Fuel poverty will not be eliminated in Scotland until the government takes action to fix the one in two homes that have issues with weather-tightness and structural stability, says a Green MSP. Continue reading Wightman: Government must act on housing repairs to tackle fuel poverty
Capital-ism: Edinburgh landlords fill their boots while waiting lists grow longer
More than 30 landlords are operating lucrative short term letting businesses in Scotland’s capital, a new report reveals, adding to the pressure on Edinburgh’s housing stock. Continue reading Home truths: Edinburgh’s housing stock depleted by short-term lets
Ahead of today’s Stage One vote at Holyrood on the Social Security Bill, Alison Johnstone MSP, Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said rising inflation shows the need for the UK Government to scrap the benefits freeze and for the Scottish Government to ensure new devolved benefits increase with the cost of living.
She pressed the issue of uprating devolved benefits at least in line with inflation during committee scrutiny of the Social Security Bill.
A majority of the Social Security Committee has recommended that the Bill includes an annual duty on ministers to consider inflation when setting the rates of devolved benefits.
Inflation means annual household costs are rising 3.1 per cent, but the UK Government continues to keep a range of benefits frozen at 2015 levels, meaning that the real-terms value of many benefits is falling.
Sheffield Hallam University figures show that 700,000 Scots households a year will be worse off to the tune of £450 a year by 2020/21.
Alison Johnstone, Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, said: “Vulnerable members of our communities are struggling with the rising cost of living due to a heartless UK Government that has frozen their financial support. The latest inflation figures show this problem will only get worse but with new devolved powers there’s a chance for Scotland to take a different approach.
“Scottish Ministers have indicated a pay rise for public sector staff that almost matches inflation, following years of real-terms cuts. The same principle must apply to devolved benefits covered by the new Social Security Bill, if we truly believe in a fairer Scotland.”
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, has called for an extension to the public consultation on City of Edinburgh Council’s plans to redesign the Picardy Place junction, with one of the City’s key gateways set to be transformed into a large, car-dominated gyratory. Continue reading Green MSP calls for extension to Picardy Place consultation
A survey of nurses, showing that three quarters of those questioned say they feel financially worse off than they did five years ago, puts pressure on the finance secretary to announce an above inflation pay rise on Thursday says a Green MSP.
The survey by RCN Scotland also reveals that more than a third of nursing staff say they are looking for a new job, a situation Alison Johnstone MSP says will only get worse if Derek Mackay does not announce a “fair pay settlement” as part of the draft Scottish Budget this week.
Alison Johnstone MSP, the Scottish Greens’ health spokesperson, said: “Public sector workers play a vital role in our communities, from nursing and social care staff to teachers and police officers and the real-terms pay cuts they’ve endured must end. The findings of this report should confirm what ministers should already know, that problems like recruitment, retention and staff morale will become even worse if we don’t ensure a fair pay settlement, above inflation, to nurses and other dedicated professionals working in the NHS.
“These real-terms pay cuts in recent years are clearly having a negative impact. The finance secretary must listen to groups representing frontline workers such as RCN Scotland and back the basic principle that a pay rise for our public services is due and can be funded, not from cuts elsewhere, but from fairer taxation that protects low earners.” Continue reading Budget: Nursing survey shows need for pay rise, say Greens
Green MSP Alison Johnstone has called for the findings of a report into the scandal of women being forced to live in severe and constant pain because of transvaginal mesh implants to be looked at again. The Scottish Greens’ health spokesperson says the recommendations do not give sufficient clarity to ministers, MSPs and the Scottish Mesh Survivors – the group behind the Hear Our Voice campaign.
Lothian MSP Alison Johnstone said: “The Public Petitions Committee has reflected that Professor Alison Britton’s report on the independent review will focus on the process that was followed and will not revisit the findings and recommendations of the report itself. In Dr Wael Agur’s view, a consultant urogynecologist who is playing a leading role in the review, recommending that ‘transvaginal mesh procedures must not be offered routinely’ does not give sufficient clarity. I too believe that the findings of the report must also be revisited.
“Scotland had an opportunity to show global leadership on mesh. I am, like other MSPs, extremely dismayed that the final report did not reflect that. We missed the opportunity to lead then and we let down mesh survivors in the process.
“Work to improve reporting of adverse incidents related to medical devices is more urgent than ever. The case for imposing a real suspension of all transvaginal mesh procedures is stronger than ever and I urge the Cabinet Secretary to open the Final Report of the Scottish review of mesh surgery up to public consultation.”
Ms Johnstone added: “Meeting the mesh survivors when they came to Parliament was eye-opening. No one appreciates more than the women themselves how debilitating, how life-restricting incontinence can be. While we all appreciate that surgery can never be guaranteed 100% safe or side effect free, to have such devastating outcomes in a group of patients is absolutely unacceptable.”
Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone has confirmed that she intends to bring forward a member’s bill to ban foxhunting. Continue reading “Time to take a stand”: Johnstone to bring forward Bill to ban hunts
A publication by the Accounts Commission, showing the extent of the financial stress faced by councils, serves as a wakeup call to the finance secretary say the Greens. Local government spokesperson for the Scottish Greens Andy Wightman says the report’s findings make it difficult for Derek Mackay to dismiss key Green demands for the forthcoming draft budget that include protecting public services and a real terms pay rise.
Continue reading Holyrood budget: Greens pledge to protect public services
Continue reading Greens celebrate first steps on the road to a national Citizens’ Income
Women are experiencing austerity and welfare reform disproportionately a Green MSP will warn today at a meeting of academics and third sector experts on the day of the UK government’s budget. Continue reading #Budget2017: Green MSP launches Women and Welfare Summit
