Category: News in Lothian

In her role as Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport, local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, announced an extension to the peak fare removal pilot on Scotland’s railways on Thursday 16th May. The pilot scheme which came into effect last October, was originally due to end on 28th June, however, this will now continue for a further three months until the end of September. Commenting Fiona said; “This pilot which has been subsidised by the Scottish Government has been successful with commuters and will be extended for a further three months until September. Removing peak fares since last October has saved West Lothian commuters hundreds of pounds helping with the cost of living. “Extending the pilot will allow for better understanding of its impacts in terms of encouraging…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes £1.5 million funding from the Scottish Government to West Lothian Council to wipe out school meal debt for families across West Lothian. The funding will support local councils to remove the impact of debt; making sure that no child in Scotland is penalised for being unable to afford to pay for school meals during the Tory Cost of Living Crisis. Commenting Fiona said; “I was pleased to see this announcement from First Minister, John Swinney. This one-off funding will help alleviate financial pressure on families in West Lothian who have been struggling with inflated food and energy bills. “While school meal debt is a matter for local authorities, this important emergency funding will give much needed support to empower Councils to…

“Since the temporary closure of St Michael’s Hospital in Linlithgow there has been much discussion and speculation about what can and should be done with the buildings and its expansive grounds. “The site at St Michael’s Hospital was gifted by the Church to the Health Board in the 19th Century to be used as a health facility and it is believed by many that there is a clear moral and potentially legal case for the land to be returned to the Church if it is not used by the Health Board for this purpose. “The future use of this facility needs to benefit the community and so it is only right that the community has a say in how this is shaped. I would urge any local person with an…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed John Swinney MSP as the new Leader of the SNP and Scotland’s First Minister. Fiona has worked with John Swinney in Cabinet under Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon’s Governments from 2007 until 2021. They also worked together as part of the opposition Cabinet from 1999 – 2007. Fiona commented, “John Swinney is an accomplished and deeply committed politician and I am very pleased to send him my congratulations as he takes up the role of the SNP Leader and, as of today, Scotland’s seventh First Minister. “John Swinney’s message in his first speech as Party Leader this week was one of unity, equality and dedication and he brings experience and a strong sense of public duty. “To lead your country…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, met with local businesses Kitchen International Ltd and MGM Timber Ltd, both based in Broxburn and owned by the Donaldson Group. The companies were among a number of businesses attending a Parliamentary Reception about Timber in Construction: A Driving Net Zero Awareness showcase. Commenting after the event, Fiona said; “Scotland’s Timber Industry leads the UK for timber frame construction, enabling a Scottish export contribution of over £1billion to the Scottish Economy in Scottish product alone. “I was pleased to meet the Donaldson Group who have businesses based in Broxburn in my Constituency in Parliament and hear more about their work they do and their drive to net zero.” ENDS

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency attends Winchburgh Marina opening on 3rd May 2024. Winchburgh Developments Ltd officially handed over the Marina to Scottish Canals after a flotilla of boats all arrived under the new Marina bridge. Commenting Fiona said; “It was a very special moment to be at the official opening of the Winchburgh Marina and be on one the first canal boats to come under the new Marina bridge and into Winchburgh Marina. “The official opening was marked with a flotilla of different types of boats sailing down the historic Union Canal which connects the Marina to Winchburgh. “Local organisations and school pupils joined the flotilla and the opening was a great day for the community. “The Marina will be managed by Scottish Canals and will accommodate up to 20…

Following the First Minister’s announcement on 29th April, Fiona said: “I have known and worked with Humza Yousaf for many years and have been proud to watch him lead Scotland in the most difficult of circumstances. “Humza has acted with principle, purpose, and a real sense of his values of equality, fairness and justice. He led where others did not on the situation in Gaza, and I have no doubt he has more to give Scotland. “Politics can be raw and events can happen rapidly but the First Minister has made his decision. “I was honoured to be asked to return to the Scottish Government to fill a vacancy in the Transport Portfolio and I knew that in doing so I would be serving a First Minister who would be…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes funding from the Scottish Government for the Scottish Refugee Council’s Refugee Support Service. This Service will help refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland to settle in West Lothian. Commenting Fiona said; “I welcome this vital funding for the Scottish Refugee Council. The £3.6 million funding, which replaces EU funding for the services will be used by the Scottish Refugee Council to help people access housing, welfare and employment support. “This commitment clearly underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to championing the rights of and supporting some of the world’s most vulnerable groups who are fleeing war and persecution. “I am also pleased to see that this funding will help provide information and resources to encourage social connections. “In my own Constituency,…

Fiona Hyslop Marks Miner’s Strike Anniversary in Whitburn Commenting on the exhibition of 40th Anniversary of the 1884-85 Miners’ Strike at the Community Museum in Whitburn local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop said:  “Communities across West Lothian are still affected by the unjust and excessive consequences suffered by the miners and the manner in which collieries were shut down . “In 2020, as part of the collective Scottish Government’s Cabinet discussions I proposed that we move to provide a collective pardon to the miners affected and to accept the recommendation of the inquiry of a pardon and I am proud and heartened to see this legislation has now passed. “I was pleased to attend an event at Whitburn Community Museum today to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Miner's Strike, to…

“I was pleased to see the WASPI women come to the Scottish Parliament as the latest step in their campaign and that the First Minister at Question time paid tribute to them and offered his support. “Thousands of women born in the 1950s across West Lothian were adversely affected by the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions failure to communicate rises to the state pension age. “WASPI surveys show one in three 1950s-born WASPI women are now in debt, while the UK Government has saved over £200 billion by raising the State Pension age, with £181.4 billion having been saved from women alone. “The publication of the recent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report, ‘Women’s State Pension Age: our findings on injustice and associated issues’, found that the…