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In her role as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, local MSP Fiona Hyslop, has announced new investment in vital rail links. This follows the announcement that procurement will begin to replace Scotland’s High Speed Intercity Trains which serve passengers between Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, beginning the process of upgrading the fleet of trains serving these routes. Commenting Fiona said: “Resilient, reliable ScotRail services are key to encouraging more people to choose to travel by train rather than car, to cutting our transport emissions and to helping to move people around Scotland for work, leisure and learning. That is why we must build on our investment in Scotland’s railway infrastructure by investing in the services and trains which connect our key cities. “Over 4 million passenger journeys were made on InterCity…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop MSP, visited the Bathgate factory of Genius Bakery. Genius employs over 200 staff at their manufacturing facility in Bathgate where they make a wide range of gluten free products. Commenting Fiona said: “Genius is committed to ensuring there is a good range of high-quality gluten free goods available in Scotland and I was pleased to see around their manufacturing facility in my Constituency. More people than ever are recognised as needing a gluten-free diet and being able to buy bread, pancakes, muffins and cakes in their local supermarket is a growing need. “The team at Genius are committed to ensuring that those who have to eat a gluten-free diet are able to access the same products as the rest of the market…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has highlighted the latest report from the Trussell Trust which shows how vital the SNP introduced policy of free prescriptions is to the people of Scotland. The Trussell Trust report on people receiving Universal Credit is a damning assessment of the damage cruel DWP policies are having on people in West Lothian, including those in work. The report found that 68% of working households receiving universal credit have gone without essentials such as prescription in medication. Commenting Fiona said: “Free prescriptions are a vital part of the social contract the Scottish Government has with the people of West Lothian – no matter what your income status is you should have access to the medication you need. “In West Lothian the average person…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, will hold a coffee morning to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support on Monday 23rd September, in Armadale Methodist Church Hall. At MacMillan their purpose is to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. This includes raising money to provide vital cancer services, research, campaign for better cancer care and support the cancer workforce. Commenting Fiona said: “Last year I was pleased to hold a successful coffee morning in aid of Marie Curie in Armadale. This year I am delighted to hold another coffee morning and this time in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. “We have all been touched by cancer in some way and it is so important to support this fantastic charity that supports those that are…

“I was pleased to see a Members Debate on Winchburgh Train Station brought to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 3rd September.“As the local Constituency MSP, I continue to pursue this issue and was pleased to hear from the SNP Minister for Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP, that he has convened at my request the Steering Group of key stakeholders who are meeting monthly. The group are collectively looking at closing the funding gap now faced in this developer led proposal and the Council and Developers are currently discussing who will be the sponsor body. “The Minister also clearly stated that the Scottish Government are supportive of the station proposal.“As I am also a Government Minister, I am precluded from speaking in these debates but I was pleased to hear other MSPs, including…

Parents and children of the nurseries planned for closure paying price of previous poor planning and policy delivery by Council. Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, calls on West Lothian Council to revisit plans to close 9 early learning facilities across West Lothian and establish an independent review into the planning and provision of the extension of early years education and childcare. West Lothian Council are proposing the closure of 9 early learning facilities including Linlithgow Bridge Nursery Class, St Anthony’s Nursery Class, St Jospeh’s Nursery Class and Bathgate West Nursery Class, all in Ms Hyslop’s Constituency. Commenting Fiona: “I have been contacted by many parents who are concerned following the announcement of the Council’s proposals to close 4 nurseries in my Constituency, as part of plans to…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has met with Andrew Beattie and Dean Burne form the Broxburn Branch of Andy’s Man Club to hear more about the charity. Andy’s Man Club is a free to attend peer-to-peer suicide prevention charity for any man over 18. They provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space for men to talk. There is no need to book or be referred to. It's s free walk in service. Each branch across Scotland and the UK meets on a Monday evening at 7pm, and is used weekly by over 4500 men, and an army of 900+ facilitators. There are currently branches in Broxburn, Bathgate, Armadale and two in Livingston. Andrew and Dean are hoping to open another one in Linlithgow. Following the meeting, Fiona…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, attended and officially opened the Linlithgow Union Canal Society’s (LUCS) 34th annual Fun Day on Sunday 4th August. Fiona delivered a speech following the ribbon cutting ceremony by Gala Queen Hannah Scott who arrived at the front of a canal boat flotilla. Fiona also met with organisers and volunteers, then handed out prizes for the famous Carboard Boat Race. Commenting on the day, Fiona said; “It was a pleasure to be asked to officially open Linlithgow Union Canal’s annual Fun Day and present the prizes for the Cardboard Boat Race. LUCS is such an important part of our community. “It wasn’t too long ago we were here celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Union Canal and I was delighted at that time…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the announcement £30 million in additional funding, from the Scottish Government, to reduce NHS waiting times. It is expected that this funding will significantly increase activity across the NHS, including 12,000 additional procedures, 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures and 12,000 new outpatient appointments.  Making the announcement, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, said the action will “help Scotland’s NHS maximise capacity, build greater resilience and deliver year-on-year reductions in the number of patients who have waited too long for treatment”. Commenting Fiona said: “The Scottish Government have made it clear that improving public services is a key priority for this government – and this investment in reducing NHS waiting times in West Lothian is at…

“I am delighted to see that Bathgate based energy company Invinity has expanded and officially opened their new manufacturing facility in Motherwell. “Invinity plays a crucial role in assembling the vanadium battery systems for export to customers around the world and I was very impressed with their work when I visited them previously, contacting the then Scottish Government Energy Ministers to ensure that they too visited the site.   “At six times the size of Invinity’s existing facility in Bathgate, the new facility and will increase the Company’s UK assembly capacity to over 500 MWh per year, support the creation of more than 40 new jobs in the region and enable faster and more efficient delivery of vanadium flow batteries across the UK, Europe and further afield. “I have written…