Linda said:

“I am pleased to be able to raise awareness of the work ODEON Cinema’s have been doing to make going to the movies accessible to more people.

“Going to the cinema is a great social experience and too often people with disabilities face barriers preventing them from taking a full part in a range of activities, sometimes leading to social isolation.

“I am delighted that for people in East Kilbride who are deaf or hard of hearing, they can come along to the local ODEON Cinema and enjoy a movie with their friends.”

Linda was joined by Gladys Miller, newly elected councillor for East Kilbride East, who is also more than happy to support Deaf Awareness Week.  Gladys has worked extensively for the deaf community for over twenty years, as a qualified communicator, and is also fluent in sign language.

Gladys said:

“I hope this pilot will make the other cinema follow the Odeon’s lead. By making the film times more accessible, it would allow deaf and hard of hearing to enjoy the pleasure of the cinema.”

Through-out the year, ODEON cinemas across the country have subtitled performances of the big new releases and between Monday 7^th May and Sunday 13th May are increasing the number of screenings to give as many people as possible the opportunity to come to the cinema to see a subtitled film during Deaf Awareness Week.

It’s easy to find out about accessible screenings at ODEON cinemas.  Simply go to www.odeon.co.uk, select your cinema, then click on the ‘Accessible’ option in the ‘Filter Events By’ category (above the list of films).

Alternatively, you can check the details on the Your Local Cinema website (www.yourlocalcinema.co.uk) which is sponsored by the UK Film Industry and lists the subtitled performances for most cinemas in the UK.

If you would like more information about ODEON cinemas or our subtitled performances please visit the website, pop into the cinema or call the Accessibility Helpline on 0800 138 3315.

“SNP Councillors will continue to champion their local areas as well as East Kilbride.”

NOTES:

1st preference votes
SNP 11898 votes
Lab 10611 votes
Con 1938 votes
Independents 1344 votes
EK Alliance 681 votes
Liberals 135 votes
Solidarity 166 votes
Green 697 votes
UKIP 37 votes

Area Committee
SNP 10
Labour 8
Con 1
Ind 1

There are now 8 SNP Councillors in East Kilbride, 7 for Labour and 1 for the Conservatives.  However, across South Lanarkshire Labour remain the largest party on 33 seats to the SNP’s 28 and are expected to return to a coalition with the 3 remaining Tories.

Across the Council the SNP gained 4 new Councillors to Labour’s 1 with the Conservatives and the Lib Dems being the biggest losers.

Gladys said:

“I am delighted that the people of East Kilbride East have elected me to be their Councillor along with my running mate, Jim Wardhaugh.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped me during the campaign and to all the people who came out to vote on the day – I will work tirelessly to repay your support.

“The biggest message I heard on the doorsteps during the campaign was that people felt East Kilbride had been ignored by South Lanarkshire Council since its inception and there had not been the ‘pride in East Kilbride’ that was there during the days of the East Kilbride District Council.

“Now that we have a majority of SNP Councillors representing the people of East Kilbride, we can have a stronger voice, even in opposition, to ensure that East Kilbride gets a fair deal from South Lanarkshire.”

The SNP won Scotland’s local elections with the party securing over 420 councillors and on course to double the lead over labour.  Five years into government the SNP has also gained around 58 additional seats, outnumbering Labour gains in Scotland.

The SNP has secured two overall majorities in Dundee and Angus, where it had none in 2007 and is the largest party in 10 local authorities across the country – up from 6 in 2007.

The SNP is the largest party in former Labour strongholds of North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire along with Stirling, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Argyll and Bute and Highland.

In Midlothian, won by Labour in 2007, the SNP has drawn level with Labour and in Clackmannanshire voters have rewarded the SNP’s efforts since taking control in January by putting the party in the position to form a new administration.

The SNP won the most first preference votes in Dundee and Aberdeen, SNP representation increased by 6 seats in Edinburgh and by 5 in Glasgow with a swing from Labour to the SNP in first preferences across Glasgow.  Labour failed to win a single extra seat in Glasgow.

Increased councillors were also secured in North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Fife, and the Borders as the SNP widened the gap with Labour

SNP councillors will now discuss the way forward for administrations across the country.

Welcoming the excellent results and continued growth in support for the SNP Scotland’s First Minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond said:

“With over 420 councillors, an increase of around 60 on 2007 and double the lead over Labour the SNP has won Scotland’s election.

“This is a great win for the SNP and for Scotland.  Five years after backing the SNP for the first time Scotland continues to move forward with the only national party.  That is a substantial achievement.

“This year the SNP has secured our first two overall majorities in Dundee and Angus and the SNP has become the largest political party in 10 local authorities, far more than in 2007. That is a major step forward for the SNP and for Scotland.

“In 2007 we were the largest party in only 7 authorities and held no majorities.

“The SNP has won seats from Labour, from the Lib Dems and from the Tories in all parts of Scotland, urban and rural.  We set ourselves the target of securing more councillors and we have met that target with around 60 extra councillors.

“This is a tale of two governments.  The Lib Dems and Tories have had a disastrous day, feeling the full force of the Scottish people who have rejected their damaging austerity agenda in favour of the SNP locally and nationally.

“And in Labour’s heartlands it is clear that Fortress Glasgow is no more.  Labour’s campaign stalled in Glasgow with not a single extra seat while the SNP increased our number of councillors and pushed Labour to the wire in their heartland.

“This is a major success for the SNP, and I look forward to working with all councillors across the country to see Scotland take another step forward.”

Anne said:

“Freezing the council tax is central to the SNP’s pledge to help families through tough financial times, and only the SNP has the track record and the cast-iron commitment to deliver this policy.

“ Labour’s multiple and inconsistent positions on the council tax freeze – together with their consistent track record of opposing it in the Scottish Parliament – means that only SNP councils can be trusted to maintain the freeze until 2016.”

Alex Salmond said:

“Anyone out knocking doors in this election will know just how important the council tax freeze is to families. That’s why SNP Councils have a cast-iron commitment to working with the Scottish Government so we can keep it in place right up until 2016.

“At a time when family budgets are being put under considerable strain through the Westminster government’s handling of the economy, more than ever councils need to help keep money in people’s pockets.

“I remember when I became First Minister, they said the freeze would never happen, then it would never last beyond the first year. Yet here we are committing to a freeze all the way until 2016, saving the average Band D household over £1200 in tough times.

“We have a track record on delivering the council tax freeze, and voters know that we are the only Party in this election with a cast-iron pledge that they can trust to be delivered.

“If you look at Labour, they’ve never liked the council tax freeze, and they’ve been all over the place on it. In fact, the only thing they’ve been consistent on is opposing it in the Scottish Parliament.

“SNP councils can be trusted to deliver the council tax freeze, just as they will deliver 600 hours of free and more flexible childcare, deliver a living wage for council employees and deliver investment in jobs and recovery.

“So I urge voters to back the SNP tomorrow for jobs, for family budgets and for a fairer Scotland.”

Anne Maggs added:

“An SNP Administration at South Lanarkshire Council will ensure the council tax remains frozen until 2016 and we will work with the Scottish Government to deliver fairness for families.

“We can only do that if people vote SNP 1 and 2 when the polls open tomorrow – together we can move East Kilbride forward.”

ENDS

Note – the council tax freeze will save the average Band D household £1200 between its introduction and the end of this Parliament.

David said:

“We have a number of key manifesto pledges – designed to help small business, to regenerate local communities, and to protect employment, – which SNP councils will work in partnership with the Scottish Government to deliver.

“With Scotland benefitting from lower unemployment and higher employment than the rest of the UK, it is vital that South Lanarkshire Council pulls out all the stops in the next few years to maintain employment and secure long-term economic growth.

“We need to do all we can to help the economy – that’s why every single SNP councillor elected on Thursday, will be focussed on economic recovery.

“Our three-pronged approach will ensure that councils work together to do all they can to protect and create jobs, and that we do all we can to support business and generate new investment.

“Our first priority will be to develop an economic recovery plan for South Lanarkshire.

“We will work with the Scottish Government to find new and innovative investment such as the untapped potential of pension funds to get local economies moving and we will continue our support for the small business bonus.

“We need to do everything we can to protect and create employment. As well as extending the Living Wage and the no compulsory redundancy policy to council workers – we will ensure that every 16 to 19-year old not already in work, training or education is offered a training opportunity, helping tackle youth unemployment.

“Jobs and fairness are the priorities of the people of Scotland, and that’s why they are our priorities.

“An SNP Administration at South Lanarkshire Council will work day and night to build for recovery.”

ENDS

Notes –

Ten key pledges from the SNP manifesto to build for economic recovery:

1)      Every SNP council will develop a local economic recovery plan as a matter of priority, to ensure that public and private sector are working together better.

2)      Every SNP council will continue to deliver the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which has now paid out over £400m in rates relief to small businesses, who can each save as much as £4260. Under the SNP, Scotland has the most generous rates relief package of anywhere in the UK. Since the SBBS was introduced, small businesses have delivered 40,000 new jobs.

3)      Every SNP council will protect jobs by ensuring a Living Wage is delivered to all council workers by April 2013, and we will also extend the no compulsory redundancy policy to all council workers.

4)      Every SNP council will help tackle youth unemployment by working with the Scottish Government to ensure that every 16 to 19-year-old not currently in work, training or education is offered a learning or training place.

5)      Every SNP council will work with the Scottish Government to investigate ways that the billions currently held by pension funds and invested beyond Scotland can be rechanneled towards infrastructure projects to improve the quality of life for Scotland’s people. This is in addition to innovative sources of finance already being developed, such as Tax Incremental Financing.

6)      Working with the Scottish Government, we will deliver 5000 new council houses across the lifetime of this parliament, and will continue to make resourcing housebuilding and refurbishment a priority in setting their budgets – helping employment and improving quality of life.

7)      SNP councils will directly involve social enterprises in drafting a full social enterprise strategy for each area.

8)      SNP councils will help support the private sector by being transparent in their contract awards, and fair and efficient in settling their bills.

9)      SNP administrations will work with private and public sector partners and appropriate voluntary groups to maximise the tourism potential of their areas.

10)     SNP councils will work in partnership with the Scottish Government to access the Next Generation Digital Fund to ensure optimal connectivity for businesses and households throughout Scotland.

With just days to go before the Local Government election, Mr McLean highlighted examples of Labour’s inconsistency on the council tax freeze, free prescription charges, the Small Business Bonus Scheme and free tuition.

He accused Labour candidates of making hollow promises for the Local Government elections, which they cannot be trusted to maintain.

Duncan said:

“In South Lanarkshire, Labour candidates supporting the council tax freeze is a sign of their desperation, not of their commitment to protect household budgets.

“Labour MSPs voted against the council tax freeze every time the SNP put it before the Scottish Parliament.  In October last year, SLC Leader, Eddie McAvoy, called for the freeze to be ended.

“Now Labour candidates say they want a five-year freeze – a policy Labour’s Deputy Scottish Leader described only a few weeks ago as neither credible nor progressive.

“Voters should be in no doubt – Labour can’t be trusted on the Council Tax – they have never liked the council tax freeze and are itching to put Council Tax up. They are a threat to family budgets.

“Labour’s position on the Council Tax is just like its hollow promises on free tuition fees and many other progressive policies.

“Michael McMahon – Labour convener of Holyrood’s Welfare Reform Committee – wants to ‘look again’ at free prescriptions, a policy described by one Labour MSP as a ‘right wing tax cut’.

“That view is maybe not shared by the 600,000 adults in families with incomes of up to £16000 who had to pay for their prescriptions before the SNP abolished them.  Those who benefit from the policy are more likely to agree with the SNP view that prescription charges are a tax on ill health.

“If Labour leaders aren’t committed to the policies that are helping protect family budgets, why should we believe that their councillors would be any different?

“More than ever Scotland needs ‘can-do’ councils that will work together and with the Scottish Government to deliver a socially progressive Scotland.

“Labour has lost the plot on the council tax freeze and on many other socially progressive policies.  All the evidence suggests that only the SNP can be trusted to protect family budgets in these difficult financial times.”

ENDS

Notes:

1) Before the 2011 Scottish elections, Labour’s manifesto made specific promises to protect family budgets

“With Scottish Labour, there will be no up-front or back-end tuition fees for Scottish University students” (page 31)

“With Scottish Labour, there will be no reintroduction of charges for prescriptions in Scotland” (page 41)

“Scottish Labour will freeze the council tax for the next two years.”

(Page 68)

2) Yet now, leading Labour politicians can barely contain their desire to abandon these commitments:

“I am happy to say that I believe that we should look again at prescription charges and consider whether we can sustain paying tuition fees for university students” (Michael McMahon, Finance Committee 25th January 2012)

“headline policies on free prescriptions, free university tuition for Scottish residents and freezing council tax had only limited benefit for the neediest, she [Margaret Curran] said, since they were not targeted and also unnecessarily benefited the richest” (Scotsman, 25th January 2012)

Johann Lamont u-turns on Labour’s tuition fee promise for no up-front or back-door (BBC Webchat, 2nd March 2012):

JL: “My key position in this is we don’t want up-front tuition fees.”

Brian Taylor: “Let’s be clear, that might have to mean a graduate contribution?”

JL: “It might have to.”

3) Following on from their last-minute 2011 commitment for a two-year council tax freeze, Labour has had countless positions:

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray – in response to publication of the Scottish Government’s spending review on 21st September – said “I always said a five-year council tax freeze seemed just unaffordable”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14989156

On Newsnight Scotland (30th Jan 2012), responding to proposals for a further 5-year council tax freeze, Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader, Anas Sarwar, said “I don’t think that’s credible. I don’t think that’s progressive.”

Labour’s national 2012 election manifesto makes no commitments to the council tax freeze, the small business bonus, free personal care, the no compulsory redundancy policy and many more.

In South Lanarkshire, Labour candidates’ campaign literature commits Labour to a five-year council tax freeze, but gives no indication why they have changed their view, or how they will fund it when the support provided by the Scottish Government ends in 2016.

Linda with Liz Sim from Oxfam at the East Kilbride shop

Linda Fabiani MSP for East Kilbride has encourage local women to donate their unused bras to Oxfam’s Big Bra Hunt.

Oxfam has found that British women are guilty of hoarding nearly £1.2 billion* worth of bras that they don’t wear. Research by the charity found that the average British woman has nine bras in her collection and spends around £16 per item but then leaves three of these languishing unused in her drawers.

With many of those surveyed confessing that they didn’t know what to do with their unwanted bras, Oxfam is launching the ‘Big Bra Hunt’, appealing to women up and down the country to dig deep into their drawers and donate their forgotten bras to the charity.  The new campaign, supported by Helen Mirren, Zoe Ball and Miquita Oliver, aims to collect one million bras. 

Many of these bras will be sold in Oxfam’s UK high street shops to raise money for the charity’s work worldwide. Others will be sent to Frip Ethique (meaning ‘ethical second hand clothing’), a unique project run by Oxfam in Senegal, that sorts and trades unsold second hand clothes from Oxfam shops and provides essential employment for disadvantaged women in the area.  Bras are complex to manufacture so very few developing countries have the facilities to make their own. Therefore bras are one of the most desirable items in West African second hand clothing markets and make the most money for Frip Ethique. Some of the profits go towards Oxfam’s work in Senegal, the rest are reinvested into the business.

Linda said:

“I am delighted to support Oxfam’s Big Bra Hunt and encourage women in East Kilbride to get involved.  I’m sure many women have a number of bras stowed away left untouched for years. The Big Bra Hunt really highlights how every last item donated to Oxfam can be used in a truly unique way, making a real difference to people all around the world.”

A third of all women who have bras they no longer wear say they keep them because they forget they own them and 21 per cent confess they are simply hoarders. Oxfam discovered that women simply don’t know where to get rid of these bras, with 10 per cent saying they didn’t know charities accept them.

Sarah Farquhar, Oxfam’s head of retail brand adds: “This research really shows the vast number of bras women in the UK leave forgotten and unloved in their drawers. The Big Bra Hunt hopes to highlight, that whilst these bras may not be of use to the average British woman, the jobs created and profits made from the trade and sale of these bras, provide a unique opportunity for women in West Africa to provide for their families, send their kids to school and afford vital medicines.”

Oxfam shops up and down the country will be appealing for bra donations. Also as part of the ongoing M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange, bra hunters who donate an M&S bra to their local Oxfam shop will receive a voucher worth £5 off a £35 spend on clothing, home and beauty at M&S stores and online.

For other ways to donate please visit www.oxfam.org.uk/bra.

ENDS

* 1,176,336,000 worth of unused bras came from calculating 3 unused bras per every woman above 18 in the UK population (25.2 million women aged +18) at the average price of £15.56 per bra. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-231847

** 87% of 18-35 yr olds said they can’t leave the house without a bra compared to 84% said shoes, with 82% of 35-44 year olds saying they can’t leave the house without a bra, compared with 86% said shoes.

*** 40% of 18-24 year olds who have bought a bra in the last year compared to 18% of other age groups.

Notes to Editors

1. Photo is of Linda Fabiani MSP and Liz Sim from Oxfam at the East Kilbride Oxfam Shop
2. Case histories of Frip Ethique employees also available on request to press office.
3. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 1129 female adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th – 15th March 2012 .  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK female adults (aged 18+)
4. Launched in 2008 the ongoing M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange encourages customers to recycle clothes they no longer wear. Customers who donate an item of M&S labelled clothing to an Oxfam shop receive a voucher for £5 off against purchases over £35 on clothing, homeware or beauty products in M&S stores and online (valid for one month).  One voucher per person.
5. Oxfam has around 690 shops on high streets across the UK. There are more than 500 standard shops (selling a bit of everything), around 148 bookshops, 9 boutiques, 15 furniture/homeware shops, 11 shops with bridal departments, and six music shops.
6. Oxfam Wastesaver – Oxfam is the only major charity to operate its own textile sorting facility, Wastesaver. It maximises revenue from textiles that cannot be re-sold in our shops, and minimises the amount of textiles sent to landfill.
   Wastesaver sorts clothing into around 100 different grades depending on garment type, condition, style and fabric. The clothing is then sold to the most suitable market via a number of different routes, including our high street shops, our online shop and festivals. Items which aren’t suitable for the UK market can be sold to designers who restyle garments and reuse fabrics in their collections, or to textile wholesalers in the UK and overseas. Low-grade items are sold in bulk to recycling and reprocessing companies in the UK, which use the textiles as mattress filler, carpet underlay and upholstery. 

Frip Ethique -(‘frip’ being the local term for second hand clothing, ‘ethique’ meaning ethical) is a social enterprise in Senegal which sorts and trades second hand clothes for sale in the local area.  It was set up to provide employment in Dakar for disadvantaged women and to generate a profit that could then be invested in livelihood programmes run by Oxfam in West Africa.  Frip Ethique buys large bales of the surplus clothing from Wastesaver at market rate then sorts it and sells it at a profit in the ‘frip’ markets of Dakar.  After several years of hard work the business is now making a profit – £100,000 in the last financial year – and employs over 40 people.  Many women’s lives are being turned around by the business – they can now afford to feed and clothe their families, send their kids to school and afford vital medicine

John said:

“The Cardinal is right to speak out and criticise the UK Government, and we support his concern for the poor in society.

“The SNP Government are doing everything possible within current devolved powers to protect people from the impact of Westminster cuts – the most recent being protection for over half a million vulnerable people who would see their Council Tax Benefit cut by the UK Government.

“An SNP Administration at South Lanarkshire Council will work with the Scottish Government to ensure that we protect services that enhance people’s standard of living and the safety of people at risk.

“We will continue to support the Council Tax freeze and enhance the support given to kinship and foster carers.

“And care for our elderly by increasing the facilities for home and residential care in co-operation with the private sector.

“An SNP Administration at South Lanarkshire Council and an SNP Government at Holyrood will always use the powers available to us under this current constitutional settlement to protect the people from the harmful policies of the UK Government.”

Sheena said:

“I welcome his central message will be that every SNP council will be focussed on working to protect jobs and the economy and to work alongside the Scottish Government to help people into long-term employment.

“The latest figures show Scotland has the lowest unemployment and highest employment of any nation in the UK – and the SNP have a team of council candidates here in East Kilbride determined to drive down unemployment further.

Commenting the First Minister said:

“Our message is focussed on how SNP Councils will be can-do councils which can create and protect jobs, jobs, jobs for Scotland.

“People don’t want their local council to spend its time bickering with other councils and with the Scottish government. Instead, every SNP council will be focussed on working to protect jobs and the economy.

“SNP councils will work with the Scottish Government to ensure every 16-19 year old not in work, education or training is offered a learning or training opportunity, as we help them take their first steps into the world of work.

“We’ll extend our no-compulsory redundancy policy to councils, giving thousands of workers job security and giving them confidence to spend to support local jobs and businesses.

“Because the SNP Government has protected councils from the worst of the Westminster spending cuts, we are able to promise to take forward key policies to make life better for families across Scotland.

“In the elections last year, the people of Scotland gave a huge vote of confidence in our record in national Government. On Thursday they can bring the same record and vision to their local council.”

Gladys said:

“The manifesto details how SNP councils will appoint a Carers’ Champion to work with carers and the council to ensure they get the help and support needed.

“SNP councils will work to secure proper recognition for kinship carers, work to ensure young carers are better served by their schools and reward employers, who offer support and flexibility to carers, a special Kitemark.

“Carers are the unsung heroes of our society who selflessly give up their time to help others.  Looking after someone is not an easy task – particularly if you are a young carer.

“We recognise the invaluable and often exhausting work carers contribute to our community, which is why an SNP Administration at South Lanarkshire Council will work tirelessly to ensure they get the help and support they need.

“We will work with the Scottish Government to ensure young carers are better served by their schools and be given easier access to the Education Maintenance Allowance.

“The SNP Government not only delivered on our manifesto target of10,000 weeks of respite care, but beat it.

“Alongside this, the Energy Assistance Package, which is helping push the cost of 7,000 carers’ heating bills down, has also been extended.

“An SNP Administration at South Lanarkshire Council will work together to improve the quality of carers’ lives – when we work together across the public sector we can deliver more.”