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Local MSP, for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomed the payments which Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison highlighted during a debate on the commitments in the SNP Scottish Government’s Programme for Government which aim to create a fairer society. Low income families in West Lothian will benefit from a £320 uplift before Christmas as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty. Families eligible will receive payments of £160 per child in October and again in December. Two Bridging Payments of £100 have already been made which takes the total to £520 this year. The cash is equivalent to the Scottish Child Payment - a £10-a-week benefit to assist with the costs of caring for a child aged under six years old. The Scottish Government will extend the…

Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has secured a commitment in writing from the Scottish Business Secretary Ivan McKee to keep in close contact with Valenva as the situation at the Livingston based plant continues. Fiona commented, “I am pleased that having raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament last week, requesting that Business Minister Ivan Mckee meet Valneva to discuss world markets for the company, that he has now done so. “In Mr McKee’s letter he informed me that a meeting took place on September 15th and that he and Scottish Enterprise will keep in close contact with Valneva. He also agreed that the inaccurate comments from the UK Government have been particularly damaging to the company and highlighted that the MHRA clinical trials are yet to be concluded.…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government and Sports Scotland that West Lothian Cycle Circuit in Linlithgow will receive £636,011 funding to develop an accessible and inclusive 1KM cycle loop.   The West Lothian Cycle Circuit will be a world class facility for the whole community giving everyone in Linlithgow and beyond the access to a safe, traffic free cycling facility. The circuit will include a 1km, tarmac traffic-free circuit which will be floodlit for all year use and made up of 4 loops that are fenced in. It will be available for individual drop in sessions, club use and organised activities. Fiona who was instrumental as a Government Minister in securing the first ever UCI World Cycle Championships in Scotland…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, asked the Scottish Government in Parliamentary Portfolio Questions this week, what information and resources schools will provide to engage pupils with the issues that will be discussed at COP26. Fiona also highlighted the West Lothian founded Scottish Youth Film Foundation’s COP TV Programme which will feature films and interviews created by young people from all over Scotland during COP26 and will be broadcast to schools in the USA. Fiona said, “The Scottish Film Foundation, which originated in my constituency, has bold and ambitious plans for their young people during COP26. Quite rightly, our young people want to be involved in the conversation around climate change and ask the questions they want answered. “As part of COP TV the Scottish young people involved…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has raised the issue of Valneva contracts with the Scottish Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf and the First Minister during Covid 19 Update and Questions in the Scottish Parliament this week and secured confirmation that the Scottish Government’s Business Minister, Ivan McKee, will meet the company. French vaccine maker Valneva, who have a site based in West Lothian, has said the UK Government has suddenly scrapped a deal for its Covid-19 vaccine. Fiona commented, “The circumstances of the UK Government’s decision requires greater transparency and their apparent lack of engagement with the company is of concern. “Valneva are an important employer in the key Life Sciences sector in Scotland I am pleased that in response to my questions in the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the announcement of £42m funding to support bus operators in maintaining their services. The funding will be made available between October 4th 2021 and March 31st 2022. The announcement was made by Graeme Dey, Minister for Transport in response to a question Fiona Hyslop MSP had asked of the Scottish Government. Fiona said: “While hygiene measures on public transport are still needed, more and more people are using the bus as restrictions have eased. This funding extension of an additional £42m for bus companies across Scotland will go some way to support bus operators to ensure they can transport local people to where they need to go. I know this will be appreciated in West Lothian which has many towns…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the announcement of £42m funding to support bus operators in maintaining their services. The funding will be made available between October 4th 2021 and March 31st 2022. The announcement was made by Graeme Dey, Minister for Transport in response to a question Fiona Hyslop MSP had asked of the Scottish Government. Fiona said: “While hygiene measures on public transport are still needed, more and more people are using the bus as restrictions have eased. This funding extension of an additional £42m for bus companies across Scotland will go some way to support bus operators to ensure they can transport local people to where they need to go. I know this will be appreciated in West Lothian which has many towns…

During the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government Debate on the 8th of September, local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, spoke about the importance of a green economic recovery and called for all parties to come together to face the pressures of Covid recovery and the drive to net zero. Fiona also stressed the importance of a just transition to green energy and highlighted that her constituency of Linlithgow has experienced several industrial transitions which have not always been positive. Fiona called on the Parliament to learn lessons from previous transitions which have occurred in West Lothian to help shape a fairer future. Speaking in the debating chamber on Wednesday (Sept 8th) Fiona said; “This Programme for Government is ambitious, and it is bold and is based on a very full…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes announcement that 3,880 families in West Lothian have benefitted from the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment, with £632,010 paid out to families in the area. The most recent Scottish Government figures demonstrate how many families in West Lothian have benefitted from the support since its introduction in February to 30th June 2021. So far, across Scotland 108,000 children have benefitted from the payment which provides eligible families with £10-a-week. Fiona commented: “Tackling child poverty is a national mission for the SNP Government, and I am pleased to hear that 3,880 families in West Lothian are being supported. “The Scottish Child Payment has been described by charities as game-changing and we are seeing that difference across Scotland and it is fantastic…