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[caption id="attachment_650" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Fiona Hyslop MSP with Elma Birrill and the Norwegian Pupils"][/caption]Hyslop Welcomes Norwegian Students to Parliament Fiona Hyslop MSP met with 16 Norwegian exchange students who are studying at Armadale Academy when they visited the Scottish Parliament this morning. (Thursday 22nd March) Fiona, Armadale’s local MSP, met with the group in the morning before they received tickets for First Ministers Questions and a tour of the Parliament building. Fiona commented; “I am always delighted to meet with different groups from my constituency and enjoy showing them round our Scottish Parliament. “The group of exchange students from Norway were very impressed and showed great interest in the Parliament building and they had some very good questions on the important political issues in Scotland and more local issues in…

Hyslop Congratulates West Lothian Pupil Running for National Amnesty Award SNP MSP for Linlithgow constituency, Fiona Hyslop has written to St Kentigerns Academy in Blackburn to congratulate pupil Rhona Aitken on being long-listed for Amnesty International’s Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year Award. Miss Aitken is just 16 years old and wrote about the issue of human trafficking. Ms Hyslop said, “This is great news for Rhona Aitken and I know her teachers and parents will be extremely proud of her work. “The issue of human trafficking is very serious and the more light shone on this issue, exposing such a horrible situation, the better. “To have been long-listed from over 3,000 applicants from all over the UK is a massive achievement and I have written to her at…

Linlithgow MSP Visits Lowport Primary in Parliament Fiona Hyslop MSP for Linlithgow has met with primary three pupils from Lowport Primary in Linlithgow when they visited the Scottish Parliament on today (Thursday, 22 March). Fiona said, “I was delighted to meet with the young pupils students when they visited Holyrood this afternoon. “It is important for young people to meet with their representatives and find out how their Parliament works whether their interests lie in politics, the arts, enterprise or any other field. “We have a fantastic outreach programme at the Scottish Parliament and I am pleased that so many local schools are taking advantage of this.”

Hyslop Welcomes Health Secretary’s Strong Stance on Lothian Waiting Times Fiona Hyslop MSP for Linlithgow has welcomed the statement that Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has today delivered in the Scottish Parliament regarding the External Review of NHS Lothian waiting times. Fiona Hyslop said; “I welcome the Health Secretary’s decisive action on the report of the external review of NHS Lothian waiting times management conducted by PWC. “The Health Secretary has been very clear that any instance of a patient being inappropriately coded as unavailable is completely unacceptable and I join with her in stating that this occurrence should not diminish the hard working and committed staff at NHS Lothian who have worked tirelessly to deliver shorter waiting times – which continue to be the…

Local MSP Supports Campaign to Stop Doorstep Crime Linlithgow MSP, Fiona Hyslop has voiced her support for a multi-agency enforcement day as part of an on-going campaign to target doorstep crime in West Lothian. Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill was in Bathgate this week (Wednesday) to highlight the campaign. Fiona Hyslop commented; “I am pleased with this initiative which will hopefully identify and target bogus callers and rogue traders operating within West Lothian. “It is often the elderly and most vulnerable who fall victim to doorstep criminals and it is vital that we as a community are aware of the signs of a bogus caller and the police who will be monitoring the area and physically very present locally are more than happy to answer any queries the public might have.…

Hyslop Congratulates Broxburn on STEM Challenge Win Local MSP, Fiona Hyslop has written to congratulate a group of Broxburn Academy pupils who came first in the latest STEM challenge out of eight finalists across the UK. The challenge was to design a human-powered invention for creating the spark which lights the Paralympic Flame. The pupils also came third out of 260 schools in the UK last year after designing a mobile phone app for the 2012 Olympic Games. (see photo above of Fiona Hyslop meeting the STEM pupils late last year for Challenge Eight) On hearing the news, Fiona said; “I am so pleased to hear that Broxburn Academy have won this year’s STEM challenge (number 9), this is a huge achievement for the pupils involved and the school as…

Hyslop Welcomes Forth Crossing Competition Linlithgow MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the news that members of the public will decide on the name of the new Forth Bridge. All potential options will be considered by the panel before a shortlist of the most appropriate names is produced and put to a public vote to find the most popular. Fiona commented; “This is a fantastic opportunity to engage the public in feeling part of the new Forth Crossing, particularly in West Lothian, where are so close to the two current bridges. “The Transport Minister is due to set up a panel of advisors to consult on the potential names that have been submitted by members of the public. Next year, once a shortlist of names has been decided on, the public…

HYSLOP BACKS NATIONAL ‘NO SMOKING’ DAY Linlithgow MSP Fiona Hyslop is encouraging her constituents use the awareness-raising campaign of National No Smoking Day as the perfect opportunity to give up the habit. Smoking continues to be one of the main causes of preventable illness and death in Scotland, and with Wednesday 14th March being this year’s date to highlight the benefits of giving up cigarettes, Fiona Hyslop wants to see more West Lothian residents take advantage of this opportunity. Fiona said; “People start smoking at different ages and for a wide variety of reasons, but whether it be only a few each day, or many, it all adds up and most smokers if given the choice, wish they had never started. “The smoking ban in 2006 in public places made…

Hyslop Visits BUSC Free Play Afternoon Monday, 27th February Local MSP Fiona Hyslop has visited Broxburn United Sports Club’s Free Play initiative at Albyn Park to highlight the work they do for children and young people in the community. After the visit, Fiona said; “BUSC’s Free Play Club regularly has around 100 children and young people who come along to enjoy the services they offer. “Young people are permitted to use these facilities for free during school hours and after school hours they can participate in school coaching and school sports days. The Club also work with schools at Primary three level who learn the importance of Health and Safety in sport and at school. “On top of this, according to local police, Anti Social Behaviour in Broxburn has dropped…

Hyslop Highlights FairTrade Fortnight Monday, 27 February 2012 Speaking in a debate at the Scottish Parliament this week (Thursday, 23 February 2012) Linlithgow MSP, Fiona Hyslop highlighted the importance of Fair Trade in the community. Ms Hyslop said; “The Fairtrade initiative helps to alleviate poverty and give opportunities to producers and workers who are economically disadvantaged due to the conventional trading system. “Fairtrade Fornight is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the importance of Fairtrade status in our local communities. Within my constituency, Bathgate, Linlithgow and Whitburn have all achieved Fairtrade town status, which is a credit to the hard work of the local steering groups. “It has also been an honour to support schools such as Boghall primary, Bathgate academy and Linlithgow academy in their efforts. The relocated Fair Tradewinds…