25Feb 2026 by admin

Fiona Hyslop Welcomes Scottish Government Housing Commitments

News, News in Lothian, Uncategorized
Fiona Hyslop Welcomes Scottish Government Housing Commitments Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s 2026-27 Scottish Budget which commits to invest £4.9 billion over the next four years to tackle the housing emergency. The 2025-26 Budget delivers £926 million allocated to the Affordable Housing Supply Programme - a £158 million boost as part of the 2026-27 Budget, compared to last year’s published budget. The budget settlement builds on commitments made in the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan and also includes at least a further £1.3 million invested through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to bring empty homes back into use. Fiona commented, “I am pleased to welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment today to invest £4.9 billion over the next four years to tackle…
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22Dec 2025 by admin

Christmas and New Year Message 2025

News in Lothian, Uncategorized
As Christmas approaches and 2025 draws to a close, we are given an opportunity to reflect on the year gone by and all we are thankful for. I wish to thank all the excellent organisations, charities and individuals I have met across West Lothian this year, like WASPI West Lothian Group, Children First in Bathgate, the Linlithgow Hub Repair Shop and the Fair Justice System for Scotland Group - all of whom spend their time working towards important causes and making a real difference to our communities. Of course, this is my last term as your local MSP, as I will be retiring in May 2026. I am very proud to have worked on a number of campaigns that have directly impacted local families and households in West Lothian. In…
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10Sep 2025 by admin

Fiona Hyslop Marks 20 Years of Scotland’s Railway Powers in Parliament

News in Lothian, Uncategorized
Fiona Hyslop Marks 20 Years of Scotland's Railway Powers in Parliament Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has led a debate in Parliament in her capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Transport which recognised 20 years since the executive powers over rail funding was devolved to Scotland. In her speech, Fiona highlighted the popular Bathgate to Airdrie Rail Link, completed and delivered by the SNP Government in December 2010. Commenting after the debate, Fiona said, "Scotland's railway supports vital connections between our cities, communities and businesses, and it showcases much of what Scotland has to offer. The railway is an integral part of our nation’s economy and wellbeing and since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested more than £12 billion in rail infrastructure. "I was pleased to highlight in…
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08Aug 2025 by admin

Local MSP Highlights Scottish Government Support for 1,060 Households in West Lothian

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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes new figures which reveal that 1,060 families in West Lothian will benefit from the Scottish Government’s decision to scrap the UK Government’s two-child cap, which currently limits support for children living in poverty to only 2 children per family By ending it on 2nd March 2026, the Scottish Government is ensuring that 20,000 fewer children will live in relative poverty next year. Commenting Fiona said: “The UK Government’s two-child cap which currently limits support for children living in poverty to only 2 children per family is now impacting 1,060 households across West Lothian. “First Minister, John Swinney, is clear that is one his key priorities is eradicating child poverty and the Scottish Government’s mitigation of this harmful policy is key to…
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23Jun 2025 by admin

Local MSP Highlights Positive Destinations for West Lothian School Leavers

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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has highlighted new figures showing that 91.6% of West Lothian school leavers went on to further education, training or employment in 2023-24. The latest Summary Statistics for Follow-Up Leaver Destinations revealed that 91.1% of school leavers in West Lothian reached a positive destination within nine months of leaving school in 2023-24. Commenting Fiona said: “I was pleased to see that of 2,201 school leavers across West Lothian, 91.6% were able to go into positive destinations, including higher education, training, and employment in 2023-24. “These figures are a true testament to the commitment and dedication of teachers, parents and young people across West Lothian. “So many of our young people are able to follow their ambition as they leave school, whether it is…
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09Jun 2025 by admin

Local MSP Celebrates Women in Rail

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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency attends the Women in Rail Scotland event marking 200 years of the modern railway and the 20th anniversary of Women in Transport. In her role as Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona gave the keynote speech at the Women in Rail Scotland – Inspiring Leadership event held in the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Thursday 5th June. Commenting Fiona said: “I was pleased to attend and give the keynote speech at the Women in Rail Scotland – Inspiring Leadership Event. “With two major train lines running through my Constituency, many of my Constituents work in this sector and I was pleased to have this opportunity to celebrate the women within the Scottish Transport Sector. “At this event we also heard a panel discussion featuring…
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11Feb 2025 by admin

Press comment from Fiona Hyslop MSP following West Lothian Council Nursery Closure Announcement:

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“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…
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19Dec 2024 by admin

Press comment from Fiona Hyslop MSP on Scottish Government’s 8.2% uplift to West Lothian Council’s Budget

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West Lothian is set to receive one of biggest increases in Council budget from the Scottish Government and is expected to receive an 8.2% increase if the Scottish budget is passed. Provisional allocations give West Lothian an above average increase of 8.2% compared to the total increase to all Councils being 6.5%. This is one of the highest increases in Scotland. Fiona Hyslop local Linlithgow Constituency MSP commented: “I welcome the proposal to provide an 8.2% increase in the budget allocation from the Scottish Government to West Lothian Council. This makes West Lothian’s increase budget allocation one of the highest in the country and is a strong investment in local public services by the Scottish Government, but it will need MSPs of other political parties to secure it by voting…
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14Oct 2024 by admin

Local MSP Wears it Pink for Breast Cancer Now Campaign

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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has taken part in Breast Cancer Now’s Wear it Pink Campaign to highlight awareness for vital breast cancer research and support. The official Wear it Pink Day is on Friday 18th October. Commenting Fiona said: “Around 4,770 women are diagnosed each year in Scotland with breast cancer. We will all have a family member or friend whose life has been touched by this disease and this is why I am always pleased to support the important work of the Breast Cancer Now Charity. “In 2020-23, 73.9% of women attended breast screening when invited by NHS Lothian, however, the Scotland average for that period sits at 75.9%. “I would encourage women across West Lothian, and Scotland, to attend breast screening when invited as…
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14Oct 2024 by admin

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, highlights PFI ‘buy back’ expense for Tippethill in West Lothian.

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Tippethill House Hospital has been operating as one of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts with ‘buy back’ clauses established by the previous UK Labour Government when Tony Blair was Prime Minister. The controversial financing option meant the upfront cost of building public buildings such as schools and hospitals was covered by the private sector in return for repayments which were to cover the cost of building and maintaining the sites. However, at the end of the repayment period some buildings such as Tippethill still required the public purse to buy them back if the operators in this case NHS Lothian/ West Lothian Council through the West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership wanted to own them outright. Commenting Fiona said: “Tippethill House Hospital in Armadale, in my Constituency, is operated…
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