Author Archives:

Jobs Losses a Cruel Blow to Workers and Their Families

01 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in Local Campaigns

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

V3C2621-150x150Latest press release from Mary.

After hearing of the terrible news that almost 150 jobs are to be lost at a Regenersis technology plant in Inchinnan, Mary Fee MSP is calling on the Scottish Government and its agencies to work with Renfrewshire Council  to minimise the impact of almost 150 jobs being lost and to ensure that staff receive settlements that they are entitled to.
Speaking from the Scottish Parliament Mary said:
“This is another blow for the people of Renfrewshire and a massive blow to the local economy. It is terrible news that the workers have to face up to on International Worker’s day, and I am calling on the Scottish Government and its agencies to work with Renfrewshire Council in order to minimise the awful impact this will have in people’s lives and ensure that workers will be compensated properly.”

“It’s deeply saddening that people are losing their jobs at a time when many people are struggling to find work; as I witnessed at last week’s jobs fair when almost 2,000 people attended in the hope to find employment.”

ENDS

MARY BEATS THE WEATHER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ALZHEIMER’S SCOTLAND

02 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Health, Local Campaigns, Local Visits

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Latest press release from Mary.

Easter Coffee Morning March 2013

On Monday 25th March Mary Fee MSP held an Easter themed Coffee Morning in Renfrew’s McMaster Centre and raised almost £100 for the Alzheimer’s Scotland shop in the town centre.

Joined by Neil Bibby MSP, Jim Sheridan MP and local councillors Bill Brown and Alex Murrin, Mary held a Coffee Morning on Monday 25th March. Although the weather kept a lot of people off the street, Mary was delighted to have raised £93.21 for a charity close to her heart – Alzheimer’s Scotland.

The Scottish Labour MSP has also donated a signed bottle of Scottish Parliament whisky for the Renfrew charity shop to raffle off to customers in order to raise more vital funds that support people and their families suffering from dementia.

Speaking after the event, Mary said:

“I am thrilled we raised as much as we did given how cold it was this morning and when we went out in the high street to give people more leaflets on the event, it was clear that the weather had beaten us.”

“However that did not dampen our spirits and I am glad that £93 was raised to keep the important work of Alzheimer’s Scotland going strong. The charity is one I feel very strongly about and I will continue to support the tremendous work they do. That is why I donated a bottle of Scottish parliament whisky to the store to raffle off to customers.”

Bronwyn O’Riordan, Regional Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Scotland said:

“Alzheimer’s Scotland is extremely grateful for Mary Fee’s continued interest in, and support for, our work. Her on-going efforts to raise awareness and money for dementia make a big difference, as do those of the many generous and passionate people who get involved in what we do.

“We aim to ensure that no-one feels they have to go through dementia on their own, but it takes the wonderful support of people like Mary to turn this from words into action. Hopefully Mary’s continued efforts in raising awareness of our charity will prove beneficial in funding Alzheimer Scotland s Renfrewshire services, Dementia Advisor, the local charity shop and service user groups such as ‘Singing Memories’ and our forthcoming ‘Football Memories’ group.” 

“I am very grateful to have been invited along to Mary’s coffee morning in aid of Alzheimer Scotland. I am always happy to support anyone wishing to fundraise on our behalf and I’d be delighted to hear from people who have fundraising ideas or would like to find out more about how to be involved with our work. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any fundraising or volunteering enquiries”

 

ENDS

LET’S GET IT RIGHT FOR PEOPLE WITH NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS SAYS MARY FEE MSP

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by in Health, Holyrood Highlights, Parliamentary Questions

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Latest press release from Mary.

MaryHughNeurologicalConditionsEvents2013Scottish Labour MSP Mary Fee has taken the opportunity to quiz the Scottish Government on its plans to improve services for people with neurological conditions and end the postcode lottery of care.

During Health & Wellbeing Portfolio Questions in The Scottish Parliament, Ms Fee used to opportunity to ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve services for people with neurological conditions and their carers and end the postcode lottery of care.

In his response Michael Matheson said that the Scottish Government had established the National Neurological Advisory Group, with a view to make all national health boards create improvement plans in order to tackle the postcode lottery of care for patients with neurological conditions.

The Scottish Labour MSP has welcomed Mr Matheson’s response and hopes that people will soon see improvements in their care and services across Renfrewshire.

Mary Fee recently also sponsored and hosted an event in The Scottish Parliament for the Neurological Alliance of Scotland, the umbrella body of organisations and groups representing people living with or affected by a neurological condition.

Neurological conditions result from damage to the brain, spinal column or nerves, caused by illness or injury. Many of the precise causes of neurological conditions are not yet known. Neurological conditions affect young and old, rich and poor, men and women and people from all cultures and ethnicities.

Some neurological conditions are life-long and people can experience onset at any time in their lives. Others, such as cerebral palsy, are present from birth. Some conditions, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, commonly appear in early childhood, some, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease affect mainly older people.

Speaking from her Paisley-based office, Mary said:

“Having recently held an event for the Neurological Alliance of Scotland in the Parliament, I decided to use the opportunity to ask the Scottish Government how it will improve services for local people with conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, dementia and Parkinson’s disease across Renfrewshire.”

“I welcome the Public Health Minister’s response and hope that people across Renfrewshire will soon see improvements in their care and an end to the postcode lottery of care that currently exists.”

ENDS

MARY BACKS WHICH? CAMPAIGN TO END NUISANCE CALLS AND TEXTS

20 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Holyrood Highlights, Justice, Local Campaigns

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

V3C2621-150x150Latest press release from Mary.

West of Scotland MSP Mary Fee has today backed the Which? campaign for regulators to end the nuisance and misery of unwanted marketing calls and texts, with research showing that 7 in 10 adults in the UK have received such marketing calls over the last three months.

Today (19th March 2013) Which? , the consumer rights group, launched a call for regulators to launch a taskforce to tackle and clamp down on unwanted calls and texts, primarily from Personal Injury and Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) companies.

Now Mary Fee MSP has backed the calls from Which? in order to end the nuisance of marketing calls for people across Renfrewshire and the UK. The new taskforce called for by Which? should “Police, Punish and Publish” marketing companies responsible and the Labour MSP believes this is the best solution to end the harassment.

Research by Which? also shows that a quarter to people who claimed on their car insurance policy had been approached by nuisance claim marketing companies within 3 months, with more than half of those contacted within the first week of reporting an accident to an insurer.

Mary is calling on the people of Renfrewshire to make sure that they know what they are signing up for when filling in forms, by making sure that they can opt-out of third-party marketing.

For further information, concerned residents should visit the Which? website for tips and guidance on how to avoid cold calling or contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Speaking today, Mary said:

“It is astonishing that 7 in 10 people in the UK have received nuisance calls from claim management companies within the last three months and I fully support Which? in their campaign to end the harassing phone calls and texts.

“I am sure many people in Renfrewshire have had such nuisance calls about PPI or personal injury claims and I am sure they too will back the campaign by Which?.”

“If anyone has concerns about cold calling and would like more information on how to avoid such calls, please visit the Which? website or contact the Information Commissioner’s office”

ENDS

MARY FEE MSP SLAMS MINISTER FOR TREATING PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND WITH CONTEMPT

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Holyrood Highlights

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Latest Press Release from Mary. V3C2621-150x150

Mary Fee MSP has hit out at Scottish Government Minister for External Affairs and International Development Humza Yousaf for a contemptuous response to a question posed by Mary on a Scottish passport system if Scotland separates from the rest of the United Kingdom.

During General Question Time in the Scottish Parliament last Thursday (21st Februrary), Mary asked the Scottish Government when a Scottish passport system would be in place if Scotland votes to break up the UK in next year’s referendum.

In his initial response Mr Yousaf replied that a Scottish passport system would be in place on Independence, which the Scottish Government claims would be sometime in March 2016.

However in her supplementary, Mary raised concerns with the Scottish Government, concerns highlighted to Mary in surgeries and on the doorstep across Renfrewshire, from concerned constituents.

Those concerns surrounded the validity of current British passports after independence, the cost to transfer the passport from the British system to a new Scottish passport system, will the UK Government honour current passports and will Scottish people have access to British embassies around the world after 2016.

Mr Yousaf then showed his contempt and derision for concerned constituents across Renfrewshire by claiming “that the sky will not fall in”, “the earth will not swallow up her constituents” and that “the Messiah will not have to postpone his second coming” if Scotland votes to break up the United Kingdom.

The West Scotland MSP has also expressed her disappointment that Mr Yousaf’s ridicule is offensive to religious constituents by claiming that the Messiah would not have to postpone his second coming.

Commenting afterwards the Scottish Labour MSP said;

“I asked the Scottish Government a sincere and genuine question on how a new Scottish passport system would operate if Scotland breaks away from the UK, and for Humza Yousaf to show his contempt and derision for constituents that have come to me is a disgrace and unworthy for the position he holds in the Scottish Government.”

“It is also offensive to anyone of religion to claim that the Messiah would not have to postpone his second coming if Scotland separates from the United Kingdom next year.”

“My constituents deserve better and I will continue to represent their views, concerns and questions in the Scdottish Parliament, while members of the SNP Scottish Government mock and jeer at such concerns.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Transcript from the Official Report 21st February 2013

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab):

6. To ask the Scottish Government when a Scottish passport system will be in place if Scotland separates from the rest of the United Kingdom. (S4O-01824)

The Minister for External Affairs and International Development (Humza Yousaf): I would expect a Scottish passport system to be in place on independence. [Applause.] That is the easiest applause that I have ever had.

Mary Fee: On doorsteps and in surgeries, I have been asked by constituents what will happen to their passports in the unfortunate circumstances of a yes vote in 2014—[Interruption.]

The Presiding Officer: Order. Let us hear the member.

Mary Fee: Can the minister tell members and the people of Scotland what will happen to their current British passports? Will there be a cost involved in changing over by 2016? Will the British Government honour people’s current passports? Will Scottish people have access to British embassies around the world after separation?

Humza Yousaf: I was not even born in 1979, but that sounded like a throwback to those days.

Mary Fee can reassure her constituents that we have always said that we would have inclusive and open citizenship—unless she has information that the United Kingdom Government will give dual citizenship to people of every nation on this earth except an independent Scotland. We will give details in the white paper later this year. The member can reassure people that the sky will not fall in, the earth will not swallow up her constituents and the Messiah will not have to postpone his second coming, come an independent Scotland.

MARY FEE MSP BACKS CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE BOWEL CANCER DEATHS

21 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by in Health, Holyrood Highlights

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Latest Press Release – 21/02/2013

glenburn-pharmacy-201.jpgMary Fee MSP is backing the latest campaign by Bowel Cancer UK to increase awareness of bowel health and participation in screening programmes for people with learning difficulties and carers.

The national bowel cancer charity held an event in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 20th February to promote the campaign to MSPs. Now Mary Fee MSP is encouraging people across Renfrewshire who are most at risk of bowel cancer, which is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, to take part in screening programmes.

Those identified as being at risk are those over fifty, people with significant family history of bowel cancer, and anyone with type 2 diabetes. Bowel Cancer UK report that for every 650 people screened one person will be diagnosed who would not have otherwise been. Attending screenings prevents 150 deaths per year and if caught early there is a 90% chance of being treated successfully.

The Scottish Labour MSP is also encouraging people across Renfrewshire to take simple steps to reduce the risk by cutting down on red and processed meat, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, stopping smoking and drinking alcohol responsibly, as well as taking part in bowel screening programmes.

Anyone who has concerns should contact their doctor. Further information on bowel cancer, the screening programme and support services can be found at www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk

Speaking from the Scottish Parliament, Labour’s Mary Fee MSP said,

“Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK and it doesn’t have to be. I fully support the campaign by Bowel Cancer UK to raise awareness and promote screenings for people with learning difficulties and carers.

There are simple steps to reduce your risk by cutting down on red meats, drink responsibly and stop smoking to name a few. If anyone has concerns over their bowel health then they should consult with a doctor in the first instance.”

ENDS

Making Life Better for Gypsy Travellers

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in equal ops committee

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

The Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunity Committee gathered at the Clinterty site to hear evidence from Travellers, politicians, the NHS and the police as part of an inquiry into where Gypsy Travellers live.

The committee has visited various sites around Scotland but this is the first time a formal meeting has been held at one.

Mary Fee MSP from the Equal Opportunites Committee said: “The overall aim is to make life better for Gypsy Travellers.

“I think it’s really important that people realise that Gypsy Travellers that live on sites like Clinterty pay council tax and pay rent, and are entitled to a standard of service that everybody else in the community is entitled to, and they’re not getting that, and that’s something that we are committed to trying to overcome.”

20130205-132255.jpg

Prisoners and their Children Forgotten in Mental Health Strategy 2012-2015

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Health, Justice

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

20130130-162235.jpg

Last week Mary spoke in the Scottish Government debate on the Mental Health Strategy for 2012-2015. During the debate Mary highlighted and expanded on why she feels that the prison population has been ignored in the SNP Government’s strategy.

First of all the strategy does recognise and mostly focuses on women offenders and the mental health problems found in the female prison population, which is welcoming given the Commission on Women Offending released their report just months ago. However the strategy clearly missed the fact that 94.7% of the prison population are male.

Tackling mental health in prisons is a complex process, and made all the more complex with an ever increasing prison population, and overcrowded prisons.

It was estimated that in 1997 that around 90% of prisoners have some form of mental health problems, from depression to schizophrenia, and it would be hard for anyone to argue that this estimate does not still apply to today’s prison population.

A recent parliamentary question lodged by Mary shows that self-harm in prisons has increased by 62% between 2008 and 2012. With this increase in mind and the fact that 9 in 10 prisoners have mental health problems coupled with the complexities in tackling mental health in prisons, Mary expressed her disappointment that the SNP have barely scratched the surface of the issue of mental health and offending in their Mental Health Strategy 2012-2015.

Offending results in many emotional and physical problems for all involved in the crime; offenders, victims, witnesses and especially the children of offenders. It is often ignored in wider society that children of prisoners are victims themselves often through no fault of their own.

Families Outside, Scotland’s national charity for families affected by imprisonment, reports that 60% of all women in prisons have children and that there are two and a half times more children of prisoners than there are children in care. Yet little attention has been given to the children of prisoners who can and do suffer mental health problems that affect their development and behaviour. Evidence also shows that children of prisoners often enter the criminal justice system themselves later in life mostly because they suffer differing mental health problems that can result in a parents imprisonment.

So why have the SNP ignored such an often overlooked proportion on children in Scotland by targeting no specific action to improve the mental health and well being of children of prisoners?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that if you can improve the mental health of these children then in the long term you can tackle the offending and re-offending rates in Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s early years agenda promotes the idea that children must be supported to become successful learners, effective contributors, responsible citizens and confident individuals. On the basis of the three years strategy, the Scottish Government have missed another glaring opportunity to tackle mental health of these children and a specific section of Scottish society.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,821 other followers