Linda Fabiani MSP has been selected by SNP members as the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the East Kilbride constituency in next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.

Ms Fabiani, who has served as an MSP for Central Scotland since 1999, was the sole nominee. Her selection was unanimously endorsed by a meeting of local party members at East Kilbride’s Blacklaw Hall on Sunday.

Ms Fabiani said, “I am honoured to have once again been chosen to represent the SNP in the East Kilbride constituency, and I’m grateful to local party members for their continued support. The SNP has an excellent record in government and the policies and vision to lead Scotland to better times, and ‘m looking forward to taking that positive message to people in East Kilbride during the election campaign.”

The elections to the Scottish Parliament will take place on Thursday 5 May 2011.

S3M-06732# Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): Richard Demarco, 80 Years Young — That the Parliament notes and celebrates the 80th birthday of Richard Demarco, one of Scotland’s leading figures in art promotion and an advocate for contemporary art for decades; further notes that he has promoted cross-cultural links, taking Scottish artists abroad and bringing other European artists here, making a particular contribution to the understanding of Eastern European art between 1968 and 1989 with his journeys behind the Iron Curtain, that he was a co-founder of the Traverse Theatre in 1963 before going on to found his own gallery and the Demarco European Art Foundation, that he has been involved with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in one way or another since its inception and that he has made a contribution to the academic understanding of Scottish and European culture through his lecture work, including his professorship at Kingston University in London; also notes that his drawings, paintings and prints are held in more than 1,200 collections and that his 80th birthday will be marked by a major exhibition in the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) from 28 November 2010 to 17 January 2011, highlighting Mr Demarco’s collaboration with other artists and featuring works from Magdalena Abakanowicz, Marina Abramovicz, David Mach, Alistair Maclennan, Gunther Uecker, Ainslie Yule, Joseph Beuys, Tadeusz Kantor, Mario Merz and Paul Neagu; further notes that this honour afforded by the RSA comes on top of other honours bestowed on Richard Demarco, including the Polish Gold Order of Merit, the Cavaliere della Republica d’Italia, the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres de France and a CBE; congratulates him on his achievements to date; looks forward to more to come, and wishes him many happy returns on his 80th birthday.

Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Justice, visited East Kilbride’s Langlands Moss nature reserve this week (Wednesday) to see for himself improvements that have been made as a result of work done by offenders serving their sentences in the local community.

Work has been carried out to improve the paths and car park at the popular local attraction, as well to the Moss itself, which is an important wildlife habitat and conservation site. Much of the labour was supplied by the local Community Services Offenders’ Scheme. As Justice Secretary, Mr MacAskill introduced tough new Community Payback Order sentences, which require low level offenders to repay communities through useful work such as the Langlands Moss project.

Linda Fabiani MSP, who invited Mr MacAskill to visit Langlands Moss and accompanied him on his visit, said:
“After I visited Langlands Moss myself last month and saw the fantastic results of the work that’s been done here, I knew that the Justice Secretary would want to see for himself the positive outcome that Community Payback has achieved at Langlands Moss.

“The work at Langlands Moss was not a soft option for these offenders – they had to put in some tough physical labour to achieve the improvements we see today. The result is that they have repaid their debt to the community in a way that benefits everyone and delivered some very visible improvements to one of the jewels in East Kilbride’s crown.

“I’d like to pay tribute to the Friends of Langlands Moss, who not only freely dedicate so much of their time and energy to the important cause of conserving and improving Langlands Moss, but who have also been very generous in their praise for the work carried out by the community services offenders’ team.”

Maureen Potter, secretary of the Friends of Langlands Moss, said:
“We are delighted at the interest that Mr MacAskill and Linda have shown in Langlands Moss and very grateful for the work that was carried out by the offenders doing their community service. We certainly couldn’t have got all this done without their help.”

Linda Fabiani MSP has urged youth projects in the East Kilbride area to apply for funding from South Lanarkshire’s £146,380 share of a pot of cash created from the proceeds of crime, after Scottish government Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced that a fourth round of funding for youth projects from the CashBack for Communities scheme is now open.

The cash is the first portion of £6.5 million recovered earlier this year from a Russian money launderer with dealings in Scotland, which is now being invested directly back into local communities to provide free diversionary activities for young people.

The scheme, to be administered by YouthLink Scotland, the national youth work agency, has been allocated £2.5 million to distribute over the next two years to local youth projects across Scotland in the form of grants up to a maximum of £30,000.

Central Scotland MSP Linda urged eligible groups to get their applications in , saying:

“CashBack for Communities ensures that something good can come out of the damage that is done to communities by the activities of serious criminals, by giving cash seized from those same criminals back to community-based clubs and organisations for young people.

“Several East Kilbride youth projects which have already received funding from CashBack for Communities are doing a great job, showing our young people that there is much more to life than offending or getting out of your heads on drink or drugs.

“I would urge other youth projects in East Kilbride to take advantage of this opportunity to apply for funding that will help get kids off street corners, get them involved in things like volunteering or offer them the chance to give something back to their communities. The benefits will be felt not only by the young people themselves, but also in the wider community.”

MSPs Linda Fabiani and Christina McKelvie took part in a historic church service and ceremony last week to unveil a new memorial to four Lanarkshire men who were executed in 1666 for their part in defending the National Covenants of Scotland.

The memorial plaque in Hamilton Old Parish Curchyard is the work of the Scottish Covenanter Memorials Association, which is dedicated to preserving and maintaining Covenanter graves and memorials and to raising awareness of this era of Scotland’s history. The plaque is placed next to a stone marking the site of the burial of the heads of four Covenanters, Gavin Hamilton of Carluke, James Hamilton of Glassford, John Parker of Busby, and Christopher Strang of Lickprivick in East Kilbride.

Strathaven-based MSP Linda Fabiani, who tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament to mark the occasion of the plaque’s dedication, said:

“This was a fascinating and moving event, which really brought to life this incredible period in Scotland’s history. These four men, including two from the East Kilbride area, showed great courage and determination in defending Scotland’s National Covenants and suffered a brutal fate as a result – as we can clearly see from the fact that it is only their heads that are buried in Hamilton Old Parish Churchyard.

“The Covenant movement was hugely important in securing Scotland’s distinctive identity as a nation at a time when it was under attack. The Scottish Covenanter Memorials Association is to be congratulated for their excellent work, not only in preserving these vital historical monuments, but also in ensuring that future generations continue to learn about the Covenanters and their role in Scotland’s national story.”

Fellow Lanarkshire MSP Christina McKelvie said:

“Lanarkshire was one of the heartlands of the Covenanting movement, as today’s service and dedication in Hamilton have shown. I’ve learned a great deal today about the Covenanters and their historical significance, and I’m delighted that this new memorial will help others to do the same – as well as preserving the memory of four brave sons of Lanarkshire.

“The original stone memorial is both a chilling and fascinating insight into this historical era and I would definitely recommend that local people and visitors to Hamilton pop into the Hamilton Old Parish Churchyard to see it for themselves.”

S3M-06697 Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): Scottish Covenanter Memorials Association— That the Parliament acknowledges the work of the Scottish Covenanter Memorials Association in restoring, repairing and preserving the graves and memorials of the Covenanters and promoting greater awareness of Scotland’s religious and historical heritage; acknowledges the association’s recent work in Ayrshire, where, at Fenwick Parish churchyard, the renewal of the memorial to John Fergushill and George Woodburn and restoration of memorials to other Fenwick Covenanters were marked by a service of dedication held on 13 June 2010, and thanks the association for its recent work in Lanarkshire where, in Hamilton Old Parish Churchyard, a memorial plaque to Covenanters Gavin Hamilton of Carluke, James Hamilton of Glassford, John Parker of Busby and Christopher Strang of Lickprivick in East Kilbride was dedicated on 27 June 2010 and unveiled by Jeanie Strang, a direct descendent of Christopher Strang.

Linda Fabiani MSP has congratulated East Kilbride & District Dementia Carers Group’s staff and volunteers on receiving an excellent report from the Care Commission, the body that inspects and rates care services in Scotland.

The Group received a rating of 5, or Very Good, for Quality of Care and Support and a top mark of 6, or Excellent, for Quality of Management and Leadership. The Care Commission’s report concludes that, “This is a quality service which provides high standards of care for people with dementia and their carers. It provides a very person-centred approach to those using its service.”

On a visit to the Group’s premises, local MSP Linda, who has had a long association with the Group, said:

“These comments from the Care Commission only confirm what those who have watched the East Kilbride & District Carers Group in action over the years already know – that they put the wellbeing and quality of life of people with dementia and their carers at the heart of everything they do.

“I have been hugely impressed with the passion and belief that the Group’s staff and volunteers have shown in pushing the boundaries of dementia care and going the extra mile to help people to maintain their independence, continue to live at home and join in social activities.

“As the Care Commission’s report confirms, the services that the Group provides are of enormous value to the people who use them and, I believe, to East Kilbride as a whole.”

The Group’s director, Brian Doig, added:

“I am very proud of the superb efforts that have been made by the staff and volunteers of the East Kilbride & District Dementia Carers Group. Together, we have shown what can be achieved when people are put at the heart of our every decision, and are included in the decision-making process at every level. We have shown that ‘adequate’ is inadequate, because people deserve better – in fact, they deserve the best!

“We will not be complacent, however, and we are committed not just to maintaining our Care Commission grades but to continuing to improve our services and the care that our clients receive.”

Linda spoke in the debate on 1 July:

“The evidence that the committee took was mixed, but some witnesses recognised that out of current adversity comes opportunity. I particularly commend those who spoke about the personalisation of services and long-term thinking coupled with preventative resourcing and systems thinking, thereby challenging the status quo, centrally imposed targets and so-called received wisdom.

“There are good examples out there. I am pleased that South Lanarkshire Council—which is local to me—has agreed with East Kilbride dementia group that it is in the best interests of the group’s clients to use a direct payments system to allow the necessary services to be provided by its agency of choice. That is innovative thinking.

“I was also pleased to learn today from Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland that the self-management fund, which the Scottish Government funds, already supports 56 projects throughout Scotland, giving individuals ownership of the management of their lives and conditions. That, too, is innovative thinking, and we could do with more of it from the Parliament right through all our public services.

“As I said at the start of my speech, I wish to look ahead and deal with the realities that face us in a very difficult financial situation. I had hoped that all speakers would do the same, then I read Labour’s amendment. Mr Whitton wants a draft budget by September. That is impossible. Danny Alexander made a categoric statement at the Finance Committee the other day that if John Swinney asked for figures from Westminster at the beginning of September, they would not be provided. Mr Whitton heard that, because he asked the question.

“In the light of that response, Mr Whitton expanded his amendment to say “or budget scenarios”. All of a sudden, he is into scenario planning, so let us consider the best and worst-case scenarios. The best case is that there will be no cuts, money due to Scotland will be delivered, the VAT rise will be rescinded, fiscal autonomy will be introduced and independence will be recognised as good for Scotland…

“Let us consider the worst case, which is, “I’m afraid to tell you there’s no money left,” confirming the words in Liam Byrne’s letter.

“Labour seems content to budget on the basis of no figures or information. No wonder we now have the biggest ever peacetime deficit and Scotland suffered financial mismanagement until May 2007.”

Scottish Parliament motion recognises Murray Owen Carers Group’s achievement

Linda Fabiani MSP has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament to mark the publication of Scotland’s first ever Charter for Change for older people who care for adult family members with learning disabilities. The charter is the latest milestone in a long-running campaign for recognition of older carers’ needs pioneered by Madge Clark and Jeanette Kelly of East Kilbride’s Murray Owen Elderly Carers Group.

The charter, which was launched at a national conference addressed by the Scottish Government’s Public Health Minister Shona Robison, sets out five simple steps to make life easier for older carers and those they care for and help councils and the NHS plan services that meet their long term needs.

Speaking after attending the conference, Strathaven-based MSP Linda, who has worked with the Murray Owen Carers Group for several years, said:

“Madge Clark and Jeanette Kelly have spearheaded the fight for greater recognition and support for older carers for many years now. It was their petition, submitted to the Scottish Parliament’s Petitions Committee back in 2004, which really started to raise political and public awareness of the needs of older carers of people with learning disabilities.

“Thanks to the efforts of Madge and Jeanette and their fellow Murray Owen carers, we now have a much clearer understanding of the circumstances and needs of what was previously an invisible group of carers. Their work persuaded South Lanarkshire Council to appoint Scotland’s first ever specialist social worker for older carers and their families, for which they are to be commended, and has now culminated in the publication of the Charter for Change.

“I hope that the Charter will not only lead to local authorities and other service providers ensuring that older carers get the right kind of help at the right times to suit their particular needs, but also to giving those carers some peace of mind that, once they are gone, their loved ones will continue to get the best possible care.

“Madge and Jeanette have campaigned tirelessly for rights and support for other older carers and their families, while every day providing expert and loving care for their own adult son and daughter. I know that it has sometimes been a struggle for them and that they have had to fight for the services and support they need, but they have never given up. I am in complete admiration of their positive attitude, their spirit and their determination.”

S3M-06596 Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): Caring for Carers— That the Parliament notes that figures produced for the Scottish Government suggest that approximately 20% of people with learning disabilities live and are cared for in the family home by family members over the age of 65; recognises the particular concerns and needs of these families, as noted by Public Petition PE743 submitted by Madge Clark and Jeanette Kelly of the Murray Owen Carers Group, East Kilbride, which first raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament on 24 May 2004; welcomes and invites support for the Charter for Change: Improving Lives for Older Families Which Include People with Learning Disabilities, launched in Edinburgh on 16 June 2010, and looks forward to publication and implementation of the Scottish Government’s carers strategy.