Author: fultonmacgregor

I’m delighted that my annual report has been hitting doorsteps across the constituency showing what I’ve been up to in the last 12 months.

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Fulton MacGregor, SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston, has welcomed new figures which show that 24,340 children in North Lanarkshire are currently receiving the Scottish Child Payment.

The Scottish Child Payment, which provides £25 per week to every eligible child, is estimated to lift 50,000 children out of relative poverty in 2023/24.

In North Lanarkshire, 289,430 payments worth £34,788,735 have been paid out to help tackle child poverty – with over £450 million issued across Scotland.

The SNP Government has made tackling child poverty its number one priority, and Fulton MacGregor MSP has welcomed latest figures showing it has reduced 5% in 2023/24.

Commenting, SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

“The SNP Government’s Scottish Child Payment is taking direct action to eliminate child poverty in Scotland and it is very welcome that it is currently supporting 24,340 children in North Lanarkshire.

“As we head into the winter months, and with the Tory-made cost of living crisis continuing to affect households across Coatbridge & Chryston, families will face even greater challenges, with many struggling to make ends meet. The Scottish Child Payment will therefore be even more vital.

“The fact that 289,430 payments have been made in North Lanarkshire, worth £34,788,735, is very positive and I know this will be going a long way to support young people who need it most.

“The SNP are taking action to meet our mission of tackling child payment and I strongly encourage people to spread the word so as many children eligible for this payment get it as possible”.

Fulton MacGregor MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s latest paper, ‘Migration to Scotland after Independence’ as the sixth paper in the Building a New Scotland series.

The paper outlines how Scotland, with the full powers of independence, would address problems such as worker shortages and depopulation with an approach to migration that stands in stark contrast with that of the UK government.

Under these plans, Scotland would implement a humane, dignified and principled migration system which would maximise the many benefits of migration to both our society and our economy. There is also emphasis on protecting the rights of migrants and free movement as a member of the EU.

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

“This paper demonstrates that whether you are coming to an independent Scotland seeking refuge or to make a new life for yourself, you will be welcomed and supported in doing so.

“For too long the immense value that migrants add to communities like Coatbridge & Chryston, whether that is through cultural or economic enrichment, has been ignored.

“Westminster control over migration policy has done immeasurable harm to both migrants and Scotland and the current hostile environment is a shameful scourge on the UK.

“With the full powers of independence, Scotland will create a migration policy that is tailored to the needs of our people, our businesses and our economy.

“We must be able to implement policies which reflect the values and needs of communities like Coatbridge & Chryston, and this paper outlines how, with the full powers of independence, we would do exactly that.”

Local MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston encourages young people and care leavers on benefits to check whether they are eligible for the support payment following recent changes to the application process.

The Job Start Payment was launched in 2020 and is a one-off cash payment, worth £294.70 or £471.50, from Social Security Scotland that is designed to help with the costs associated with starting work.

The Scottish Government is encouraging people to check whether they are eligible as changes mean that income from trial shifts no longer rules out a young person from receiving the payment, while the deadline for applying has been extended from three months after a job offer to six months and more simplified support information about the job offer is required.

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

“Young people and care leavers across Coatbridge & Chryston make an invaluable contribution to our community, and I welcome these changes which make it easier for them to access support in seeking employment.

“In the last three years the Job Start Payment has made a huge difference to the lives of many young people, alleviating the pressure of starting a new job and helping to ease costs that can be extremely prohibitive.

“As cost of living pressures persist – largely due to a hard Tory Brexit and the disastrous mini-budget – the SNP Scottish Government is doing all it can to support those who need it most, showing just what is possible with the full powers of independence.

“The SNP are determined to ensure that people in Coatbridge & Chryston are getting the money that they are entitled to and I strongly encourage those who think they may be eligible to check and apply for this payment.”

Fulton MacGregor, SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston, has welcomed the introduction of the Baby Loss Memorial Book for anyone who has experienced pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks.

The book, designed with the support of charities and health professionals, will give parents in Coatbridge & Chryston the opportunity to commemorate their loss with a physical record. The book is free and entirely optional.

The development of a Memorial Book was undertaken by the Scottish Government after listening to parents who told their experiences of how difficult it was that their losses went unrecognised. 

Commenting, SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

“Losing a baby during pregnancy can only be incredibly painful and difficult for any family and up to now there was no formal way to recognise their loss.

“The Memorial Book will hopefully provide the opportunity for families in Coatbridge & Chryston who have suffered this loss a source of comfort that their baby will be acknowledged and remembered.

“I encourage anyone in Coatbridge & Chryston who has suffered through this experience to apply, should they wish, to this free and voluntary service.”

Also commenting, Julie and Bryan Morrison from Baby Loss Retreat said;

“We are absolutely delighted the parents voices have been listened to by the Scottish government. 

“The charity worked tirelessly with Fulton Macgregor and the Government to make sure every baby has recognition and give the parents acceptance that their Baby mattered. 

“We encourage every parent to register their babies and if they need any support on this to contact the charity.”

At North Lanarkshire Council’s Active & Creative Communities Committee, Labour and Conservative groups teamed up to ensure vital and cherished venues across North Lanarkshire are to close despite being offered an alternative solution by the SNP Group.

Such venues in Coatbridge & Chryston include the Janet Hamilton Centre, Shawhead Community Centre, The Ian Nicholson Centre, Lochview Golf Course, and Moodiesburn & Stepps Library to name but a few. Further venues across North Lanarkshire include John Smith Pool and the Matt Busby Sports Centre.

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

“I was incredibly disappointed to hear of the outcome at the Council’s Policy and Strategy Committee – an outcome I believe would have been avoidable if the administration had given serious consideration to the SNP Group’s well-thought-out amendment that would have halted these cuts.

““The impact of these closures will be felt in all corners of my constituency – from the closure of the libraries in Moodiesburn and Stepps which leaves the Northern Corridor with only one library – to the closure of Lochview Golf Course in Townhead– a much loved and unique facility that cannot be replaced. Also what will now happen to the fantastic community organisations like Bannans Fitness and the Airdrie & Coatbridge Harriers that have brought so much to so many people. We must fight for them. There will also be a massive impact on jobs at a time of a cost of living crisis. We must also fight for them.

“Closing community facilities like this in an area which already suffers from poor health outcomes and high levels of poverty and deprivation is utterly reckless. The Labour / Tory administration at North Lanarkshire Council is actively choosing not to listen to their constituents which is simply appalling. 

“I appreciate the upset this will have caused to so many – I too am upset and disappointed. I will continue to fight for the retention of these facilities where possible and my office and I will be offering whatever support we can to those groups affected – or where suitable to those who wish to pursue a community asset transfer. The council promised more resources into community asset transfers and we now need this to happen”

Fulton MacGregor MSP has welcomed new figures that reveal 23,635 children in North Lanarkshire are being supported by the Best Start Foods and Best Start Grant payments from the Scottish Government.

Since the Scottish Government’s introduction of the Best Start Grant in 2018 and of Best Start Foods 2019, £130 million has been paid in support for pregnancy and the early years of raising a family, equating to 1.7 million Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods payments.

These payments are part of the five key benefits that families may be entitled to from Social Security Scotland – the Best Start Grant is comprised of three one-off payments and Best Start Foods is a prepaid card which can be used to buy healthy foods.

Families who qualify for the Scottish Child Payment are now automatically awarded Best Start Grant Early Learning and School Age Payments when their child becomes eligible – from November 2022 until June 2023 14,825 Early Learning Payments and 23,810 School Age Payments were made.

In the first six months of this year, payments worth £9,492,670 have been made to North Lanarkshire families.

Commenting, SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

“The Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods payments provide crucial support to families at key stages of their children’s lives, and it is excellent to see so many families in Coatbridge & Chryston have benefitted.

“This is another demonstration of the SNP Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty, now automatically accompanying the Scottish Child Payment following last year’s increase to £25.

“However, the reality is that these families are simultaneously feeling the worst effects of the Tory-made cost of living crisis, and the SNP Scottish Government will do all it can to mitigate Westminster’s incompetence, even with one hand tied behind it’s back.

“This kind of vital support for families in Coatbridge & Chryston is another indication of what is possible with full social security powers – it’s time for Scotland to have the full powers of an independent nation so that we can build a fairer, more prosperous country.”

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor has said the announcement of a new Scottish Education Exchange Programme in the First Minister’s Programme for Government will “open countless doors for young people across Coatbridge & Chryston”.

The SNP Scottish Government is to launch a new exchange programme which would prioritise placements for disadvantaged young people, following an initial test and learn project this year.

Principal of the University of Glasgow, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, has welcomed the programme, saying “the return on this investment could be immense” for young people across Scotland.

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

“The new Scottish Education Exchange Programme will transform the life experience and open doors for young people across Coatbridge & Chryston.

“The First Minister’s ambition for young people in Scotland is clear, and the SNP Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all youngsters, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to learn and thrive.

“Programmes like this not only enrich the lives of young people by offering them a chance to study abroad and broaden their horizons, they also improve communities like Coatbridge & Chryston.

“In the face of a Tory Government at Westminster which continues to deny young people participation in Erasmus+, and a Labour party which refuses to even acknowledge the damage caused by Brexit, the SNP is determined to support the youngest members of our society.

“I am thrilled to see the First Minister’s further investment in young people in Coatbridge & Chryston.”

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor has welcomed the news that a pay deal has been agreed for all police officers in North Lanarkshire.

A 7% increase to pay and allowances, which will be backdated to 1^st April 2023, ensures a cumulative increase of 12.35% in police officer pay since April 2022.

The agreement was reached following extensive dialogue and negotiation through the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) – a body made up of representatives from the Scottish Police Authority, Police Scotland, the Scottish Government, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), Scottish Police Federation (SPF) and the Scottish Chief Police Officers Staff Association (SCPOSA).  

Police officers in Lanarkshire perform an essential role in keeping local communities safe and SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor has said that this pay deal recognises the hard work and valuable contribution they make to daily life.

Commenting, Fulton MacGregor MSP said:

“Police officers perform an essential role in keeping communities across Coatbridge & Chryston safe and this pay deal recognises their hard work and valuable contribution.

“Despite the difficult financial environment created by Westminster, I strongly welcome the direct action taken by the SNP Government to invest £11.6 billion in policing since 2013 to ensure that people in Coatbridge & Chryston remain safe. 

“I would like to recognise and thank those on the Police Negotiating Board who worked in good faith to achieve an agreement that works for all parties involved.

“In Scotland we have an SNP Government that is committed to keeping communities in Lanarkshire safe – whilst also working to support those responsible for doing so through the Westminster cost-of-living crisis.”

I’ve been made aware this morning that the Pivot Centre in Moodiesburn is one of two properties in the NLC area that have been identified as having RAAC after an inspection of all school properties in the area.

North Lanarkshire Council state that they have already taken remedial work to ensure these properties are safe, including the installation of permanent steel supports and structural engineers advising that there are no immediate safety concerns. In addition, regular surveys will take place.

I understand that The Pivot Centre will be closed for five days from Monday 11 September for permanent steel supports and further ceiling alterations. Subsequently, I have written to the Council to ask for an update once these works are completed.

Further, I understand that up to 400 housing properties may have RAAC as part of their construction. North Lanarkshire Council are in the process of instructing specialist surveyors to carry out inspections. Again, I have asked to be updated on this matter when appropriate.

A question and answer webpage can be found here; https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/…/reinforced…

As always, anyone with any specific concerns can contact me at: Fulton.MacGregor.msp@parliament.scot