Category: News

New figures have revealed that funding from the Scottish Government has reduced waiting lists in NHS Lothian which covers West Lothian. This improvement has been made possible due to increased Scottish Government investment in the health service, with an additional £30 million commitment to deliver 64,000 appointments and procedures by the end of March this year. Commenting Fiona said: “I am pleased to see this increase in funding from the Scottish Government which has led to a  9.8% decrease in general surgery waiting times across NHS Lothian between April and September 2024. “This was made possible because of a £30 million funding increase from the Scottish Government which has enabled NHS Lothian to exceed their appointment targets and reduce waiting times. “While I welcome these new figures, it is clear…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency Fiona Hyslop who was the Scottish Government Minister, who abolished tuition fees for students in Scotland, has called out Labour’s hypocrisy and makes clear that only the SNP will protect free tuition fees for students in West Lothian. Fiona said “Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar ,knowing that this is an incredibly popular SNP Government policy, is seeking to provide assurances that they wouldn’t reverse this policy if elected but this comes hard on the heels of Labour’s reversal of a number of policies when in power of Winter Fuel payment for pensioners and failure to support the WASPI women’s compensation.” She commented “It was the Labour Party which first introduced fees back in 1998, imposed back-door university tuition fees in Scotland which meant you…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the Scottish Government announcement that more than 100 organisations across Scotland who are working to tackle violence against women and girls will share in a funding uplift of £2.4 million. This funding boost will bring the total Scottish Government investment in Delivering Equally Safe, which funds projects to prevent violence and support survivors, up to £21.6 million for the year ahead subject to the 2025-26 Scottish Budget being approved. Commenting Fiona said: “Grassroots organisations across West Lothian are key in tackling violence against women and girls. Their work is essential and will help to create a country that is free from gender-based abuse. “Several organisations available to women across Scotland have received funding including Children First, Rape Crisis Scotland and…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s support for businesses across West Lothian following the news that 2,760 businesses in West Lothian do not need to pay any business rates as a result of SNP policies. Commenting Fiona said:       “Local businesses across West Lothian are crucial for providing goods, services and jobs to their community and the Scottish Government has recognised this by supporting small businesses, with 2,760 businesses in West Lothian with the Small Business Bonus which means they can save funding to invest in growing their businesses by not having to pay any business rates. “At a time when many businesses in my Constituency are struggling, I am pleased to see the Scottish Government provide this essential support. “Ensuring eligible businesses…

“I am deeply disappointed in West Lothian Council’s decision to close four early learning centres in my Constituency. Linlithgow Bridge Nursery Class, St Anthony’s Nursery Class, St Joseph’s Nursery Class and Bathgate West Nursery Class will all face closure this summer. “Parents across my Constituency have contacted me to share their concerns about these closures, which are taking place at a time when parents should be benefiting from flexibility and choice as the Scottish Government are funding 1140 hours of early learning and childcare, saving the average family £5000 per eligible child. “West Lothian Council have not listened to what parents told them in the original surveys about the provision of early learning facilities in the county, in previous consultations, and ignored parents in this latest closure consultation. “When these…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes the ScotRail announcement that there will be an expansion of its Flexipass product to include more routes across Scotland’s Railway. This expansion will benefit Bathgate residents, meaning that with a Flexipass ticket passengers will be able to make twelve journeys for the price of ten and are valid over a 60-day period. The Flexipass price per return from Bathgate to Edinburgh will be £8.32, and for Bathgate to Glasgow it will be £13.32. Commenting Fiona said: "I am glad to see that ScotRail have put the feedback they have received from their customers into action. The Flexipass tickets help people who travel the same route regularly via the train to save money, which has been a particular concern to my Constituents…

Local MSP visited Let’s Rock the Spectrum in Armadale on Friday 7th February to find out more about this wonderful resource for local families. Let’s Rock the Spectrum is a play space for 0–7-year-olds and also offers a variety of classes and venue hire. Commenting Fiona said: “Ensuring children are supported in the early stages of their life is so important, and Rachel and the team at Let’s Rock the Spectrum are providing an invaluable space in Armadale for children and their families to play and learn. “Let’s Rock the Spectrum have a large play space, dedicated area for babies, and an excellent sensory play area. “The Scottish Government are committed to supporting children and families and I am pleased to see the 2025/26 Scottish budget will include £471 million…

Local MSP for Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which shows that Scotland is set to see a decline in child poverty, but disappointed to see rates are set to rise across the rest of the UK. The report forecasts that child poverty in Scotland will fall from 23.7% to 21.8% by January 2029 as a result of Scottish Government policies such as the Scottish Child Payment and scrapping the two-child benefit cap. Commenting Fiona said: "I was pleased to see that child poverty rates in Scotland are set to drop as a result of progressive SNP policies, highlighted in the report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. "I welcome the recent figures from the report, confirming that Scottish Government policies such as the…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the announcement from Creative Scotland, which will see a record number of cultural organisations, including in West Lothian, receive stable, multi-year funding. This funding will be available thanks to a significant commitment from the Scottish Government in the upcoming 2025/26 Scottish Budget. Commenting Fiona said: “This Scottish Budget will see the largest ever funding commitment for Scotland’s cultural sector with over £200 million being provided to 251 organisations over the next three years. “The investment makes the Scottish Government’s commitment to the arts clear, reinforcing Scotland’s status as a global cultural leader, and also delivering economic benefits by supporting jobs, freelancers and creative workers across West Lothian. “In West Lothian we value our culture sector and I am pleased to…

“This Scottish Government Budget prioritises supporting families and children across West Lothian. The commitments made in this Budget make clear that the Scottish Government are committed to eradicating poverty in Scotland and are taking steps to achieve this. “This Scottish Budget will provide record levels of NHS funding, the universal Winter Fuel Payment for our pensioners, and take steps to replace benefits for 15,000 children keeping them out of poverty after the UK Government’s Two Child Cap limit. “This is a Budget that makes sense for people in my Constituency and across Scotland, investing an additional £2bn for the NHS and supporting families with the cost of living, and I am pleased to see that an agreement has been reached with the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Green Party to…