MP slams bid to half lifeline bureau funds
Motherwell and Wishaw MP Marion Fellows has hit out at the proposed cuts to funding for the Citizens Advice Bureau.
CAB staff face a reduction in funding over 50 per cent angering many people who use the vital service.
Marion said: “It seems to be an almost daily occurrence now that North Lanarkshire Council are announcing more cuts to vital local services that will vastly impact on peoples’ lives.
“This has come only a week after the announcement that the elderly will be forced to pay for their community alarms and integrated day services which is essential for their welfare.
“Earlier in the year, I gave my full support to CAB when NLC were reviewing their budget.
“CAB provide a number of vital services that support vulnerable individuals in particular and it, therefore, must be protected.
“Labour councillors will no doubt blame this on the Scottish Government.
“But they will fail to mention that they signed up to the Council Tax Freeze voluntarily.
“They will also fail to mention that they have to pay out over £100million in equal pay settlements after a lengthy and costly legal battle.
“It’s about time they took responsibility for their actions.
“Labour at NLC are also putting CAB services out to tender potentially privatising these services and allowing private corporations to profit from the public purse.
“CAB have a proven track record of assisting the community with a variety of issues with some staff being volunteers. They will find it difficult to compete with private corporations who have no shortage of resources and expertise.
“Labour must review these plans again and any attempts to privatise our services must be opposed.”
Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Clare Adamson has also backed the CAB.
She added:“Motherwell and Wishaw CAB has an excellent performance record and their support is recognised within the community.
“Voluntary organisations rely on some level of stability and this in year cut proposed by North Lanarkshire Council along with their proposed tender for the Money Advice Service is causing stress to the volunteers who provide a vital service preventing problems becoming a crisis.
“I hope that their excellent performance metrics will be recognised during the tender process by the council.”
NLC must review these plans Marion Fellows