Colin Beattie: In my constituency of Midlothian North and Musselburgh, there have been incidents in which, for newly established recycling businesses, adequate monitoring has not been put in place over a lengthy period because of timing conflicts between planning conditions and Scottish Environment Protection Agency licensing. Does the cabinet secretary agree that planning legislation needs to be updated to...
Colin Beattie: My constituency, Midlothian North and Musselburgh, has suffered disproportionately as a result of the decision by First to cut the number of routes that it runs. I deplore that decision, because communities that are already considered deprived areas will now suffer from additional disadvantages due to the lack of a bus service. People will have difficulty reaching hospitals, whether as...
Colin Beattie: I said that the cut in funding is an element in the decision; it is certainly not the major element. In the case of First, the support amounts to barely 1.9 per cent of turnover. First withdrew its services because it was not making enough money. The reasons that it gave are principally fuel prices and competition over some years. I would contend that the reason why it was not making enough...
Colin Beattie: 1. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote culture and creativity abroad in the year of creative Scotland. (S4O-00889)
Colin Beattie: To what extent do existing British diplomatic and educational facilities overseas support and promote Scottish culture, especially the events of Scotland week? Does the cabinet secretary agree that the promotion of Scottish creativity and culture abroad is best handled by the Scottish Government and that current UK Government outlets may not be the most cost-effective and efficient means of...
Colin Beattie: 8. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government on welfare reform and what impact this will have on people in Scotland. (S4O-00916)
Colin Beattie: In my constituency of Midlothian North and Musselburgh, around 8,000 residents who are already on low incomes will be adversely impacted as a result of the imposition of Westminster’s welfare reform. An estimated £9 million will be lost to the local economy, threatening the viability of some local businesses. The matter is reserved and Westminster cuts constrain what can be done. Will the...
Colin Beattie: 1. To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to encourage the establishment of farmers co-operatives to promote local produce. (S4O-00989)
Colin Beattie: I have an example in which meals on wheels are flown frozen from Wiltshire to Glasgow and then trucked a further 120 miles via a Scottish depot to my constituency of Midlothian North and Musselburgh. Does the cabinet secretary agree that that is patently absurd and that encouraging local produce through local purchasing makes good sense?
Colin Beattie: When one hears the words “welfare” and “reform”, the assumption is normally made that something positive is intended, such as new measures to improve opportunities for our more socially deprived communities or radical new thoughts on how to tackle some of our more intransigent social problems. Alas, in the case of the UK coalition Government’s Welfare Reform Act 2012, there was no...
Colin Beattie: The member is absolutely correct. There are many examples of councils contracting to private landlords at a far higher price simply in order to find housing for homeless people. In Midlothian, the major part of which forms part of my constituency, there are around 4,500 people on waiting lists for houses. Of those, 40 per cent, or 1,800 people, are single people of all ages. There is...
Colin Beattie: Where the Westminster act falls short is in allowing for the needs of individuals. Newspapers talk a lot about people being paid thousands of pounds in benefits, but they are talking about a tiny number of people. The vast majority of payments are well within limits that are being laid down at the moment. The likelihood of individuals falling into serious debt—perhaps with loan sharks—and...
Colin Beattie: I cannot exaggerate the potential consequences or the negative social impact of Westminster’s recklessness. I believe that the bill will help to ameliorate the outcomes and uphold the principles of social justice.
Colin Beattie: 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation regulating the use of air rifles. (S4O-01032)
Colin Beattie: With frequent reports of attacks on members of the emergency services such as fire brigade and ambulance staff, among others, does the minister agree that there is a need to control better who can possess those potentially lethal weapons and to introduce some form of licensing without delay and as soon as the intended devolution of the power to do so makes that possible?
Colin Beattie: I welcome the cabinet secretary’s statement and commend the Scottish fuel poverty forum for its report. Fuel poverty is a significant issue in my constituency, where there is at least one death each year from hypothermia. A major contributory component is the failure of many people on low incomes, particularly pensioners, to claim the benefits to which they are entitled. Although those...
Colin Beattie: 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reassess the effectiveness of acceptable behaviour contracts. (S4O-01092)
Colin Beattie: My first-hand experience, as a councillor and then as an MSP, seems to indicate that there is a small but significant and disruptive hard core who have little regard for ABCs or, indeed, antisocial behaviour orders. Will the minister consider a review to determine how we can strengthen the ability of local councils and the police to deal more swiftly and effectively with extreme antisocial...
Colin Beattie: 4. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to redevelop the Sheriffhall roundabout and achieve grade separation. (S4O-01122)
Colin Beattie: Sheriffhall roundabout continues to be a congestion nightmare for my constituents and those travelling to my constituency. It also remains a safety hazard for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Does the cabinet secretary agree that some form of grade separation is urgently needed as part of a solution to the problem? Does he agree that in order to resolve the chronic congestion, urgent action...