Linda Fabiani MSP has tabled a Scottish Parliament motion to mark the opening of Scotland’s first ever affordable low-carbon ecohouse at the South Lanarkshire College campus in East Kilbride.

The Aurora House has an A-rated energy certificate, a heat recovery system, thermal energy pumps and the capacity to create more energy than it uses. It was built as a partnership between South Lanarkshire College and construction company Dawn Homes and was officially opened by Finance Secretary John Swinney.

Central Scotland MSP Ms Fabiani said:

“This is a really exciting development for Scotland. There have been prototype ecohomes built before, but this is the first low-energy, low-carbon home that is also affordable enough for ordinary people to buy or rent.

“The Aurora House will be used to train students and apprentices at South Lanarkshire College, raising the prospect of a new generation of people working in the construction industry who not only have the necessary skills to build enviromentally-friendly homes for the future, but who will also expect low-carbon, low-energy construction techniques to be the norm and not the exception.

“The fostering of that attitude within our building industry is not just desirable, it is essential if Scotland is to be able to meet our world-leading carbon reduction targets.

“A new generation of homes like the Aurora will help Scotland contribute to combating climate change. It will also help to eradicate fuel poverty by helping people to conserve rather than waste energy.

“This is another contribution by East Kilbride towards achieving Scotland’s ambitious climate targets, in addition to the area’s growing renewable energy expertise. I look forward to the day when all new homes in Scotland are as environmentally responsible as the Aurora.”

ENDS

Notes:

The full text of Linda Fabiani’s motion is:
S3M-05351 Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): South Lanarkshire College Unveils Aurora House, a First in Scotland— That the Parliament welcomes the official opening by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth of Scotland’s first affordable, low-energy, low-carbon house at South Lanarkshire College in East Kilbride; notes that the Aurora house has an A-rated energy certificate, a heat recovery system, thermal energy pumps and the capacity to create more electricity than it uses; congratulates South Lanarkshire College, the Scottish construction company, Dawn Homes, and the other project partners for conceiving and building the Aurora; notes that the house will be used as a training facility for students and apprentices aiming to work in the construction industry, and believes that this flagship project gives Scotland the potential to become a world-leader in building a new generation of affordable low-carbon homes, helping to both combat climate change and address fuel poverty.

Linda spoke in the debate on 16 December.

“We keep hearing the accusation that Scotland could not have afforded to bail out the banks on its own, but the straight truth is that the UK could not afford to do so, either. We should include Northern Rock among those banks—it is not just the Scotland-based banks that were bailed out. That massive increase in Government indebtedness will hang around the necks of future generations like a millstone—it is the fault of the UK Government and its regulatory failure…

“…I am sure that Parliament will agree that we need the same fiscal stimulus that the other G8 countries introduced. We are the only country that did not put in place such measures, and we are the only country that has yet to come out of recession. We must get together and keep making the argument to the Chancellor of the Exchequer—whoever he or she might be in a year or so—that the Scottish economy must be provided with the stimulus that it needs. After all, our hands are tied by the lack of the independent status that so many small nations across the world take for granted.”

Read the full text of Linda’s speech at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1216-02.htm#Col22215

Linda spoke in the debate on 10 December.

“I am absolutely delighted that people across the world have decided to take part in the march for peace. It is fascinating to see who is taking part. The world march was a humanist proposal, but people of various belief systems—people of religious faith or of no faith—and pacifists and non-pacifists are coming together to say, “Enough. What is happening in our world today is ridiculous. There is too much violence of all sorts.” That is not as simple as if it were just about nuclear weapons; it encompasses the world. We find that more civilians are being killed in conflicts than ever before, because of the changing nature of war. We have Governments that actively carry out what I would say are terrorist acts against their own populations in order to do no more than maintain control.

“I am really pleased that Bill Kidd managed to bring the beacon of peace to Scotland, which is so important. For all that we have a military history, which we talk a lot about, we also have a good history of peaceful reconciliation and of finding ways forward in conflict resolution.

“I often think that Scotland is in a great position, particularly since the Parliament reconvened more than 10 years ago, to take a bit of a lead in such issues. We are a small nation that is in the process of re-establishing itself through self-government, but we should never underestimate the fact that we have achieved significant constitutional change in a totally peaceful and democratic fashion. For all that we shout and bawl at each other and take stances in here, we should never underestimate what we have achieved. In today’s world, which is a very dangerous place, that is to be lauded and applauded.”

Read the full text of Linda’s speech at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1210-02.htm#Col22176

Linda spoke in the debate on 9 December.

“Back in June I noted that, although Calman mooted further borrowing powers, such powers would be ineffective. As Professors Andrew Hughes Hallett and Drew Scott argued—as have others since—the Calman proposals in that regard would result in financial instability. Because of an overreliance on one taxation stream and an inability to borrow to smooth variations in income, the Scottish Government could be forced to cut costs or raise taxes during a downturn, thus inflicting even more damage on the Scottish economy.

“Jim Murphy’s white paper proposes maintaining Scotland’s current borrowing ability, but his successors would still be the only bankers in town. He talks about a new borrowing power, but it would have to be financed from raising taxes, not from revenue, and the limits would still be set by the Treasury, lumping Scotland in as just another Government department. Scotland’s local authorities and quangos would also be in the borrowing envelope that would be set by the Treasury, so there would be no scope for movement—the proposal is a financial straitjacket.

“As per the minister’s motion, I urge that, “where there is consensus”, Calman’s recommendations should be implemented without delay. My response to Conservative colleagues on our right with regard to the proposals on taxation, borrowing and financial powers is that members of this institution should—jointly, across the Parliament—consider financial powers that would benefit Scotland in the transition to independence.”

Read the full text of Linda’s speech at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1209-02.htm#Col21978.

Linda spoke in the debate on 2 December 2009.

“Scotland cares about the detention of children. Concern about the issue is not the preserve of a single person, group or political party. There is consensus: it is wrong to lock up children. It is wrong to lock up someone who has done no wrong, whatever their age, but locking up children is much worse. It is immoral, unethical and brutal to lock up a child, whether they are with one parent, two parents or unaccompanied—and to add to that experience the experience of seeing a parent in handcuffs…

“We all care and I suspect that we are all frustrated that despite the existence of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 there seems to be a little piece of Scotland—wherever an asylum seeker family happens to be—that is not Scotland and over which we have no jurisdiction.”

Read the full text of Linda’s speech at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1202-02.htm#Col21774

Linda Fabiani MSP has spoken to the Scottish Parliament about events in Lanarkshire to mark World AIDS Day today, 1 December. In particular, she highlighted the intention of West Lanarkshire Girl Guides to take their AIDS awareness work to Ghana.

Speaking in a Scottish Parliament debate about the Sing campaign, launched by singer Annie Lennox, Ms Fabiani said of the West Lanarkshire Girl Guides:

“Those young women have a link with Ghana and some of them hope to go out there next year. One thing that they want to talk about when they go is AIDS awareness. Young people relating to other young people across the globe can help to make a big difference.”

SNP MSP for Central Scotland Ms Fabiani also warned that Scots should not assume that AIDS is now mainly an African problem, saying:

“We should never bury our heads in the sand…the [Scottish] HIV infection and AIDS quarterly report up to March this year said that, cumulatively, there were almost 6,000 HIV reports and 1,500 AIDS cases. It also said that the total number of deaths was 1,594.”

Ms Fabiani praised the Scottish Government for taking action to halt the spread of HIV infection in Scotland. The government’s HIV Action Plan was published last week.

Details of the Scottish Government’s HIV Action plan can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/11/25113915

Linda spoke in the debate on 26 November.

“As we know, history always favours the victors. There is an awful lot of history in Scotland, the UK and Europe where the part played by women is not mentioned. Women were very active in all sorts of campaigns to make society a bit better. Looking back at the trades movement, for example, we can see the roots of the women’s suffrage movement. Elspeth King wrote some really interesting stuff about the subject. She wrote:
“The weaving trade … was totally female in Scotland”,
unlike in the north of England, where it consisted of men, women and children. Wages were consequently lower in Scotland.

“The first women’s strike took place as early as 1768, in Paisley. It was reported:
“a female combination … has been entered into by the young women of this place … who refuse to work, unless on higher wages.”

“And quite right, too. It was a woman weaver, I think in 1832, who called for the vote, and that takes me back to the radical uprising in 1820. We rightly talk about the men who suffered at that time, but there were women who were part of that movement, too, as can be seen in the progress that was made.”

To read the full text of Linda’s speech, go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1126-02.htm#Col21706

Linda spoke in the debate on 25 November.

“Like Jack McConnell, I attended the event during the festival of politics at which Annie Lennox told us about her Sing campaign, which was inspired by listening to Nelson Mandela in Africa. The name of the campaign is extremely positive and reflects the fact that song is an important way to spread a message, particularly in places such as South Africa, which has a tradition of activist songs and singing. It is a way to create solidarity and communicate messages because people are encouraged and inspired by singing.

“That is particularly important when we consider the stigma that AIDS and HIV have around the world. It is a big issue. There are communities in sub-Saharan Africa in which people are scared to be tested to find out whether they are HIV positive because of the stigma that it brings upon them. As Annie Lennox mentioned—and I emphasise—those with the best intentions can often inadvertently make that problem worse. Where particular religious persuasions have issues with some of the preventive measures that can be used to combat HIV, that becomes a big problem and the stigma becomes even worse.

“I cannot remember the name of the group of visitors from Africa that I went along to listen to one day, but I was fascinated by them. They were a group of clerics—ministers—who were actively working in their respective villages to promote awareness of HIV and preventive measures. That is very important and it was very brave of those religious people to do that within their communities.”

To read the full text of Linda’s speech go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1125-02.htm#Col21541.

SNP MSP Linda Fabiani has welcomed the announcement by Finance Secretary John Swinney of a £12 billion package of funding for local government in 2010-11.

South Lanarkshire Council’s funding will rise from £626 million this year to £634 in 2010-11. Councils which freeze council tax for the third year in a row will also receive a further £70 million.

Commenting, Ms Fabiani said:

“South Lanarkshire Council will receive £2,044 of funding for every member of the local population next year, an increase of 6 per cent from this year.

“This is a real achievement for John Swinney and shows how the SNP is delivering locally, even in tough times.

“The Westminster government’s imposition of a £500 million cut in the Scottish budget, despite the current recession, has meant difficult choices have had to be made, but this local government funding package shows that the SNP believes in protecting crucial frontline services.

“Labour in Scotland continues to peddle the fantasy that the Scottish Government has money to burn, but the fact is that without the Chancellor’s cuts this local government settlement would have been £174 million higher.

“I commend the much more mature and practical attitude of Scottish local authorities, who have agreed to accept their share of the reduction and to work with the Scottish government to protect the services that matter most to people in Scotland. Their commitment to a partnership approach is welcome.

“I hope that South Lanarkshire Council will also work with the Scottish government to ensure that local council tax payers benefit from a third successive council tax freeze. That will help to ease the financial strain that many households are feeling in the current climate.”

Linda Fabiani MSP has pledged her support for a campaign by Citizens Advice Scotland to help Scots who find themselves in “drowning in debt”.

The SNP MSP for Central Scotland said today:

“These very worrying figures provided by Citizens Advice Scotland show how much personal debt has increased in recent years and how many Scots are struggling to get by financially. Too often, it’s the most vulnerable people in society who are hardest hit.

“As I heard when I attended East Kilbride Citizens Advice Bureau’s AGM recently, the recession has meant that more and more people have slipped into debt and found themselves unable to get back out of it.

“I fully support their campaign to get MSPs of all parties working together to tackle the debt crisis affecting our constituents.

“I am pleased that the SNP government has already committed to introducing two bills in this session of Parliament which make a really good start towards making the changes that are needed. The Debtor Protection Bill and the Debt and Family Homes Bill will provide considerable help to people struggling with debt and facing the possible loss of their homes.

“The scale of this problem requires action from all of Scotland’s politicians. I met with the manager of East Kilbride Citizens Advice Bureau recently and am looking forward to spending some time with a case worker, as soon as a suitable date is confirmed, to see for myself how people in East Kilbride are affected.

“I would urge anyone in the local area who is suffering as a result of debt to seek help as soon as possible from one of the local sources available to them, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Money Matters Advice Service and East Kilbride Credit Union. These are excellent services which can help you get your finances back on track and find a way out of debt.”