Category: News

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop has called for support for families in the Scottish Government’s 2025/26 Budget. The First Minister gave a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 7th January, making clear that it is a priority of the Scottish Government to eradicate child poverty in Scotland. Commenting Fiona said: “The 2025-26 Scottish Budget takes decisive action towards a future where we end child poverty in Scotland and fight inequality but as the SNP does not have a majority in Parliament it needs MSPs, and not just from the SNP, to support the budget to deliver it. “I would urge all parties to vote for this Scottish Budget which will support children and families across West Lothian with a range of payments, including Best Start Grant…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision to deliver a new payment to support older people with their energy bills. Commenting Fiona said: “The UK Government’s decision to axe universal Winter Fuel Payment, will mean pensioners in West Lothian are going without essential support this winter. “In 2022/23 28,955 people in West Lothian were in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment, however many of these people will have lost this support due to the UK Government’s decision to scrap universal winter heating support. “I am pleased to see the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Sommerville MSP, confirm to the Scottish Parliament that the new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will be available to all pensioners in West Lothian when introduced…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes the Scottish Government’s Budget which shows the Scottish Government’s making progress in their mission to eradicate child poverty begins in the work needed to end Labour’s two-child cap. The two-child cap was introduced by the UK Government, when the Conservatives were in power, as part of their programme of austerity and has subsequently been adopted by Labour as one of their policies, despite their previous promises to scrap it. Commenting Fiona said: “The two-child limit restricts the amount of support families living in poverty can receive for more than two children and is harmful to households across West Lothian. Yet this is another Tory Policy which we have seen adopted by the Labour Government. “This policy will impact 83,000 children across…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has met the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, on Thursday 19th December to raise concerns on behalf of West Lothian GPs in relation to NHS Lothian Facilities Management Cost Increase Service Level Agreement. Ms Hyslop met the Cabinet Secretary along with other Constituency MSPs in the Lothians, Gordon MacDonald and Christine Grahame. Commenting following the meeting Ms Hyslop said: “I have received correspondence from a number of General Practices in my Constituency who are understandably concerned in relation to NHS Lothian’s Facilities Management Cost Increase Service Level Agreement. “While some level of increase will be required, I have been advised by local Practices of increases of over £40,000 which will place considerable financial pressure on GPs in…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, met students from 3 West Lothian secondary schools who were finalists in the CyberFirst Girls Competition in the Scottish Parliament. This is a competition which allows girls to enter into the world of cyber technology and security. 10 schools from over 100 school entrants from all over Scotland were shortlisted for the finals and 3 of those final 10 schools were from West Lothian with finalists from Linlithgow Academy, Armadale Academy and St Kentigern’s Academy, all schools within Ms Hyslop’s Constituency. Commenting Fiona said: “It was a pleasure to attend the awards ceremony for the CyberFirst Girls Competition and to see West Lothian schools dominate the finals with 3 schools represented. “The CyberFirst Girls Competition, inspires young girls, aged 12-13, who are…

“Over the year I have been privileged to meet excellent organisations who are supporting families and individuals across West Lothian including Andy’s Mans Club supporting men's mental health and Enable Scotland working to improve the lives of people with disabilities. I have also met businesses across the county who are providing goods, services and importantly jobs for local people. In my role as a Constituency MSP, I am constantly reminded of the good in society and the talent and community spirit in West Lothian.  “One of the highlights of the year was the reopening of the Armadale Shed, an excellent example of the community coming together to support the Shed in the aftermath of the fire. I was pleased to attend and speak at the official reopening and it is…

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…