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  Hyslop Welcomes Lottery Fund’s Spark a Change Campaign Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the launch of a new National Lottery fund to help young people Spark a Change in their lives to mark the Scottish Government’s Year of Young People. The new fund called the Year of Young People National Lottery Fund will offer between £3,000 and £10,000 to heritage, community and sports projects that are run for and by young people aged 8 to 26. The deadlines for applications fall on April 30th 2018 and June 18th 2018. Fiona commented: “Young people across West Lothian can Spark a Change in their lives thanks to the new Year of Young People National Lottery Fund. This funding during our Year of Young People is welcome news…

Winchburgh Winner Local MSP Fiona Hyslop presented the Scottish Teen Book Prize for the 2018 Book Trailer Competition to Ciara Wilkie, of Winchburgh, at the Scottish Book Trust’s Award Ceremony for Children and Teenager’s Books on 6th March. Fiona said: “I was delighted to present Ciara with her award for winning this year’s Book Trailer Competition. Ciara wrote, filmed and edited her trailer for Elizabeth Laird’s Welcome to Nowhere, and the panel praised her highly for all aspects of her work. Ciara is from Winchburgh in my constituency and I am always pleased to see the success and talent of young people from West Lothian.” ENDS Notes Ciara’s trailer is featured on the Scottish Book Trust website: www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/teachers-librarians/the-scottish-teenage-book-prize/competition-winners-2018    

Hyslop Marks Abolition of University Tuition Fees 10 years on and 270,000 students benefit  Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the news that 270,000 graduates have benefitted from free tuition fees since she scrapped the Graduate Endowment Fee as Education Secretary in 2008. Commenting Fiona said; “As the Government Minister who abolished this unfair tax on education, I am delighted that 270,000 graduates across the country have benefitted from not paying the graduate endowment fee. “Over the last decade in my role as Linlithgow Constituency MSP, I have spoken with a number of families and students across West Lothian who were very pleased to not have to pay the back-end tuition fee of £2,300 in order to graduate. “This is very welcome news and I would pass on my…

Hyslop welcomes funding boost for Linlithgow charity Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed £6000 in grants funded by the Corra Foundation for Eczema Outreach Scotland based in Linlithgow. Eczema Outreach Scotland has been awarded a grant of £6,000 Towards the salary of a Commenting, Fiona said; “I’m delighted to hear that Eczema Outreach Scotland has been awarded this funding. With £6,000 going towards a part-time Family Support Worker, Eczema Outreach Scotland will be able to reach even further with the good work they do offering one to one health care and support to families. “I have written to them to congratulate them on their funding and hope to visit them in Linlithgow soon to hear more about their work.” ENDS Notes to Editors Each year, the foundation distributes just…

Hyslop Welcomes £10m Budget Boost for Local Services Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the recently passed (Wed 21st Feb) Scottish Budget which announced more cash for local services. West Lothian Council is set to receive a significant funding boost as a result of this year’s SNP Scottish Government budget – with local services across the region benefiting from an extra £9.99million. Commenting, Fiona Said; “This extra funding for West Lothian Council – an additional £9.99 million for the coming year – is a great settlement for our communities and a welcome investment. “This takes the total resource budget for our council’s services – such as schools, roads and housing – to £316.739m for the coming year, an increase of over 3% when compared with last year. “Considered together…

Hyslop Echoes the Importance of 24/7 Children’s Services at St John’s Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has reiterated the importance of 24/7 Children’s Services at St John’s Hospital – as recommended by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Children’s Health – following a debate in parliament on Wednesday 21st February. “I have always maintained the importance of fulfilling the recommendations of the RCPCH Report which called for children’s services to be open 24/7 when it is safe to do so and I have met with recently with the Health Secretary and the Chief Executive of NHS Lothian to impress this. “Last night’s (Wed 21st February) debate in Parliament allowed for backbench MSPs to raise their concerns about the evening closures and I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary for Health…

  Hyslop Welcomes Historic Visitor Sites Access for Year of Young People Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the news from National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and the Historic Houses Association that they have launched a reduced £1 entry fee initiative to access places like Hopetoun House or Linlithgow Palace as part of the Year of Young People 2018. Fiona said; “This fantastic initiative will allow all YoungScot card holders to access over 30 Historic Scotland Visitor Attractions like Linlithgow Palace or Hopetoun House and others further afield like Edinburgh or Stirling Castle for just one pound. “We have a rich heritage in Scotland and there is much to learn about our local history. Our young people want to engage and visit our sites and this entry…

Hyslop Joins Campaign to Promote Safer Internet Day West Lothian Primary Schools to be Removed from Stranger Snapchat Search Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has joined the campaign to boost internet safety for young people – after pressure from SNP MSPs Kevin Stewart and Gillian Martin led to Snapchat removing primary schools from their search function. Marking Safer Internet Day, Fiona backed this action and called on Snapchat to go further and also remove secondary schools from its search tool – which allows strangers to find and watch videos from these locations. Fiona is also encouraging pupils in West Lothian to take part in a nationwide film competition that aims to raise awareness of the dangers related to sending nude photos online. Fiona commented; “I appreciate the efforts made by…

Hyslop Welcomes Women’s Initiatives on 100th Anniversary of Votes for Women Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed projects to encourage greater representation of women in political roles at all levels of Scottish society. The initiatives are to be backed by a new £500,000 fund and have been announced on the 100th anniversary of women securing the right to vote. Fiona commented; “This announcement comes on a very important date and I am delighted to support the measures that will see grants provided for grassroots and local projects across the country to empower more women into politics. “There have only ever been four female MPs and MSPs in West Lothian. Myself and Labour MSP Mary Mulligan for the Linlithgow Constituency, Scottish Government Minister Angela Constance MSP for Almond Valley and…

Hyslop Welcomes £5.396m Budget Boost for West Lothian Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the news that West Lothian Council will receive an extra £5.396m funding under the revised budget proposals unveiled this afternoon (Jan 31st) by Finance Secretary Derek Mackay. The budget boost comes as the Scottish Government confirmed that all local authorities will receive an above inflation increase in resource funding. The SNP budget will give Scots the best deal in the UK – with investment in public services and a tax cut for lower earners. Under the progressive tax reforms 70% of taxpayers will pay less than last year, while higher earners will face a modest increase. These tax changes will allow the Scottish Government to increase health spending by £400 million to £13.6 billion, lift…