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Joe FitzPatrick MSP

• Dundee A&E Consultant Support For Minimum Pricing Welcomed

  26Nov

  
  As MSPs today prepare to debate the Scottish Government’s Alcohol Bill at Holyrood, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick welcomed the support of DR Bill Morrison, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Ninewells for the minimum pricing policy.

  Dr Morrison, who is based at A&E in Ninewells in also Chair of the Scottish Board at the College of Emergency Medicine.

  Joe FitzPatrick said: “Quite recently Shona Robison and I went on a night-shift with the emergency services to see the damage done by alcohol misue and Dr Morrison kindly allowed us to spend some time in the A&E DEpartment at Ninewells to see for ourselves what damage alcohol can do. I am glad that he has come forward to support the Alcohol Bill’s provision for minimum unit pricing for alcohol. It demonstrates that those on the front-line know that this policy will make a real difference.”

  In his letter to the MSP, Dr Morrison says: “AS a physician and Fellow/Member of the Royal College of Physicians, every day I come face to face with the tragedy of liveds lost and runiedn through hazardous and excessive drinking of alcohol.

  “Figures on excess alcohol consumption and its consequences make grim reading. Scotland has some of the worst health statisitics in the world: A Scot dies every three hours as a result of alcohol misuse. There is no doubt that the single biggest driving force behind this increaed consumption is the rduction of cost in ral terms. The measures that the country has taken to curb excess have been inadequate until now.

  “IT is therefore right thaty the country take proprortionate measures. It is Parliament’s responsibility to do what it can through legislation and setting an example. The Scottish Government’s Alcohol Framewaork strategy proposes a raft of measures, including a band on price promotions in off-licensed premises; the introduction of minimum reatil pricing to prevent loss-leading and below-cost selling of alcohol. There is plenty of evidence that they will reduce availability and increase the base price of alcohol. This will benefit the heavy drinker most, and have the greatest positive effect in the most deprived communities. The mdeical profession unreservedly supports these evidence-based measures as the correct approach.

  “I strongly urge you as my patients’ local parliamentary representative to also support this package of measures includng the minimum pricing proposal.”
  
  

• Copenhagen Negotiators Should Follow Scotland’s Lead say SNP

  24Nov
  

  Stewart Hosie, Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick with Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment

  With the Copenhagen Climate Summit now only 12 days away, SNP politicians Shona Robison MSP, Joe FitzPatrick MSP and Stewart Hosie MP joined with the Scottish Government’s Environmental Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead to urge negotiators at the summit to follow Scotland’s lead on greenhouse gas targets.

  The summit, which runs from 7-18 December will host more than 8000 representatives from 170 countries, and their deliberations will lead to the Copenhagen Protocol, which will set the direction for the world’s actions to tackle climate change over the next few years.

  Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie said: “This is the most important international meeting on climate change ever and Scotland could really help make a difference. Previous summits have seen deadlocked talks resulting in watered-down proposals.

  “It is unfair and unfortunate that no representative from the Scottish Government will be allowed to attend, to promote Scotland’s climate legislation as a great example at a time when the world desperately needs good examples.”

  “The Vote Earth campaign calls on rich countries to set a target of reducing their emissions by at least 40% by 2020. Scotland has already committed to a 42% cut by that date with the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, passed by Holyrood in June.”

  Shona Robison said: “Scotland is leading the world on setting ambitious targets for reductions in emissions. Our  Climate Change legislation has set an interim target of 42% reduction by 2020 and an  80% reduction by 2050. This sends a message that we are serious about tackling this urgent issue, a message which we hope that other countries will emulate.”

  Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick added: “Scientists say a reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions of industrialised countries of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 is vital in order to keep global temperature rise below 2°C.

  “It is crucial that the Copenhagen talks agree new and predictable public financing to ensure developing countries can develop cleanly while dealing with the impact of climate change.  The  summit must unite both the developed and developing world behind a set of achievable proposals, but these need to be ambitious, otherwise we will not effectively tackle the problem.” 

  Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said: “WWF’s Vote Earth campaign is a great way for the general public to send a strong message to world leaders that they care about tackling climate change.  The Copenhagen meeting is the most important discussion of climate change ever.”

• 9,700 Dundee Households Missing Out on Energy Savings

  23Nov

  Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick is urging constituents who may be missing out on big savings on their energy bills this winter  to contact the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) for free advice and financial support following a fact finding event on the service at the Scottish Parliament. 

   

  MSPs from all parties were invited to learn about the helpline and the benefits it can deliver to people across Scotland who may qualify for assistance with their energy bills. 

   

  And new research published by the Helpline revealed around 9,700 households in Dundee are missing out on big savings on their energy bills. It also indicated that contacting the hotline could result in families across the city slashing more than £250 from their energy bills every year.

   

  Joe FitzPatrick said today: “I want to assure people in Dundee who may be worried about their fuel bills, particularly as the credit crunch continues to squeeze household budgets – that there is help and advice available. 

   

  “I urge friends, relatives and neighbours to call the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) on behalf of someone else who may be in fuel poverty. There will be advisors on standby who can help organise new tariffs, insulation grants and advice and support on how to keep warm and save money on their bills.”

   

  “There are free grants available via the hotline that could provide a lifeline for many people as it gets colder through the winter months. Their research shows the huge number of households in Dundee who are missing out on offers from energy suppliers.”

• GRAY WANTS TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH COUNTRY’S CASH

  23Nov

  LABOUR MUST TELL PUBLIC WHAT THEY WOULD CUT TO FUND GARL

  Responding to the comments by Iain Gray that the Scottish Government must fund the over-budget Glasgow Airport Rail Link in order for the Labour group to support next year’s budget, the SNP’s Joe FitzPatrick has challenged Iain Gray to find the cash for the project.

  Following funding cuts from Westminster, the Finance Minister John Swinney was forced to find almost £500 million of savings.

  Member of Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee, Joe FitzPatrick MSP said:

  “Iain Gray seems totally incapable of the simplest of sums. He wants the Scottish Government to fund every project under the sun, despite the fact his Government at Westminster is imposing unprecedented cuts. Iain Gray needs to learn than you can’t be irresponsible with the nation’s finances – his pal Gordon Brown did exactly that and lead us into the worst recession in 70 years. The SNP will not do that, we will always do what is best for the country.

  “Steven Purcell has called for the scrapping of the Borders Rail Link and Free School Meals – I know this SNP Government will not ‘take food from bairns mouths’ in order to fund an unaffordable project. Mr Purcell seems to have an agenda against Scotland’s children having already sanctioned a mass cull of Glasgow’s Primary Schools.

  “Iain Gray must now come out and say whether he also wants to punish school children, scrap the Borders rail project, or if he can find something else to cut, such as the new Southern General hospital or M74. He can’t make threats and demands without putting forward his own plan. He is looking more and more ridiculous every day he makes these economically illiterate and financially irresponsible remarks. “

• MSP Hosts Celebration of 65 Years of One Parent Families

  18Nov

  More than 100 invited guests will tonight celebrate the 65^th anniversary of the founding of One Parent Families Scotland in the Main Hall at the Scottish Parliament.

   

  The event is hosted by Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick and more than 100 invited guests, including OPFS staff and those who have been involved with the organisation.

   

  Joe FitzPatrick said: “I’m delighted to be hosting the 65^th celebration of this valuable and

  important organisation which has done so much to improve the lives of lone parents and all those affected by lone parent issues.”

   

  “There is a strong Dundee connection with the organisation with four OPFS services operating in the city. The OPFS branch, based in Whitfield Drive, renamed itself in 2007 as the 101 Project.

   

  “Other key services based there include Childcare@Home Dundee, Childcare@Home Angus and Fife while the Dundee Community Family Support Project is based in St Boswell’s Terrace in St Marys.

   

  “All these work to ensure families, particularly those headed by a lone parent, have the support, information and confidence needed to play a full part in Scotland’s economic and social life.” 

   

  As well as offices in Dundee, OPFS have services in Falkirk, Edinburgh, Motherwell, Inverurie and Paisley.

   

  While providing family support services and a range of facts sheets and information and also training for lone parents,  OPFS run the National One Parent Helpline (0808 811 0323) which is a free independent helpline for lone parents or those affected by lone parent issues.