Meeting to get rail solution in Dunblane
I recently met with representatives of Dunblane Community Council to view and discuss the ongoing works being carried out by Network Rail and the impact they are having on the town.
As a result of the meeting, I have requested a site visit with Alex Hynes, managing director of the ScotRail Alliance and the Community Council with a view to coming to an agreement to resolve the outstanding issues.
The current industrial action within UK and Scottish universities, including the University of Stirling is an issue of considerable concern and is not in anyone’s interest, least of all students. It is very disappointing that so far agreement has yet to be reached between the University and College Union and Universities UK in the dispute over pensions.
It is important that every effort is made to minimise disruption to students so that they are not disadvantaged in the teaching they receive. I believe a resolution to this dispute will be found round the negotiating table and encourage both parties to continue working together to find a solution agreeable to both sides.
Analysis of the Chancellor’s recent Spring Statement reveals that because of high inflation, the Tory’s benefit freeze will be cutting an additional £3 billion more from claimants between 2018/19 and 2020/21 than the Government had envisaged in 2015. And the UK Government’s welfare ‘reforms’ have implemented punitive cuts to social security in the form of the benefit cap, benefit freeze, two-child cap on Child Tax Credits, and the cut to Employment Support Allowance, causing untold misery and hardship to people across the Stirling area.
All of these policies are, of course, enthusiastically backed by Tory MP Stephen Kerr even though in reality they are punishing many of the most vulnerable people he is supposed to represent. The Scottish Government is doing what it can to mitigate the impact of these callous Tory welfare policies, and build a Scottish social security system based on dignity and respect in areas where Holyrood has responsibility through new powers transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
One example of this was the announcement last week of a further £1 million over the next two years to fund new activity to support children facing food insecurity, particularly during the school holidays. No child should go hungry in a country as prosperous as ours. The Scottish Government provides free school meals for all pupils in P1-P3 and for those from a low income background throughout their time at school. But it’s clear that for some families, facing a daily struggle to make ends meet, there is an issue providing nutritious food out of school terms. This funding will support projects that offer dignified and sustainable responses to food poverty and I would encourage local organisations to look out for further information over the coming weeks.
However, with most welfare powers remaining at Westminster, we must continue to pile pressure on the Tories, including Stirling’s MP, to reverse these mistaken and damaging Tory welfare policies.
The Tory’s benefit freeze will cut an additional £3 billion more from claimants