Karen welcomes broadband news

Anti-social behaviour

Karen Blasts Banks

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has launched a petition to save the children’s ward in Monklands Hospital.

The Airdrie MSP joined other Labour Party members on the streets of Airdrie on Saturday morning to gather signatures for a petition which calls on Lanarkshire Primary care Trust to fulfil its previously stated commitment to reinstate inpatient paediatric services at Monklands Hospital. 

Karen has been joined in her campaign by her colleague, Elaine Smith,  MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston.

Elaine was also out in Coatbridge town centre on Saturday morning, collecting signatures for the petition.

Karen said:

“This was one of the easiest petitions I have ever had to collect signatures for.  People were queuing up to sign the petition and register their support for the campaign to reinstate the children’s ward in Monklands Hospital.  In the space of two hours we managed to collect over 500 signatures.  I know that my colleague, Elaine Smith, also managed to collect a similar number of signatures.  I believe that 1000 signatures within two hours should send a clear signal to the Lanarkshire Primary Care Trust.  

“All of the people I spoke to shared my anger and frustration at the backtracking of the Trust.  I spoke to many parents who told me of their concerns about having to travel to Wishaw to access paediatric services.  This is particularly worrying for those who do not have access to a car and rely on public transport.

“I am particularly pleased that our local paper, the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser is backing this campaign.  The Advertiser is renowned for its campaigning journalism and for being in touch with the concerns of its readers.  I am confident that, working together, we can restore children’s services to Monklands Hospital.”

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, is calling on local teachers and schoolchildren to contribute to the debate about the future of education in Scotland.  Her comments follow an announcement by Education Minister Cathie Jamieson, that organisations and individuals inside and outside the education system will be asked for their views as the first step towards producing a long term vision for Scottish education.

Briefing packs will be sent to every school and education authority in Scotland, and to organisations currently planning National Debate events. The packs include suggestions to start discussion, a feedback form, and some general facts about education in Scotland and in other countries.

Karen said:

“I would encourage anyone who has an interest in education to participate in this debate.  In particular, I would like to see local teachers and schoolchildren taking part and putting forward their ideas about the future of school education in Scotland.  I recently visited Dunrobin Primary School along with local councillor, Donna Morris and MEP Catherine Stihler.  When I mentioned to the children that the education Minister was consulting on the future of school based education, they had no shortage of ideas.

“The website, which the Scottish Executive has established, provides information and support materials for running a constructive discussion about the future of school based education.  It is only proper that those who are at the heart of our education system, namely teachers and pupils, should play a major role in its future development.”

Karen added:

“I would also encourage teachers and pupils to contribute to the evidence being taken by the Education Committee of the Scottish Parliament on this issue.  They have just launched a discussion based forum on the parliament’s live website.  Points raised in this site will form an important and integral part of the Committee’s formal consultation exercise, which is running in parallel with the Scottish Executive’s national debate on education.”

Launching the Debate in the Scottish Parliament, Minister for Education and Young People Cathy Jamieson said:

"This is the start of a genuine and inclusive dialogue on the way ahead for learning and teaching in our schools.

"Instead of the traditional method of a consultation paper from Ministers, we are seeking the public’s views on the ‘big questions’ in order to inform and shape a vision for the future.

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has welcomed the news that North Lanarkshire is to become a priority area for lottery funding.  The new scheme, entitled ‘fair share’ is recognition that some parts of the country are missing out on lottery funds. 

Fifty-seven disadvantaged communities in England and Scotland, including North Lanarkshire, will benefit from the ground-breaking new lottery scheme.  In all, nearly £169 million will be given across the UK to enable areas to catch up with their fair share of lottery funding.

The joint Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund scheme is the first-ever from the lottery distributors to ring-fence funding for deprived areas.  The Community Fund will channel £80 million and the New Opportunities Fund £88.75 million into UK fair share areas which have been identified as combining high levels of disadvantage together with a poor track record in accessing lottery funding from all the lottery good causes.

Karen said:

“This is very good news for voluntary groups in North Lanarkshire.  I am pleased that there has been recognition that additional lottery funding is needed in some of Scotland’s most deprived communities.  Unfortunately, there has been a poor uptake of lottery funds in North Lanarkshire. 

“Local groups must be encouraged to make applications and more importantly, must be given the assistance and support needed to ensure that the application has every chance of success.  This support can be provided by the Council through its community work and community education services.  Local councils for voluntary services such as MAVS and CAVOC can and do also play a major role in supporting local voluntary groups through the application process.”

Karen added: 

“The ringfencing of this lottery money for specific areas will ensure that community groups in areas such as Petersburn, Whinhall, Salsburgh and Shotts will receive their fair share of funding.

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has been appointed Parliamentary Ministerial Aide with responsibility to assist Law Officers.  The appointment will mean that Karen will work with the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General.

Speaking after the announcement, Karen said:

“I am honoured to have been chosen by the First Minister for this important role.  I am looking forward to working closely with the Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd and the Solicitor General, Elish Angiolini.

Karen added: 

“This is a particularly exciting time to take up this position following the recent announcement by the Lord Advocate of the most wide-ranging modernisation of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for more than a generation.  Included within this modernisation programme will be the recruitment of more prosecutors and additional resources.”

The First Minister, Jack McConnell has made the following appointments as Ministerial Parliamentary Aides:

• Michael McMahon – to assist First Minister
• Elaine Thomson – to assist Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
• Sylvia Jackson – to assist Minister for Health and Community Care
• Frank McAveety – to assist Minister for Finance and Public Services
• Rhoda Grant – to assist Minister for Social Justice
• Janis Hughes – to assist Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
• Ken Macintosh – to assist Minister for Education and Young People
• Karen Whitefield – to assist Law Officers

These unpaid posts will assist Cabinet Ministers in the discharge of their Parliamentary duties. They are not members of the Executive.

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has welcomed an announcement by Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, that the Scottish Executive will more than treble to £5 million the investment in nurse recruitment and retention initiatives this year. 

The announcement came as part of the launch of a ‘national year of recruitment and retention’ to ensure the NHS in Scotland can employ more nurses to support planned improvements in health services.

The initiatives include:

• an expanded Return to Practice programme to encourage up to 150 experienced nurses to retrain and rejoin the NHS, to be implemented in 6 areas of the country
• 250 more student nurse places in Scotland for the coming academic year backed by £1.5 million of extra investment
• a guaranteed minimum of one year’s employment in the NHS for the 1,500 newly qualified nurses and midwives graduating by October this year

Karen said:

“I am pleased that the Executive are prepared to commit extra resources to recruit and retain nurses in Scotland.  Nurses are a vital part of NHS services and it is important that we ensure that they are valued and that nursing is an attractive profession to those seeking employment.  I believe that providing a guaranteed minimum of one year’s employment for all newly qualified nurses will help to attract more people into this profession.

“It is also important that we attract experienced nurses back into the profession.  I welcome the Minister’s initiative to attract up to 150 experienced nurses to retrain and rejoin the NHS.”

Karen added:

“Nurses are seen to be the public face of the NHS.  They provide direct care to patients and are often the first person that a patient turns to when needing help.  Delivering a well-trained and well-motivated nursing workforce, is the only way that we can ensure that nurses will continue to deliver the high quality service that they currently provide.”

Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm said

"We have driven up student intakes. 10,000 more nurses and midwives will qualify in Scotland by 2005, 1,500 more than previously planned.

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, is calling on all young people to take the opportunity to make their views known to the Scottish Executive. 

Environment Minister, Ross Finnie, has invited young Scots to log on to the Junior Executive section of the Scottish Executive’s website and give their thoughts on Scotland’s energy needs and how to manage radioactive waste.  The site can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/junior.

Karen said:

“This is an excellent use of the Scottish Executive website.  We often hear of the ‘limitless opportunities’ opened up by the Internet.  Here we have a concrete example of the benefits of the increased communication that the Internet can bring.

“Dealing effectively with nuclear waste is a long term problem.  That is why it is right that we should be listening to the views of our young people – the future generations of Scottish citizens.  I would encourage as many young people as possible to take advantage of this opportunity and make their views known to the Minister.

“Nuclear power generates more than half of Scotland’s electricity.  It is vital that the waste produced during this process is managed in a way that will prove to be safe for future generations.  I am pleased that the Scottish Executive is taking steps to ensure that our young people are able to participate in this important debate. 

In addition to the online consultation, a group of young people from the West of Scotland are meeting this weekend to discuss how they want to be consulted on radioactive waste management, and what the best ways are to get them involved.

The group of 14 to 17 year olds are gathering to talk about how the Executive can best engage young people in the public debate on radioactive waste management. Through group discussions and the use of diverse media, the young people will then give feedback on what they think.

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has welcomed the news that cancer services in Scotland are to be given an extra £10 million of new investment over the next two years.  The money will be used to step up the drive to reduce waiting times.

The extra resource will increase to £60 million the Executive’s overall national cancer investment plan.

£8 million of the extra money will be allocated in each of the next two years between Scotland’s three main regional cancer networks – North, West, and South-East. The priority for investment will be extra staff and new equipment.  Final decisions on specific allocations will follow consultation with cancer clinicians themselves and will be announced by the summer.

The remaining £2 million will be targeted directly at delivering immediate improvements in Glasgow’s Beatson Cancer Centre – including the recruitment of 35 more cancer nurses.

Karen said:

“This additional funding is evidence that cancer remains a priority for the NHS in Scotland.  There are still too many people waiting too long for cancer treatment.  It is vital that we recruit and retain the nurses and consultants needed to provide a first class cancer service to the people of Scotland.

“I understand the concerns felt by patients and relatives, both before and after diagnosis of cancer.  We have all had friends or relatives who have faced this stressful situation.  What these people need is to know that the staff and equipment is available to ensure the swiftest possible diagnosis and treatment. 

“I would like to pay tribute to all the members of the NHS staff team who currently provide these services.  Nurses, cleaners and consultants are all dedicated to providing the best possible level of care to cancer patients.  I hope that the additional funding that has been announced over the last year will help them to deliver such improved quality of care.

Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm said:

"The Scottish Cancer Group, drawn from cancer professionals and patients, is now looking at priorities for 2002-3 and beyond. It is clear that once again increasing the capacity of the NHS to tackle cancer – in staff, in equipment, and in expertise – will be at the forefront of their decisions. I am delighted today to announce that, as a result of the extra resources coming to health from the UK government’s commitment to the NHS, we will boost the resources they have to allocate by £10 million in each of the next 2 years. A 66 per cent increase over that period.”

The £2 million for the Beatson will allow the recruitment of 35 cancer nurses and provide investment for new chemotherapy equipment, new beds for day-case treatment, and additional medical secretaries and administrative support. It follows last month’s announcement from Mr Chisholm that he had given his approval for the public funding of a £50 million state-of-the-art cancer centre for the west of Scotland to replace the Beatson Centre. It will also be open for the Beatson to be considered for further funding as part of the west of Scotland cancer network plan – due to be finalised by the summer.

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has spoken of her concerns regarding the Scottish Executive’s proposals to build three new private prisons and is encouraging the Executive to listen closely to the views of prison officers.

Her comments came during a lively debate in the Parliament last week.  During the debate, Justice Minister, Jim Wallace told Parliament the prison population was forecast to rise significantly over the next decade. The Executive proposed to modernise existing facilities while using the private sector to build three new prisons. 

Speaking during the debate, Karen said:

“I have a strong interest in the SPS proposals to modernise our prison service.  It is important that MSPs and the public, including prison officers, are able to contribute to the debate surrounding the modernisation of the prison service in Scotland.

“I am convinced of the need for that modernisation.  It cannot be acceptable in the 21^st century for prisoners to be faced with the indignity of slopping out and with living in cramped and, in some cases, unsafe accommodation.

“However, I am yet to be convinced about using the private sector to run our prisons.  There is a need to examine further the impact that the current preferred option will have on the quality of our prison service.  Prison officers must be fully involved in that examination.”

Karen added:

“On service quality, I am not convinced that the Scottish Prison Service is comparing like with like when it concludes that the privately built, privately run option offers substantially better value than do the other two options.  Cheapest is not always best—in fact, in my experience, it is rarely best.  We have a duty to ensure that public money is used effectively and efficiently but we also have a duty to ensure that our prisons are secure and facilitate rehabilitation.  I am sure that we all agree that society is best served by a prison service that delivers high rehabilitation rates and low levels of recidivism.

“I ask the ministers to examine carefully the impact that building private prisons will have on staff and to consider whether that will have a detrimental effect on the level and quality of educational and rehabilitation services in our prisons.  I am concerned that the cost savings could eventually be borne by society through increased crime.  I urge the Executive to gauge the strengths of the various models not just in terms of their relative costs, but in terms of the impact that each model will have on staff and the standard of services.

“We all accept the need for reform of the prison service.  Outdated prisons must be tackled and outdated practices such as slopping out must end.  We must ensure that our prisons provide security for the public, safety for prison officers and for prisoners and the opportunity for genuine and meaningful rehabilitation.  That will not be an easy task and we will have to address the issue of cost.  However, we owe it to the people of Scotland to examine the proposals carefully, to weigh up the pros and cons of each option thoroughly and to deliver a prison service that is fit for the 21^st century.”

Speaking after the debate, Karen said:

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has welcomed the news that the Scottish Executive has decided to use extra funding announced during last week’s budget, to increase spending on the NHS by £3.2 billion over the next five years.

Speaking in Parliament, First Minister, Jack McConnell said:

“This is a massive step change in investment, an increase of almost 50 per cent over the next five years.  We have been presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest in health and health care in Scotland.  We will seize that opportunity.  With investment will come reform and results.  These resources will deliver the step change in the health of our people that we desperately need."

Karen Whitefield said:

“This is great news for the health service in Scotland.  The Chancellor has made a bold and courageous move by enabling such a large increase in NHS spending.  The health service is a priority for the people of Scotland and I am pleased that the Scottish Executive has shown that it is a priority for government.”

Karen added: 

“It is vital that, in return for this substantial extra investment, the NHS is seen to deliver an improved service.  I am pleased that the Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, has said that the additional funds for NHS Scotland will be matched by stronger accountability and improved performance.  He has stated his commitment to ensure that extra resources for health achieve real and tangible improvements for patients – and that those improved outcomes can be tracked by both politicians and the public.

“I also welcome the Minister’s announcement that as part of our plans to reform the NHS for patients we will create a National Waiting Times Database.  For too long hospitals have chosen patients.  I am pleased that the Minister is taking steps to create an NHS in which patients and their GP’s increasingly choose which hospital treats them.  I welcome plans to create of a waiting times database by 2003.  This will give GPs information about inpatient and outpatient waiting times in every hospital in Scotland.  GPs will be able to refer patients to the hospital providing the most appropriate treatment in the shortest time.  This really is creating a patient-centred NHS.”

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield has welcomed the recent announcement that Scotland’s special needs projects are to benefit from an additional £5 million.  The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Innovation Grants programme will provide funding for over 40 projects which deliver better services for children and families with special needs.

Projects that will benefit include:

·        The development of home-school links: a Lanarkshire Programme of Support for child and family, post diagnosis, for families of children with autism in the early years.

·        The development of a national network of bilingual key-workers;

·        Practical support to teachers and parents in the educational inclusion of learners with dyslexia across Scotland;

Making the announcement, Minister for Education and Young People Cathy Jamieson said:

"Young people with special needs deserve the same educational opportunities available to every other young person. But working towards that goal involves working in partnership with a range of individuals and organisations, often in imaginative ways.

"This programme was established to recognise and fund good innovative practice. The funding focuses on improving inclusive practices in schools, greater partnership working, and empowering parents and young people to participate fully in decisions which affect them.”

Karen said:

“I am pleased that the Scottish Executive have recognised the range of quality work that is being carried out by many national and local voluntary organisations working in partnership with local government.  It is vital that children with special educational needs are given every opportunity to learn and to develop, as it is vital for every Scottish child.  

“Organisations such as Barnardo’s, Capability Scotland and ENABLE have a vast pool of skills and experience on which they can draw to improve the lives of children with special needs in Scotland.  It is right that they should be given the resources necessary to help provide quality services to our young people.

Karen added:

“This is good news for children with special needs and their families.  I am particularly pleased that the Lanarkshire programme of support to children with Autism and their families has been given this financial assistance. This funding will enable the recruitment of two link workers for liaison between the homes of pre-school children with autism and the range of public services they will receive in Lanarkshire.

“I am delighted that the Scottish Executive is willing to provide the funding needed to support local and national voluntary organisations.  These organisations deliver high quality services to children with special needs and their families and are helping to ensure that Scotland truly becomes a more inclusive and understanding society.”

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has backed plans by Airdrieonians supporters to put forward a bid which would allow a new Airdrie team to gain entry into division 3 of the Scottish Football League.

During First Ministers Questions on Thursday 2nd May, Karen Asked the First Minister:

“Will the First Minister join me in expressing sympathy with the fans of Airdrieonians Football Club and wish them well in their endeavours to retain a senior football club in Airdire?

In reply, First Minister, Jack McConnell, said:

“All members will agree that it is a tragic shame for the town of Airdrie, as well as for the football supporters, that the football club has reached the situation that it is currently in. Football clubs in local communities in Scotland's small towns are a vital part of those towns' identity on the national map. I hope that, in Airdrie and elsewhere, the name of Airdrieonians Football Club will be retained in years to come.

“It is important to recognise that, for all that is occasionally said about the work of MSPs, this case is a good example of a local member who has worked tirelessly to try to secure the future of the club, and I praise Karen Whitefield for that. I hope that all members will join me in wishing the fans and other local people all the best in trying to resurrect Airdrieonians Football Club in the months ahead.”

Speaking later, Karen said:

“This is devastating news for the community of Airdrie and for the fans in particular.  I would like to pay tribute to all the Airdrie supporters who have endeavoured to save their club over the past two years.  People such as Les Jones of DDA, Jim Milton of the Supporters Club and many others have given their hearts and souls to Airdrie FC over the years and have worked tirelessly to raise funds to keep the club alive.  Today is a very sad day for them and for all Aidrieonians fans.

“I know that Airdrie fans are currently working with other interested parties, including local businessmen and North Lanarkshire Council, to try to get a new Airdrie team instated within the SFL 3^rd Division.  I will certainly support their endeavours to retain a footballing identity within the town and have lodged a motion within the Parliament asking other MSPs to support our fans.

"I am aware that there is currently a campaign to encourage people to pledge their support for an Airdrie team playing within the SFL 3rd division next season, as well as an email petition.  I would urge anyone who cares about Airdrie Football Club to sign both of these. (click here for details)

“British football is clearly in a very poor state at the moment, with the demise of ITV Digital and the impact on English First Division, and the problems being faced by clubs such as Motherwell.  Unfortunately I fear that Airdrieonians may not be the last football club to disappear.” 

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield has welcomed Scottish Executive plans to make it easier for voluntary organisations to apply for funding.  She has also welcomed the news that the New Opportunities Fund will move to the provision of longer term funding.

Her comments came during a Parliamentary debate on the Social Justice Committee report into the voluntary sector in Scotland.

Speaking in the debate, Karen said:

“I am pleased to see that, in its response to the Social Justice Committee's report, the Scottish Executive has given a commitment, in its direct funding of the voluntary sector, to provide on-going financial support in three-year tranches. I am also pleased that, in the most recent letter from the New Opportunities Fund to the committee, David Campbell has stated that the NOF is already implementing longer-term funding of three to five years.

“During our inquiry, I valued having the opportunity to meet representatives of voluntary organisations from the Highlands and the Edinburgh and Lothian areas. I found their experience and first-hand knowledge helpful and I was impressed by the knowledge and commitment of all those who gave evidence. Scotland has a thriving and dynamic voluntary sector, of which we should rightly be proud, but which we should never take for granted.”

During the debate, the new Deputy Minister for Social Justice, Hugh Henry, gave details of the Executive’s response to its consultation, which reviewed arrangements for direct funding of the sector.

Mr Henry said:

“Following our recent review of funding we will be adopting a number of new measures aimed at making it easier for voluntary organisations to apply to the Executive for funding. We want to reduce bureaucracy and streamline procedures.

“These measures will include a standard application form, flexible monitoring systems, which take account of each organisation’s circumstances, information on funding opportunities on our website and standardised systems for receiving funding and for the allocation of resources.”

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has welcomed the news that cancer services across Scotland are to receive a substantial additional investment, which will enable more than 200 additional staff to be recruited and the purchase of new equipment.  This second tranche of dedicated investment in Scotland's Cancer Strategy will see a total of £25 million being spent on the fight against cancer this year, an increase of £15 million on the original plan following an announcement in February.

Across Scotland, this year's investment will see:

• 17 more consultants
• 50 more nurses
• 37 cancer nurse specialists
• 14 more radiographers
• 84 more dedicated staff including pharmacists, technicians and other support staff

This new investment is broken down by regional cancer network.  The regional network, to which Lanarkshire belongs, also includes Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley and Glasgow and will receive an additional £7.2 million (including £2 million for Beatson Oncology Centre).

Karen said:

“I very much welcome this additional investment in cancer services.  Unfortunately, cancer remains one of Scotland's biggest killers.  The national cancer strategy, which was launched in July last year, represents the largest ever drive to tackle cancer and the causes of cancer in our country.  This substantial additional investment will help to deliver extra consultants, nurses and other specialist staff as well as new equipment. 

“Unfortunately, dealing with cancer is something which most of us will be faced with at some point in our lives, whether it is fighting the illness ourselves or supporting and caring for a friend or relative.  We all know how devastating a diagnosis of cancer can be.  It is important that patients are diagnosed as early as possible and that treatment begins swiftly.  It is also important that patients and carers are kept informed throughout this process.“

Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, said:

"In the first wave of investment announced last October, £10 million helped to recruit over 130 extra staff and invest in vital equipment such as scanners. We are monitoring that expenditure closely to ensure that the money is spent where it is supposed to. That report will be published shortly and will be followed up at six monthly intervals.

The Youth Crime group, a Cabinet sub-committee, comprises Ms Jamieson, First Minister Jack McConnell, Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, Social Justice Minister Margaret Curran, and Lord Advocate Colin Boyd.

Karen said:

“I am pleased that the First minister has recognised how big an issue youth crime is to people living in communities throughout Scotland.  I have many constituents appearing at my surgeries describing how a small number of disruptive young people are making their lives, and the lives of their neighbours, a complete misery.

“We must find an effective way to tackle this problem.  For me, this means both ensuring that our criminal justice system is tough on persistent young offenders and also ensuring that our communities offer decent facilities for young people.

Karen added:

“The establishment of this high-level Ministerial working group is evidence of the Executive’s commitment to addressing the problem of youth crime.  There are no easy answers to this problem.  Any solution must aim to ensure that our communities are safe, whilst offering young people alternatives to criminal and anti-social behaviour.” 

The first meeting of the Ministerial Group on Youth Crime discussed ways of tackling the small group of persistent offenders said to be responsible for the disproportionate level of youth crime.  The number of offenders who had committed ten or more offences had gone up by 40 per cent over the last ten years.

After the meeting, Minister for Education and Young People Cathy Jamieson said £23.5 million had been invested since 1999 in preventing youth crime and a multi-agency youth justice team has been set up in every local authority area.

She said it was hoped to produce a range of measures and that jailing the parents of young offenders would not be a first option since the children’s hearing system already had the ability to hold parents to account. The focus, she insisted, would be on young people and persuading them to turn away from crime while helping affected communities.

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has asked the First Minister, Jack McConnell, to ensure that prison officers play a full part in the future development of Scottish prisons.

Her call came during First Minister’s Question Time in the Scottish parliament, which was held in Aberdeen last week.

Karen asked:

“Is the First Minister aware that a number of Labour members have met representatives of the Prison Officers Association Scotland, who have made clear their willingness to be involved in progressing the reform and investment that is needed in our prison estate?  Does he agree that, if the estates review is to deliver a prison estate that is fit for the 21^st century, there must be full and genuine consultation between the SPS, the prison officers and the trade unions?”

In his reply, First Minister, Jack McConnell said:

“I certainly support full and genuine consultation in the Prison Service.  I urge the POAS, if it believes that it has alternative proposals that can bridge the funding gap that we have identified, to make those proposals to us clearly.  If the POAS is willing to make the reforms that might help to bridge the funding gap and to achieve the objectives that we have set, we will certainly be interested to hear from its representatives.”

Speaking later, Karen added:

“I am pleased that the First Minister recognises the importance of working in partnership with Scottish Prison Officers in finding a way forward in the regeneration of the Scottish prison estates.  I have many hard working and devoted prison officers in my constituency and it is vital that their knowledge and experience is utilised during the current consultation on the prison estates review.  I have spoken with representatives from the Prison Officers Association Scotland and they have made it clear to me that they accept the need for our prisons to be modernised.  I believe that they are willing to work in partnership with the Scottish Executive and the SPS to ensure that Scotland has Prisons which are fit for the 21^st century and which provide good value to the tax payer.”

Local MSP, Karen Whitefield, has welcomed the recommendations of the recently published A8 Central Scotland Transport Corridor Study.  The report is one of three setting out recommendations to tackle congestion on the A8, A80 and M74 corridors.

The main recommendations of the A8 report are:

• Upgrading of A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse to 3-lane motorway
• Introduction of Glasgow to Edinburgh via Airdrie and Bathgate service
• Re-routing and enhancement of the existing rail service between Glasgow and Whifflet
• Enhanced bus services between Edinburgh, Livingston and Glasgow

The publication of the reports and subsequent public consultation will clear the way for Ministerial decisions on the way forward later this year, taking account of the consultants’ recommendations, the comments from the Steering Group and members of the public.

Karen said:

“I am delighted that the report has concluded that the re-opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line should be a priority.  I have been c