• Dundee’s Computer Games Industry ‘Vibrant’

    01Sep

    Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick accompanied Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop on a visit to two of Dundee’s leading computer games development companies today, visiting Tag Games at Greenmarket and Dynamo Games at Springfield.

    Pictures show Joe with the Minister and Paul Farley, Managing Director of Tag Games and with the Minister and Lucy Milne, an artist developing content for Dynamo Games.

    Joe said: “I am delighted that the Minister has come to Dundee to show support for the computer games industry in the city which is diverse, vibrant and at the cutting-edge of the industry.

    “Both of these companies have recently received investment from the Digital Media IP Fund, jointly financed by Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland Innovation Fund to encourage co-investment from the private sector to generate revenue and stimulate development of innovative non-broadcast interactive digital content.

    “At Tag, we saw the progress being made on development of games apps based around Channel 4 programmes which includes ‘Come Dine With Me’ and at Dynamo spoke about their new game, ‘Soccer Tycoon’ which is available free on Facebook.

    “There is a lot happening in the games industry in Dundee which continues to expand and reach new heights of success.”

    The Minister is to speak later today at the Digital Spark Intellectual Property Conference at Abertay.

  • MSPs Look to New Law to Prevent Future Dog Maulings

    30Aug

    Dundee’s MSPs today reacted to the weekend’s horrific dog mauling of a 10 year old girl in the city’s Dryburgh area. The 10 year old was pulled from her bike and mauled by two rottweilers and is presently recovering after emergency surgery. She has been left with two permanent pins in a broken jaw and severe damage to her arms and legs.

    Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “This horrific attack has appalled everyone and our sympathies go to Rhianna and her family. The big question here which we must have answered is why these rottweilers were roaming about unsupervised to carry out this horrific attack. The dogs have been caught and impounded and will no doubt be put down but I hope the authorities will take action against the owner.

    “Most dog owners are reponsible, but the new Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act moves the onus from the dog to the minority of irresponsible owners who should not have a dog at all. It goes further than ever before in ensuring safe and responsible dog-ownership.”

    “It was precisely dog attacks like this over previous years which has led to the new legislation at the Scottish Parliament.

    “The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 received its Royal Assent and became law on 26 May this year. It is presently in process of implementation by local authorities and was introduced because there were loopholes in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 which had failed to make the public any safer from dangerous dogs.

    “In fact, statistics showed that the number of people attending hospital following a dog bite doubled since the Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced. It was this that forced Scottish MSPs to take action.

    Joe FItzPatrick continued: “The remit Councils now have under the new law means they have to compile a list of potential dangerous dogs and it is up to everyone to ensure that that list includes dogs ‘at risk’ of getting a ‘doggie asbos’.

    “It is not possible to ensure dog attacks never occur, these are animals – unpredictable. No-one is trying to pretend that we can do that, but these new provisions seems to go as far as is possible to prevent it.

    “The public can help by drawing the attention of the new local authority ‘authorised officers’ to incidents which have occured which may have given rise to alarm or apprehension for an individual’s own safety, the safety of some other person or the safety of an animal other that the dog in question.”

    “The Act will operate on a preventative basis. Control Orders – a written notice –  will be issued to owners of dogs that have on at least one occasion been out of control. This ‘doggie asbo’ requires the owner to bring and keep the dog under control and to have it microchipped within 14 days of the notice.

    “These orders will be issued if the behaviour of any dog gives cause for alarm or makes an individual apprehensive.

    “Once an order has been issued, the owner must comply with the terms of it. If the owner fails to comply, the local authorities can take immediate action to ensure public safety. This means that where certain circumstances warrant, local authorities have the power to order the destruction of a dangerous or unresponsive dog and this could apply even if a dangerous dogs order had not previously been issued, or in place of a further order if they had been.”

    Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said: “The new Act was specifically introduced to put an end as far as is possible to dog maulings and the type of the horrific incidents such as we have seen in Dundee over the years.

    “It is more comprehensive that previous legislation and gives the authorities more powers to tackle irresponsible dog ownership and dangerous dogs.

    “A new national database, known as ‘The Scottish Dog Control Database’ may be set up as part of the Act after consultation with local authorities to monitor the effectiveness of Dog Control Notices. The public will have a right to access information about the database.

    “The Bill was originally introduced by Alex Neil but continued by MSP Christine Grahame when Alex became Housing Minister and it should offer a greater degree of control on dangerous dogs and on who can own them and should allow us to reduce the number of incidents by making the keeping of these types of vicious breeds a thing of the past.”

  • MP & MSPs Stride Out Against Cancer

    30Aug
    Picture shows Dundee politicians Shona Robison MSP, Joe FitzPatrick MSP and Stewart Hosie MP with some of the members of their team at the start of the 24 hour charity event ‘Relay for Life’ organised by Cancer Support UK.  Their team hopes to raise more than £500 for the charity.
    The 4th Relay for Life in Dundee has attracted the largest-yet number of registered teams and should exceed previous year’s total for funds raised.
    Speaking at the event, Shona said; “We must do all we can to help fund efforts to discover treatments for cancer and care for sufferers. Around 30,000 people in Scotland are diagniosed with cancer every year and total is increasing as the population ages. Advances in treatment have greatly improved survival rates.
    “NHS Scotland has met the new national targets of treating 95% of cancer patients within two months. While this is excellent news, we should be doing all we can to fund treatment and find a cure.”
    Joe FitzPatrick added: “It’s a great way to raise some money for such a worthy cause. The large attendance this year has given us great hope that this event will get bigger every year and it is a pleasure to meet survivors and those who have had personal experience of cancer through family and relatives.”
    Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie, who walked the relay circuit laps from midnight to 4am said: “It is very poignant to see the messages around the track from those who hae lost family and relatives to this disease and what we are doing tonight is put into perspective and given a sense of value by that. It is a wonderful event which celebrates the survivors and those affected or touched in any way by cancer. Let’s make sure next year’s event isd even bigger and more successful.”
    To donate online, click here.

  • MSP Congratulates Barnardos Family Support Team on 25 Years’ Service

    26Aug

    Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick paid tribute to Barnardos Family Support Team which yesterday celebrated its 25th year of service in Dundee. The MSP attended the organisation’s drop-in event at its premises in 14 Dudhope Street.

    Joe said: “I’m happy to congratulate the Family Support team staff and volunteers on their twenty five years of service to the community. They do a great job and make a big difference to local families by intervening and offering support, information, short breaks and activities for children and young people. 

    “Dave Anderson and his team have, over the years, made a big difference not just in the service they provide themselves but in their promotion of new services towards inclusion, disabled children and young carers which are now provided by other new groups in the city. They have been a force for change.”

    Picture shows; front left: Dave Anderson, Children’s Services Manager, Martin Crewe, Director, Barnardo’s Scotland, Cllr Liz Fordyce, Dundee City Council Education Convenor and Joe FitzPatrick Dundee West MSP, with staff, volunteers and parents.

    For further information about Barnardos, contact Marina Sinclair, email: marina-sinclair@barnardos.org.uk  or visit website: www.barnardos.org.uk/familysupportdundee

  • Scottish Renewables Report Welcomed in Dundee

    25Aug

    The first major study of the potential impact of the offshore wind industry in Scotland, jointly commissioned by Scottish Renewables and Scottish Enterprise, was warmly welcomed today in Dundee.

    The city’s constituency MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick reacted positively to the new 56 page report, launched earlier today, which suggests the new industry could lead to the creation of up to 48,000 jobs – 28,000 directly in the industry with 20,000 in related sectors – by 2020.

    The Report, ‘Scottish Offshore Wind: Creating an Industry’ claims the Scottish industry could achieve an output of between 1.3 GW to 10.6 GW dependent on the success of strategic investment and other factors.

    Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said: “This comprehensive report proves that Scotland’s renewables industry is the biggest economic prize on offer for decades. It can become the nation’s biggest employer – but only if we can grasp the opportunity and work together to make it happen.

    “Other areas in the UK and across Europe are fighting for the same jobs but Scotland starts with many natural advantages which they do not have, not least the length of our coast and the force of the wind and tidal power that can be harnessed off our shoreline.

    “We have superlative academic research expertise at the top end of the industry finding ever more efficient ways of harnessing green power and we can deploy a highly-skilled workforce. We also have considerable technical resources in marine engineering and have already made strategic investment in suitable locations, such as at Dundee Port, to help maximise our potential in the new industry.”

    Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee West and Vice-Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Renewable Energy at the Scottish Parliament, said: “Coming close on the heels of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan, this report by Scottish Renewables and Scottish Enterprise confirms the scale of the opportunities within our grasp.

    “We are totally committed to Dundee being at the heart of the Scottish renewables industry, not just for the huge scale of jobs it might bring but because our society will benefit from lower carbon emissions as we move to greener energy.”

    “Dundee Renewables, which brings together all the key players in the public and private sectors locally, is working hard to ensure that Dundee grabs a significant share of the new industry and attracts major offshore turbine manufacturing companies to the city to build turbines and to provide maintenance and support for the offshore industry.

    “We are also working with Scottish Government and Dundee City Council to ensure that we have the required road and rail infrastructure in place at Dundee Port along with grid connections to make this happen in Dundee.”

  • Dundee Forensic Lab Key to National Crime Fight, Says MSP

    11Aug

    Rushton Court, the brand-new police forensic laboratory in the Dundee One building at the waterfront, could be the key to winning the battle against crime over the next decades according to Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick.

    The MSP was speaking after a national report showed that a re-organisation of Scotland’s forensic laboratories was vital to provide a more cost-effective and consistent crime-detection service to the nation’s eight police forces and procurator fiscals.

    The Scottish Police Service Authority’s paper, ‘Forensic Service Modernisations Options’ raises four options for the future structure of the service and the Dundee West MSP believes that the new Dundee lab should be one of two – along with a new lab to be built at Gartcosh – to provide the national service.

    This will mean an increased role for the new Dundee lab and its state-of-the art facilities and may bring more civil service jobs to the city.

    Joe FitzPatrick, who has raised a Parliamentary Motion on the subject (see below) said: “Since it was set up in 2007, the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) has aimed to provide Scotland’s police forces with a more effective and consistent national forensic service to meet an ever increasing demand.

    “DNA fingerprinting and analysis and scenes-of-crime support are benefiting from advances in technique and technology.

    “A national forensic service is vital and a key element is consistency and standardisation. At the same time, we need to take account of financial challenges facing the public sector.

    “At present there are four laboratories but the report identifies the real opportunities for more effective utilisation of resources through a two laboratory structure as the most cost-effective option.

    “Local Crime Scene Examination Services at each of the eight police forces HQs will stay under the new structure.

    ”As a brand-new custom-built laboratory, Rushton Court here in Dundee is crucial to the future of the service. I believe a two-lab option will provide the highest level of efficiency for the lowest cost – allowing savings of £3.5m by 2015 – and therefore will provide the best possible crime detection service to Scotland’s police forces and the wider public at optimum cost.”
    The report follows a year long analysis by the SPSA management of how to provide a forensic service which better meets the national needs of police forces and fiscals. It is presently being considered as part of a six-week consultation process on the service structure options which aims to reach consensus on the best way forward.

  • MSPs Team Up to Tackle ‘Relay for Life’

    06Aug

    SNP MSPs Joe FitzPatrick and Shona Robison are putting together a team for this year’s Relay for Life, on the 28th of August.

    Joe FitzPatrick said: “We will be taking part in the fourth Dundee Relay for Life and are putting together a team to walk in relay for 24 hours around the track in Caird Park.  It’s great than we can help to promote these important fund-raising events for Cancer Research UK.

    “There is still plenty of time for local businesses,  individuals and community groups to get involved and set up a team to take part. To find out more, visit the website: www.cancerresearchuk.org/relay/venues/dundee or email: dundeerelayforlife@live.co.uk and help to make the Dundee Relay event the biggest yet.”

    Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health & Sport, said: “NHS Scotland met the national target to treat 95% of urgently referred cancer patients within two months in the reporting period between October and December 2008 and this has continued through the period October to December 2009.

    “While this is excellent news, we should be doing all we can to raise money to fund the treatment of those already suffering from cancer, and to find new cures. A great way of raising money for this valuable work is to take part in the Relay for Life.

    “The event has a particular resonance to many families who have had family members or friends affected by cancer. People in Dundee are also aware of the battle being waged right here in Dundee at the Bio-Medical campus to find long term cures and prevention strategies for the most virulent forms of the disease.

    “In February, Cancer Research UK opened its first Scottish Cancer Research Centre in Dundee. With funding of £7.5m per year, the Dundee Cancer Research UK Centre is setting the pace in finding cures for bowel, breast and skin cancer, and building on Dundee’s world class research Bio-medical reputation.

    “Every year, approximately 30,000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with cancer, and studies show that this figure is set to increase to almost 35,000 in 2016-2020 due to the rise in our elderly population.

    “Although in the past five years, overall cancer mortality rates have decreased, cancer remains a National Clinical Priority for the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland who set up ‘Better Care Scotland’ in 2008 to focus on providing qualitative improvements to the services and support provided in Scotland. “ 

  • Labour Should ‘Stop Playing the Blame Game’ say SNP

    05Aug

    Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today responded to comments by Labour Leader Ian Gray in today’s Courier by accusing Labour of being ‘in complete denial’ over their responsibility on the economy.

    SNP MSP and member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee, Joe FitzPatrick today said: “I was disappointed to read Mr Gray’s call for the SNP Government to be ‘honest’ about forthcoming cuts in the public sector.

    “Mr Gray accuses the Scottish Government of ‘mismanaging the economy even before the recession began’. In fact, he is prepared to blame everyone but Labour for the present situation.

    “He hopes the public will forget that Labour were in power for the past thirteen years, with the recession beginning to bite during the last two.

    “You simply cannot trust a word which Iain Gray says. Alistair Darling, who until only 11 weeks ago was the Chancellor, admitted that any public spending cuts by Labour would be “tougher and deeper” than those implemented by Margaret Thatcher.
     

    “Andy Kerr, Mr Gray’s own Finance spokesman in the Scottish Parliament, called for the Scottish Government to implement the cuts more quickly.

    “Iain Gray has avoided saying whether he agreed with the Chancellor that Labour’s cuts would be ‘tougher and deeper’ than Margaret Thatcher’s. Nor did he say whether Andy Kerr was right to call for even quicker cuts in Scotland.


    “Labour now think they can mislead the public that they have no responsibility for any of the cuts!

    ”Iain Gray is playing fantasy politics and his entire strategy is to scaremonger and blame everyone but Labour. 

    “Frankly, the public will not be fooled. It’s time for Iain Gray to stop playing the blame game so that we can move on and co-operate on finding a way forward for Scotland.”

  • UK Budget ‘hits the most vulnerable’ says SNP

    28Jul

    Dundee’s SNP politicians today reacted to an economic analysis produced for the Scottish Government which revealed that the UK Government Emergency Budget introduced by the Con / Lib Dem Coalition at Westminster is already impacting most on the vulnerable and least well off.

    Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie, a member of the Treasury Select Committee, said: “This Emergency Budget from the Con-Lib Dem Coalition will be very damaging to those least well off in Scotland.

    “The rise in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5% to 20% which will come into effect from January 2011 will cost the average Scottish household £380 a year. And it will have a disproportionate impact on poor households.

    “About 1.6 million in people in Scotland are likely to have income rises suppressed as a result of the adoption of the consumer price index (CPI) instead of the retail price index (RPI) as the basis for calculating increases in welfare payments.”

    The analysis shows that the Emergency Budget will have an impact on those receiving benefits, a fact which deeply concerned Dundee East MSP Shona Robison.

    Commenting on the impact on benefit payments, Shona Robison said: “Around 621,000 families in Scotland will have their income cut as a result of the three-year freeze in child benefit, and again the biggest impact will be on the least well off.

    “Households with total income above £25,000 will see their benefit entitlement cut from April 2012 as a result of the combined effect of freezing child benefit and restricting child tax credits.

    “In Dundee, across both Holyrood constituencies, there are 11,220 people in receipt of DLA at either the higher, middle or lower rates.

    “Since an objective medical assessment will be introduced for Disability Living Allowance from 2013-14, it is estimated that up to 10,700 people in Scotland may lose their entitlement to DLA in 2013-14, rising to 31,700 in the following year. This is bound to have a big impact in Dundee.

    “It is vulnerable households and families across Scotland which are being asked to bear the brunt of these Tory/Lib Dem cuts – and there are more cuts to come. This is only the start of the Westminster cuts. This analysis produced for the Scottish Government shows the extent to which the least well off people in Scotland are already being hit by these cuts from the UK Government.”

    Commenting on the damaging effects of the Budget overall, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said:

    “This report on the impact of the cuts coming from the initial Emergency Budget are, unfortunately, just the start. They underline the case for Scotland being given responsibility for its own finances.

    “The case for economic and financial responsibility is gaining more support all the time, with some of Scotland’s leading business people and trade union figures in favour. 

    “Giving Scotland’s Parliament and Government the economic and financial tools would enable us to make the right choices to grow our economy and protect the poorest in Scotland.”

    “Scotland needs the powers of financial responsibility so that we can boost growth in the Scottish economy – generating higher tax receipts to invest in the public services we all value – as the only alternative to the entirely dismal prospects from Westminster.

    “That is the debate in Scotland – and that is why the centre of gravity in Scottish politics continues to shift towards independence.”

  • Dundee Politicians Welcome Renewables ‘Cluster’ Plan to create 5,000 jobs

    27Jul

    Dundee politicians say the city could be building offshore wind turbines as one of three regional offshore energy manufacturing ‘clusters’ built around key port locations.

    The politicians were responding to Stage 2 of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) published today by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

    Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said: “This latest report recommends that the sites, including Dundee, are developed into three regional manufacturing clusters that would support the fabrication of offshore wind components and tap into the wealth of subsea expertise that already exists in Scotland.

    “If we can get the city established in constructing renewables sector hardware, then that work, and its associated secondary industry of maintenance over the next decade, will be truly vast.

    “We are absolutely committed to Dundee being at the heart of the Scottish renewables industry. Apart from the great benefits which Dundee will derive in terms of jobs, society will benefit from lower carbon emissions as we move to greener energy. ”

    Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee West and Vice-Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Renewable Energy at the Scottish Parliament, said: “The report states that a total private and public investment of £223 million would assist the creation of 11 offshore wind manufacturing sites in three regional clusters.

    “Dundee Renewables, the high-powered group formed between the key players in the public and private sectors locally, is working hard to ensure that Dundee grabs a significant share of the new industry.

    “Being a deep-water port, Dundee has many physical and geographical advantages and is one of the longest established import and export hubs for bulk products in Scotland.” 

    “Taken together these 11 sites could support the creation of up to 5,180 jobs and an annual economic impact of up to £294.5 million each year.” 

    Commenting on today’s announcement, Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie said: “Unlocking the potential of these sites will require investment from both the private and public sector.

    “It is important that the Treasury urgently releases Scotland’s £185 million Fossil Fuel Levy to allow that to be invested to further develop the Scottish renewables industry.”

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