Category: News

Hyslop Welcomes Ground-Breaking Anti-Poverty Payment 16,400 Children Benefited in West Lothian Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s ground-breaking anti-poverty payment which reveals that an estimated 16,400 children from 9,500 families across West Lothian are expected to benefit from. The Scottish Child Payment will be worth £10 per child for low-income families by the end of 2022, with introduction for under-6s starting by early 2021. The brand new benefit was described as a “game changer” and a “lifeline” by anti-poverty campaigners and is central to the SNP’s ambitions to tackle child poverty. Fiona commented; “This is a welcome announcement which could act as a lifeline to local low-income families. With an estimated 16,400 children expected to benefit across West Lothian, this ambitious and ground-breaking new benefit will…

Hyslop Promotes Keep Left Campaign Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency Fiona Hyslop is highlighting a new campaign that reminds international visitors to heritage and tourism sites in West Lothian to drive on the left-hand side of the road. Fiona Commented:“The Keep Left campaign has worked well in the Highlands where thousands of tourists flock throughout the year to see Scotland, particularly in relation to the Outlander effect with Linlithgow Palace and Blackness Castle. “With West Lothian and the surrounding area being rich in tourism and heritage sites, many road accidents in the area involve international visitors who are not used to our roads nor driving on the left. I and my colleague Angus Macdonald MSP for Falkirk East met with Police Scotland and representatives from both Falkirk and West…

1140 Local Families Hit by UK Government’s 2 Child Cap Hyslop Urges Scraping of Heartless Policy Local Linlithgow MSP Fiona Hyslop is urging the Conservative UK Government to scrap their heartless and unfair two child cap policy which according to new research means over 15% of all children across the Linlithgow and Falkirk East Constituency could be affected. Fiona commented: “Social security should be a safety net for all of us, but the two-child limit is having a devastating effect on 1140 families in Linlithgow and Falkirk East, with 3705 children set to be affected by it. “This heartless policy turns people away when they need support the most and leaves children to grow up in hardship which can have lifelong consequences on their health and wellbeing. “The SNP Government…

Hyslop Completes 10 venue Surgery Tour Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop has thanked constituents who attended her Summer Surgery Tour of 10 surgeries over two days earlier this week. The tour included many of the smaller villages throughout her constituency and ran on Tuesday July 2nd and Friday July 4th. Fiona said; “My Linlithgow Constituency has 5 major towns which is where I normally hold surgeries on a regular basis, but as much of the constituency is semi-rural, it was important to hold surgeries in the smaller villages as well and we had volunteers leaflet the villages in advance to invite people to come along and attend.” “The tour has been a great success and a great opportunity to meet people at the surgery venues and listen to the concerns…

Hyslop Hails Radical Move to Tackle Child Poverty in West Lothian Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has praised the SNP Government’s Announcement of a new social benefit designed to lift children across Scotland out of poverty. By the end of 2022, eligible families in West Lothian will now receive an extra £10 a week for every child under 16 – low income families with children under the age of six will be fast tracked and start to receive the benefit in early 2021. Fiona said, “This is a radical and very welcome announcement – and it’s exactly what we need if we are to reduce child poverty levels here in West Lothian in the face of ongoing welfare cuts from the UK Tory Government. “This announcement means that…

Hyslop Heads out on Summer Surgery Tour Following the success of last year’s tour, local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, is again heading out on a Summer Surgery Tour on Tuesday July 2nd and Friday, July 5th. The tour includes many of the smaller villages in West Lothian.  Fiona said; “Whilst I organise regular surgeries all over my constituency, it is important to get out and meet the constituents who cannot always make it to the bigger towns to meet with me. By organising this surgery tour, I can meet as many of my constituents as possible at a venue that is convenient and accessible for them. “There is no need to make an appointment and constituents will be seen on a first come, first seen basis, however…

Hyslop Welcomes New Consumer Advice Service Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the announcement of a new consumer advice service that has been launched by the Scottish Government Minister for Business and Fair Work, Jamie Hepburn. The new online and telephone consumer advice service for Scottish consumers is funded by the Scottish Government and offers an easy and accessible service via Freephone, Web chat, email, online and through social media. Fiona said, “Scottish consumers need to know where to turn when they need advice or assistance and this new service provides free, practical and impartial advice to everyone in Scotland. “This service provides advice and information on a number of matters including mobile phone and internet providers, purchases on and offline, travel, builders, public bodies and banks and…

Hyslop Condemns UK Government’s License Fee Decision for Older People 7,168 People in West Lothian to Lose Free TV License Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has condemned the decision made by the Conservative UK Government to scrap the free TV license for over 75s affecting 7,186 older people in West Lothian. It is estimated that 60% of over-75s in West Lothian will be forced to pay an extra £154.50 in household bills when the free TV licence policy for over-75s is axed. Fiona said; “I am very concerned to learn that 7,168 older people in my constituency will have the extra burden £154,50 to pay following the UK Government’s disgraceful decision to scrap the free TV license for over 75s. “As if the Conservative Government at Westminster has…

Hyslop Welcomes 17% Fall in Serious Violent Crime in West Lothian Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed new figures which show there has been a 17% fall in serious violent crime in West Lothian over the last ten years.  Police recorded crime figures have also revealed that serious assault and attempted murder cases fell by 38% across Scotland. Fiona commented; “These new figures are encouraging, and reflect a significant reduction in violence in our communities – yet more proof that the Scottish Government’s evidence-based approach to justice and rehabilitation is working.  “The fall in violent crime also coincides with a rise in police numbers since the SNP came to power – in contrast to England and Wales, where police numbers have fallen by almost 20,000.  “It’s vital…

[caption id="attachment_2484" align="aligncenter" width="4031"] — picture by Donald MacLeod [/caption]   Local Linlithgow MSP, Fiona Hyslop has marked International Museum’s Day at the Scottish Parliament and also highlighted the new Linlithgow Museum in her constituency. International Museums Day falls on Saturday, 18th May and was created in 1977 with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of museums as a means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and the development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. Fiona said; “I was delighted to speak at a reception in Parliament this week (Tuesday 14th May) to mark International Museums Day and to highlight the new Linlithgow museum which officially opened just last month. “It is impossible not to recognise the role that museums play in terms of developing relations and…