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Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop, has visited the site for the new West Lothian Cycle Circuit at Kettle’stoun Mains in Linlithgow. Fiona met former Chair of the Linlithgow Development Trust, Fraser Falconer, the Trust’s current Chair, Carole Racionzer and Trustee Matthew Ball for a walk round the now tarmacked 1km track that will become West Lothian’s Cycle Circuit. Fiona commented, “It was very exciting to visit the West Lothian Cycle Circuit site in Linlithgow to see how works are progressing on the 1km long circuit, ahead of their official opening. “The sheer size of the track with 4 loops is very impressive with and will be suitable for beginners and professionals alike. The Trust are planning to have slots allocated to local cycling groups, to families and first-time…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has welcomed new measures to ensure that teacher and pupil support staff numbers as well as school hours are protected, as announced in Parliament today (Tues 7th Feb) by Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville. Since 2017/18 local authorities have received funding to protect the pupil-teacher ratio, teacher numbers and to provide places for all probationers who need one. Additional annual funding of £145.5 million is also being provided to maintain increased teacher numbers and support staff in the year ahead (2023/24). If this is not delivered by a local authority, the Scottish Government will withhold or recoup funding allocated for these purposes. Fiona commented, “I welcome the statement to Parliament today from the Education Secretary which outline the Scottish Government’s commitment to closing the…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has written to West Lothian Council following the release of Scottish Government figures showing a decline in teacher numbers across Scotland in 2022. Although West Lothian’s numbers have increased, the Local Authority were expected to have recruited far more from their £5.526m share of Scottish Government Funding of £145m nationally for this purpose. Despite local Councils receiving an additional £145m in financial year 2022/23 from the Scottish Government to employ additional teachers as part of the recovery there has been a reduction of 92 Full Time Equivalent teachers employed across Scotland. Fiona commented, “Figures show that teacher numbers in West Lothian have only increased by 29 full time equivalents in 2022, which is concerning  as West Lothian Council received over £5m funding…

Fiona Hyslop, Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency and Deputy Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, has commented on the Committee’s Major Report released this week into the role of Local Government and its Partners in Delivering a Net Zero Scotland. The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee launched this Inquiry in November 2021, just after the close of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change ("COP26") in Glasgow. At COP26, world leaders also agreed that there was a need for local solutions to a global crisis. The year long Inquiry highlighted the importance of an empowered Local Government Sector if it is to reach Net Zero by 2045.  Fiona commented, “It is clear that Councils will be crucial to Scotland delivering our Climate Change…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the impact of the Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme which has benefited 6,392 in the South of Scotland region, which covers West Lothian, since it was launched in 2015. The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme provides a step-by-step service to identify where energy efficiency improvements can be made in the home and arranges for this work to be carried out. The scheme offers new central heating systems, including renewable heating technologies such as air source heat pumps, in all property types and in all regions of Scotland. In the last year, 99% of Warmer Homes Scotland customers said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the work carried out in their homes. Commenting, Fiona said: “I’m pleased that the Warmer Homes Scotland…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, visits the Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve near Blackridge. Blawhorn Moss is one of the best examples of a lowland raised bog in Scotland. The Reserve is in the hills behind Blackridge and is a rare example of raised and blanket bogs, containing over 8,000 years of history within the layers of the Bog. Commenting Fiona said: ‘I was pleased to accept an invitation to visit Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve from Nature Scot who manage what is the only National Nature Reserve in the Central Belt. As the Nature Champion for Scotland’s extraordinary blanket bogs I take a keen interest in our peatlands which cover 20% of Scotland. ‘This site near Blackridge in my Constituency is extremely important as active peatland…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, highlighted the continuing adverse impact of Brexit on Scotland’s key economic sectors, in the Scottish Parliament.   Fiona raised the growing issues faced by Scottish exporters in trading with countries in the EU with the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Ivan McKee MSP, during Finance and Economy Portfolio Questions on 18th January. Fiona highlighted the severe and continuing impacts of Brexit.  According to research by Aston University, in the first 15 months that followed the Brexit deal, UK exports to the EU fell by an average of 22.9%, while figures from HMRC in November showed that exports had dropped 13% in the past two years from £16.7bn to £14.5bn. The £2.2bn loss is equivalent to £74.5 million in West Lothian alone.   Fiona commented:   “The adverse economic…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has hosted a reception in Parliament marking the story and journey of the Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF). SYFF are a dynamic young charity bringing new project-based learning to traditional education in an effort to close attainment gaps and strengthen the growing Scottish film industry. Their mission is to improve the lives of young people through film and they do this in three ways: through an annual Festival, their 8th annual Scottish Youth Film Festival took place at The Bridge in Dumfries on the 22nd and 23rd October 2022; through film education in schools; and through outreach film projects that target young people who would not normally have an opportunity to make a film. Fiona attended their inaugural Film Festival Awards Ceremony in…

Fiona spoke in a Scottish Parliament Member’s Business Debate brought to the Chamber by Stephanie Callaghan MSP, titled Circular Fashion: Looping the Thread on Thursday 12th January. During the debate Fiona highlighted the opportunities for businesses and consumers across Scotland as the Circular Fashion industry in Scotland continues to grow. Commenting after the debate, Fiona said: “An alarming 32% of Scotland’s carbon impact comes from textile waste so it is clear that this is an issue which must be addressed if Scotland is to reach our goal to be Net Zero by 2045. “Fast Fashion which is the selling of cheaper products, often produced globally and then purchased over the internet with excessive returns using many carbon miles, not only contributes to Carbon waste but also leads to high water…