The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 3699 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

The right to choose: MSPs begin scrutiny of Assisted Suicide Bill

The Scottish Parliament is to begin scrutinising plans to give terminally ill people the right to assisted suicide. Proposals to legalise assisted suicide will today be scrutinised by MSPs on the Health and Sport Committee.

The Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill is at stage one of the parliamentary scrutiny process and the nine MSPs on the Health and Sport Committee will begin their scrutiny by questioning the legal and medical professions on their view of the proposals.

At their meeting today, the Committee will hear from the Faculty of Advocates, the Law Society of Scotland, Police Scotland and the Crown Office. They will then question the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow, the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland.

Convener of the Health and Sport Committee, Duncan McNeil MSP said:
“MSPs have a duty to scrutinise the detail behind any proposed piece of legislation, but given that this bill adjudicates on life and death, it is imperative that we robustly and transparently scrutinise what is being proposed.

“Our Committee has already received the views of over 800 people and will now start over two months of evidence, hearing from those with knowledge, expertise and interest in how the proposed bill would operate in practice.

“I want to make clear that all MSPs on the Committee will consider the evidence in front of them, question robustly our witnesses and consider carefully the implications before we reach a Committee view.”

Deputy Convener of the Committee, Bob Doris MSP said: “This legislation has the potential to polarise opinion on both sides of the debate, and as a Committee we understand the strength of feeling that these proposals generate.

“However, it is our job as a Committee to approach this subject without prejudice, take a detailed look at the proposals and consider both the written and oral evidence before taking a Committee view on any change in the law.”

Majority believe childcare should be shared

‘This Edwardian notion that women should stay at home while men go out and support the family has simply no place in this day and age.’ – Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

More than half of the UK believes that childcare should be shared equally between parents, a survey by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has found.

The findings show a marked move away from the old attitude that the bulk of childcare responsibilities should be borne by the mother. Some 53% of those questioned said that childcare should be the equal responsibility of both parents while a further 22% believe that a couple should have the right to choose how they divide caring responsibilities, depending on their circumstances.

Just under a quarter of those surveyed believe that childcare should be the mother’s main responsibility, with more than half of men thinking that childcare should be shared equally, compared to 50% of women.

The research was carried out ahead of the introduction of Shared Parental Leave (SPL), which will apply to parents of babies born or adopted from 5 April 2015. The new rules mean that parents can split 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay between them in the baby’s first year. SPL also lets parents suggest a flexible pattern of leave to their employer and allows for up to 3 separate blocks of leave, but employers can agree to more.

When parents were questioned, two-thirds said that they would have considered sharing parental leave if it had been available at the time. This was higher amongst fathers, of whom three-quarters said they would have considered it compared with 63% of women.

For those considering having children in the future, 4 in 5 said they would consider taking Shared Parental Leave when they became parents.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “This Edwardian notion that women should stay at home while men go out and support the family has simply no place in this day and age. We need a modern Britain and a fair society that works for families, not against them.

“We know that mums and dads want more flexibility and choice when it comes to juggling their home and work lives and we’re listening and taking action.

“That’s why we’ve introduced Shared Parental Leave so that parents can make their own decisions about how to raise their family, whether it’s giving women the choice to go back to work earlier or men the opportunity to spend more time with their children.”

Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson said: “Becoming a parent is an amazing, life-changing event. Helping new parents negotiate the balance between their work and family responsibilities will benefit employers through greater staff retention and loyalty.

This survey shows people are rejecting dated stereotypes about the roles of men and women. Parenting is a shared endeavour and couples want more flexibility when they are adapting to the demands of a new baby. Shared Parental Leave will let couples choose how to share their childcare responsibilities in whatever way works best for them, and enable both parents to spend time developing that vital bond with their baby in the early stages.”

When men were asked what they thought the main benefits of shared parental leave would be, 6 in 10 said they thought they would form a closer bond with their child. However almost half (44%) said it would feel fairer, and 39% said they could let their partner get back to their job or progress their career.

Over half of men (57%) thought that being more involved in the baby’s life would be a good thing for their whole family, and around a third felt it would strengthen their relationship with their partner.

Brendan Lynch, a 31 year old legal caseworker from Cardiff, took 3 months of leave to care for his son Isaac, while his wife Laura went back to work. He said: “The bond you get with your child is the best thing about it. Getting to experience looking after a child full-time is invaluable – I understand his likes and his personality so much better. Within the 3 months I was looking after him he had changed so much. It’s great that both my wife and I got to see different aspects of his development.”

Keir welcomes airport’s record success

2014 was another record-breaking year for Edinburgh Airport, with a total of 10,174,684 passengers flying from the airport over the year – a 4% increase on 2013. Colin Keir, MSP for Edinburgh Western constituency which includes Edinburgh Airport, welcomed the news and said the airport is a ‘global success story’.

The airport passed the historic 10 milion mark on 23 December.

Mr Keir said: “Despite difficult trading conditions, Scotland’s busiest airport continues to grow. Perhaps the most impressive statistic is the 89% rise in direct long haul flights. Along with the environmental advantages of direct flying the passenger gets a better deal by cutting down on the obscene Air Passenger Duty (APD) which they would be required to pay if they use another UK airport such as Heathrow.

“I’m delighted that passengers are voting with their feet and using this, one of the capital’s business assets. I am aware of the major financial investment made at the airport as well as the efforts of management and staff to produce a first class experience for travellers. When the airport works well it has a tremendous knock-on effect to the local and national business community and, with more direct flights, business and tourist travellers benefit through lower costs and faster journeys. I welcome today’s great news and congratulate everyone who is making Edinburgh airport a global success story.”

Still time to recycle those Christmas cards

Sainsburys Blackhall have been offering Christmas card recycling at the front of the shop – this has proved to be a huge success but has only a couple of days left.

So if any of our customers still have cards to recycle then the deadline is 13 January (that’s TOMORROW!) All proceeds go to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

Gail, Sainsburys Blackhall

Free Home Fire Safety visits

If you or someone you know is at risk from fire, contact Scottish Fire and Rescue Service TODAY to arrange a free Home Fire Safety visit.

Call 0800 0731 999 or visit www.firescotland.gov.uk

Warners to sponsor STV Edinburgh’s flagship show

STV Edinburgh launches tonight

WARNERS Solicitors and Estate Agents, Edinburgh’s leading property solicitor estate agent, has become the official sponsor of STV Edinburgh’s flagship magazine show.

STV Edinburgh’s ‘The Fountainbridge Show’ which launches tonight, will air every evening between 7-8.30pm with a line-up of local presenters showcasing local music, culture and affairs.

Warners Solicitors & Estate Agents will feature in a brief ‘hottest property’ themed sponsorship bumper, sandwiching each segment before, after and during the show.

Jason Scott, a partner at Warners, is thrilled with the deal that will see the firm cement its high profile in the Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife. He said: “The Fountainbridge Show is the flagship show on STV Edinburgh so for us it was a real opportunity to get on board from day one.

“The programme is designed to showcase everything that is good in Edinburgh and the surrounding area in terms of news, sports, entertainment and culture. Warner’s see it as an opportunity that we can connect to and support.

“We also hope we can benefit from the association of STV with our brand, associating Warners even closer with the people of Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife.

“We want people to recognise Warners as the leading property solicitors brand in the area.”

As part of the sponsorship package, the Warner’s sponsorship bumpers will feature 18 times in each show, which is repeated later in the evening and the following afternoon.

STV’s head of sponsorship Debbie Robinson, said: “The launch of STV’s second city TV channel is a fantastic opportunity for advertisers to reach their targeted audience right in the city of Edinburgh. We are thrilled that Warners has come on board for the launch of The Fountainbridge Show and we look forward to working with them as the channel develops.”

STV Edinburgh comes to your screens tonight at 7pm, hosted by Ewen Cameron and Hayley Matthews (pictured above).

Ewen has interviewed everyone from Tiger Woods to Bill Clinton from his time working in Dubai’s biggest radio station, before moving to Scotland to launch Real Radio, and then taking up his most recent post as presenter of Heart Breakfast show.

Hayley joins STV Edinburgh from Kingdom FM, Real Radio and Talk 107 before joining STV’s The Nightshift.

The channel will reflect what’s happening in the city each day with a combination of local news, community features and live entertainment, as well as classic drama .

Tune in on Freeview channel 23, Sky Channel 117, Virgin Channel 159 or watch live on the STV Player.

Warners, which has three property shops, has held the unofficial title as Edinburgh’s leading property solicitor estate agent for 14 consecutive years since 1999, measured in terms of property sales as recorded by ESPC.

More information about Warners can be found on the website www.warnersllp.com

Charity appeals for daffodil volunteers

Marie Curie is appealing for people in Edinburgh and Lothians to donate their time to collect for the charity’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal this March.

The appeal is Marie Curie’s biggest fundraiser and the charity needs volunteers to encourage people in the local community to give a donation and wear a daffodil pin. The money raised from the Great Daffodil Appeal will help Marie Curie Nurses care for people with a terminal illness in their own home or at the Marie Curie Hospice in Edinburgh so they can spend more time with the people they love.

Fiona Beaton, Marie Curie Community Fundraiser for Edinburgh and Lothians, said: “We need over 500 people from Edinburgh and Lothians to help with our collections this February and March. Donating just one or two hours of your time to the appeal will allow Marie Curie Nurses to provide more free care to terminally ill people and their families at the time when they most need support, both through care in their own homes and in the Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh.”

Di Shakspeare, Volunteer Collector from East Lothian said: “I was previously a Marie Curie Registered Nurse for twenty nine years so I know the difference that Marie Curie can make to local families, allowing them to rest knowing that their loved ones are in safe hands. On my retirement, I decided I wanted to help with the charity as a volunteer. In my experience, being a collector is a lot of fun and a great way to meet new folk, some with their stories to tell, while also raising funds and awareness for this wonderful cause.”

To volunteer to collect for Marie Curie and support the Great Daffodil Appeal call Fiona on 0131 470 2291, email fiona.beaton@mariecurie.org.uk or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil.

#StrongerNorth campaign goes on display in Community Shop

Community Shop supports #StrongerNorth initiative

Information about the #StrongerNorth community safety initiative will go on display in Muirhouse Community Shop on Pennywell Road tomorrow and will be backed up by #StrongerNorth Monday sessions at the shop from next week.

Volunteers at Muirhouse Community Shop have created striking window displays to highlight a variety of different campaigns over recent months – Domestic Abuse, Environmental Services and the Independence Referendum have all been featured – and now #StrongerNorth will be in the spotlight.

Tenants organisation TRIM and Muirhouse Community shop is working closely with the #StrongerNorth team and will be welcoming key members of the team to the shop on Mondays from 19 January. Visitors can expect to meet local police officers, Total Craigroyston staff, the Stronger North Project Officer and members of North’s Community Safety team over the coming weeks.

A spokesperson for the community shop said: “We decide what we put in our shop window. We always feel it’s important that we keep it current and what a better way than to start with this? Stronger North was brought about after the residents told police and council we are fed up, things need to change and we want change now. A gold team was set up and meet often to discuss serious issues and a multiagency approach is being worked at. Things will not change overnight – Stronger North is still very new and with support from everyone we are confident it will make a big difference long term.”

For further information about #StrongerNorth call Fraser Sinclair on 529 5023, email stronger.north@edinburgh.gov.uk or visit the #StrongerNorth Facebook page.

New Year, new house? Miller Homes Part X weekend

Thinking about moving house? Miller Homes is to open it’s doors for Part Exchange and Assisted Move events this weekend …

This weekend, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January, Miller Homes is hosting open doors events across selected developments to help advise buyers looking to make the most of Part Exchange and Assisted Move incentives. During the weekend, buyers can also reserve their dream new home for £99.

Miller Homes’ unique Home Exchange is a part exchange scheme where buyers can upsize, downsize or just move into their new home, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

With Home Exchange, Miller Homes carries out independent evaluation of the seller’s property and offer a potential buyer, making the process of securing a new home seamless and hassle free. It also prevents a property chain developing and avoids the risk of home buyers losing the house of their dreams because they can’t find a purchaser in time.

Aimed at providing detailed information and advice to those interested in purchasing using these offers, Miller Homes sales advisors will be on hand to guide potential buyers through the process.

Developments hosting the open house weekend include:

Dalmore Mill, Auchendinny
Ferry Village, Braehead
Fullwood Gardens, New Stevenson
Gala Meadow, Galashiels
Glendevon Gate, Winchburgh
Liberty Park, Bathgate
Manor Wynd, East Kilbride
Newton Park, Cambuslang
Orchardfield, East Linton
Peebles Gait, Peebles
Roselea, Rosewell
Rosemount Meadows, Blairgowrie
St Andrews Brae, Bearsden
Varcity North, Edinburgh
Victoria Mills, Dunfermline

Anne Marie Britton, Scotland Area Sales and Marketing Director at Miller Homes said: “We have a fantastic range of homes for new buyers. Whether you are looking to purchase for the first time, upsize to accommodate a new addition to the family, downsize as the family flees the nest, or simply to move into another exciting new area.

“From one bedroom apartments up to five bedroom luxury quality detached homes, each buyer can be assured that they will receive the quality of craftsmanship synonymous with Miller Homes. All for a reservation fee of £99.

“During the open weekend, our experienced sales advisers, mortgage specialists and financial advisers will be on hand to help new home and first time buyers through the purchasing process and learn of the latest range of incentives available.

“Our quality new homes are also currently available to reserve now under the Help to Buy Scheme (Scotland), for completion in April 2015.”

All appointments are available on a first come first served basis.

Information on open times for each development are available at www.millerhomes.co.uk