Tag: Miles Briggs MSP

Holyrood’s CPG on Bangladesh calls for educational collaboration

The Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Bangladesh has called for action to promote educational links between Scotland and Bangladesh.

The CPG met on Wednesday 19th June 2024 and received updates from Convener Foysol Choudhury MSP and Deputy Convener Miles Briggs MSP, H.E. Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the UK, Peter Brown, Director of British Council Scotland, Dr Ibrahim Rashid, PhD Fellow from Stirling University and members of the Scottish Bangladeshi diaspora.

The High Commissioner was also joined by Mohammad Hazrat Ali Khan, Deputy High Commissioner, Tanvir Mohammad Azim, Commercial Counsellor, Wing Commander Md Saifur Rahman, Assistant Defence Adviser and Moumita Zeenat, Counsellor (Political).

The CPG meeting focused on education and followed on from a CPG visit to Dhaka last November 2023, where the CPG met with H.E. Sheikh Hasina and the Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen to discuss the importance of generating shared links between education institutions in Bangladesh and Scotland.

MSP Choudhury and MSP Briggs updated the CPG on Wednesday night on how they have already met with Scottish Universities to start the conversation and discuss how to move forward with opportunities for education and research collaboration, specifically around agriculture, climate change and fishing.

MSP Choudhury said: “The CPG is all about building the relationship between Scotland and Bangladesh in areas of shared importance.

“There is a definite need to bridge a gap and reinforce educational collaboration with Scottish and Bangladeshi universities, such as via creating Scottish University campuses in Dhaka and beyond.

“We have already written to H.E. Sheikh Hasina, had discussions with High Commissioner, Saida Muna Tasneem, contacted Universities Scotland’s Connected Scotland Partnership and the British Council.

“It was fantastic to hear the update from the High Commissioner and British Council at the CPG meeting this week to hear their commitment to building educational links and opportunities between Scotland and Bangladesh-as well as from some students to learn why educational collaboration is so beneficial!

“We look forward to continuing this collaboration between Scotland and Bangladesh on education and other areas such as climate change, and seeing our global partnership go from strength to strength.”

The CPG also got an update on many more areas of development between Scotland and Bangladesh, including cultural endeavours via the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The Scottish Parliament CPG on Bangladesh says it will continue to build these links and shared endeavours between Scotland and Bangladesh, exploring matters on the world stage and also for the domestic Bangladeshi diaspora in Scotland.

Lothian MSPs support calls to improve access to Diabetes Technology in NHS Lothian

ONLY 38% of Type 1 diabetics in NHS Lothian have aces to a Flash Glucose Monitor, compared to 51.8% across Scotland – and only a quarter of paediatric patients in NHS Lothian have access to a Flash Glucose Monitor compared with 35.5% across Scotland.

Commenting on the figures, Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: ““Diabetes patients in NHS Lothian are simply not getting the same level of treatment that they would be if they lived in other parts of Scotland.

“We know that this technology is really significant for a person’s quality of life and we need to improve access to Flash Glucose Monitors across the health board.

“Children in particular are not receiving the same level of care as they would get in other parts of Scotland.

“Years of underfunding of the health boards by SNP Minister has led to a position were NHS Lothian are cutting services that they do not want to cut.

“We need to see a review of the wording to treatment guarantees in Scotland.

“Flash Glucose Monitors count as equipment, rather than medicine, which mean that diabetes patients are not automatically entitled to the technology.”

Lothian MSP raises concerns at Holyrood about the drop in number of Music Teachers in Primary Schools

Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Lothian Miles Briggs has criticised the Scottish government on what he calls its ‘shameful’ record regarding the reduction of specialist music teachers in primary schools across Scotland.

It comes following a question asked by Mr. Briggs in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday afternoon about the impact on children and young people of the decline.

In Lothian local authorities, there are 4 teachers in Edinburgh City and 2 in West Lothian, while East Lothian and Midlothian have none between them.

In 2013, there were 5 in Edinburgh City, 5 in West Lothian and 0 in both East Lothian and Midlothian.

There are only 37 teachers for 32 local authorities in Scotland, down from 98 in 2008 – the first year in which the SNP was in power in Scotland – and down from 108 in 2011, when the SNP formed a majority government.

The reduction in specialist music teachers at primary schools threatens to extend the gap in opportunities between state and private education.

Mr. Briggs called on the Scottish government to put aside its pursuit of independence and focus on more pressing matters.

Lothian MSP Mr. Briggs said: “This is another example of the SNP government’s mismanagement of a sector, this time regarding specialist music teachers in primary schools.

“For a country with such a rich musical tradition as Scotland to have just 37 specialist music teachers for primary schools across the country is shameful and something the Scottish government should be embarrassed about.

“In my own region of Lothian, there are just 6 – down from 10 a decade ago – and with none in East Lothian or Midlothian at all.

“No doubt, however, the SNP’s spin doctors will be pinning the blame on Westminster and informing us of how an independent Scotland would be the sound of music.

“They have let down the country, they have let down the voters, and now they have let down the children.

“Young people and children are the ones that will suffer from this continued reduction in specialist teachers and it is high time the SNP focused on the proper demands of the country and stopped prioritising their independence dream.”

Worried and Waiting: Record waiting times for children in NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian has the longest patients waiting times for treatment, with 69.1% of total patients waiting over 12 weeks. 2382 out of 3448 paediatric patients in NHS Lothian waited over 12 weeks for treatment.

In NHS Highland 48.9% of patients were waiting over 12 weeks at that time. This is in comparison to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde where over 12 week waits made up only 19.2%, and NHS Grampian which stood at 12.9%.

The report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Worried and waiting: A review of paediatric waiting times in Scotland 2024, stated that –

‘It is worrying that children and young people are waiting longer than 12 weeks to be seen in paediatrics. However, what is the most concerning is that in September 2023, 13 out of 14 health boards in Scotland were experiencing very high waits over 12 weeks, with only NHS Western Isles achieving the national standard rate.‘

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “It is extremely concerning that young people in Lothian are waiting over 12 weeks for treatment.

“Over two thirds of young people are now waiting over the 12 week waiting target which is unacceptable.

“SNP mismanagement of our NHS means that hundreds of children are not being seen a quickly as they should be, nowhere more so than in NHS Lothian.

“We urgently need to see our health service properly run. 

“It is also important that NHS Lothian receives funding parity with other health boards.

“This tired SNP Government has had no answers for years.”

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Lothian MSP launches petition to restore funding for planned new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion

Lothian MSP launches petition to restore funding for planned new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has launched a petition to save the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion after SNP Ministers withdrew funding for a replacement hospital, for the second time in three years.

At FMQs last Thursday, Mr Briggs asked the First Minister about plans for the development of a new eye hospital for Edinburgh and the South East of Scotland. In response to Mr Briggs the First Minister stated that: “There is no doubting of course that the Eye Pavilion does need built”.

Following the original decision to withdraw funding for a replacement eye hospital, a significant campaigning effort led to the previous First Minister U-turning and reinstating funding for a replacement hospital.

The current eye pavilion is no longer fit for purpose with an extensive list of maintenance issues that the health board needs to keep on top of.

There has been no money spent on the existing Princess Alexandra Eye Hospital in the last year.

The current Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion is a centre for excellence, which Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has said is at risk of being lost due to the mismanagement of budgets by SNP Ministers.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said :“It is completely unacceptable that SNP Ministers have removed funding for a replacement Princess Alexandra Eye Hospital for the second time in two years.

“The current hospital is no longer fit for purpose and we need a new hospital to treat over 50,000 patients who attend the hospital every year.  

“We are at risk of losing a centre of excellence in the South East of Scotland and future generations will have worse eye health due to this period of ineptitude by SNP Ministers.

“Please sign my petition for a replacement Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion to show the extent of public support for this funding to be reinstated.”

If you would like to support Mr Brigg’s petition to reinstate funding for a replacement Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, you can find the petition here :

https://www.edinburghconservatives.org.uk/campaigns/save-edinburghs-new-eye-hospital

Yesterday (Thursday 1st February) at FMQs Miles Briggs MSP asked the First Minister:

Last year 59,240 patients attended the Princes Alexandra Eye Pavilion.

For a patient in Edinburgh or the Borders with a detached retina the need for urgent surgery is critical.    

The Health Secretary has suggested that if the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion is not replaced then more surgery will be centralised to the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Glasgow.

It would be unacceptable for emergency eye surgery to be centralised to Glasgow.               

Can ask the First Minister if he and the Health Secretary will agree to urgently meet with Lothian MSPs to discuss the concerns that Ministers will now not commit to a new replacement Eye Hospital.

Miles Briggs visits British Gas Post Office Pop- Up in Waverley Mall

Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, visited the local British Gas Energy Trust Post Office Pop-Up in Waverley Mall yesterday.

It was launched to provide free money and energy advice in person to those struggling with energy debt over winter.

The Edinburgh pop-up comes as data from the British Gas Energy Trust shows 40% of people in Edinburgh say that certain cut-backs they’ve made due to cost of living have negatively impacted their mental health.

Other findings include:

  • 34% of people in Edinburgh have limited their usage of household appliances and 39% are reluctant to use heat or electricity within the home making the cold months daunting.
  • The rising cost of energy has caused 40% of people in Edinburgh a fair amount of additional stress with 28% of people thinking they’ll struggle to pay their energy bills in the coming year
  • 34% of parents have cut down on their own food consumption to be able to feed their children. 

Rolling out across the country, the British Gas Energy Trust is bringing its pop-ups to Edinburgh for the public to visit on 29th & 30th January and at a second Edinburgh location on the 5th & 6th February (14a Westside Plaza, EH14 TSV) – helping people seek money and energy support and advice through the support of locally funded projects.

This includes checking eligibility for energy grants of up to £1,500 for all customers, regardless of energy supplier.

An estimated 90,800 households across Lothian receiving Cost of Living payment

Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian, Miles Briggs, has “warmly welcomed” the latest cost-of-living payments being paid by the UK Government to thousands of his constituents in Lothian.

The UK Government has confirmed that the latest £300 payments will be paid automatically into the bank accounts of those eligible in Lothian between 31 October and 19 November.

It comes as part of a package worth £900 in total to support those on means-tested benefits in Lothian with the effects of the global cost-of-living crisis.

Eligible pensioner households will also receive a further £300 later in the year, on top of the Winter Fuel Payment.

Those eligible in Lothian do not need to apply for the payment, as it will be paid directly into their bank account.

Statistics from the UK Government show that in Lothian, 90,800 households will receive the cost-of-living payment.

Mr. Briggs says the UK Government are continuing to “step up” to support the most vulnerable in his constituency during these tough economic times.

Scottish Conservative MP/MSP Miles Briggs said: “It is warmly welcomed that the UK Government are providing a further £300 in cost-of-living payments to the most vulnerable in Lothian and across the country.

“As the economic situation continues to constrain people in Lothian, this help from the UK Government comes at a perfect time, and the package – worth £900 in total – is going to help those who need it most.

“As we approach winter, this ­help will prove even more invaluable.

“With payments being made automatically, people who are eligible in Lothian don’t need to do anything to receive these payments into their bank accounts.

“Of course, if there are any issues, then myself and my team will always be on hand to ensure those who need these payments get them from the UK Government.”

£2 million funding commitment for The Yard

First Minister announces support for disabled children’s charity

A charity that provides support to disabled children and young people, and their families, is set to receive up to £2 million of future funding. 

First Minister Humza Yousaf made the commitment during a visit to The Yard’s head office in Edinburgh where he met children and their families who benefit from the charity and saw the adventure play facilities offered by the centre.

Subject to the outcome of the Scottish Budget process, the Scottish Government will look to provide extra funding to The Yard over the next three financial years.

The First Minister said: “I am absolutely committed to improving outcomes for disabled children and their families across Scotland. Visiting The Yard has given me a chance to see their outstanding work first-hand, and hear more about the support being provided by the charity.

“I was extremely impressed with the flexible and creative ways in which The Yard are offering services and support to disabled young people and their families, many of whom I know are facing additional and significant challenges.

“I sincerely hope that this vital funding will enable The Yard to grow their services and offer support to more families of young disabled children across Scotland – and I look forward to continuing to engage with The Yard in all of their family support centres in Edinburgh, Fife and Dundee.”

Chief Executive of The Yard Celine Sinclair said: “We are absolutely thrilled that First Minister has committed to working with us to grow our services in Scotland.

“This announcement is transformational for disabled children and their families, and we look forward to working with our partners to ensure that our children get the support they need to get the best start in life and thrive.”

Inverleith councillor Vicky Nicholson has welcomed the announcement. She said: “I am hugely proud @theyardscotland is in Inverleith Ward.

“In my professional career, I knew The Yard well and visited recently with @DeidreBrock (above).

“Just thrilled this exceptional organisation’s future is secure thanks to @scotgov and at a time when families need support more than ever.”

Lothian Conservative MSP Miles Briggs has welcomed the announcement: “I am delighted that the Yard is set to receive £2 million of funding over the next three years, which will make a huge difference to the lives of disabled children,  young people and their families across the East of Scotland.

“This funding will allow the specialist team at the Yard to reach even more children and young people, changing their lives for the better.

“The Campaign for Fairer Funding has been a successful in raising awareness of the exceptional work the Yard does and securing funding to expand their services.

“I am pleased that the cross party campaign has succeeded in getting the Scottish Government to deliver this funding for disabled Children and Young People in the East of Scotland.”

The Yard | charity | disabled children and young people | adventure play | family support | Scotland (theyardscotland.org.uk)

Briggs: Reduction in people receiving alcohol treatment ‘deeply troubling’

  • Reduction in people receiving alcohol treatment in Lothian
  • A 1,000 fewer people receiving treatment compared to eight years ago
  • Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Lothian Miles Briggs says the fall in the number of people starting alcohol treatment in NHS Lothian over the last decade is “deeply troubling.”

Figures obtained by Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs, from SNP Drugs and Alcohol Minister Elena Whitham, show that across Scotland the number receiving treatment has fallen by a staggering 40 per cent.

In 2013/14, 32,556 accessed alcohol treatment programmes, but by 2021/22 that figure had dropped to 19,617.

In Lothian there has been a 30% percentage drop in those accessing programme.

In 2013/14 in Lothian 3303 accessed programmes, but in 2021/22 that figure stood at only 2303 – a drop of 1000 people.

These figures follow news that the highest number of Scots since 2008 have lost their lives to alcohol in the last year at 1,276.

In the light of these figures, Mr. Briggs has now demanded that SNP ministers back the Right to Recovery Bill in Parliament.

That would enshrine in law a right to access treatment for anyone in Scotland who needs it most.

Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Miles Briggs said: “The drop in the number of people accessing alcohol treatment programme in Lothian is something I find deeply troubling.

“It is a shameful reflection of how the SNP have mishandled Scotland’s problems with alcohol that there has been a 30% decrease in the numbers accessing treatment programmes since 2013/14.

“This fall is replicated right across the country, and it is astounding that SNP ministers would allow treatment places to be so dramatically reduced at a time when alcohol deaths across the country are at their highest level since 2008.

“This latest example of incompetence will come as no surprise to anyone witness to the SNP’s failure to tackle Scotland’s drug death emergency, and once again it is the most deprived people in Lothian that these cuts are harming the most.

“These concerning findings only reaffirm the need for SNP ministers to finally back the Right to Recovery Bill.

“This legislation would enshrine in law the right for those suffering from addiction in Lothian to receive potentially life-saving treatment and has been backed by frontline experts and charities.

“I will continue to put pressure on the SNP-Green government to give this bill their backing, so it becomes law as quickly as possible.”

Ayrshire and Arran: 2013/14 (4777 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (1546 patients received treatment)- decrease of 13%

Borders: 2013/14 (431 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (310 patients received treatment) Down 28%

Dumfries and Galloway 2013/14 (922 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (918 patients received treatment) Down 0.4%

Fife 2013/14 (1635 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (1092 patients received treatment) Down 38%

Forth Valley 2013/14 (1491 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (773 patients received treatment) Down 48%

Grampian 2013/14 (1761 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (1214 patients received treatment) Down 31%

Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2013/14 (11895 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (4901 patients received treatment) Down 59%

Highland 2013/14 (1531 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (735 patients received treatment) Down 52%

Lanarkshire 2013/14 (5727 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (4789 patients received treatment) Down 16%

Lothian 2013/14 (3303 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (2303 patients received treatment) Down 30%

Orkney 2013/14 (54 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (23 patients received treatment) Down 57%

Shetland 2013/14 (73 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (54 patients received treatment) Down 26%

Tayside 2013/14 (1651 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (912 patients received treatment) Down 44%

Western Isles 2013/14 (305 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (47 patients received treatment) Down 84%

Briggs disappointment over Sheriffhall Roundabout inaction

Last week at the Scottish Parliament, Lothian MSP Miles Briggs called on SNP and Green Ministers to progress the A720 Sherrifhall roundabout.

At the start of February this year a Public Local Inquiry was carried out, to address objections which were received in relation to the project.

In his question, Mr Briggs asked if the Scottish Government has received any recommendations from the independent reporter.

In response, Minister for Transport Fiona Hyslop, said: “The Scottish Government has not yet received any recommendations from the independent reporter regarding the A720 Sherrifhall roundabout following that public inquiry, held between the 31st January and the 8th February 2023.”

Mr Briggs has previously called on SNP and Green Ministers to make progress on upgrades to the junction, with £120 million being earmarked for the project as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

The announcement on Thursday by Audit Scotland that the Scottish Government will not meet their infrastructure goals has raised concerns over the delivery of the project.

Lothian MSP Miles’ Briggs said: “I am disappointed to hear that and I think that people across Edinburgh and the Lothians and the South of Scotland as well, will really be wanting to see when those will be given to Ministers and how fast we can see this progress, because we need the A720 Sherrifhall roundabout to be upgraded.

“It is now over five years since the Sherrifhall Roundabout was included in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. We need to see this upgrade urgently progressed.”