Pauline McNeill MSP

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Pauline alongside other MSP’s in support of RedDay4Haiti. The campaign asks that the people of Scotland wear something red as a show of solidarity for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

Dear Constituent ,

Yesterday I took part in a photo call at Parliament arranged to raise awareness of the suffering faced by the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. An estimated 200,000 people lost their lives in the disaster and the survivors now face an absolute crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people have been made homeless, hospitals have collapsed and water supplies are broken.

I know that individuals and families in Glasgow and across Scotland have donated generously to help the international relief effort. Your money and support will make a real difference to the lives of people who have lost everything. For more information on the international aid effort or to donate visit: http://www.dec.org.uk/ http://www.dec.org.uk/

“Failing Scotland and Failing Glasgow”

On Wednesday the Scottish Government, with support from Conservative MSP’s, where able to pass their budget for the coming year. I believe this budget was a missed opportunity for Scotland and for Glasgow.

The Scottish Government Budget is going up by almost a billion pounds – an increase of £943m next year. However additional funds will be used to fund Government vanity projects such as the Scottish Futures Trust, international relations, the National Conversation and the referendum

I think this money should be spent on building homes, creating jobs and giving young people training, and allowing all people on the Disability Allowance to have free travel. Not on policies which do nothing to help families in Glasgow and across Scotland who desperately need our continuing support through the economic downturn.

In addition, because the government also refused to publish full details of the Capital Spending Programme which outlines how the government would allocate its resources. I believe that all members of the Parliament should have full access to this information and be much more extensively consulted on how the government priorities its funds.

The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Executive, Sir John Elvidge indicated to Parliament's Audit Committee that four major programmes, three of which are in the Glasgow area, have slipped in timetable: The Southern General Hospital, the Borders Railway, the National Arena for the Commonwealth Games and the Gartcosh campus.

These projects have a combined expenditure of £1.2bn and might have had the protential to release sufficient funds for the government to finance other schemes such as the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, a project which the government asked opposition parties to find the money to finance having previously decided to remove it from the budget. I have fought tirelessly to try and save this vital project and on Wednesday even proposed an amendment asking for GARL to be reinstated, which was dismissed.

I think the government is playing games with the future prosperity of Glasgow and me must send a clear message to the government that it will not be allowed to continue.

Marine (Scotland) Bill

I was delighted to lend my support the work of Scottish Labour MSPs on the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee who have worked tirelessly, in conjunction with Scottish Environment LINK, to forward a series of amendments to improve and strengthen the Marine (Scotland) Bill, ensuring that greater emphasis is put on conservation, so as to promote a healthier marine environment

The three amendments proposed by the committee were accepted and I am pleased to say that the Bill passed stage 3 (a full vote of the parliament) yesterday. I hope this legislation will go a long way to safeguarding Scotland’s marine environment and the industries which it supports.

Surgeries

My next Constituency Surgery will be held on Monday the 8th Febuary at 5pm

in Patrick Burgh Hall. Appointments preferable

Best Wishes,

Pauline McNeill MSP
for Glasgow Kelvin

Updated 5th Febuary 2010

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Pauline, listening to Donald Martin, President of the Uk Society of Editors, speaking in support of the campaign to save local newspaper advertising.

Pauline pictured beside the Leader of Scottish Labour, Iain Gray and other Labour MSP's supporting the campaign to safeguard local newspaper advertising

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