Category: News

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, highlights legislation making it a criminal offence for anyone to supply fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles to a child or person under 18, which will come into effect on 10 October. From this date, attacks on emergency workers using fireworks or pyrotechnics will also become aggravating factors that can be taken into account when courts sentence offenders. These measures are set out in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic (Scotland) Act 2022 passed by the Scottish Parliament on 29 June. Fiona said; “I am very pleased to see these new powers, which have come into place at pace to make it a criminal offence to supply fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles to a child or anyone under 18. “Fireworks in the wrong hands can…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, visited West Lothian Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre during Challenge Poverty Week which ran from 3-9 October 2022. Fiona visited the Debt Centre to hear more about the support and services they provide to people in need of help with debt, which is an essential service particularly as we continue to deal with the impacts of the Cost of Living Crisis. CAP Debt Centre has been operating in West Lothian for two years and is an FCA accredited debt help charity. The charity has been working across Scotland to provide community-based, holistic approach which is available to anyone for over 20 years. Commenting Fiona said; “The work of West Lothian Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre is incredibly important in helping people…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, Chaired the Next Steps for Climate Change Policy in Scotland morning session of the Scotland Policy Conferences on Friday October 7th.  The session focussed on exploring the next steps needed for Scotland in tackling climate change. The first session of the Conference, of which Ms Hyslop was Chair, featured a keynote address from Dr Ameena Camps who is a Commissioner for the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Commission and a Director of Community Energy Scotland. This was followed by two panel discussions and Q&A sessions. The first panel focused on achieving a sustainable and Just Transition, this was followed by a session on climate adaption and resilience. Commenting after the Conference Fiona said: “I was pleased to Chair Scotland’s Policy Conference on Next…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop MSP, highlighted the benefits coming from Four Day Week Trials in the Scottish Parliament on 28th September. Fiona asked the Scottish Government to reiterate the Government’s commitment from its Programme for Government to four-day week pilots and to engage with other countries on this agenda. Commenting Fiona said; “In May I attended the Four Day Week International Summit in Valencia where I was keen to hear of the benefits of Four Day Week Pilots from those companies who have already trialled this from across the world. These include; productivity gains and increased recruitment and retention of staff.  “As the UK continues to have one of the lowest levels of productivity any new innovations to improve productivity should be looked at. As many…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, highlights new Cost of Living resource from the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government has launched a new website to help people across Scotland with the Cost of Living. The website has a range of information available to users including information on support available to households’ facing energy, housing and other rising costs. Commenting Fiona said; “I am pleased to see this new resource from the Scottish Government to help households across the country deal with the Cost of Living Crisis. “The website provides information on energy bills, benefits, debt and money, health and wellbeing and support for older or disabled people. “I would urge my Constituents to visit the site and use the information provided by the Scottish Government to support households…

Commenting on the visit of the Minister for Zero Carbon Building, Active Travel & Tenants’ Rights, Patrick Harvie MSP, to Linlithgow to meet with Solar Energy Scotland at Linlithgow Sports Club on Friday 23rd September, Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency said: “I am pleased that the Minister has visited Linlithgow and visited the solar energy project at the Rugby Club, part of a successful local project with local businesses and organisations, and learns of the need for Government to provide some facilitation and resource funding as the benefits are significant in the road to Net Zero for our towns. “I am proud of the hard work, passion and ingenuity of those involved in the towns energy projects and the Linlith-go-Solar project is a great example of strong community-led…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has highlighted a number of international businesses in West Lothian in a speech on the importance of Inward Investment and Exporting companies in Parliament. Fiona spoke about Mitsubishi Electrics with their £15m investment announcement, Q2 Solutions whose European Life Sciences Lab operate from Livingston, Shin – Etsu whose European semiconductor company is also based in Livingston and exporters Calnex Solutions in Linlithgow whose test instrumentation for network synchronization has secured orders from over 600 customer sites in 68 countries across the world. Fiona commented, “Some of the most successful inward investment and export businesses in Scotland are in my own area of West Lothian including Mitsubishi Electrics, Shin-Etsu, Q2 Solutions and Calnex Solutions which I visited recently. “Businesses like these choose West Lothian…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, is encouraging all young people in her constituency to join the National Discussion on the future of education in Scotland. The Scottish Government have launched a National Discussion to gain as many views and experiences as possible from young people to find out what kind of education, skills, knowledge and support young people will need 20 years from now. Fiona commented, “There has not been a Government led national conversation around the education sector for some time and things have changed immensely in recent years. It is only right that the views, ideas and experiences of our young people today are sought for the future. “I would encourage my constituents who are aged 3-18, and their parents, guardians or carers to submit…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has written to West Lothian Council to ask what more can be done in schools and council facilities to help children and young people apply for their free pass.In welcoming the news that 15,987 children and young people across West Lothian are benefitting from the SNP Scottish Government's free bus travel scheme, Fiona has said she wishes to see uptake increase even further. Fiona has written to West Lothian Council to find out what is currently being done to support young people to apply for their pass and how efforts can be increased.Fiona said:“It's wonderful to see 15,987 children and young people in West Lothian already benefiting from the SNP's Government's free bus travel scheme."But I want all children and young people…