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Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, and Local MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, Martyn Day, have praised the invaluable role of volunteers during a visit to British Heart Foundation Scotland’s shop in Bathgate – seeing first-hand how their efforts help raise vital funds for the charity’s lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases.  The visit took place after Volunteers’ Week, marking the annual contribution of volunteers up and down the country. In Scotland, around 14,000 volunteers regularly give up their time to help the British Heart Foundation in its 75 Scottish shops.   During the visit, Fiona and Martyn heard more about the role of volunteers taking in donations from the local community and the incredible benefits of shopping preloved, preventing good quality items from going to landfill, creating a sustainable, circular economy and saving money, while also funding…

Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, hosted an event on Wednesday 22nd June in Parliament to highlight the work of Warmworks, the managing agent of the Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme. Warmworks helps with funding and support to households across Scotland, including in West Lothian, who are struggling to stay warm and keep on top of energy bills. Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme which has supported hundreds of people in West Lothian since its launch in 2015, with each of the homes saving an average of £265 on their energy bills. Speaking after the event in Parliament, Fiona said, “I was very pleased to host an event in Parliament to highlight Warmworks Scotland who are the managing agent of the Scottish Government’s Warmer Homes Scotland…

Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has raised the need for early identification of neurodiverse children and young people and the introduction of adaptations in schools to the Scottish Government. During Education Portfolio Questions at the Scottish Parliament, Fiona asked the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville, for more insight into the progress of Scottish Government’s actions on this matter, as set out in the Autism in Schools Action Plan.    Fiona also recently visited the Donaldson Trust– the leading charity in Scotland for neurodiversity, which is based in Linlithgow in Fiona’s Constituency – to hear more about the charity’s work, and what can be done to support neurodiverse young people.   Fiona commented,    “Early identification can make a world of difference to neurodiverse children and young people, allowing them…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, warned of the damaging approach the UK Government is taking to industrial action as strikes continue across the UK. Fiona raised this issue with the First Minister during First Ministers Questions on Thursday 23/06 highlighting the recent comment from an RMT representative who said; “perhaps the UK Government should take a feather out of the Scottish Government’s hat and actually propose a 5% pay deal along with a five-year non-compulsory redundancy agreement.” In her response the First Minister called for the UK Government to end its anti-trade union rhetoric and respect workers across the economy. She also reiterated the need to seek fair resolutions to disputes which is particularly important as we continue to deal with rising inflation which has been exacerbated…

Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, is encouraging local groups to apply for the latest round of Cashback for Communities Funding. Cashback for Communities supports the Scottish Government’s Vision for Justice, helping to build a just, safe and resilient Scotland. The fund focuses on young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system and the communities most affected by crime. Community projects are set to receive up to £20 million over the next three years to continue supporting young people and communities most affected by crime. Since the programme began in 2008, Cashback for Communities has taken funds recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act and provided crucial support to around 1.3 million young people across all local authorities. Fiona said, “I am pleased to see that another round…

Local MSP Fiona Hyslop praises the Men’s Shed movement and Armadale Men’s Shed and the prospect of a Linlithgow Men’s Shed Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has praised the work of the Armadale Shed and the Men’s Shed movement following a Scottish Parliament Debate on Men Don’t Talk: Men's Sheds which was led by Christine Grahame MSP on Thursday 16th June 2022. Fiona also has added her encouragement to the establishment of a Men’s Shed in Linlithgow which is currently being explored. Armadale Men’s Shed is well established and is a recognised pillar of the local Armadale community providing a welcoming place for men to meet to talk and to share and deploy their skills in wood working, metal working and other skills and to teach others. Women also…

Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the passing of the Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill, following a Stage 3 debate in the Scottish Parliament on 16th June 2022.   The Bill seeks to provide pardons to certain individuals who were convicted of certain offences committed during the 1984-85 national miners’ strike. The pardon will apply automatically when the requirements of the pardon are met, and the intention is to provide a collective symbolic pardon which recognises the disproportionate consequences faced by miners following their participation in the strike.  Legislators have recognised that many former miners potentially eligible for the pardon are now elderly or have regrettably died given the passage in time since the strike. As such, the Bill has been developed within an accelerated timescale to enable early…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency Fiona Hyslop highlights Scams Awareness Fortnight which runs from Monday 13th June to Sunday June 26th. According to figures from Citizens Advice and the Consumer Protection Partnership around 40 million adults in the UK have been targeted by potential scams. Scammers have targeted people by email, as well as other methods of communication, claiming to be from the energy regulator Ofgem and have been asking individuals to enter their bank details in order to get an energy rebate. The numbers from Citizens Advice and the Consumer Protection Partnership show that this is a 14% increase in the number of people who have been targeted by scammers this year. Fiona said; “I am pleased to highlight Scams Awareness Fortnight as we see an alarming increase…

Local MSP For the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the publication of the first in a series of documents from the Scottish Government, which shows how Scotland in the UK compares to other similar-sized independent European nations on key comparators. Fiona commented, “A decade of Tory austerity coupled with a Brexit that Scotland didn’t vote for has made us poorer. As the cost of living crisis deepens for people across West Lothian, it’s right that the Scottish government lays bare the cost of living with Westminster in this series of papers. “They outline how other comparable nations are wealthier, happier and fairer than Scotland currently is under Westminster control. “We have the ambition, the talent and the mandate to create a better future. Scotland needs the powers that only…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has raised the Cost of Living Crisis in Parliament highlighting the impact on Scotland’s Social Security, particularly in relation to child poverty. Fiona asked the Minister for Social Security and Local Government, Ben MacPherson MSP, about the implications of the Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review in relation to its planned programme of social security benefits. Fiona highlighted that the cost of living crisis will hit families the hardest and that tackling child poverty must be the main focus of all Governments. The Minister highlighted the Scottish Government’s investment of over £4.2 billion in benefit expenditure in 2022/23. This package of support will provide assistance to over one million people in Scotland including; low income families and households, disabled people and carers. Additionally,…