Archive for the ‘General Issues’ Category

Fair Trade Debate

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Bill meets members of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum Following my recent parliamentary motion, I am pleased to say that I was successful in my efforts to secure a debate on the future of Fairtrade in Scotland. In recent years, Scotland has made great strides towards attaining Fairtrade nation status. I am ...

Consultant Outrage

Monday, March 1st, 2010

I have obtained evidence from the Scottish Government which reveals that the expenditure on consultants by the SFT, a body which has yet to build a school or hospital after being launched by the First Minister in 2007, has nearly quadrupled over the past six months. Despite spending over £2000 a ...

Victory for ‘Shine on Scotland’

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Bill welcomes the McLaughlin Family to Parliament prior to Commitee Meeting Victory was confirmed at the last meeting of the Public Petitions Committee (of which I’m a member) for Drumchapel teenager Ryan McLaughlin and his ‘Shine on Scotland’ campaign. Over the last year I have been supporting Ryan’s campaign to tackle the ...

Remembering Anne Frank

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Signing the pledge I believe that educating young people has a crucial part to play in the ongoing battle against prejudice. I was therefore proud to pledge my support to Anne Frank Scotland, a new education programme launched by The Anne Frank Trust UK. The centrepiece of the programme is the travelling ...

Boost for Damages Fight

Friday, February 19th, 2010

My efforts to improve damages legislation have received a boost after MSPs backed my bid to cut out lengthy legal wrangling over victims’ earnings. My proposed Damages (Scotland) Bill seeks to improve rights to damages in respect of personal injuries and wrongful death.  In order for the bill to move forward ...

Drumchapel’s Newest Champion

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Bill praises Drumchapel's latest sporting hotshot. On Friday night (29th January), David Savage Junior, who boxes out of the Argo Club in Drumchapel, clinched the Scottish super bantamweight title after a thrilling ten round points win over Aberdeen’s Gavin Reid. The victory was particularly sweet for father and trainer David Senior who ...

Victory for Bus Campaigners

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Local bus service is to be restored. I am delighted to announce a substantial victory in the campaign to have the no 11 bus service, axed last October, restored. The Monday to Saturday Robroyston to Parkhall evening service, which previously ran through Kelvindale and Knightswood, was withdrawn by First Bus, sparking outrage ...

Time to Tackle Cowboy Factors!

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

I am backing a parliamentary bid to improve the service provided by property factors.  Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson’s Bill would require all Scottish Factors and Property managers to register and be accredited, and would provide accessible mediation so that people in dispute with their factor have an option of seeking redress ...

Backing Local Papers

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Labour MSPs backing local papers I have teamed up with my colleague Des McNulty MSP to support local newspapers such as the Clydebank Post, on the eve of a Holyrood debate to demand that the SNP drop its proposals to allow local councils to put public notices online instead of in ...

Terry McLernon MBE

Monday, January 25th, 2010

In 2009 Bill brought Terry and the Club to Holyrood.   I was delighted to see local man Terry McLernon receive an MBE in the New Year Honours List.  The award acknowledges his unstinting efforts on behalf of both the club and the sport in Scotland over the last 20 years and recognises the remarkable impact ...