A Week in Parliament

Loudoun Hill

Given I have lived in the constituency my entire life, I like to think I appreciate the beauty of the countryside. It is great for walking and I love long walks with the dog. Yet sometimes you realise you overlook things. For example, I had a couple of friends visiting and so suggested we climb Loudoun Hill. It was an activity I haven’t done for years. I was pleasantly surprised to get there and find the car park full and loads of families doing the walk/climb. The Spirit of Scotland monument there is also stunning although the classic backdrop for it is winter scenes and snow. I thoroughly recommend a trip and a walk – the good thing is, it can be a stroll to the monument, an easy walk along the paths or you can do the full-on scramble to the top of the hill.

Ellis Haining

When I do a question and answer session, there is always a “what’s the best part of your job?” question. Without any shadow of doubt, it is when my staff or I get an outcome that helps people. One case I raised in parliament was that of Ellis Haining and the fact his family needed a car big enough to house his medical equipment and allow him out the hospital to have home visits. Qualification for a mobility car has a random minimum age of three-years. However, by bringing this case up in the chamber, a solution was found. It was so uplifting to be able to support a fantastic family and help give a bit more stability. Recently there was a concern that the way the system works, the car would need to be returned and then a fresh application made for a new car under the standard qualification rules. It was so pleasing that Caroline form my office helped the family to ensure that there was no interval where they did not have a car. It seems so simple and logical, but yet the reality is that we have to make sure the system helps people rather than let them down.

GERS

Once again, the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures were released that shows in theory that Scotland has a big deficit. These spending figures are used by people who believe in the union to say it shows that Scotland cannot possibly be independent. However, the truth of the matter is, that 40% of the spending is spent by Westminster, it is then “assigned” to Scotland. Also, if the union is so good for Scotland, why apparently is it so economically hamstrung? The reality is that is suits Westminster to say that Scotland is so dependent it cannot be an independent country. Of course, things don’t help when we are left with Labour’s PFI legacy. £5 billion has been spent in the last five-years alone. Projects that cost £4bn are projected to have cost us £22.5bn, it is shameful. Locally, East Ayrshire pay approximately £10m per annum for just four schools.