| Am Paipear article January 2010 |
| 22/02/2010 | |
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Bliadhna Mhath Ùr! Although even the Old New Year will have passed when this is printed, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and best wishes for the months to come.
Winter problems In January people will be well aware of the exceptional and extreme weather suffered by many parts of Scotland, including the islands. It is worth recording thanks for the Comhairle staff and contractors who worked for so long in such conditions to keep island roads clear.
The winter also led to problems for hauliers, who needed to secure a temporary exemption from European drivers’ rules to allow them to get crucial deliveries of de-icer to airports across the Highlands and Islands, including Benbecula.
I am delighted that pressure from my SNP colleagues in Westminster managed to secure a commitment from the Department of Transport to relax EU drivers’ hours and working-time rules for those hauliers involved in the distribution of de-icer products direct to airports across Scotland.
Meanwhile the winter has presented exceptional problems for many householders, not least pensioners, whose cold weather payments were not triggered in the Islands because, in the UK Government’s view it was "not cold enough"! If we didn’t qualify this year, you have to wonder if we ever will. it’s time that the system for these payments recognised that wind-chill is a reality, even in the areas that don’t record the most degrees of frost.
Parliamentary committee to visit Uist crofters
At the time of writing, I am making plans to accompany the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment on a visit to Uist on an evidence-gathering trip regarding the Crofting Reform Bill. I will then be heading to the crofting conference in Stornoway, where Crofting Minister Roseanna Cunningham will be speaking.
The reason for this political focus on crofting is, of course, because the Crofting reform Bill has now finally begun its course through Parliament. While it is still very much a work in progress, it is already dramatically changed from the draft bill, which had been based on the previous Scottish Executive’s Shucksmith Enquiry, and which caused such justifiable anxiety among crofters some months ago. I believe we now have the makings of a much better piece of legislation, and the presence of the Committee in Uist is an indication of the ongoing opportunity crofters have to shape this Bill. Tackling alcohol abuse There are some issues that you would like to hope might cross political divisions. Like the argument that we should not, in some shops in Scotland, be selling alcohol for less than bottled water. That is the view of the police, the medical professions, the churches, the licensed trade and pretty much everyone I have ever spoken to. Yes, most of us enjoy a few sociable drinks regularly, but for some people – many of them young people- alcohol is a serious problem. The Western Isles – and we have to confront this fact- has twice the UK average for alcohol-related deaths. So I have to say I am baffled that anyone in Parliament would oppose the present legislative proposals for minimum pricing. Minimum prices would not affect most responsible drinkers at all, but they would stop white cider being sold at pocket money prices. Some people at Holyrood are opposing such change. All I can say is that if they had come up with this good idea themselves, I would have hoped I would have been broad minded enough to support them in it. It’s time to have this debate rationally – and time for minimum pricing. |
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