LOCAL MSP, FIONA HYSLOP, HIGHLIGHTS SCOTLAND’S YEAR OF STORIES 2022

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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, highlights the designation of 2022 as Scotland’s Year of Stories. Scotland’s Themed Years have been in effect since 2009 as a way to recognise and celebrate a particular aspect of the country and have been taking place biennially since 2016. Previous examples of themed years are the Year of Food and Drink 2015, the Year of Young People 2018, and the Year of Coasts and Waters 2021. This year, Scotland’s Year of Stories, will celebrate stories written in or inspired by Scotland. To showcase this part of Scotland’s culture, a programme of activities centred around the theme of storytelling will be designed and delivered, which will also support the nation’s tourism and events sectors. Events will be run by community groups, museums,…
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Local MSP Fiona Hyslop Welcomes Work of Warm Homes Scheme

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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the impact of a scheme aimed at helping homes become warmer, more comfortable and more affordable to heat in her constituency. Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme which has supported 313 people in Linlithgow since its launch in 2015, with each of the homes saving an average of £265 on their energy bills. The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme provides a step-by-step service to identify where energy improvements can be made and arranges for these to be carried out. The scheme offers new central heating systems, including renewable heating technologies, in all property types and in all regions across Scotland. All work carried out as part of the scheme is undertaken by registered and accredited local…
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Local MSP Fiona Hyslop Welcomes Work of Warm Homes Scheme

News, News in Lothian, Uncategorized
Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the impact of a scheme aimed at helping homes become warmer, more comfortable and more affordable to heat in her constituency. Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme which has supported 313 people in Linlithgow since its launch in 2015, with each of the homes saving an average of £265 on their energy bills. The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme provides a step-by-step service to identify where energy improvements can be made and arranges for these to be carried out. The scheme offers new central heating systems, including renewable heating technologies, in all property types and in all regions across Scotland. All work carried out as part of the scheme is undertaken by registered and accredited local…
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Hyslop Backs ‘Ambitious’ Steps To Tackle Climate Emergency

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Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the announcement of more than 100 ambitious new policies and proposals to support Scotland’s green recovery and help deliver a just transition to net zero.   They form part of the Climate Change Plan 2018 – 2032, which has been updated to reflect the world’s most ambitious climate targets as enshrined in Scotland’s Climate Change Act 2019.  The Plan includes:  - additional funding of £120 million for zero emission buses to accelerate the decarbonisation of Scotland’s bus fleet and support the Scottish supply chain. - £50 million to support the creation of Active Freeways to provide sustainable transport links between our towns and cities - £50 million to transform vacant and derelict land, ensuring that this land is utilised for maximum environmental and community benefit…
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Hyslop Welcomes Announcement of Support for Spectator Sport in West Lothian

Hyslop Welcomes Announcement of Support for Spectator Sport in West Lothian

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Spectator sports in West Lothian will receive a share of a £55million package announced by the SNP Scottish Government. The support will help local teams cope with a difficult period where they have been unable to welcome fans to matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst the funding, £30m will go to football, £20m to rugby and £2.2m to ice hockey and rinks. The money goes over and above what has been provided by the UK government in Barnett consequentials and means the SNP Scottish Government can provide the funds each sport needs. Fiona Commented: “I am delighted that the SNP Government has engaged with sporting bodies and have tailored a funding package to each sport. This has been a difficult time for many sports in West Lothian and this…
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Hyslop Welcomes News That Businesses in West Lothian to Receive Share of £185 Million Scottish Government Funding

Hyslop Welcomes News That Businesses in West Lothian to Receive Share of £185 Million Scottish Government Funding

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Businesses in West Lothian will receive their share of targeted Scottish Government coronavirus funding worth £185million.  The funding was recently announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and will benefit a wide range of sectors, such as taxi drivers, arts venues and the hospitality sector.  The Scottish Government is developing grant schemes for hospitality, the events sector, live music, arts, indoor football centres and the food and drink sector. A further £60 million will also be provided to the tourism sector.  In addition, there will be one-off payments of either £2,000 or £3,000 available for hospitality businesses in January to help them deal with the traditional post-Christmas dip in demand. Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, commented,  "I welcome this Scottish Government funding as it will help support firms and ensure that our economy is on the…
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Hyslop Welcomes News That Over 200 People in West Lothian Receive Help Through Warm Homes Scheme

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Local Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop welcomes the impact of Warmer Homes Scotland on fuel poor households in West Lothian. Over 200 households in West Lothian have benefitted from the scheme’s help since it was launched in 2015, each of them saving around £300 on their energy bills per year. The £224 million Warmer Homes Scotland scheme provides a step-by-step service to help make homes warmer and more comfortable. Assistance can include installing new and efficient boilers, fitting new radiators, insulating lofts or even working with partners to install gas mains to make heating homes in hard to reach areas more affordable. All work is carried out by registered and accredited local sub-contractors, who work to rigorous quality standards across the country. With the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland)…
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Hyslop Welcomes 60 New Teachers in West Lothian After SNP Funding Boost

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“I welcome the additional 60 new teachers to West Lothian with 28 new primary teachers and 32 new secondary teachers recruited to our schools.” “As with the rest of the country we have seen recruitment support the recent demands on learning and teaching, but West Lothian has one of the biggest percentages of young people under 19 in any of the Council areas in Scotland, so this additional recruitment of teachers is additionally important.” The SNP Government pledged £80 million of support this summer to help local authorities with recruitment for the safe re-opening of schools in 2020. Last month’s figures have shown an almost 30% rise in the number of newly-qualified teachers going straight into employment under the SNP’s leadership. Fiona commented, “It is vital that local authorities are fully…
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Hyslop Highlights ‘Living Wage Week’ and The Employers of West Lothian Who Have Signed Up

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Hyslop highlights the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement across the UK which began on Monday the 9th of November. Within West Lothian, 29 businesses are signed up as Living Wage employers, and Ms Hyslop would like to congratulate them all on signing up to this commitment and maintaining it throughout the pandemic. A wide and diverse range of businesses in West Lothian are Living Wage employers from Riverside Cottage Nursery in Blackburn to Ian Macleod Distillers in Broxburn. The real Living Wage is an independently calculated rate based on the cost of living and is paid voluntarily by employers. Fiona commented: “The Living Wage Campaign is essential to ensuring that employees are paid enough to achieve a decent standard of living. I would like to thank all 29…
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Hyslop Highlights ‘Game-Changer’ Scottish Child Payment Opens Early for Applications

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The new Scottish Child Payment - which has been described as a “game-changer” in the fight to tackle child poverty - will open early for applications this month. Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has encouraged parents and carers in West Lothian who are eligible to apply now so that the Scottish Government can process and start making payments as quickly as possible once the benefit starts in February next year. The SNP Government has prioritised the early introduction of the new benefit, which will provide eligible families on low incomes with a child under 6, an extra £10 per week for each child.  Latest figures estimate that 194,000 children aged under-6 in Scotland will be eligible for the new Scottish Child Payment - with 7,200 children set to benefit in West Lothian. Fiona commented: “The…
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