Linda Fabiani MSP, has condemned the figures showing the NHS will have to pay over £1 billion in the next five years for projects built using the Labour Party’s PFI/PPP funding mechanism.

The costs include that of Hairmyres and Wishaw General Hospitals, which cost £68 million and £121million respectively to build but, the repayments in the next five years amount to £106.56 million and £136.49 million. This is on top of the £172.72 million already paid over the past ten years for Hairmures and £260.74 for Wishaw General. The total cost over a 30 year period for these PFI hospitals amounts to £1472.59 million.

Commenting on the release of the figures complied by the Treasury, Linda Fabiani said:

“These figures show the absolute folly of the PFI/PPP policy introduced by the Labour Party and championed by Labour MSPs, MPs and Councillors alike.

“It is appalling that the tax payer is forced to continue funding these projects over such a prolonged period of time even though the initial costs have all been met. These are extortionate schemes and they should never have been foisted upon the public.

“This is money that comes directly out of NHS budgets and frontline services. The price we are paying for Hairmyres alone would have paid for nine new hospitals but instead, every year for the next 20 years NHS Lanarkshire will have to pay out millions of pounds from its budget before they can even consider the health priorities of its patients.

“Over the next five years NHS Lanarkshire will have to pay over £243 million to private consortiums before spending a penny on health care. This is not right, it is a policy which benefits no one other than the businesses making a great profit from it, but this is public money and it has a far greater value if it could be spent in the NHS and serving the public good.

“We have the further ridiculous situation that the NHS don’t own the hospitals and won’t own them even at the end of the payment period. So we are paying these millions of pounds to simply rent a building.

“Labour has been completely irresponsible in its management of capital projects just as it has been over the economy. Like all of these PFI/PPP projects NHS Lanarkshire is paying far in excess of the value of the buildings. I’m sure NHS management would rather have the millions of pounds to spend on patient services.

“Labour ought to apologise for the burden of repayments for PFI/PPP projects, admit that their policy has encumbered the NHS with unnecessary debt and bin their support for this policy.

END

Linda spoke in the debate on 27 May:

“I welcome the respect agenda that is being talked about in relation to relationships between our Government and the UK Government, and I trust that the joint ministerial committee system will now work with an ethos of mutual respect for ministers of all Administrations. Unfortunately, the concordat agreements for JMCs had been allowed to collect dust in the first years of devolution, with only the Europe JMC being active—and I use that term loosely—when the SNP formed the Government in 2007. I was pleased to see that, after much work by this and the other devolved Administrations, a revised memorandum of understanding was agreed in March 2010, with dispute resolution aspects extending to financial issues. That is extremely important, particularly now, when we are considering the implementation of recommendations from the Commission on Scottish Devolution…

“On the financial aspects of the Calman plan, I have serious concerns about the taxation proposals, which many people have also expressed in this chamber and elsewhere.

“I note that Wendy Alexander commented on television on Tuesday evening that the taxation proposal in the Calman report was made by

“the most eminent economists in Scotland”.

“That intrigued me because nowhere in either of the reports that were made to Calman by the independent expert group can I find the proposal to devolve income tax and adjust the block grant along the lines that Calman finally came up with.

“Certainly, the general principle of assigned taxes was discussed and reported on by the group, but the proposition of the 10p variable rate and the block grant adjustment was not dealt with. I hope that the Labour group can clear that matter up for us today and point us to the publication in which

“the most eminent economists in Scotland”

made that particular proposal, or where we might find it in the public record. Indeed, in his paper, which was jointly produced with Professor Scott, Professor Hughes-Hallett, who actually sat on the expert panel for Calman, stated that the then UK Government’s proposals were “defective in economic terms” and were likely to create

“key instabilities in the budgetary arrangements of Scotland’s government with significant ramifications for the delivery of public goods and services”.

“Surely there is no one here today who wishes to implement proposals, in a carte-blanche manner, that are likely to create “key instabilities” at this time and which could adversely affect the delivery of public services, beyond the cuts in budgets that we are all facing. Scotland’s Government is committed to the protection of the vulnerable and to creating a fairer society. A more buoyant economy is crucial to all of that, and the deficiencies within the current Calman proposals would hamstring the Scottish Government’s ability to advance economic growth and truly address the needs of our citizens.

“Fiscal independence, fiscal autonomy, fiscal responsibility, additional financial powers—whatever the terminology, the actuality requires much deeper discussion. There is no time to go into all of the examples of matters that should be discussed further, but among them are the potential effect of raising the income tax threshold, as mentioned in the Liberal Democrat amendment, and the inability to use short-term borrowing to fund unanticipated shortfalls in income tax—I point out that those income tax revenues would, after all, be subject to prediction.

“There are many more potential pitfalls and concerns…That is why mutual respect between the Westminster and the Scottish Parliaments and Governments is crucial. If in this Parliament we start to work together for Scotland’s benefit and have mutual respect among ourselves, today’s debate will surely have been worthwhile indeed.”

Read the full debate at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor0527-01.htm

Linda Fabiani MSP has sent congratulations to three East Kilbride groups which have been awarded grants from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All scheme.

Awards for All gives grants of between £500 and £10,000 for people to take part in art, sport and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community. The East Kilbride groups have secured £16,355 between them.

The East Kilbride awards have gone to:
* Calder Tower Residents Association received £1,060 to arrange a day trip and social activities for its members. The grant will pay for a cruise on Loch Lomond, coach hire, lunch, arts materials and crafts materials
* Murray Primary School received £7,818 to provide a range of arts and sporting activities for all of its pupils. The project will encourage and enable the children to gain new skills and interests. The grant will fund sporting taster sessions, transport costs, a creative arts project and a multi-media project
* £7,477 for St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School to run additional after school clubs run by pupils who are undertaking the Sport Leaders course, a European-wide recognised leadership course. They also hope to encourage pupils to volunteer in the community. The grant will allow the group to provide coaching qualifications for 30 pupils.

MSP Linda said:

“I am delighted to see that these East Kilbride groups have been successful in the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All scheme. This truly is a great achievement and the funding secured is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all those involved, as well as the imagination they have put into their proposals.

“The exciting projects by Calder Tower Residents Association, Murray Primary and St Andrews’ and St Bride’s will all bring real benefits to everyone who takes part in them and I wish them every success.

“I would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone in the East Kilbride area who are involved with charities, voluntary organisations or school groups to consider applying for the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All scheme. I am sure that ambitions will continue to grow and East Kilbride will continue to benefit from this excellent scheme.”

Awards for All can be contacted by calling 0870 240 2391 or email them at Scotland@awardsforall.org.uk.

As Scotland’s 1,000th school receives the coveted ‘Green Flag’ award, Linda Fabiani MSP has today congratulated the East Kilbride area schools who have already blazed a trail for environmental sustainability under the Eco-Schools programme.

6 schools in the East Kilbride and Strathaven area have already achieved Green Flag status, which shows that they have demonstrated an outstanding, pupil-led commitment to sustainability across the whole school community and through pupils’ learning. A further 22 schools in the area have achieved Bronze or Silver awards, which are stepping stones to receiving a Green Flag.

Mount Cameron Primary School has even reached the ultimate goal of being declared a permanent Eco-School, having won four consecutive Green Flags. Another two schools – Mossneuk Primary School and Sanderson High School – aren’t far behind, with three Green Flags each.

Congratulating alll the schools who have achieved awards so far, Strathaven-based MSP Linda said:

“It’s clear that schools and nurseries all over the East Kilbride area have embraced the sustainability agenda and are making their own, very significant contributions to achieving Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets.

“We all have a responsibility to live more sustainable lives that don’t compromise the quality of life of future generations. It’s both encouraging and insipring to see pupils of all ages in East Kilbride, Strathaven and nearby villages setting such a great example to the grown-ups and demonstrating a real commitment to sustainability and greener thinking.

“With the dedication to our planet that is being shown by the children and young people in this area, it’s no wonder that Scotland is one of the leaders among the 45 countries involved in the Eco-Schools programme.

“With it’s permanent Eco-School status, Mount Cameron Primary has set the standard for what it’s possible to achieve, but I’m sure that schools across the area will not be long in joining them and that East Kilbride and Strathaven pupils will continue to blaze a trail for sustainability and show the rest of Scotland, and the world, how it’s done.”

Further information about the Eco-Schools programme is at http://www.ecoschoolsscotland.org/

Schools in the East Kilbride and Strathaven area which have received awards under the Eco-Schools scheme are (highest award achieved so far is listed): Ballerup Nursery – Silver; Blacklaw Primary – 2 x Green Flags; Calderglen Hihg – Bronze; Castlefield Primary – Bronze; Crosshouse Primary – Bronze; Duncanrig High – Silver; East Milton Primary – Silver; Gilmourton Primary – Silver; Greenhills Primary – 2 x Green Flags; Halfmerke Primary – Bronze; Heathery Knowe Primary – Bronze; Hunter Primary – Green Flag; Kirklandpark Primary – Silver; Kirktonholme Primary & Nursery – Bronze; Long Calderwood Primary – Silver; Mossneuk Primary – 3 x Green Flags; Mount Cameron Primary – 4 x Green Flags; Our Lady of Lourdes Primary – Bronze; Sanderson High – 3 x Green Flags; Sand Primary – Silver; St Andrews’ & St Bride’s – Silver; St Leonard’s Primary; St Louise Primary – Silver; St Vincent’s Primary – Silver; Strathaven Academy – Silver; Sweetie Brae Nursery – Silver; Wester Overton Primary – Silver.

Linda spoke in the debate on 12 May:

“Many people served with great honour during world war two, and their efforts culminated in our ability to celebrate VE day. I pay tribute to one of the groups involved: the Territorial Army. The TA fights alongside the regular military in all conflicts. Having looked into the history a wee bit, I note that the TA was formed way back in 1908, when the voluntary army was combined with parts of the yeomanry and militia, which date back to the Napoleonic wars. The TA was first mobilised to fight in the first world war, serving alongside the regulars. We should never forget that the lives of those in the TA are also on the line. In 1939, as war approached, the size of the TA was doubled, and it was mobilised when hostilities broke out. It was reconstituted, in the form that we know now, in 1947, as a part-time reservist force.

“The TA currently provides about 1,200 troops each year to support the regular Army in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans. The TA does extremely important work—and none more so than the signal squadrons. I am pleased that 51 signal squadron (V) troop is based in the constituency where I live… I have visited the troop many times. The TA in East Kilbride is very much part of the community, with open days and other forms of support for the cadets.

“Among the components of the TA’s success have always been the good will, support and encouragement that it gives to young people in the communities where it is present. Tribute must also be paid to the employers who support their employees who do TA service. It is the willingness of employers to champion the men and women of the volunteer reserve force that makes the TA’s role possible.

“The TA’s role is huge and does not just involve front-line fighting alongside the regular troops. The signal regiment, for example, provides vital communications support for emergency services during times of crisis. The regiment responds to terrorist threats and attacks, flooding, industrial action and outbreaks of disease. The TA uses some of the most up-to-date communications and information technology equipment.”

Read the full debate here. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor0512-01.htm

Linda Fabiani MSP has today welcomed Scottish Government approval for byelaws passed by South Lanarkshire Council, which will prohibit the possession of alcohol for consumption outdoors in public places.

The byelaws, put forward by the council on 17 March, have been backed by the SNP government and will come into force on 10 June this year. They will cover 33 towns throughout South Lanarkshire, including East Kilbride and Strathaven, and will strengthen existing laws against public drinking.

Strathaven-based MSP Linda said:

“I fully expect that the introduction of these byelaws will make a big difference to the quality of life in the parts of East Kilbride and Strathaven which are badly affected by the nuisance and disorder caused by public drinking.

“They will give local police more power to crack down not just on outdoors drinking itself, but also on the noise, vandalism and violence that goes with it and which makes too many people’s lives a misery.

“I believe that any minor inconvenience to the public will be more than offset by much greater gains in community safety and quality of life.

“Glasgow stepped up its existing byelaws against public drinking in 2008, and I doubt very much that many people in that city would argue for a return to the way things used to be.

“It is a priority for the SNP Government to focus action on the most problematic drinking, with bans such as these targeted at areas where there has already been trouble with drinking-related disorder. That is exactly what South Lanarkshire’s new byelaws will do and I believe they will make a positive difference to communities across the county.”

Linda Fabiani MSP has welcomed today’s announcement by the Scottish Government of funding to build key skills, help people back to work and remove barriers to employment in South Lanarkshire. South Lanarkshire will receive a share of over £970,000 the £30 million package of European social funding.

Among the local projects to be awarded funding, South Lanarkshire College in East Kilbride will receive £308,406 to train students in the key skills required to grow Scotland’s sustainable energy capacity. Commenting, Strathaven-based SNP MSP Ms Fabiani said:

“The East Kilbride area is already establishing itself as a key player in Scotland’s renewable energy sector, and this funding award for South Lanarkshire College is another advance for the area’s role in this hugely important industry.

“Sustainable, low carbon energy creation is crucial, not just for Scotland’s future economic success, but also for the future of our planet. I’m delighted that South Lanarkshire College is grasping the opportunity to train local students in the skills and technologies that will drive Scotland’s ability to exploit our renewable energy potential.

“Along with more than £666,000 that has been awarded to South Lanarkshire Council, which will go to provide training in childcare and support for people who can face particular barriers to getting into work – such as people with disabilities or young people leaving care – this adds up to a very substantial investment by the Scottish Government in skills, training and employment for both young people and adults in South Lanarkshire. It will give a real boost to the South Lanarkshire economy and help many local people to find, maintain and progress in work.”

Funding for South Lanarkshire:

South Lanarkshire College Skills for Sustainable Energies and New Technologies 308,461

South Lanarkshire Council Childcare Training 479,631

South Lanarkshire Council Moving On – Progressing through Employment Programme 182,700

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland Honours the Reverend Henry Duncan— That the Parliament congratulates Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland on reopening its grants-making programmes, named the Henry Duncan Awards, in honour of Reverend Henry Duncan, who founded the world’s first savings bank on 10 May, 200 years ago; recognises that the foundation owes its existence to Reverend Duncan, who founded the savings bank so that everyone, regardless of wealth, could benefit from a savings bank, and applauds the foundation’s commitment to supporting small, grassroots charities at a time when they need it most.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): Platinum for East Kilbride— That the Parliament congratulates conductor Diane McCrory and the Senior Wind Band from Calderglen High School for their recent success at the prestigious National Concert Band Festival in Birmingham, where they played with wind bands from throughout the United Kingdom and brought home a platinum award to East Kilbride; recognises the dedication of all staff and pupils concerned, and wishes them all success in the future.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): Human Rights and the Sahrawi People— That the Parliament notes the award of the 2009 Per Anger Prize to Brahim Dahane for his commitment to the cause of human rights and his leadership of the Association Sahraouie Des Victimes des Violations Graves des Droits de l’Homme Commises par l’Etat du Maroc; notes and endorses the call by Amnesty International for an end to the harassment and intimidation of Sahrawi activists and agrees with Amnesty that Ahmed Alansari, Brahim Dahane, Yahdih Ettarouzi, Rachid Sghir, Ali Salem Tamek, and Saleh Labihi are prisoners of conscience; expresses its concern for the health of those prisoners currently on hunger strike in Salé Prison, near Rabat, and calls on the United Nations to renew its efforts to find a solution in the Western Sahara that supports the right of the Saharawi people to decide their future.