• GB Energy: We cannot be left at the mercy of Putin again
• Chamberlain urges transport infrastructure funding
• McArthur comments on prison report and plans for young prisoners
• Cole-Hamilton responds to Health Secretary reannouncing £30m of NHS money

GB Energy: We cannot be left at the mercy of Putin again

Responding to the government’s deal between GB Energy and the Crown Estate, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

In recent months we heard countless harrowing stories of parents having to choose between putting food on the table or keeping their children warm as the energy crisis sent their bills spiralling.

For far too long, the Conservative party left us at the mercy of tyrants like Putin for our energy. This can never happen again.

It is right that the new government is taking action to help protect households by committing to clean and secure energy. Alongside this we must also see an emergency insulation programme to drive down bills and keep families warm.

We hope the new government will urgently implement a programme laser-focused on reducing bills and heating homes to avoid another winter of discontent.

Chamberlain urges transport infrastructure funding

Wendy Chamberlain MP for North East Fife yesterday wrote to the Scottish Secretary of State asking for a meeting to discuss transport infrastructure for Scotland.

Since many areas related to transport are devolved, funding sources and application processes often end up falling under both the Westminster and Scottish Governments. As a result, Chamberlain has written to the Minister asking that in this new Parliament, improving inter-governmental relations will assist.

Chamberlain notes the two major transport projects in North East Fife that would benefit from funding. The first is Leuchars train station which needs significant funding to improve disabled access. The second is to being the rebuilding process of Newburgh train station, a project highly supported by local residents and a long standing campaign group.

Chamberlain said:

Transport infrastructure funding isq a complicated landscape in terms of many processes falling under both Governments.

Although I made some progress in the last Parliament, I am hopeful that with the new Government’s focus in intergovernmental relations, there is more scope for Scottish constituencies to receive transport funding.

It is vital that train stations across North East Fife are completely step-free to ensure everyone is able to use them. Just last week, newspaper reports of a wheelchair user being stranded in Kirkcaldy, having travelled from Levenmouth, show that this needs to be sorted urgently.

The community in Newburgh are also extremely welcoming to rebuilding Newburgh train station to help residents commute while bringing in visitors to revitalise local businesses.

I hope that the Minister will meet with me soon so that we can discuss this.

McArthur comments on prison report and plans for young prisoners

Responding to a new Scottish Human Rights Commission report which found 83% of previous recommendations given by human rights bodies to Scottish prisons have yet to be implemented and little-to-no progress has been made in the last decade, and to Angela Constance’s interview on Good Morning Scotland this morning in which she responded to the death of a 17 year old in Polmont Young Offenders Institute, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

Angela Constance is the fifth SNP Justice Secretary and each one has promised that they we were getting on top of the issues in Scotland’s prisons.

Report after report has recommended changes but either the will or the resources have not been provided to make their recommendations a reality.

We have seen tragedy upon tragedy pile up, from young people taking their own lives to terrifying levels of self-harm.

This is terrible for prisoners but also terrible for the communities they may return to because it means that its doubly difficult for proper rehabilitation efforts to take place.

The Scottish Government must at long last ensure that young people are dealt with through secure alternatives to prison and deliver long overdue reform of mental health care with mental health workers in every prison.

Cole-Hamilton responds to Health Secretary reannouncing £30m of NHS money

Responding to Health Secretary Neil Gray’s re-announcement of £30m worth of targeted funding for the NHS, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

Under the SNP, NHS waiting lists were out of control long before anyone had heard of Covid-19 so to pretend that long waits are just down to the virus is misleading.

Any extra funds to help the NHS bear down on long waiting lists should be welcomed but as with all SNP initiatives we will have to wait and see if the implementation is as good as the press release.

Knocking on doors during the election, I spoke every single day to NHS staff who are overwhelmed and patients waiting in pain.

Scottish Liberal Democrats would ease the pressure on hospitals by fixing the problems at the front and back doors of the NHS. We want to get you fast access to GPs and introduce a minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher.