Author: fultonmacgregor

 

 

SNP MSP: FOLLOW GERMANY’S LEAD OR HAND SCOTLAND POWERS IT NEEDS

 

MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston, Fulton MacGregor, has issued fresh calls for the UK government to extend the furlough scheme into 2021 – after Germany indicated that it will look to extend its version of the scheme to 24 months.

 

The UK Tory Chancellor has already cut back on the Job Retention Scheme, with the furlough scheme set to end entirely on 31^st October 2020.

 

With chains such as Boots, Royal Mail Delivery and Carphone Warehouse, who employ hundreds of staff across Coatbridge & Chryston, announcing widescale job loses – the SNP MSP has said a premature end to the furlough scheme in the middle of a global pandemic would be ‘catastrophic’ to the local economy.

 

Commenting, SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

 

“In the past few weeks alone we’ve seen businesses such as Boots, Royal Mail Delivery and Carphone Warehouse, announce substantial job loses that could affect staff here in Coatbridge & Chryston.

 

“In European countries like Germany, reports of an extension to their version of the furlough scheme will come as a welcome relief to millions of workers and businesses who are worried about their future.

 

“Yet in stark contrast, the UK Tory Chancellor at Westminster is choosing to prematurely shut down our furlough scheme and throw thousands of Scottish jobs on the scrap heap.

 

“The jobs and livelihoods of working families here in Coatbridge & Chryston are on the line. It’s time for the UK government to rethink its catastrophic plans to scrap the furlough scheme early and extend the measures into 2021.

 

“If they continue to refuse, then the Tories should let Holyrood have these powers so Scotland can take the action we need to save jobs.”

 

SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston, Fulton MacGregor, has said new funding from the Scottish Government will help provide targeted support for care experienced young people in North Lanarkshire.

 

North Lanarkshire has been handed £712,800 to invest in projects designed to boost the attainment of local care experienced children and young people.

 

The council will work with Chief Social Workers, and Directors of Education, to decide how this year’s funding will be used. Care experienced young people from birth up to the age of 26 are eligible for the support.

 

Across Scotland, the SNP Government has pledged £11.6 million to support the fund.

 

Commenting, Fulton MacGregor MSP said:

 

“The SNP is determined to give all young people the best start in life.

 

“The challenges posed by this pandemic mean that the Scottish Government’s efforts to tackle the attainment gap are now more important than ever.

 

“That’s why I’m delighted to hear that North Lanarkshire will receive this funding boost to help break down the barriers faced by care experienced young people living in Coatbridge & Chryston.

 

“Last year the fund was used to support a host of projects – from outdoor learning schemes, to providing looked after children with laptops to study from home.

 

“I look forward to seeing how the council will put this money to good use, and offer some of our most disadvantaged pupils the support they deserve.”

SNP GOVERNMENT’S ‘JOB START PAYMENT’ NOW OPEN TO APPLICATIONS

Local MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston, Fulton MacGregor has welcomed a new Scottish benefit introduced today that will help 16 to 24-year olds into work if they have been unemployed for over six months.

 

The SNP Scottish Government’s Job Start Payment is a one-off grant of £250 to help with the costs of starting a new job.

 

The upper age limit rises to 25 for care leavers and the payment rises to £400 if the person has a child.

 

It is estimated around 5,000 young people across Scotland will benefit from this new financial support in its first year.

 

Commenting, SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

 

“The job prospects of young people in Coatbridge & Chryston have been hit hard by this pandemic.

 

“So, this announcement of extra support to help our young people into work really couldn’t come at a better time.

 

“This payment will help local people with the extra expenses that are often attached to a starting a new job, such as travel costs, new work clothes or even childcare.

 

“In Government, the SNP is working hard to create new opportunities for work as we rebuild our economy. I’d encourage anyone in Coatbridge & Chryston who thinks they may be eligible to apply online.”

Commenting on today’s announcement from the Scottish Government that schools will return full-time in August, without distancing, if Scotland continues to make progress on suppressing the coronavirus – Fulton MacGregor MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston said:

 

“Thanks to the united effort of people here in Coatbridge & Chryston, and across Scotland, who have stuck to government advice we have now made significant progress in the fight against COVID-19.

 

“I’m absolutely delighted by today’s announcement that if we stay on the right path, and continue to suppress this virus, our young people can return to school full time from August.

 

“This is an important step not only in ensuring our young people get the education they deserve, but it’s also positive news for working families.

 

“I want to send my gratitude to our amazing teachers and school staff in Coatbridge & Chryston who have helped us get to this stage.

 

“There’s a lot of work ahead of us, but this SNP Scottish Government is working hard to support families and communities across the country.”

 

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor has praised the thousands of North Lanarkshire residents who have signed up to volunteering schemes during the pandemic.

1182 have volunteered with the British Red Cross in North Lanarkshire while 1836 have signed up to Volunteer Scotland, according to new figures provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

While not all volunteers have been called upon, many have started to deliver food parcels, ensure essential supplies and medicines reach vulnerable people and phone those who need assistance or companionship.

Scotland Cares links British Red Cross and Volunteer Scotland schemes to local authority and third sector activity in communities, creating a pool of volunteers for local organisations to draw upon and deploy as required.

Volunteers are matched with local needs in a range of organisational settings, when those needs arise. It is up to the requesting organisation to decide how and when volunteers are deployed.

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

“The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, and many in our communities have depended on the help offered by others.

“The thousands of people in North Lanarkshire who have volunteered to help are a real credit to their community and I want to thank each and every person who has signed up.

“Not all volunteers have been needed so far, but volunteers will play a critical role in supporting and rebuilding our communities – and many will be asked to help in the weeks and months to come.”

 

SNP GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE £50 MILLION PACKAGE TO IMPROVE ATTAINMENT

 

MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston, Fulton MacGregor, has said pupils living in North Lanarkshire’s most deprived communities will benefit from targeted funding from the Attainment Scotland Fund to help close the poverty-related attainment gap.

 

North Lanarkshire Council will receive a £7,478,859 investment from the SNP Scottish Government to support pupils from deprived backgrounds.

 

To help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, schools and local authorities will have flexibility to redirect some of this funding from existing plans to best support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families, with a continued focus on equity in education.

 

The £50 million package is in addition to the £250 million Pupil Equity Funding package announced in May for the next two years and an investment of £9 million to provide 25,000 laptops to assist pupils learning at home.

 

Commenting, SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

 

“In Government, the SNP has put closing the poverty-related attainment gap front and centre of its plans to improve education.

 

“This latest funding boost for Coatbridge & Chryston demonstrates this Government’s ambition to transform our schools and ensure that every young person gets the chance to succeed in life, regardless of their background.

 

“The Education Secretary, John Swinney, has also handed councils the flexibility to use this funding to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic so no child gets left behind.

 

“There’s still a lot to do in reducing poverty and inequality in Scotland – but universal benefits like free school meals for our youngest pupils, free prescriptions and free higher education are helping keep more money in the pockets of hard working families here in Coatbridge and Chryston.”

 

ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE £250 AHEAD OF NEW SCHOOL TERM

 

Fulton MacGregor MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston has encouraged parents of children aged four to five to apply for the SNP Government’s Best Start Grant.

 

A one-off £250 payment is currently open to eligible families, with a child who was born between 1^st March 2015 and 29^th February 2016, who will be starting primary school later this year.

 

The School Age payment can be used for anything from a new pair of school shoes or arts and crafts materials for children.

 

The payment is part of the SNP Government’s Best Start Grant, a package of three payments for families in receipt of eligible benefits – including Universal Credit and Housing Benefit – to help at key stages in a child’s life.

 

Commenting, SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston Fulton MacGregor said:

 

“Covering the costs of a child starting school can be tough on family finances, especially in the current climate.

 

“The SNP Government’s school age payment offers low income families, or those who receive support like Universal Credit, a £250 payment around the time children start at primary school.

 

“We’re absolutely determined that every child, regardless of circumstances, gets the best start in life. So in these unprecedented and difficult times, I’d encourage families across Coatbridge & Chryston to check what other financial support they may be eligible for too – such as school clothing grants or free school meals.”

 

Thursday 28th May

Test and Protect is now in place across Scotland. This is Scotland’s way of putting into practice the ‘test, trace, isolate, support’ strategy. If you start showing any symptoms of coronavirus—that is a high temperature or fever, a new continuous cough, or a loss of, or change in sense of smell or taste— then you should visit the NHS Inform website to book a test immediately.

Friday 29th May

Business and public services

• Most outdoor work can resume.
• The construction industry can begin site preparation.
• Garden centres and plant nurseries can reopen some of their services.
• Drive through food outlets are no longer being discouraged to remain closed.
• Non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants & cafes—except for takeaway—must remain closed.
• Household waste recycling centres can reopen from Monday. Exact arrangements will be confirmed by North Lanarkshire Council https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=27397
• Other business premises should remain closed unless they are providing essential goods and services.
• All businesses should continue to allow staff to work from home wherever possible.

Sport and recreation

• Some non-contact outdoor leisure activity will be allowed to restart, for example golf, tennis, bowls, hill walking and fishing – it has to be within your local area.

• You can sit and sunbathe in parks & open areas.
• You can travel—preferably active travel such as cycling or walking—to a location near your local community for leisure & recreation. This should be no more than 5 miles from your home. You should stay within or close to local area and not use public transport unless absolutely necessary.

Social interaction

• You can meet with another household outdoors, for example in a park or a private garden. You should not be meeting multiple households at the same time and this should only be in small groups, the total number of people recommended being no more than eight.
• You don’t have to pick just only one household to meet with during phase one, but you can only meet with one other household at a time and try to limit this to one other household per day.
• You should continue to stay at least 2 metres away from others who are not members of your household and avoid touching the same hard surfaces. For example, if meeting for a barbecue, each household should have its own cutlery, plates, etc.
• If visiting another household it is vital that you don’t go indoors. Think practically—don’t visit another house if you think there’s a risk of you needing to enter their house to use their toilet for instance.
• Do not hug or touch people who are not part of your household. This is really difficult, but it is really crucial that social distancing remains in place at this time. Full guidance on this distancing is available on the Scottish Government’s website.

 

Monday 1st June

Education and childcare

• Teachers and staff will be able to enter schools to prepare for the reopening of schools in August.

Wednesday 3rd June

Education and childcare

• Childcare will be available for larger numbers of children who most require it, for example vulnerable children and children of essential workers.
• Childminding services and fully outdoor nursery provision can take place, but there continues to be limits on the number of children which can be cared for.

Other changes during phase one

• Some key public services such as some respite care, children hearings and some key heath programmes will restart work.

 

SAFE RETURN PLANNED THROUGH MIX OF SCHOOL AND HOME LEARNING

Local MSP Fulton MacGregor has welcomed the Scottish Government announcement that pupils will return to schools in August, subject to scientific advice that it is safe to do so.

 

Schools in Coatbridge & Chryston will return on 11 August, while Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings will open over the summer.

 

An agreement reached between councils, professional associations and parent representatives means that physical distancing, staggered arrival and departure times, staggered break times, increased hand hygiene, enhanced cleaning regimes and a range of other measures must be implemented.

 

To maximise the time pupils can have in the classroom and support children in the new model of schooling, including digital home learning, the SNP Government is also investing £9 million for 25,000 laptops or tablets – with internet access provided – for disadvantaged children as part of the first phase of provision to support learning outside school.

 

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

 

“In reopening schools in Coatbridge & Chryston, we are ensuring the safety of children, young people and staff and giving parents the confidence that schools are safe is the overriding priority.

 

“To allow appropriate physical distancing, children in North Lanarkshire will return to a blended model of part time in-school and part time at-home learning from 11 August – subject to scientific advice that it is safe to do so.

 

“Of course, these arrangements will not represent a complete return to normality by August. We don’t know how long schools will have to work this way, just as we don’t know how long Coronavirus will be a threat.

 

“I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone in Coatbridge & Chryston when I share my gratitude towards parents, carers and teachers who are doing so much to ensure that children continue to learn during this lockdown period, and to those young people who have stayed at home in extremely challenging circumstances.

 

“By doing the right thing, all of us have helped to slow the spread of the virus, to protect our NHS from being overwhelmed, and to save lives.”

You can get more information on Education Recovery Group Strategic Framework by following this link:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/excellent-equity-during-covid-19-pandemic-strategic-framework-reopening-schools-early-learning-childcare-provision-scotland/

Today in Holyrood, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addressed the nation to explain the Scottish Government’s routemap that will guide the country out of lockdown.

 

The routemap gives practical examples of what people, organisations and businesses can expect to see change over time.

 

If the evidence shows transmission of COVID-19 is under control and the number of infectious cases continue to decline the Scottish Government will consider moving to Phase 1 of the route map following the next end-of-cycle review date on 28 May.

 

The NHS Scotland test, trace, isolate and support system – known as Test and Protect – will be ready for expansion in all 14 health boards from 28 May.

 

A plan agreed between councils, professional associations and parent representatives to partially reopen schools from 11 August, subject to scientific advice that it is safe to do so, has also been published today.

 

Commenting, SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston Fulton MacGregor said:

 

“We all know that we can’t live this way forever and we all want to get back some sense of normality.

 

“While we need to move carefully and gradually, the route map laid out today by the First Minister clearly sets out the steps that will take us there.

 

“Too many people in Coatbridge & Chryston and across Scotland have lost their lives to this disease and we can’t risk another peak – so we must move in line with our own circumstances.

 

“We will get through this by working together by sticking to the advice to suppress the virus further and get back a way of life that is as close to normal as possible.”