North MSP to meet with Victims’ Champion for England and Wales
31 March 2009
David Stewart, Highlands and Islands Labour regional MSP is to meet tomorrow with Sara Payne, the recently appointed Victims’ Champion for England and Wales.
Her role is to prepare the way for the appointment of a ‘Victims and Witnesses Commissioner’ for England and Wales.
Mr Stewart commented, “I am on the verge of launching a members’ bill in the Scottish Parliament hopefully leading to the appointment of a Victims’ Commissioner, who will be a champion, a focal point and a voice for victims across the length and breadth of Scotland.
“It is important to learn from the work that Sarah Payne has already carried out and also the Victims’ Commissioner in Northern Ireland.
“The main tasks to be carried out by Scottish Victims’ Commissioner could include promoting awareness and understanding on the rights of victims and actively engaging with victims and those working on their behalf.
“The Commissioner would also keep under review current policy and practice relating to victims and make recommendations on best practice and publish and instigate research on issues associated with victims.
“He/she would also conduct investigations on broad issues involving victims as a group, with the power to call witnesses.
“An example could be the treatment of rape victims by the justice system.”
Mr Stewart added, “The criminal justice system needs to keep the needs of victims of crime centre stage and ensure that the necessary support is in place for those who have often undergone what is frequently a traumatic experience.”
Highland MSP’s Delight as SNP Trees Policy Felled
13 March 2009
David Stewart, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP has expressed his delight at the massive u-turn by the SNP Government decision to ditch its proposal to lease large tracts of Scotland’s forests to foreign investors.
Mr Stewart said, “The proposals to allow leasing and cutting rights to private investors was flawed and ill-considered from the very outset. This is yet another humiliating policy u- turn from the SNP.
Under the scheme, 25 per cent of the forest estate would be leased out over a 75-year period.
He said,
“I lodged a series of parliamentary questions on the subject and also raised the issue a number of times, including in the recent parliamentary debate.
“From the answers that I have received, the bottom line is this: the idea came from City of London bankers Rothschild, which was Margaret Thatcher’s favourite privatisation bank.
“The proposal has been widely condemned across the political fold and the vast majority of consultation responses were extremely critical.
“But no one should forget the SNP were prepared to dispose of our forests to foreign investors if Labour had not intervened.
“Together with colleagues Rhoda Grant and Peter Peacock I raised an e-petition against the proposals which has received over a thousand signatures.
“Similarly, many concerned constituents have written to my office.
“There has been little support for the plans, apart from the SNP.
“The unions and rural and urban communities, too, have widely condemned the proposal.
“From the outset I have been convinced the leasing proposals would be disastrous for rural communities and cost jobs.”
North MSP supports Fire Brigade Union’s Concern over Firefighter Deaths
02 March 2009
David Stewart, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP has spoken in support of the Fire Brigade Union’s concern over deaths of firefighters in the line of duty.
Mr Stewart said, “The FBU recently published a report called ‘In the Line of Duty’ highlighting the tragic deaths of an unprecedented number of firefighters in 2007/08.
“During this period three firefighters lost their lives, the highest toll in over thirty years.
“The FBU were at the Scottish Parliament last week and I met with Fraser Parr, the chair of the Highlands and Islands FBU and heard of concerns within the service regarding various aspects of these deaths.
“It is vital that when such tragic deaths occur there is a comprehensive review of the circumstances and lessons are learned for the future.
“I was surprised to learn that records are not kept systematically and may not accurately reflect the number of deaths occurring.
“There is even an absence of a common definition for such deaths.
“My colleague, Richard Baker MSP, has lodged a parliamentary motion highlighting this situation and calling on the Scottish Government to consider the need for a properly resourced central body with responsibility for recording and investigating firefighter’s deaths.
“Firefighters have a vitally important job, which at times can be dangerous and when deaths occur it is essential that any learning points are quickly identified and new procedures introduced to prevent any reoccurrence.”
North MSP calls for an end to postcode lottery for treatment of patients with diabetes
26 February 2009
David Stewart, Highlands and Islands Labour regional MSP has questioned the Minister for Public Health in the Scottish Parliament on treatment for diabetes patients.
Mr Stewart said, “I asked the minister if she was aware of the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) technical appraisal report issued last year which recommended insulin pump therapy as a treatment option for adults and children, over 12, with type one diabetes. “There are major differences in performance among health boards in terms of insulin pumps and I enquired what plans the minister has to monitor health boards’ progress to avoid a post code lottery for patients with insulin dependent diabetes.”
“In response the minister agreed to continue to monitor the performance of health boards over this issue, to maintain current momentum and to revise diabetes plans where necessary.
“We now have an increasing number of our population affected by diabetes due to an ageing population and an increase in obesity.
“Unfortunately, at this time some health boards have been more able to introduce or expand insulin pump usage than others.
“It is essential that treatment for the diabetes is both effective and equally available in all health board areas.
“I will continue to monitor this issue”
Scottish Government confirms London City Bankers dreamt up idea for forest leasing proposals
11 February 2009
Labour’s chief whip in the Scottish Parliament David Stewart is revealing that private bankers Rothschild dreamt up the plans to lease Scotland’s forests.
Following questions by the Highlands and Islands MSP, the Environment minister Mike Russell has confirmed that the City of London merchant bankers approached the Scottish Government with plans for the forest estate.
Mr Stewart commented:
“The proposals to lease off huge sections of Scotland’s national forests to private companies have attracted widespread condemnation.
The government’s regular talks with Margaret Thatcher’s favourite privatisation bank indicates there may have had a client or two in the wings.
This short sighted move to hand over the profits from forests grown by tax payers would be damaging for the management and employment of Scotland’s national asset. Even Mrs Thatcher shied away from privatising the Forestry Commission.
“The numbers just don’t add up.
“We have been told that the national forest estate is worth about £850 million and that the Government wants to raise £200 million from leasing vast areas of forest.
“However, £850 million is the most optimistic valuation of the estate in a stable land market.
“The market reality is that, by flooding the market with an enormous area of land, the Government will lower the price and value of the assets.
“Moreover, the creation of leases with highly restrictive clauses will have a negative effect on the value of the assets, which might mean that even greater than expected areas of Scotland’s forests have to leave public ownership in order to raise the necessary cash.
“If the idea is pursued, any future Government’s ability to manage the forests will be hamstrung for 75 years, irrespective of new knowledge or developments in climate change, land use or any social, economic or environmental policy.
“A quarter of our national forest estate will effectively be exempt from public intervention until 2084.
“That cannot be right.
“The minister has said this is not a back-door privatisation, because only trees will be sold; the land itself will remain in public ownership.
“However, the land is relatively worthless without the trees that are planted in it.
“That fact, coupled with the length of the proposed leases, shows that this is asset stripping of almost eye-watering magnitude.
“Introducing this leasing scheme in the name of climate control also beggars belief.
“Our living forests play a number of roles in climate change mitigation, industry and construction, job creation, biomass, housing, leisure, and biodiversity, and should remain effectively managed.
“Labour will be continuing to call for the withdrawal of this leasing scheme.”
Apology demanded by North MSP from Environment Minister over misleading Parliament
03 February 2009
A Highlands and Islands regional MSP is calling for an apology from the Environment Minister after incorrect information about jobs with the Forestry Commission was announced in Parliament.
David Stewart had highlighted the fears of Forestry Commission staff that there will be a threat to jobs and the future of Scottish forests in a recent debate.
Mike Russell had commented that 1,000 jobs had been lost in the Forestry Commission when the previous Labour-Liberal Democrat administration was in control.
“From information I have received from people in industry and from figures released in Parliament it is clear that these figures are patently false.
“There is a responsibility on ministers not to give inaccurate or misleading information in Parliament.
“I am calling on the Minister to retract the information and apologise for the comments,” said Mr Stewart.
He added: “This kind of attack is less than helpful when we are trying to have meaningful debate about the future of forestry in Scotland.
“The principle of leasing off huge areas of forestry owned by the tax payer, devaluing the land and passing profits to a private company is a nonsense.
“The comparatively small amount of money this would bring in doesn’t make sense when control over our forests is lost.
“It looks like the SNP’s plans are actually Rothschild’s brainchild – given that the government has sought the advice of Mrs Thatcher’s favourite privatisation consultants – the City of London merchant bankers Rothschild.
“The Minister did not confirm or deny that it was their idea that 75-year leases were the best way of selling off the management rights to Scotland’s national forests.
“Labour maintains its commitment from the 1997 manifesto to keep forests in public ownership”
North MSP raises plight of victims with the First Minister
29 January 2009
David Stewart, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP, has been seeking support for a Victim’s Commissioner from the First Minister.
During First Minister Questions, the MSP pointed to the appointment of Sara Payne as a ‘Victims’ Champion’ for England and Wales, and called for the Scottish Government to support his private members bill which aims to put victims of crime at the centre of our legal system.
“The First Minister identified the vital work which is going on in Scotland to support victims of crime and confirmed that as part of a review of victims’ strategy the government would be prepared to consider having a commissioner with responsibility for the support of victims of crime.
“My consultation will be published in the near future and it is vital that we find an appropriate way to rebalance the justice system so that we support victims and those who work to help them.”
Lochalsh Road Post Office
27 January 2009
David Stewart, Highlands and Islands Regional MSP, is supporting Merkinch residents who are appealing for the re-opening of the Lochalsh Road Post Office.
Royal Mail is keeping Mr Stewart up to date with their search to find a way to provide a service at the branch, which the locals in their petition refer to as the ‘lifeblood of their area’ and which they say communities and businesses can not do without.
“I have highlighted to the Post Office that this matter needs to be addressed urgently.
“Having spoken with their customer relations team I understand the difficulties they face but there are many elderly and young families in the area who use this Post Office.
“£It is not surprising that the petition has already attracted over 200 names and it is vital that a temporary solution is found until this matter is resolved,” said Mr Stewart.
“I will be visiting Merkinch on Friday to discuss the situation with local residents and businesses.”
Stewart seeks answers on ‘missing’ sports funding
22 January 2008
David Stewart, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP, is pushing the Scottish Government to spell out how where funding is to come from for our future athletes.
Following a change in community funding, grants previously distributed to local sports councils by Highlands and Islands Enterprise have been withdrawn.
“Some of these organisations received up to two thirds of their annual funding from HIE.
“This money was distributed amongst the member clubs and was used to help fund coaching, training, sports development and small equipment grants.
“If the Scottish Government has dictated that HIE is no longer to deliver these funds then where is this missing money to come from?
“Given our geography it is vital that we support sports coaching in our area, not least as there are additional costs involved when competing or training outside the Highlands and Islands.
“The amount of money these voluntary and charity sports organisations receive is miniscule in terms of Government budgets, but the effects they have on our potential champions of the future are massive.
“The loss of these clubs would have far reaching effects in the health and well being of our communities.
“I am meeting with senior staff at HIE on February 6 to discuss the matter.
“However, this killer blow for our sports councils has come from the Scottish Government and I am seeking the Minister’s response on where the sports councils are to seek this vital funding.”
David Stewart to Launch Victims’ Commissioner Bill Consultation
05 January 2009
Scottish Labour have dubbed 2009, the year of victims’ rights as Scottish Labour chief Whip David Stewart prepares to launch a consultation on his proposed Victims’ Commissioner (Scotland) Bill.
The Highlands and Islands MSP will launch his consultation in the next fortnight but has already received backing from Victim Support Scotland and Rape Crisis Scotland.
David Stewart said:
“The idea of having a Victims’ Commissioner was proposed by Labour last year but received no support from the SNP.
“I have decided that if victims of crime are to get the support and attention they deserve then they need a dedicated commissioner to look after their needs.
“I will launch my consultation on my bill in the next few days and I hope that I will get backing from across Scotland and then across the chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
“I hope the Victims Commissioner will have the ability to investigate, challenge and raise awareness of issues affecting victims of crime, to act as a signpost to other services and to be a positive voice for victims of crime.
“Let’s face it there is already a Prison Complaints Commissioner. It’s time that victims of crime had their own champion.”
