Kiltwalk for Another Star in Sky
BY RENFREWSHIRE SOUTH MSP TOM ARTHUR
With the Scottish Parliament in recess for Easter, I have been out and about in Renfrewshire South meeting with local groups, businesses and constituents to discuss the matters that are important to them.
I was delighted to get along to Crofthead Bowling Club in Neilston last week, to join the Neilston Golden Girls at one their fantastic community get-togethers.
The wellness group, which aims to offers a safe place for ladies to meet, enjoy lunch and make friendships, is a really exciting development for the community of Neilston.
I was very grateful for the invite, and for the opportunity to learn more about the group and its future plans, which were outlined to me by Raymond
Kerr.
As many of you will be aware, some of my constituency office staff and I have signed up to take part in this year’s Glasgow Kiltwalk – raising money and awareness for Another Star in the Sky/Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
I was inspired to join the team after meeting Mariya Javed when she visited the Scottish Parliament towards the end of last year.
Mariya’s brother passed away in 2017, aged 13 due to a rare condition called AVM. Ever since, Mariya has been raising money and awareness of AVM and other rare, life-limiting conditions, which affect children and young people.
If you wish to make a contribution, you can do so using the following link: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/tomarthurmsp.
We cannot wait to join
Mariya and the rest of the team to complete the walk on April 28 for such a worthy cause.
In other news, it was great to see that all 32 Scottish councils are expected to the freeze council tax in 2024-25, saving households money during the cost-of-living crisis.
The Scottish Government has provided £147 million to fund the freeze, equivalent to a five per cent council tax increase.
Council tax bills in Scotland are already hundreds of pounds a year lower than they are in England and this fullyfunded council tax freeze gives people even more relief whilst they grapple with increased costs.
On that note, The Scottish Government has published its ambitious new Housing Bill, which will strengthen tenants’ rights, keep people in their homes, and help to prevent homelessness.
The Bill will build on Scotland’s emergency tenant protection legislation, which led the way in the UK for rented households during the worst moments of the cost-of-living crisis.
If passed by the Scottish Parliament, the legislation will put into effect a New Deal for Tenants with long-term rent controls for private tenancies, new rights to keep pets and decorate rented homes, and stronger protections against eviction.
It will also mean that people facing homelessness have more choice and control over where they live, helping them to maintain relationships in their community and stay in work.
Despite over a decade of Westminster austerity, over 128,200 affordable and social homes have been completed under
SNP governments since 2007. This includes over 90,600 council and housing association homes, as well as over 37,600 homes for affordable home ownership and mid-market rent.
Scotland has consistently had the highest average supply of affordable housing per head of population in the UK.
The SNP-led government will continue to take action, including committing over £550 million to the affordable housing supply programme this year, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live in a safe and comfortable home.
Of course, those in need of support with housing or any other issue can contact my office at any time by telephone on 01505 331 990 or email at tom.arthur.msp@ parliament.scot.