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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop MSP, highlights Scottish Government support for West Lothian in this year’s budget. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Shona Robison MSP, presented the Budget to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 4th December. Commenting following the Budget Fiona said: “I am pleased to see that the Scottish Government are prioritising supporting families and individuals across my Constituency in this year’s budget. “The First Minister is committed to eradicating poverty in Scotland and this budget takes steps to achieve this.  I particularly welcome the budget’s record levels of NHS funding, the universal Winter Fuel Payments for our pensioners after they were stopped for most pensioners by the UK Government and the steps to replace benefits for 15,000 children keeping them out of poverty…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed support for veterans in West Lothian as a result of the vital support provided through the Scottish Veterans Fund. Commenting Fiona said: “Ensuring Veterans in our community receive the support they need is essential and I was pleased to see that the Scottish Veterans Fund will be providing £460,000 to a range of charities across Scotland. “Our armed forces and their families make a valuable contribution to society and this Fund will allow charities to provide support in a range of areas including peer support, financial advice and making the transition from military to civilian life. “The Fund will support charities including Community Veteran Support, Erskine and Lothian Veterans Centre which will be particularly important for veterans in my own…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, highlights Edinburgh Airport Consultation on draft Noise Action Plan. Consultation on the draft Noise Action Plan will be open for comments until January 31, 2025. Commenting Fiona said: “Edinburgh Airport are currently consulting on their draft Noise Action Plan and this consultation will be open to views until 31 January 2025. “Many of my Constituents will be impacted by the Noise Action Plan, which once finalised will be in place from 2024 to 2028, and I would encourage them to submit their views to the Consultation if they have not already done so. “To find out more about the draft Noise Action Plan and submit your views visit https://corporate.edinburghairport.com/community/noise-action-plan.” ENDS

“Following ongoing issues at Linlithgow Loch, I met with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to discuss this further. “Before this meeting, I contacted HES following reports of dead fish in the Loch. At this meeting HES advised that the events have impacted one species of fish at one location, and they are continuing to work with SEPA to identify the cause of this. “I was pleased to hear that HES will be continuing to work on the issues at the Loch and have recently, together with SEPA and Stirling University’s Forth ERA Partnership, introduced a monitoring water buoy to provide information on the Loch in real time. HES are also continuing their information gathering work to better understand the issues at the loch and are working with relevant bodies to improve…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, attended a dining night at the Scottish Parliament hosted by West Lothian College as they took over the restaurant and kitchen on the evening of Tuesday 19th November. Following the event, Fiona said: “I was pleased to attend the Holyrood Dining Room in the Scottish Parliament where Level 6 Professional Cookery from West Lothian College cooked and served an excellent tasting menu. “The six-course tasting menu included a smoked salmon frittata, pork and black pudding wellington and sticky figgy pudding. “The students from West Lothian College not only cooked a wonderful meal but also provided excellent service and I hope benefitted from the experience and talking to the Parliament’s chefs. “Congratulations to the staff and students involved in serving delicious, flavoursome food,…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has urged unpaid carers across West Lothian to check their eligibility for support from Social Security Scotland. Figures in the last census, show that there are 22,116 unpaid carers in West Lothian.Commenting Fiona said: “Unpaid carers play a vital role in our communities across West Lothian, and it is vital to ensure that they have the support they need. “Earlier this month, Scotland’s Carer Support Payment was rolled out across all local authority areas.“Latest figures show there are 22,116 unpaid carers in West Lothian and I would urge all of them to ensure they are receiving the support they are entitled to. “You can check eligibility here - mygov.scot/benefits” ENDS

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes new figures showing that 56,535, baby boxes have been delivered to support expectant parents across NHS Lothian. Over 319,800 baby boxes have been delivered to expectant parents across Scotland. The baby box provides expectant parents with around £420 worth of essential items for their newborn. Commenting Fiona said: “I am pleased to see that 56,535 baby boxes have been delivered to expectant parents across NHS Lothian. “The Scottish Government are choosing to prioritise supporting families and ensuring that children have a secure and healthy start to life. “I am proud to see these new figures and will continue to support this initiative across Scotland and particularly in my own Constituency.” ENDS

“As many of my Constituents will be aware, I have been working on the issues relating to Linlithgow Loch for a number of years and expect to meet Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to discuss these in the coming weeks. “This week, following reports of dead fish in Linlithgow Loch, I have contacted Historic Environment Scotland, who own the Loch, and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to report this. “I share my Constituents concerns in relation to these reports and will keep them updated on the responses I received from both HES and SEPA on this important issue.” ENDS

“Following West Lothian Council’s announcement of their plans to have the Managing Committees of Community Centres take on ownership and responsibility of the buildings, I wrote to West Lothian Council to share my concerns. “I have been contacted by local Management Committees following this announcement from West Lothian Council who share my concerns. “While Community Asset Transfers can be positive when they are proactively sought on an individual and voluntary basis by local communities, I am concerned that by wholesale off-loading responsibility and costs on to community volunteers, the Council are placing a serious burden of responsibility and risk on a small number of volunteers who have varying levels of experience and expertise. Giving this responsibility to the Management Committees, who may struggle with the financial commitment required to keep…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has said that the UK Government’s decision to increase tuition fees in England shows that only the SNP can be trusted to protect free tuition for students in West Lothian. UK Education Secretary Bridget Philipson announced on Monday 4th November, that fees will increase to £9,535 per year as a freeze on tuition fees which has seen them capped since 2017/18 comes to an end under Labour.  Commenting Fiona said: “It is clear that the Labour Government cannot be trusted on tuition fees as we have seen with the Education Secretary’s announcement that fee will be increasing in England. “As the Government Minister who abolished the Graduate Endowment Fee, abolishing an unfair education tax and making higher education free in Scotland, I…