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Hyslop Welcomes Parliament Support for Scotland Choosing its own Future Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the result of Tuesday’s (28th March) debate on Scotland’s Choice which saw a majority of MSPs voting in favour of giving the people of Scotland the choice of whether to vote in favour of a hard Brexit or to be an Independent Country. Fiona, who spoke in the chamber opening the second day of debate for the Scottish Government, said; “It is entirely right that this decision on Scotland’s future should be made by the people of Scotland and following Tuesday’s debate, the Scottish Parliament now has the democratic right to open discussions with the UK Government to enable an independence referendum to be held. It would be undemocratic, indefensible and completely unsustainable…

  Hyslop Organises Petition to Keep RBS Whitburn Open Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop is organising a petition, backed by local SNP Councillors Mary Dickson and Jim Dickson, to keep the Royal Bank of Scotland Building in Whitburn open. This is following the news that RBS plan to close the bank on Whitburn’s Main Street in the next 6 months. Fiona said; “The Royal Bank of Scotland Building in Whitburn is in the heart of the town offering easy banking access to the increasing number of older residents in Whitburn who live and shop locally. “46% of customers who use the Whitburn RBS branch do not use digital banking and many of these customers may be older people or parents with young children who older cannot always make the four…

Hyslop Opposes Whitburn RBS Closure Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has written to Royal Bank of Scotland opposing their decision to close their Whitburn Branch. Fiona said, “I have contacted RBS to express my concerns about the closure of their Whitburn Branch. “The Royal Bank of Scotland Building in Whitburn is in the heart of the town offering easy banking access to the increasing number of older residents in Whitburn who live and shop locally. “46% of customers who use the Whitburn RBS branch do not use digital banking and many of these customers may be older people or parents with young children who older cannot always make the four mile journey to the closest RBS Branch in Bathgate. “I have asked for a meeting with RBS to…

Hyslop Comment on Johnston and Johnston Plant Closure “I am very saddened to hear that Johnson and Johnson has announced that it is entering consultation with staff on the potential closure of its Ethicon facility in Livingston, putting around 400 local jobs at risk. Although the plant is in the Almond Valley Constituency, I expect that constituents in my constituency will be affected. “I am aware that the First Minister, Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse and the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, have been engaging with Johnson and Johnson, along with enterprise agencies, to identify every possible support for the business.  This work has been detailed and intensive, exploring what can be done both to help address and understand immediate business challenges, and to look at the…

Fiona Hyslop Welcomes Transport Minister to West Lothian Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop invited the Minister for Transport and Islands, Humza Yousaf MSP to West Lothian to show the Minister West Lothian’s many transport links. Fiona drove the Transport Minister from the new railway station in Armadale, through the A801 Avon Gorge Road and passed through the Winchburgh Development. Fiona commented; “As well as the new Forth Crossing scheduled to open later this year and two of the busiest roads in Scotland (the M8 and M9), I also have two of the most used train lines running through my constituency. and I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss local transport matters with the Minister this morning. (8th March) “I took the Minister to see the A801 Avon Gorge…

Hyslop Welcomes Record NHS Staff Levels with 10.2% increase in last 10 Years Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has welcomed new figures published this week (7th March) revealing that the number of staff working in NHS Lothian has risen by 10.2% over the last 10 years. At the end of 2016, there was over 20,085 staff working with NHS Lothian and an overall headcount of 162,302 staff across NHS Scotland, with nearly 1,000 of these staff members recruited in the last year.  In the same year, health spending per head was 7.2% higher in Scotland compared to England, where the health service has been described by the Red Cross as facing a “humanitarian crisis”.   Commenting, Fiona said; “Ten years of SNP Government has produced 12,200 more staff…

Hyslop Encourages West Lothian Towns to Submit to Airport Consultation on Aircraft Routes Following a meeting with Edinburgh Airport on Monday (6th March), local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop is urging constituents to submit to the Airport’s current consultation on the proposed aircraft routes before the consultation deadline on April 30th. Fiona commented; “At my meeting with Edinburgh Airport this week we discussed the different proposed and preferred flight path routes that are part of Edinburgh Airport’s most recent consultation. “The preferred routes marked on the Airport’s website are simply that – preferred routes and it is entirely possible that given the data they receive from the consultation that they may choose any one of their proposed routes. That is why it is so important for local residents to submit their…

Hyslop Welcomes over 92% of West Lothian Young People Continuing Education Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed figures that show Scotland having the highest level of positive destinations for school leavers from the most deprived communities. In West Lothian 92% of young people are choosing to continue their education, entering training, or getting a job after they leave school. Fiona commented; “It is so important for every young person in West Lothian to be able to realise their full potential and make the most of the opportunities that are available to them. “In 2011/12, 89% of school leavers in West Lothian went on to a positive initial destination, this year statistics have shown an increase to 92.7%, with the vast majority of young people choosing higher education. “Whether it…

Hyslop Congratulates Local MP on Aviation Noise Authority Win UK Government agrees to Establish Independent Aviation Noise Authority Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has congratulated her SNP colleague Hannah Bardell MP on a massive win on noise pollution after the UK Government confirmed it would establish an Independent Aviation Noise Authority (IANA). Hannah Bardell MP has been campaigning for an IANA since she was elected to Parliament in 2015. Hannah Bardell MP and Fiona Hyslop MSP both represent the Broxburn/Uphall/Dechmont area of West Lothian –towns which have been particularly affected by recent aircraft noise and flight path trials from Edinburgh Airport. Fiona said; “This is a massive win for Hannah and for the local community who have been impacted by aviation noise since the start of Edinburgh Airport’s TUTUR flight…

Hyslop votes for an extra £5 million for West Lothian Council Labour Opposition fail to support investment in West Lothian Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has voted in favour of the Scottish Government’s landmark budget which will ensure that communities across West Lothian will benefit from even greater financial support than originally planned with an additional £5.269 million in capital and resource funding. West Lothian will also receive investment of £1.3 billion for NHS Lothian and the commitment to build an elective care centre at St John’s Hospital. Fiona said; “With capital and resource additional funding of over £5 million for West Lothian it is clear to see that this Scottish Government is delivering for the people of West Lothian. Spending commitments in the NHS, education, infrastructure, environment and the…