Ewing, MSP for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism. Commenting on the Day, Fiona Hyslop said, “This has been a fantastic project for the pupils at Dechmont Infant School and it’s great to see first-hand the results that came from the competition.…