Visit: East Ayrshire Central Catering Unit

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I was pleased to get the opportunity to visit East Ayrshire Central Catering Unit earlier today and was very impressed by the way the premises have been designed and the operational capacity.

This new central unit will provide meals to children in early learning and childcare settings with the provision of healthy food from local suppliers sourcing fresh local produce. It is great to hear and see sustainability working in practice.

My thanks to Mark Hunter (Strategic Lead Food and Facilities Support ) for showing me around and filling me in on future plans.

Small Business Saturday

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As part of this annual campaign, this time, I opted to highlight businesses in and around John Finnie Street.

At times, too many of us pass through John Finnie Street in our cars on the one-way system rather than shopping on foot. There is a raft of businesses on what was built as a prestigious Victorian Street.

I got a whole range of butcher meat at Faulds' The Butcher, including their award-winning black pudding. I popped into George Tannahill’s to look for furniture and then Sinforiani Bros in West George Street.

The latter shop always has a fine array of whisky, gin and wine. There are also books to browse and a range of Italian produce - I always come out with more purchases than intended!

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Statement: Ian Blackford

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The SNP Group Leader at Westminster has decided he was stepping aside from that position. I pay tribute to the work Ian has undertaken in that time.

He has faced four Tory Prime Ministers in that time and two Labour Leaders. He regularly challenged the UK Government and remained firm on the problems with Brexit, while the Labour Party has moved to mimic the Tories on Brexit for fear of upsetting voters.

All polling evidence points to people thinking that Brexit was a mistake and that there is support for re-joining the single market. So, wholesale changes that will improve the economy will actually be supported by the wider electorate.

The issue is that Labour and the Tories obsessively focus on appealing to the swing voters in the former “red wall” seats. It is an incoherent way to form a strategy and I am so grateful the SNP has had strong leadership over this period.

I know our new Westminster Group Leader will continue from where Ian left off.

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Visit: The Book Nook

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On Friday it was a great honour to officially open the new, bigger premises for the Book Nook in Stewarton. Research shows that bookshops add value to the high street they are located in due to the footfall created.

It is also impressive that our one local independent bookshop is located in Stewarton rather than Kilmarnock. Sarah Frame, who operates it, won “Family Business of the Year” earlier in 2022 and that is a fantastic accolade.

At the opening, it became very clear to me that “customers” were not just customers but friends as well - this is always the sign of a good, local business. I always think this is one great aspect of the area we live in - we still have many small independent shops and businesses, they are something to cherish and support.