Strathaven based MSP, Linda Fabiani, has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government for a new Energy Assistance Package that will help one million Scots designated as fuel poor.

The package which will be funded by £55.8 million a year – a 20% increase on existing fuel poverty budgets – aims to help increase incomes for the fuel poor, reduce their fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of homes.

Ms Fabiani said:

“At a time when people in the town are having to finance substantial increases in their fuel bills it is very welcome news that the SNP Government is acting to help households cope with these increased costs.

“The 20percent increase in the fuel poverty budget should enable the Scottish Government via the Energy Assistance Package to give greater support to those households that are deemed to be fuel poor and adds to the extra £10 million of funding for the free central heating programme this year and its expansion from next year to include young families with a child under 5 or a disabled child under 16 who will now get direct support with energy efficiency measures such as central heating.

“The announcement also sees the cap on the grant for help through the Central Heating Programme increase from £3500 to £4000 and the upper cap from the Central Heating Scheme going up from £1000 to £6500.

“There are families throughout East Kilbride that will use the benefits of the improved schemes to make their homes healthier, warmer places to live and the SNP is committed to aiding those families in doing so.”

Over 12,500 Lanarkshire businesses will look forward to benefiting from the Scottish Government’s Small Business Bonus scheme in the near future, Central Scotland SNP MSP Linda Fabiani has said.

The figures were announced in a debate on the Scottish economy (Scottish Parliament 12.11.08), where the Scottish Government praised the scheme which will help provide jobs and security for businesses in Lanarkshire at a time when the economic downturn is causing concern to many.

Businesses with a rateable value of up to £8,000 will pay nothing from April and those of a value between £8-15,000 will be paying half their normal rates at the end of the roll out of the scheme.

Ms Fabiani said:

“From April 2009 businesses in East Kilbride and throughout Lanarkshire with a rateable value up to £8,000 will no longer pay rates under this scheme. That will be money which they can invest back into their business for the employment of extra staff or provide security in the current difficult economic times.

“To have 12,500 businesses across Lanarkshire benefiting from this scheme in the long run will provide a lift and some stability to the Lanarkshire economy at a time when unemployment is rising.

“This will help to safeguard and create jobs in the local area and throughout Scotland and shows the Scottish Governments determination to do what it can to boost the Scottish economy.”

Highlighting a debate about to take place today (Monday) in the UK Parliament on the future of the Post Office Card Account, Strathaven based MSP, Linda Fabiani, has voiced her concerns at the continued threat to post office services.

Ms Fabiani referred to research published by Age Concern which shows that a decision not to award the tender to the Post Office would have a devastating impact on the Post Office network and undermine the UK Government’s own financial inclusion objectives.

Ms Fabiani said:

”The Post Office has served our communities for generations and is part and parcel of the fabric of our society and if this contract is lost from the post office then we are surely seeing the deliberate demise of this community based institution.

“Our concerns must not only be for the potential loss of jobs and closure of post offices but for the many customers for whom the post office has been a constant source of service and information throughout their lives. It has never been just another consumer shop but has always been viewed as a public service, it is sad to see this ethos being constantly eroded in recent years.

”The Post Office Card Account primarily caters for elderly people and those on low incomes in rural or deprived urban areas who do not have the means to access services elsewhere and we have to be concerned it would leave huge numbers of people financially and socially excluded.

”The Post Office is a lifeline service and it is hugely disappointing  that the threats to its future appear undiminished.”

Minister for Culture Linda Fabiani MSP, has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government that over £1.8 million of money seized from serious organised

criminals is to be used to support youth projects throughout Scotland.

Over £31,000 of this money is going to projects in the Lanarkshire area.

Ms Fabiani said:

“This money clawed back from criminal gangs is being put to good use, it is being used to support youth groups and projects ranging from drop-in centres to scout troops, all in there are over 150 projects receiving a share of this money and they will use it for the positive purpose of supporting our young people.

“A handful of Lanarkshire organisations and projects are being supported with this cash that was intended for use by criminals who abuse our society and I’m sure this approach to dealing with criminal assets is welcomed by the public.

Linda Fabiani MSP, has welcomed the support from three major children’s charities for the SNP Government’s proposals to extend free school meals for Scotland’s youngest children.

Barnardo’s Scotland, the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland and Children in Scotland recently gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education Committee, which supported the proposal to extend free school meals to young primary school children in P1-P3 and all primary and secondary pupils of families in receipt of maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit.

The charities are part of a wide cross section of Scottish society – including children and families charities; trade unions and professional teaching associations; anti-poverty groups; faith groups; health boards and academics – who support the expansion of free school meals.

Ms Fabiani commented:

“The support of these major children’s charities is part of a growing consensus in favour of free school meals for our youngest children; however, it is unfortunate that the Labour Party in Scotland has been a dissenting voice because they seem unable to put the health of our children before their own petty political prejudices.

“This measure has widespread support across a range of political and civic bodies because it is seen almost universally as an important step in improving our children’s health.

“I’m sure that when this programme is introduced in 2009 it will be welcomed by parents and children throughout East Kilbride as it will ensure a nutritious meal is made available for every child that wants it.

“In the long term this is a step in the right direction towards challenging the country’s dietary record and will reassure many parents that the SNP Government is very serious about the future health of our people.”

Strathaven based MSP Linda Fabiani and the Scottish Government have appealed to Westminster to protect struggling homeowners.

Minister for Europe Ms Fabiani urged that help be given to homeowners in “sale and rentback” schemes operated by private landlords, which involve homeowners giving up a large part of the equity in the property in return for staying on as a tenant.

Ms Fabiani said:

“The Office of Fair Trading has recommended that sale and rent back schemes be subject to legal regulation by the Financial Services Authority as many people are unaware of the full costs and risks.

“I am concerned that homeowners may be exploited by unscrupulous operators taking advantage of weak legislation. Given the state of the housing market its is imperative that the UK Government takes action to regulate the sale and rent back market and provide real protection to homeowners.

“I know that some homeowners in East Kilbride are already encountering difficulties due to the impact of the credit crunch and people are making enquiries into the sale and rent back scheme. However, the criteria for qualifying for these schemes means many who would like to use it can not and some landlords are reluctant to participate in the practice.

“We must at this difficult time do all that we can to support those who find themselves at risk of losing their homes due to circumstances they themselves are not responsible for creating.

“The Scottish Government supports the recommendations in the OFT report and the UK Government must act to help vulnerable Scottish homeowners.”