Scottish Greens – Page 9 – The NEN

Wightman challenges First Minister on ‘Tourist Tax’

Scotland’s capital is being denied “normal European city” status due to Scottish Government inaction on visitor levies, according to Scottish Greens local government spokesperson Andy Wightman MSP.

The Lothian MSP used yesterday’s First Minister’s Questions session to urge the Scottish Government to bring forward legislation to give local councils powers that municipalities in other European countries take for granted.

New research compiled by Edinburgh City Council, debated in the city chambers yesterday, says that a Visitor Levy would not deter tourists and could raise up to an extra £29million a year for local services.

Andy Wightman, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: “Local government finances are stretched due to our capital city’s status as a tourism magnet but an obvious solution exists and that is to give Edinburgh and Scotland’s other cities and councils the power of a normal European city – the power to levy a visitor charge. A small contribution per person would generate significant funds to maintain and improve local services.

“Such taxes are commonplace in other European cities and countries, including Paris, Rome, Venice, Amsterdam and Berlin. It’s baffling that the Scottish Government continues to drag its feet on this issue, and I will continue to campaign for real local democracy in Scotland.”

Syrian Refugee: Wightman raises concerns over accommodation

Scottish Green MSP Andy Wightman is raising fresh concerns about the case of Shahbaz Ali, a Syrian refugee who was stabbed in an alleged racist attack in Edinburgh earlier this month.

Mr Ali has internal bleeding after collapsing while being discharged from hospital and it has now emerged that the City of Edinburgh Council has not allowed Mr Ali’s father to sign a lease on behalf of his son, nor is the Council prepared to visit Mr Ali in hospital to obtain a signature.

The property he was given is in a poor state – dirty and with only one bed and nothing else for furniture. He was promised a clean and furnished property. Mr Ali’s father wanted access to the property to tidy and furnish it, so it is a welcoming and safe environment for his son to recover in.

Andy Wightman MSP said: “It is absolutely appalling what this young man and his family have gone through in the last week.

“At last Thursday’s First Minister’s Questions, the First Minister responded to my question about the attack on Mr Ali by saying that, ‘We want Scotland to be—and to be seen to be—a refuge from war and persecution… The Scottish Government will do what we can, with the local authority in Edinburgh and other groups, to provide as much reassurance and support as possible.’ Clearly that means providing appropriate accommodation.

“However, the difficulties faced by Mr Ali’s father yesterday (Monday) suggest that the City of Edinburgh Council is failing in its duty to house vulnerable refugees. Why did Mr Ali’s father face so many unnecessary barriers when all he wanted to do was to create a safe and welcoming environment for his son to recover from this most malicious of criminal acts?

“The current systems in place to house vulnerable people, including refugees, in Edinburgh need to be rapidly re-assessed. I am shocked by reports of the treatment Mr Ali’s family received yesterday and I urge those responsible to act swiftly to uphold Mr Ali’s human rights in this situation.”

Council leader Cllr Adam McVey said yesterday that access to the flat will be available today and that the council will be doing all it can to support Mr Ali and his family.

An online fundraising appeal Shabaz Ali Appeal – Scotland Says NO To Racism has so far raised over £11,000. You can contribute at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/saynotoracism/464056

It would be good to think this story might yet have a happy ending …

Healthier Wealthier Children: Financial boost for pregnant women due to Green scheme

New research reveals that an anti-poverty scheme championed by Scottish Green MSPs is set to boost the incomes of pregnant women and vulnerable families by over £9 million a year when it is rolled-out across Scotland.

The Scottish Greens’ 2016 election manifesto called for the Healthier Wealthier Children scheme run by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to be replicated in other regions, and since then the party’s social security spokesperson Alison Johnstone has pressed Scottish Ministers to agree to this, and support the roll-out with funding.

Analysis published yesterday details the potential £9.3 million income boost, and shows how ready different health boards are to deliver the scheme, which sees NHS staff referring people to money and welfare rights advisers to access relevant benefits, help with housing and childcare costs, and debt reduction. For example, NHS Lothian has set up Healthy Start and Family Friendly Advice schemes.

However, health boards found to be lacking in clear schemes designed to boost incomes are Ayrshire & Arran, Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Grampian, Forth Valley, Orkney, Fife, Shetland and Tayside.

Ms Johnstone recently amended the Child Poverty Bill which means local authorities and health boards will soon have a duty to explain what they are doing to boost the incomes of pregnant women and families.

Scottish Greens social security spokesperson Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Poverty experts agree that boosting incomes can have an immediate impact on children’s quality of life. Making this part of NHS services as soon as possible will help thousands of families across Scotland, tackling child poverty and helping reduce health inequalities.

“Our research shows there are pockets of good practice throughout Scotland, but in some places work is needed to build strong links with the midwifery and early years services who come into contact with the women and families most in need.

“Greens are making Scotland fairer by championing ideas such as Healthier Wealthier Children. We’ll continue to keep up the pressure so that all new families get the financial support they’re entitled to.

“It’s over a year since the Scottish Government agreed to roll-out this scheme, and while they have pledged £500,000 towards this, the sooner it happens the better as pregnant mums and families are missing out on £9million they’re entitled to.”

Income Maximisation Report:
https://greens.scot/files/boostingfamilyincomesreport

Local rail fund is just the ticket for Lothian, say Greens

Lothian could be on track to win a share of a new £2 million Local Rail Development Fund set up during the Scottish Greens’ negotiations with the Scottish Government over the 2018-19 budget. Continue reading Local rail fund is just the ticket for Lothian, say Greens

Greens bid to bolster ethical aims of new Investment Bank

The Scottish Greens will today outline distinct plans for the proposed Scottish National Investment Bank to have robust policies on ethical investments, a push towards a zero carbon economy and overall greater scrutiny.

Green MSP Andy Wightman will attempt to win backing from Holyrood’s parties for his amendment to provide the new bank with better “social and environmental outcomes”, including an obligation to deliver strategic housing investment.

Wightman is also expected to challenge Scottish Labour to ditch its proposals for a bank focussed on “increased growth” and to instead put forward a strategic programme in line with the left-wing ideology embraced by the party’s leadership.

Mr Wightman, a Lothian MSP, said: “As a national financial institution, we all have vested collective interests to ensure that this bank will invest in projects and programmes that deliver a sustainable future. With our proposals, the bank will be required to have a strategic focus on the future of the Scottish economy by investing in new low-carbon technologies to build energy resilience.

“It’s surprising to see Labour insist that the bank’s main focus should be for it to ‘drive increased growth’. It’s far from being even remotely socialist and their insistence on profit being the bank’s key goal is disheartening. No economy can be sustainable when growing numbers of its young people cannot afford basic, affordable and warm homes. With social renting off-limits to all but the most financially challenged and affordable housing not worthy of the descriptor, an investment bank has a key role to play in providing the kind of strategic housing investment that is desperately needed.

“We also want Holyrood to have a key role in establishing the bank’s ethical investment code, which in our view should be enshrined in the primary legislation establishing the bank. We also propose that the bank could provide a Scottish payments company to reduce the costs to small businesses of processing payments. This cost reduction will lower GDP, but increase productivity. Currently around 2% of the value of payments is lost to the Scottish economy – some £1 billion per year at a rough estimate.”

Rise in food bank use is national scandal, say Greens

Figures from the Trussell Trust, showing that 17,328 people in the City of Edinburgh and 21,443 people in Lothian were provided with three-day emergency food supplies from this one food bank charity alone, highlight the urgent need to implement the Scottish Greens’ ten-point plan to tackle poverty, says Lothian MSP Alison Johnstone. Continue reading Rise in food bank use is national scandal, say Greens

Wightman calls for rethink to tackle housing crisis

Andy Wightman MSP, Housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said yesterday’s statistics show the need for a rethink of government policies in order to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis. Continue reading Wightman calls for rethink to tackle housing crisis

Short Term Lets: Wightman publishes legislation options to tackle problem

Scottish Green MSP Andy Wightman, whose Homes First campaign aims to regulate the rapid growth of the short-term letting sector, today published examples of legislative change to show how the Scottish Government could help local Councils tackle the problem. Continue reading Short Term Lets: Wightman publishes legislation options to tackle problem

‘Leading the change’: Greens take credit for council budget cuts reversal

More cash for councils as Greens make their presence felt at Holyrood

The City of Edinburgh Council will receive a significant increase in its funding to the tune of £12.4m after the Scottish Greens secured an agreement for the government to amend the 2018-19 budget. The Greens’ agreement will see £170m more for local council services throughout Scotland, a reversal of all of the £157m of local government cuts proposed by the SNP. Continue reading ‘Leading the change’: Greens take credit for council budget cuts reversal