That the Parliament notes the decision of 500 deep sea divers in the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) to reject by more than two-to-one the latest United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association pay offer; recognises the extremely dangerous conditions in which these men work, deep in the icy waters of the North Sea, putting their lives at risk to repair oil wells and pipelines in an industry vital to Scotland’s economy; believes that it is right that their wages should reflect the great danger of the job; recognises the fact that they must pay out £20,000 for their extensive training; further notes that they can spend half their working week in decompression chambers after working at depths of 600 feet, that they face compulsory retirement at 50 and cannot get life insurance, medical or sickness cover for the extremely hazardous job they do; believes that the £46,000 maximum salary is therefore not excessive, being much less than the salary earned by an MSP, for example, and notes that divers’ pay has slipped by 20% in recent years in comparison with similar occupations; believes that while the oil industry is making record breaking super-profits it is only right that the highly important and dangerous job these divers do is fully recognised, and calls on the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association to meet RMT representatives at the earliest opportunity to try to settle this dispute to the satisfaction of both sides.
Supported by: Ms Rosemary Byrne, Campbell Martin
Lodged on 02 November 2006; current
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Latest Poll Result
The latest poll, run by the Scotsman, sees the SSP sitting on 4 %
below is a letter I wrote to the Scotsman last week
SSP's GROWING SUPPORT
Hamish Macdonnell appears unable to see the wood for the trees in reporting the Scottish Socialist Party's growing support in the Scotsman's poll today.
It is all very well comparing the SSP's figures today with 2003 but that would be to ignore the events of the last few months. Surely the wiser comparison would be to look at the last ICM Scotsman opinion poll. This time last year it showed support for the SSP on just 2%, now we are on 4%.
Indeed the last three opinion polls in Scotland, all taken in the past few weeks offer considerable encouragement for the SSP, showing as they do support recovering and now standing at between 4-6%. This level of support repeated next May will put us within touching distance of a seat in all 8 regions of Scotland. And given that John McAllion has been selected to fight the North East Scotland region for us, we are confident of increasing our numbers at Holyrood next year.
I am heartened that our core support has remained loyal to the SSP throughout the stormy events of the summer. I can promise all our supporters that we are redoubling our efforts to promote our unique political message and I am very encouraged by the response.
New Labour are on the slide as your poll shows and there are hundreds of thousands of Scots looking for a left alternative. They wont find that with the SNP. By campaigning on our three key policy priorities of Independence, withdrawal of the troops from Iraq and the introduction of free school meals for every pupil we will continue to grow. All these issues have very broad appeal, especially amongst those Scots who have not yet decided if they will vote at all next May.
The SSP has been able to put the damage of the past few months behind us and I fully anticipate that our fortunes will continue to rise as the comparison with the polls of a year ago reveal. I am confident we will see that reflected in the Scotsman's polls in the months to come.
Colin Fox MSP
Scottish Socialist Party National Convenor
Holyrood
EDINBURGH
below is a letter I wrote to the Scotsman last week
SSP's GROWING SUPPORT
Hamish Macdonnell appears unable to see the wood for the trees in reporting the Scottish Socialist Party's growing support in the Scotsman's poll today.
It is all very well comparing the SSP's figures today with 2003 but that would be to ignore the events of the last few months. Surely the wiser comparison would be to look at the last ICM Scotsman opinion poll. This time last year it showed support for the SSP on just 2%, now we are on 4%.
Indeed the last three opinion polls in Scotland, all taken in the past few weeks offer considerable encouragement for the SSP, showing as they do support recovering and now standing at between 4-6%. This level of support repeated next May will put us within touching distance of a seat in all 8 regions of Scotland. And given that John McAllion has been selected to fight the North East Scotland region for us, we are confident of increasing our numbers at Holyrood next year.
I am heartened that our core support has remained loyal to the SSP throughout the stormy events of the summer. I can promise all our supporters that we are redoubling our efforts to promote our unique political message and I am very encouraged by the response.
New Labour are on the slide as your poll shows and there are hundreds of thousands of Scots looking for a left alternative. They wont find that with the SNP. By campaigning on our three key policy priorities of Independence, withdrawal of the troops from Iraq and the introduction of free school meals for every pupil we will continue to grow. All these issues have very broad appeal, especially amongst those Scots who have not yet decided if they will vote at all next May.
The SSP has been able to put the damage of the past few months behind us and I fully anticipate that our fortunes will continue to rise as the comparison with the polls of a year ago reveal. I am confident we will see that reflected in the Scotsman's polls in the months to come.
Colin Fox MSP
Scottish Socialist Party National Convenor
Holyrood
EDINBURGH
Thursday, November 02, 2006
S2M-5074 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): Closure of Solectron, Dunfermline
That the Parliament condemns the decision by Solectron to close its Dunfermline facility with the loss of 480 jobs; considers Solectron to be a company which, on the one hand commends the workforce for its excellent performance, efficiency and profitability but then on the other hand effectively delivers a slap in the face to that workforce just before Christmas; believes that this is another blow to Fife’s manufacturing base, and further believes that, rather than finding them alternative employment and retraining, the Scottish Executive should support the staff of Solectron by keeping this profitable factory open and retain this asset to the Scottish economy.
QUESTION PUT TO PARLIAMENT
S2W-29672 - Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) (Date Lodged 7 November 2006) : To ask the Scottish Executive when it first learned of Solectron’s plans to close its factory in Dunfermline.Due for Answer 21 November 2006
QUESTION PUT TO PARLIAMENT
S2W-29672 - Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) (Date Lodged 7 November 2006) : To ask the Scottish Executive when it first learned of Solectron’s plans to close its factory in Dunfermline.Due for Answer 21 November 2006
Executive Prescription Charges Report Due Out
In February of this year, on the very day the Scottish Parliament was due to debate my Bill to abolish NHS Prescription charges to be exact, the Executive announced a package of reforms in order to offset the chances of a backbench rebellion.
They promised to review the impact the charges had on the chronically sick and on students in full time education and training.
That review is now complete. It is in the hands of the Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald and interest in its findings is intense. That he is reportedly reluctant to publish can perhaps be understood from his point of view because most health experts and commentators are keen to see how the Executive have solved a conundrum which has evaded them for nearly half a century.
The list of chronic conditions which are exempt has not been changed since 1964. In 40 years health professionals and politicians alike have not been able to find an appropriate and logical reason to exempt one chronic condition which allows for one group of patients to get their medicines free whilst not including another group.
Nonetheless this Executive has promised an answer and must now come forward with an answer, to explain why say a Parkinsons Disease sufferer will be is exempt when an asthmatic is not, why a patients with say a chronic skin complaint will be exempt but cancer patients must continue to pay. It is not something the Executive was able to do in the six months that my Bill went through the intensive Parlaimentary scrutiny of 2005.
The promised concessions in February will also look rather foolish unless they can also justify why students in full time education and training should be exempt but part time ones are not. Or since the student exemption is at least based on an acceptance that there are those who simply cannot afford the £6.60 charge per item of prescription, why only students? Why not the low paid who run the risk of going without their medicines? Or those on Incapacity benefit or Disability Living Allowance ? Why must these groups of poor people continue to have to pay?
The prescription charges system is a complete and utter dogs dinner which sees 30 MSP’s over 65 get medicines free but 300,000 on IC and DLA forced to pay?
Whatever the Scottish Executive’s review concludes the unfortunate truthis that tens of thousands of Scots will still be forced to go without the medicines they need because the simply cannot afford the £6.60 per item demanded of them. That undermines the core commitment the NHS promised us all – universal free healthcare.
Perhaps the Executive should just come clean and admit their policy amounts to ‘Keeping Medicines Out of Reach ….of the poor.’
They promised to review the impact the charges had on the chronically sick and on students in full time education and training.
That review is now complete. It is in the hands of the Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald and interest in its findings is intense. That he is reportedly reluctant to publish can perhaps be understood from his point of view because most health experts and commentators are keen to see how the Executive have solved a conundrum which has evaded them for nearly half a century.
The list of chronic conditions which are exempt has not been changed since 1964. In 40 years health professionals and politicians alike have not been able to find an appropriate and logical reason to exempt one chronic condition which allows for one group of patients to get their medicines free whilst not including another group.
Nonetheless this Executive has promised an answer and must now come forward with an answer, to explain why say a Parkinsons Disease sufferer will be is exempt when an asthmatic is not, why a patients with say a chronic skin complaint will be exempt but cancer patients must continue to pay. It is not something the Executive was able to do in the six months that my Bill went through the intensive Parlaimentary scrutiny of 2005.
The promised concessions in February will also look rather foolish unless they can also justify why students in full time education and training should be exempt but part time ones are not. Or since the student exemption is at least based on an acceptance that there are those who simply cannot afford the £6.60 charge per item of prescription, why only students? Why not the low paid who run the risk of going without their medicines? Or those on Incapacity benefit or Disability Living Allowance ? Why must these groups of poor people continue to have to pay?
The prescription charges system is a complete and utter dogs dinner which sees 30 MSP’s over 65 get medicines free but 300,000 on IC and DLA forced to pay?
Whatever the Scottish Executive’s review concludes the unfortunate truthis that tens of thousands of Scots will still be forced to go without the medicines they need because the simply cannot afford the £6.60 per item demanded of them. That undermines the core commitment the NHS promised us all – universal free healthcare.
Perhaps the Executive should just come clean and admit their policy amounts to ‘Keeping Medicines Out of Reach ….of the poor.’
Free School Meals Campaign goes from strength to strength
Last Saturday SSP campaigners were out on Princes Street gathering support for our bill to introduce healthy nutritious free school meals for all Scotlands children.
- One in three youngsters in Scotland are growing up in poverty [these are the governments own figures] and as bad as that is in a wealthy little country like ours the fact is that less than half of them qualify for free school meals. And to make matters worse many of those who do qualify refuse to eat them because of the stigma of them being ‘only for poor kids’ as they see it. All of this means that many many children in Scotland go without the healthy start that they need and eat a much poorer diet.
- 16% of children admitted to Edinburgh’s Sick Kids hospital last year showed signs of malnutrition. Can you belive that in a city as rich as this one that our children do not get enough to eat or are eating all the wrong things.
- Consequentail to eating all the wrong , cheaper things is that childhood obesity rates are spiralling out of control.
These are just some of the problems our Bill seeks to solve. The Free School Meals Bill would guarantee every child a hot nutritious free school meal every day. If it is available to everyone then no child will be left behind – that’s the great benefit of universal provision, long an important socialist principle.
As part of the SSP’s campaign a series of public meetings have been arranged throughout Scotland in the coming 3 months.
The Bill is now in front of the scrutinising committees in the Scottish Parlaiment and will be debated in full in early January. The important thing now is to rachet up the pressure on MSP’s from all parties to support the Bill.
Lothians Public meetings on Free School Meals
Thursday Nov 16th – SOUTH EDINBURGH
Frances Curran MSP – the Bill’s sponsor will speak at St John Vianney PS, Inch [off Gilmerton Road] at 7pm
Tuesday Nov 28th – LEITH
Colin Fox MSP speaker : Bonnington PS at 7.30pm
Thursday Nov 30th – BATHGATE
Colin Fox MSP speaker ; Bathgate Community Centre 7.30pm
Frances Curran MSP – the Bill’s sponsor will speak at St John Vianney PS, Inch [off Gilmerton Road] at 7pm
Tuesday Nov 28th – LEITH
Colin Fox MSP speaker : Bonnington PS at 7.30pm
Thursday Nov 30th – BATHGATE
Colin Fox MSP speaker ; Bathgate Community Centre 7.30pm
Iraq success???????
I sent a letter off to the Evening News last week following a report that British military chiefs were so happy with the ‘success’ of their mission in Iraq that they plan to bring home half the troops by May – I kid you not!
This ‘success’ will come as a surprise to anyone who recalls that more than 120 soldiers have been killed there. It will also come as somewhat of a surprise to hear the illegal occupation of a foreign land described this way so soon after Sir Richard Dannatt the General in charge of the British troops decry the tactics and strategy and presence in Iraq just last week. Dannatt demanded a recognition that the British were hated, losing the battle for hearts and minds and desperately lacked an exit strategy. Well now they have one, namely dress up the campaign so far as a success and get the hell out as quickly as possible.
Letter published in Edinburgh Evening News
Bring the troops in Iraq back home
THE report in Evening News quoting military chiefs claiming British troop operations had been such a success that half the soldiers stationed there could be home early next year almost made me laugh. I say almost because this is Iraq and there is nothing funny about the deadly failure of British military and political policy there.
If there is talk in the Ministry of Defence about withdrawing the troops - and I expect they are discussing little else - then let us not insult the intelligence of the Scottish public by falling for government propaganda. The situation in Iraq is, as the head of the army General Sir Richard Dannatt admitted, a complete disaster.
Anyone who heard John Humphries reports from Basra this week on Radio Four will surely understand how hated and despised the US and UK troops now are in the eyes of the Iraqi people. Basra was supposed to be in the "safe south" of Iraq, well away from Baghdad and the treacherous "Sunni triangle". But now Humphries - himself hardly an arch-critic of government policy these last four years - reveals that British troops cannot be moved in and out of the city other than in the dead of night, that soldiers travel in daylight only in convoys of heavily armoured bullet proof personnel carriers and perhaps most tellingly of all he uncovers the fact that the military top brass have not ventured out of their Basra Palace HQ in many months.
All that doesn't sound like much of a success to me. More like an utterly disastrous and internationally isolated plan which has not only failed to make the world a safer place but has tarnished Britain's reputation worldwide.
The answer needed here is to bring all the troops home now and recognise that the military occupation of a sovereign country, one we knew far too little about, was a grievous error which only a fool could describe as a "success".
Colin Fox MSP, Scottish Socialist Party National Convener, Scottish Parliament
THE report in Evening News quoting military chiefs claiming British troop operations had been such a success that half the soldiers stationed there could be home early next year almost made me laugh. I say almost because this is Iraq and there is nothing funny about the deadly failure of British military and political policy there.
If there is talk in the Ministry of Defence about withdrawing the troops - and I expect they are discussing little else - then let us not insult the intelligence of the Scottish public by falling for government propaganda. The situation in Iraq is, as the head of the army General Sir Richard Dannatt admitted, a complete disaster.
Anyone who heard John Humphries reports from Basra this week on Radio Four will surely understand how hated and despised the US and UK troops now are in the eyes of the Iraqi people. Basra was supposed to be in the "safe south" of Iraq, well away from Baghdad and the treacherous "Sunni triangle". But now Humphries - himself hardly an arch-critic of government policy these last four years - reveals that British troops cannot be moved in and out of the city other than in the dead of night, that soldiers travel in daylight only in convoys of heavily armoured bullet proof personnel carriers and perhaps most tellingly of all he uncovers the fact that the military top brass have not ventured out of their Basra Palace HQ in many months.
All that doesn't sound like much of a success to me. More like an utterly disastrous and internationally isolated plan which has not only failed to make the world a safer place but has tarnished Britain's reputation worldwide.
The answer needed here is to bring all the troops home now and recognise that the military occupation of a sovereign country, one we knew far too little about, was a grievous error which only a fool could describe as a "success".
Colin Fox MSP, Scottish Socialist Party National Convener, Scottish Parliament
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Climate Change Concerns Us All!
Edinburgh University students in the People and Planet society invited me to speak at their meeting on the dangers of climate change Friday 27th in the David Hume tower. Here is the speech I delivered
I am grateful to the People and Planet group at Edinburgh University for the kind invitation to come along tonight and speak with you.
I have heard a great deal about the influential position your group has amongst student opinion here and I believe that was amply demonstrated by your success in stopping Boris Johnston becoming University Rector this year and in the victory of Mark Ballard.
I am glad to be here.
I picked up this leaflet recently advertsing the National Climate Change march in London next Saturday, which I expect many of you will be attending.
On it much of the blame for the CO2 emmisions is levelled rightly at what it describes as "George Bush's fossil-fuelled industry dominated administration!"
And you can't but agree that his government is dominated by and run for the benefit of big oil.
He went to war for oil. The biggest corporations in the world benefited from that war and they are oil companies. They have subsequently declared record profits and they wield fearsome political power over the world today.
So much so that when the world lines up the Kyoto protocol to reduce harmful emissions Bush effectively tells us all to blow it out your, well, nose!
It is therefore a measure of who we are up against here in this debate.
The second thing which grabbed my attention on the leaflet was the phrase
"Only a fair and effective international treaty can prevent tragic injustice."
I have to say fairness is in short supply in the global world today. And I am sceptical that these world leader will change their spots.
Remember the G8 in Scotland last year and how making world poverty history and climate change were to be the two big themes, well aren't you struck by how little changed? I was.
I remember as I took part in all the events of July 2005, the Make Poverty History march which was terrific and so established that we were speaking on behalf of all common humanity. The G8Alternatives summit, Faslane protest, Dungavel protest and of course Gleneagles protest itself which we did so much to ensure happened at all.
I remember at the time being fearful that no one in Washington, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris, Ottowa, Rome or Moscow was marching and was this all just British domestic matter. Nothing changed. There are more people living in poverty in the world today that there was then. The climate is in worse shape.
This is a hugely unequal world. It is more unequal now than it has ever been before; poverty and degradation fpor the mass of workers and peasants but the no of billionaires rises and rises and rises.
Lets not be blind to the class nature of the world today, the world belongs to us all equally.
I am grateful to the People and Planet group at Edinburgh University for the kind invitation to come along tonight and speak with you.
I have heard a great deal about the influential position your group has amongst student opinion here and I believe that was amply demonstrated by your success in stopping Boris Johnston becoming University Rector this year and in the victory of Mark Ballard.
I am glad to be here.
I picked up this leaflet recently advertsing the National Climate Change march in London next Saturday, which I expect many of you will be attending.
On it much of the blame for the CO2 emmisions is levelled rightly at what it describes as "George Bush's fossil-fuelled industry dominated administration!"
And you can't but agree that his government is dominated by and run for the benefit of big oil.
He went to war for oil. The biggest corporations in the world benefited from that war and they are oil companies. They have subsequently declared record profits and they wield fearsome political power over the world today.
So much so that when the world lines up the Kyoto protocol to reduce harmful emissions Bush effectively tells us all to blow it out your, well, nose!
It is therefore a measure of who we are up against here in this debate.
The second thing which grabbed my attention on the leaflet was the phrase
"Only a fair and effective international treaty can prevent tragic injustice."
I have to say fairness is in short supply in the global world today. And I am sceptical that these world leader will change their spots.
Remember the G8 in Scotland last year and how making world poverty history and climate change were to be the two big themes, well aren't you struck by how little changed? I was.
I remember as I took part in all the events of July 2005, the Make Poverty History march which was terrific and so established that we were speaking on behalf of all common humanity. The G8Alternatives summit, Faslane protest, Dungavel protest and of course Gleneagles protest itself which we did so much to ensure happened at all.
I remember at the time being fearful that no one in Washington, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris, Ottowa, Rome or Moscow was marching and was this all just British domestic matter. Nothing changed. There are more people living in poverty in the world today that there was then. The climate is in worse shape.
This is a hugely unequal world. It is more unequal now than it has ever been before; poverty and degradation fpor the mass of workers and peasants but the no of billionaires rises and rises and rises.
Lets not be blind to the class nature of the world today, the world belongs to us all equally.
Colin invited to speak at Inch Community AGM
I joined other public representatives on the platform at the Inch Community Association in St John Vianney School last Thursday (26th October).
The meeting attracted 50 or so local people the dreadful weather hampered the numbers - and the main issues raised were anti social behaviour and plans for developing local sports pavilions.
The meeting attracted 50 or so local people the dreadful weather hampered the numbers - and the main issues raised were anti social behaviour and plans for developing local sports pavilions.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Dogs dirt, glass and crumbling pavillions
Whilst out walking at the Double Hedges park in Edinburgh a few months ago I got chatting to the coach of the local youth football team. He told me of the lack of decent changing facilities at the park. Since then there have been articles in the Edinburgh Evening News highlighting the absolutely abysmal state some of our pitches are in.
Reports from coaches of teams across Edinburgh showed that their primary concern on a Saturday or Sunday morning is the removal of Dog's dirt and broken glass from the pitches the children are supposed to play on. Then there's the ramshackle state of the changing facilities at these parks. It's just not good enough to expect children to change in these facilities. What with Scotland's poor health record, including increaseing obesity we should be doing everything in our power to make physical activity and sport as pleasurable as possible for our youngsters.
I fully support moves by the Coaches of the youth teams in Edinburgh to try and remedy this situation - I've submitted two motions and two questions to the Scottish Parliament (below) and will be going along to a meeting they've organised on the 5th November. I'll post an update later.
S2M-4956 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : Need for Investment in Football Facilities— That the Parliament congratulates the national football team for its excellent start to the Euro 2008 qualifiers, notwithstanding the defeat in Kiev, and wishes the squad all the best in the remaining matches; believes that youth development provides the lifeblood for future success at club and international level but observes that much of our sporting facilities at local level across Scotland are in an awful state of disrepair, as most recently highlighted in Edinburgh; recognises the vital contribution which volunteers, who give up their time to run thousands of clubs across Scotland, make to the success of football in Scotland but notes the dispiriting environment in which they often find themselves working in pavilions, changing rooms and other facilities which are not up to scratch, and believes that the Scottish Executive must recognise the vital role that youth football plays and, for the future of the game, must invest in new or renovated facilities to sustain football at all stages from soccer sevens through to professional level.
Supported by: Ms Rosemary Byrne, Frances Curran, Carolyn Leckie, Mr Kenny MacAskill, Tommy Sheridan, John Swinburne
Lodged on 16 October 2006; current 16 October 2006
S2M-4954 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : Upgrading Edinburgh Sports Pavilions— That the Parliament welcomes the campaigning initiative of Hutchison Vale FC young footballers for increased funding for Edinburgh sports pavilions; notes that the City of Edinburgh Council has earmarked £4 million to replace three crumbling pavilions; recognises that more major investment is required to ensure that this is no longer seen as a “Cinderella service”, and believes that, at a time when it is vitally important that young people are encouraged to take up competitive sport, it is unacceptable that changing facilities are squalid and not fit for purpose.
Supported by: Fiona Hyslop, Tommy Sheridan
Lodged on 13 October 2006; current
Reports from coaches of teams across Edinburgh showed that their primary concern on a Saturday or Sunday morning is the removal of Dog's dirt and broken glass from the pitches the children are supposed to play on. Then there's the ramshackle state of the changing facilities at these parks. It's just not good enough to expect children to change in these facilities. What with Scotland's poor health record, including increaseing obesity we should be doing everything in our power to make physical activity and sport as pleasurable as possible for our youngsters.
I fully support moves by the Coaches of the youth teams in Edinburgh to try and remedy this situation - I've submitted two motions and two questions to the Scottish Parliament (below) and will be going along to a meeting they've organised on the 5th November. I'll post an update later.
MOTIONS
S2M-4956 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : Need for Investment in Football Facilities— That the Parliament congratulates the national football team for its excellent start to the Euro 2008 qualifiers, notwithstanding the defeat in Kiev, and wishes the squad all the best in the remaining matches; believes that youth development provides the lifeblood for future success at club and international level but observes that much of our sporting facilities at local level across Scotland are in an awful state of disrepair, as most recently highlighted in Edinburgh; recognises the vital contribution which volunteers, who give up their time to run thousands of clubs across Scotland, make to the success of football in Scotland but notes the dispiriting environment in which they often find themselves working in pavilions, changing rooms and other facilities which are not up to scratch, and believes that the Scottish Executive must recognise the vital role that youth football plays and, for the future of the game, must invest in new or renovated facilities to sustain football at all stages from soccer sevens through to professional level.
Supported by: Ms Rosemary Byrne, Frances Curran, Carolyn Leckie, Mr Kenny MacAskill, Tommy Sheridan, John Swinburne
Lodged on 16 October 2006; current 16 October 2006
S2M-4954 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : Upgrading Edinburgh Sports Pavilions— That the Parliament welcomes the campaigning initiative of Hutchison Vale FC young footballers for increased funding for Edinburgh sports pavilions; notes that the City of Edinburgh Council has earmarked £4 million to replace three crumbling pavilions; recognises that more major investment is required to ensure that this is no longer seen as a “Cinderella service”, and believes that, at a time when it is vitally important that young people are encouraged to take up competitive sport, it is unacceptable that changing facilities are squalid and not fit for purpose.
Supported by: Fiona Hyslop, Tommy Sheridan
Lodged on 13 October 2006; current
QUESTIONS
S2W-29027 - Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) (Date Lodged 11 October 2006) : To ask the Scottish Executive when and by whom the city of Edinburgh’s sports pavilions were last audited to ensure that they are fit for purpose.
Due for Answer 8 November 2006
ANSWER
Answered by Patricia Ferguson (7 November 2006):
This is a matter for the owners of the sports pavilions. Sportscotland provided support to the City of Edinburgh Council in the preparation of the Council’s Sports Pitch Strategy, which was completed in 2002 and part of this work considered the condition of the associated sports pavilions. Information on the condition of the sports pavilions should be obtained from the City of Edinburgh Council or the relevant pavilion owners direct.
S2W-29085 - Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) (Date Lodged 16 October 2006) : To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it will make available for the renovation and upgrading of changing facilities and pavilions for sporting use at public parks in each of the next three years.
Due for Answer 13 November 2006
ANSWER
Answered by Patricia Ferguson (10 November 2006):
Local authorities need to take a strategic overview of the range and location of sports facilities its communities require before considering funding packages for renovating or upgrading pavilions or changing facilities. Where facilities are in private ownership a needs assessment should be prepared and discussed with the sports governing body and the local authority. Sportscotland’s Building for Sport programme can support the re-development of changing facilities and pavilions. However, it is for the board of sportscotland to determine which applications are supported and the level of any contribution.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
S2M-4988 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : House Price Rises and Lack of Affordable Housing
That the Parliament believes that the recent rises in average house prices in Scotland are unsustainable and that lack of new social housing is fuelling inflation in house prices, making both buying and renting increasingly unaffordable to those on low incomes, and therefore calls for an end to right-to-buy and for substantial investment by the Scottish Executive in the building of new local authority and housing association properties for affordable rents to meet the obvious need that rising house prices signify.
Lodged on 23 October 2006; current
Lodged on 23 October 2006; current
S2M-4951 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : Congratulations to Stirling Tenants for Rejecting Stock Transfer Plans
That the Parliament welcomes the vote by tenants of Stirling Council to reject housing stock transfer proposals; believes that the overwhelming result of 69% to 31% represents a knock-out blow for the Scottish Executive’s flagship policy of housing stock transfer, which many consider to be privatisation by the back door, following as it does the similar vote by Edinburgh tenants last year; congratulates the “no” campaign on its ability to counteract the expensive propaganda and ultimately wasted public money spent promoting privatisation, and believes that it is now incumbent on the Executive to realise that the writing is on the wall for housing stock transfer, that tenants across Scotland reject it and demand instead to see meaningful investment in publicly owned, affordable to all, social housing for rent to ensure that everyone has a home fit for the 21st century.
Supported by: Tommy Sheridan
Lodged on 12 October 2006; current
Supported by: Tommy Sheridan
Lodged on 12 October 2006; current
S2M-4947 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : Strike by Passport Workers
That the Parliament supports the 24-hour strike by Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members at passport offices across Britain, including the one in Glasgow, on Friday 13 October, in pursuit of a 4.4% wage claim; regrets both the unfortunate disruption that will caused to the general public and that the action is necessary, but believes the union is entitled to feel aggrieved that some two months after the agreed settlement date for the pay negotiations no offer has yet been made, and believes that this effective pay freeze is part of a wider attack on the public sector where workers’ pay and conditions and pension rights are being diminished and that continuous privatisation eats away at the quality of service to the public.
Supported by: Ms Rosemary Byrne, Frances Curran, Rosie Kane, Carolyn Leckie, Campbell Martin, Tommy Sheridan
Lodged on 12 October 2006; current
Supported by: Ms Rosemary Byrne, Frances Curran, Rosie Kane, Carolyn Leckie, Campbell Martin, Tommy Sheridan
Lodged on 12 October 2006; current
S2M-4942 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : Lothian Alliance Against Depression: Anti-stigma Campaign
That the Parliament recognises that, partially because of the stigma surrounding mental illness, as many as 75% of people suffering from depression do not seek help from their GP; therefore welcomes the launch of the “Mother, father, son, daughter” anti-stigma campaign by Lothian Alliance Against Depression, and congratulates Depression Alliance Scotland, the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian for the initiative.
Supported by: Chris Ballance, Mark Ballard, Bill Butler, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Frances Curran, Robin Harper, Rosie Kane, Carolyn Leckie, Tommy Sheridan, Murray Tosh, Mr David Davidson, Nora Radcliffe, Eleanor Scott, Margaret Smith, John Swinburne, Fiona Hyslop, Mr Adam Ingram, Mrs Nanette Milne, Trish Godman
Lodged on 11 October 2006; current
SSP campaigns against nuclear power
The SSP has a proud record of opposing nuclear weapons at Faslane as well as the more recent threat of nuclear power stations - Lothians SSP members and myself spent the summer on the streets of Edinburgh calling for more renewables as opposed to nuclear.
I've used my position in the Scottish Parliament to highlight the hypocrisy of the outcry by nuclear powers against recent tests by North Korea. More nuclear weapons in the world are surely a bad thing - they don't just hold their own destructive power but are also economically destructive. The billions of pounds it will cost to replace Trident could be better used increasing pensions or building schools and hospitals or introducing a decent minimum wage.
I've used my position in the Scottish Parliament to highlight the hypocrisy of the outcry by nuclear powers against recent tests by North Korea. More nuclear weapons in the world are surely a bad thing - they don't just hold their own destructive power but are also economically destructive. The billions of pounds it will cost to replace Trident could be better used increasing pensions or building schools and hospitals or introducing a decent minimum wage.
Parliamentary motion
S2M-4946 Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP) : North Korean Nuclear Missiles and Non-Proliferation— That the Parliament believes the test firing of a nuclear weapon by the North Korean Government represents a severe blow to the world’s nuclear non-proliferation programme; notes that this test now takes the number of countries with nuclear weapons to nine: Russia with 16,000 weapons, the United States of America with 10,300 weapons, China with 410 weapons, France with 350 weapons, the United Kingdom with 200 weapons, India with 100 weapons, Israel with 100 weapons, Pakistan with 100 weapons and North Korea with 13 weapons; also notes that this test could accelerate similar test programmes underway in Iran, Japan, Brazil and South Korea; believes that the recent sabre-rattling by George Bush against North Korea and the presence of 37,000 US troops amassed on its border stoked fears in Pyongyang of another US invasion and, therefore, inexorably propelled their weapons testing programme; calls for greater understanding of North Korea and greater engagement with this enigmatic regime and the pressing needs of its people, and calls for the UK Government to press the case for all nine countries with nuclear weapons to sign up to, and honour, the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty.
Lodged on 12 October 2006; current
Lodged on 12 October 2006; current
A Month in the life of an SSP convenor
Since returning from South Africa my role as SSP convenor, as well as a Lothians MSP has seen my diary filled to the brim. As you can see the activity is varied.
14th Street campaigning on Free School Meals Bill on Princes St 12- 2pm
[*I’m to be found there most Saturdays]
15th on Talk 107 radio 10-11am
16th addressed Lothians Scottish Socialist Youth branch on SSP’s prospects for 2007
19th attended Edinburgh South SSP branch in Gilmerton Community Centre
21st Street campaigning on Free School meals – Princes St 12-2pm
22nd SSP National Executive in Edinburgh
24th Interviewed by MORI opinion pollsters
25th Meeting physiotherapists from across Scotland who are lobbying Parliament in protest at the lack of vacancies in the profession
26th Meeting pupils from St Nicholas Primary school in Broxburn in Parliament
26th Addressing public meeting in the Inch, Edinburgh, organised by Inch Community Council
27th Addressing students at Edinburgh University on the challenges of Climate change
28th Street campaigning in Cupar followed by Tay Coast SSP branch AGM
29th SSP National Council in Edinburgh
October
7th/8th addressed SSP National Conference (see previous posting)14th Street campaigning on Free School Meals Bill on Princes St 12- 2pm
[*I’m to be found there most Saturdays]
15th on Talk 107 radio 10-11am
16th addressed Lothians Scottish Socialist Youth branch on SSP’s prospects for 2007
19th attended Edinburgh South SSP branch in Gilmerton Community Centre
21st Street campaigning on Free School meals – Princes St 12-2pm
22nd SSP National Executive in Edinburgh
24th Interviewed by MORI opinion pollsters
25th Meeting physiotherapists from across Scotland who are lobbying Parliament in protest at the lack of vacancies in the profession
26th Meeting pupils from St Nicholas Primary school in Broxburn in Parliament
26th Addressing public meeting in the Inch, Edinburgh, organised by Inch Community Council
27th Addressing students at Edinburgh University on the challenges of Climate change
28th Street campaigning in Cupar followed by Tay Coast SSP branch AGM
29th SSP National Council in Edinburgh
Monday, October 23, 2006
SSP Conference speech
Video footage of Colin's speech to the SSP conference in October can be viewed on You Tube by following the links below:
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxG4YNLjRkQ
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBvQ9egaUqA
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0T5KUttrpw
Thanks to Collette Mengiles for the footage!
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxG4YNLjRkQ
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBvQ9egaUqA
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0T5KUttrpw
Thanks to Collette Mengiles for the footage!
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