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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,…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, congratulates volunteers across West Lothian to mark Volunteers Week 2022. Volunteers Week takes places from 1-7 June every year and is a chance to thank and celebrate volunteers both past and present. Volunteer Week Scotland is run by Volunteer Scotland who work with volunteers and organisations to support; inclusive volunteering, recognition and celebration of volunteers, community development, policy impact and lifelong engagement. Commenting on Volunteers Week Fiona said; “I want to take this opportunity say thank you to all the volunteers from every sector and in every town across West Lothian. “I have been privileged to meet many volunteers in my Constituency who I know are the beating heart of their communities due to their hard work and dedication which has helped…

During the Scottish Government Debate - Community Wealth Building – Delivering Transformation in Scotland’s Local and Regional Economies – local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, delivered a speech highlighting the importance of community wealth building as part of the wellbeing economy. Fiona made it clear that community wealth building is a crucial part of developing a new economic growth model of wellbeing as it embraces the strength, ingenuity, enterprise and creativity of local people. In her speech Fiona recognised that the Community Wealth Building model involves collaboration between local authorities and their community planning partners to ensure that their collective investment decisions will help local economies grow and flourish. Commenting after the debate, Fiona said; “I was pleased to speak in this important debate, the first held on…

WLHSCP Agrees Winchburgh is a ‘Priority area’ for Additional Health Services Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the news that West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership recognises that additional health care facilities in Winchburgh will be necessary to meet the needs of the growing population. This news comes following a meeting Fiona had with the WLHSCP and NHS Lothian at the end of January and after Fiona wrote to the Chief Executive of NHS Lothian to highlight her concerns that West Lothian Council had reneged on their commitment to building a new Partnership Centre which would house such health services, alongside other Council services. Fiona is calling again for West Lothian Council to re-commit their support to building a Partnership Centre that includes these vital…

During the Scottish Government Debate – ‘Solidarity with Ukraine’ – local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop delivered a hard-hitting speech focusing on the impact on the people of Ukraine, the need for a massive international response, economic sanctions and humanitarian aid. Fiona made clear that UK’s democracy has been and is at risk by the UK’s on-going relationship with Russia and Russian money, and that the invasion of Ukraine is a breach of international law which must be condemned. The debate showed that the Scottish Parliament stand firmly and in unity with Ukrainians and supports Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and democracy as Russia invades. Fiona’s Full Speech: This morning’s news of the invasion of Ukraine brings fear to generations who only know of war in Europe as history,…

Trading Standards organisations in Scotland enforce consumer protection legislation, but the service has struggled in recent years due to a decrease in staff coupled with an increase in demand for their services due to the impacts of Brexit and Covid. Local Authority funding for Trading Standards services from the UK Government fell from £34.7 million in 2010/11 to £32.8 million in 2020/21 and the service has seen a 32% drop in staffing levels over the last nine years. Trading Standards Scotland is funded directly by the UK Government while COSLA has responsibility for Local Authority Trading Standards services. Ms Hyslop, who has been campaigning on this issue, has raised the need for increased funding and support from the UK Government for Trading Standards Scotland in a recent letter to the…

During Portfolio Questions on Covid Recovery to the Scottish Government, Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has raised the importance of maintaining certain measures put in place as a result of the Pandemic, such as digital transactions like registration of births and deaths, in order to allow improvements as part of the Covid recovery strategy. Fiona also asked how the proposed Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill will provide resilience and readiness for future variants or future pandemics. Fiona said, “Will the cabinet secretary confirm that, as every part of society and the economy has had to transform rapidly in the light of Covid, some measures—such as those on new digital legal transactions—may need a permanent statutory footing that will enable such widely welcomed improvements to be maintained…

Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow Constituency, welcomes the passing of the Stage 1 of the Budget the additional £120m announced during the debate for Local Government by Cabinet Secretary Kate Forces. On the 27th of January, during a Stage 1 debate on the Budget (Scotland) Bill, Fiona delivered a speech in Parliament highlighting the restraints on the Budget due to the context in which it is being set, and the need for Scotland to have independence to allow Scotland to have the borrowing powers and stability required to invest further in policies that reflect the values of the Scottish people. The Scottish Budget 2022-23 is a bold and ambitious package of public investment that will provide taxpayers with stability and support, tackle inequalities, invest in the economy and public services,…

Fiona Hyslop, MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, welcomes the news that more mental health and wellbeing services will be provided within GP Surgeries and community settings, backed by significant investment of up to £40 million per year. Patients who need mental health support will find a range of professionals available through their doctor’s surgery, rather than having to rely solely on their GP or a referral elsewhere. These could include mental health nurses, psychologists, peer support workers, occupational therapists, and link workers. Fiona commented: “Access to mental health services is so important, and I am pleased that the SNP Government are increasing investment to make services more readily available to those who need these services. “By having more services in GP Surgeries and community settings, this should ease pressure on mental…