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SNP MSP, Fulton MacGregor, has welcomed statistics out today which show that approximately 9570 children in North Lanarkshire are in receipt of the Scottish Government’s Scottish Child Payment, set to double to £20 per child per week in April.

The payment was introduced in 2021 to support low-income families with children aged under six by providing regular, additional financial support for families already in receipt of qualifying benefits to assist with the costs of caring for a child.

As of 31 December 2021, it is estimated that 104,000 children across Scotland were in receipt of Scottish Child Payment – equating to £45.2 million worth of payments by the Scottish Government – and that is expected to rise to over 400,000 eligible children by the end 2022 which is when the benefit will be extended to children under the age of 16.

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

“I am delighted that 9670 children across North Lanarkshire are benefitting from the Scottish Child Payment which will double in just a month’s time.

“Come April, this means that 9670 children and families across North Lanarkshire receive £20 per child per week – four times the amount originally demanded by campaigners and illustrating just how focussed the Scottish Government is on meeting Scotland’s Child Poverty targets.

“Once again though, the tale of two governments is striking. While the SNP is doubling the Scottish Child Payment to lift thousands of children out of poverty, this game changing action is being undone by the Tories at Westminster who have cut £20 per week from many of the same families – knowingly pushing thousands of families into poverty.

“The people in North Lanarkshire deserve the chance to escape the damaging policies we get under Westminster control and choose a better path, one with the full powers that an independent Scotland would bring and allow us to build a fairer society.”

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor has welcomed the news that North Lanarkshire will receive £233,272 to support care experienced families or children who are on the edges of care.

The SNP Scottish Government will distribute £3.275m of support across Scotland and it will be in addition to the £41m provided through the Winter Support Fund.

Commenting Fulton MacGregor MSP said:

“Many children across Coatbridge & Chryston who are on the edges of care or are care experienced are often in families on low income and will be experiencing a cost of living crisis made worse by a UK Tory government that has cut Universal Credit and failed to address the challenge of rising energy prices.

“As the cost of living crisis starts to spiral this will be welcome funding for these families and ensure that they have immediate resources to ensure they can stay together.

“Later this year families will also receive further support from the Scottish Government with the launch the £500m whole family wellbeing fund.

“However, the SNP Scottish Government continues to support families in Coatbridge & Chryston and across Scotland with one hand tied behind its back. That is why the people of Scotland must be able to choose a better path towards an independent country.”

Local MSP Fulton MacGregor has welcomed the announcement of a new grant to support local bus services while passenger numbers recover from the COVID pandemic. 

The Scottish Government has committed £93.5 million of the 2022-23 Budget to support bus operators, due to the changed travel patterns during pandemic restrictions. 

Fulton MacGregor MSP said: 

“As passenger numbers recover across Coatbridge and Chryston due to the easing of restrictions, I’m delighted to see the Scottish Government offering significant support for Scotland’s bus services. 

“Committing nearly £94 million for 2022-23 offers financial certainty for companies and for passengers and ensures our communities can remain connected by vital local bus links. 

“Our travel options play a crucial part in Scotland’s transition to Net Zero – and this grant is an important step in protecting sustainable travel, cutting car kilometres and supporting connected communities across Scotland.” 

Local MSP Fulton MacGregor has welcomed record investment in Scotland’s NHS, including for NHS Lanarkshire.

The Scottish Government Budget confirmed £18 billion for Health and Social Care, including £12.9 billion for health boards through the pandemic and to accelerate the recovery of vital services. 

The Budget also supports the creation of a new National Care Service – the single greatest public health reform since the establishment of the NHS.

Scotland’s Finance Secretary Kate Forbes also outlined:

• £1.6 investment in social care, including £846.6 million for local government
• £61 million to address the tragedy of drugs deaths
• £290 million investment in mental health, including £120 million for our Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund
• Additional funding of £559 million for NHS Boards
• Funding of £232 million to address waiting times and supporting National Treatment Centres

Fulton MacGregor MSP said:

“The Scottish Government’s Budget commits £18 billion for Health and Social Care this year – that’s the highest investment in the history of the Scottish Parliament.

“Prioritising the NHS was a key commitment of the SNP in May’s election, so I’m delighted to see the SNP Scottish Government delivering on this commitment despite a challenging financial outlook.

“In NHS Lanarkshire, the Scottish Government has committed £1,346.8 million to NHS Lanarkshire – an increase of over £60 million on last year’s Budget.

“This year, Scotland’s block grant has no Covid consequentials from the UK government – meaning when Covid spending is included, our budget decreased from last year. Prioritising Health and Social Care is absolutely the right thing to do – but it means difficult decisions elsewhere in Scotland’s budget.

“Scotland doesn’t have the powers to borrow for our pandemic response under Westminster control, so the UK government must now deliver new money to aid Scotland’s fight against Covid.”

FAMILIES IN NORTH LANARKSHIRE TO RECEIVE £1,135,500 SUPPORT FROM SCOTGOV

Low income families in Coatbridge & Chryston will benefit from a £320 uplift before Christmas as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty.

Fulton MacGregor MSP welcomed the payments which Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison highlighted during a debate on the commitments in the SNP Scottish Government’s Programme for Government which aim to create a fairer society.

Families eligible will receive payments of £160 per child in October and again in December. Two Bridging Payments of £100 which have already been made takes the total to £520 this year.

The cash is equivalent to the Scottish Child Payment – a £10-a-week benefit to assist with the costs of caring for a child aged under six years old. The Scottish Government will extend the Scottish Child payment to all eligible under-16s by the end of 2022 and are committed to double the payment to £20 per week as quickly as possible.

The Social Justice Secretary highlighted the payments in the Scottish Parliament just a day after the six Tory MPs failed to vote to stop the UK government’s plans to cut the incomes of six million people across the UK by £1040 a year – the biggest cut to welfare since the 1930’s.

Commenting Julie O’Byrne, Founder and Chair Person of Cool School Uniforms in Coatbridge said:

“This will make a huge difference to local families like the ones we see at Cool School Uniforms. Times are tough and this extra payment will give families a boost that will ensure their little ones are at their best for the rest of the school year.”

“This will boost the confidence of children and ensure they have what they need to be able to learn to the best of their abilities. This funding will really help towards closing the attainment gap.”

Commenting SNP MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston Fulton MacGregor said:

“I know that many families in Coatbridge & Chryston are finding it hard just now. The impact that the pandemic has had on household finances is real, and has only been made worse by the cost of Tory’s obsession with Brexit and their unrelenting cruel austerity agenda.

“I am pleased that in Scotland, we have an SNP Scottish Government doing right thing by its citizens with these payments meaning £1,135,500 in the pockets of 11,355 low income families in North Lanarkshire

“The Scottish Child Payment is already the most ambitious anti-poverty measure currently being undertaken anywhere in the UK and we have committed to doubling it to £20-a-week per child as soon as possible in this parliamentary term.

“It’s clear that building a better future for children in Coatbridge & Chryston, and right across Scotland, is of at the top of the agenda in the SNP’s Programme for Government.

“As the Tories plough on with their indefensible move to cut £20-a-week in Universal Credit from those who need it most, the SNP Government are using the powers we have to provide real, practical help for families in Scotland. It’s crystal clear that the only way to keep Scotland safe from Westminster cuts is to become an independent country.”

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Fulton MacGregor MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s 2021/2022 Programme for Government as a strong plan to begin the recovery from the pandemic for Coatbridge & Chryston.

The First Minister unveiled the Government’s programme for the next year to MSPs today, saying that “a better Scotland – as part of a better world – is waiting to be built”.

The Programme for Government focussed on building a greener, fairer country for all individuals and families in Scotland, and offering the people of our country an informed choice on Scotland’s future.

This was backed by commitments to invest at least £1.8 billion to make Scotland’s homes and buildings more efficient and easier to heat, doubling the Scottish Child Payment as quickly as possible and restarting work on a detailed prospectus for an Independent Scotland.

Commenting, Fulton MacGregor said:

“This is an ambitious policy programme from the Scottish Government which has clear commitments to deliver a better life for people across Coatbridge & Chryston.

“It addresses the challenges that the last 18 months has left us with and it has the ambition needed to rebuild a better country as we recover.

“The recovery and remobilisation of our health services is undoubtedly a top priority for people across Coatbridge & Chryston so the SNP Government’s commitment to a minimum of £2.5 billion more on frontline health spending will be particularly welcome news.

“Today we have seen that we have an SNP Government who keep their promises, has the ambition needed to help build a better Scotland but, most crucially, takes the action needed to make that ambition a reality.

“This is a prospectus that meets the challenges and opportunities ahead and offers the people of Scotland the choice the deserve over their future.”

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£1,393,530 IN SUPPORT GIVEN TO CHILDREN IN NORTH LANARKSHIRE

8325 families in North Lanarkshire have benefitted from the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment, with £1,393,530 paid out to families in the area.

The most recent Scottish Government figures demonstrate how many families in North Lanarkshire have benefitted from the support since its introduction in February to 30^th June 2021.

So far, across Scotland 108,000 children have benefitted from the payment which provides eligible families with £10-a-week.

Commenting, Fulton MacGregor said:

“The Scottish Child Payment has been described by charities as game-changing and we are seeing that difference across Scotland and it is fantastic to see it make such a difference to the lives of families in Coatbridge & Chryston too.

“Not only is the Scottish Child Payment giving low-income families extra support, but coupled with other payments such as the Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods, eligible families could receive up to £5,200 extra by the time their child turns six.

“I would urge any families in Coatbridge & Chryston who have not yet applied to do so.

“In Scotland, we are building a social security system built on fairness, dignity and respect. Contrast that with the system at Westminster where the Tories are planning on cutting Universal Credit at a time when vulnerable families need it most.”

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£7.5 million to support dental sector

Young people aged under 26 are now eligible for free NHS dental treatment.

The change comes as a further £7.5 million has been given to support the dental sector to recover and build back to pre-pandemic capacity.

Free treatment for people aged under 26 will take effect immediately and there is no “opt-in” required. Those who started a course of NHS treatment before their 26^th birthday will also be eligible.

The £7.5 million funding will help dental practices to purchase drills that do not create as much aerosol as standard drills, and so allow dentists to help mitigate the impact of COVID restrictions on the number of patients they can see.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

“We’re committed to scrapping NHS dental charges for everyone in Scotland, and removing them for everyone aged under 26 is our first step on that journey. Today’s announcement means around 600,000 young people aged under 26 will benefit from free dental care from 24 August.

“I want to thank the dental sector for its outstanding efforts over the last challenging period and I look forward to engaging with you further as the Scottish Government continues to support practice recovery and improved NHS dental services for patients.

“I am pleased to also confirm a further £7.5 million investment for the sector. This will be used to purchase new dental drill equipment that produces less airborne particles, and therefore helps reduce the risk of COVID transmission.

“Alongside our previously announced £5 million to improve ventilation, this will further enable dental practices to see more NHS patients under present COVID restrictions, and demonstrates our commitment to NHS dental services.  I will continue to engage with the sector, as we look to remobilise our dental services in a way that is safe.”

Fulton MacGregor MSP urges organisations to sign up.

Organisations with ten or more employees can now sign up for asymptomatic workplace testing as part of an enhanced drive to identify emerging coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and break chains of transmission.

Free lateral flow device (LFD) tests have been made more widely available as the country emerges from lockdown restrictions and moves beyond level 0.

The testing regime is voluntary and organisations can adopt an LFD Collect model to distribute among workers or implement their own asymptomatic test site (ATS) model in workplaces.

Workplace testing in Scotland had previously been targeted at prioritised areas of the public sector, critical national infrastructure and private businesses with higher transmission rates.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Testing has a vital role to play as we move safely out of lockdown and this rollout of workplace testing to cover all companies with 10 staff or more builds on our strategy to tackle COVID-19.

“The vaccination programme has been a major success, however even though you are fully vaccinated it does not guarantee that you cannot catch the virus and pass it on without knowing you have it. Asymptomatic testing will remain an important tool in breaking future chains of transmission.

“As more staff continue to return to the workplace in the months ahead, we must do all we can to ensure this is done as safely as possible.

“Workplace asymptomatic testing can play an important part in the recovery and organisations across our business, third and public sectors can contribute to this.

Fulton MacGregor said;

“It’s vital that all results are reported to ensure we understand the prevalence of the virus and halt further transmission.

“I would encourage all organisations who are eligible to sign up for workplace testing and play their part in our recovery from the pandemic.”

The workplace testing expansion has been introduced in response to requests from  organisations and representative bodies from a range of sectors.

Eligible Scottish organisations can find information on how to apply by visiting: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/workplace-testing/

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Fulton MacGregor MSP has urged projects in Coatbridge & Chryston to apply for the newly launched Scotland Loves Local Fund.

The scheme has been launched by the SNP Scottish Government to support local projects run by organisations like town centre partnerships, chambers of commerce or community and charity trusts. It will provide projects with match funding of between £5,000 and £25,000.

Eligible projects could include things like community shops, marketing and digital schemes, or enabling larger construction projects delivery.

Commenting, Fulton MacGregor MSP said:

“The Scotland Loves Local Fund has been launched by the SNP Scottish Government as a way to help our town centres such as in Coatbridge recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic.

“Coatbridge and Chryston has a number of fantastic local community projects to stimulate growth and footfall into the area and this funding will allow them to continue to make our town centres a more vibrant place and stimulate the local economy.

“Not only is the funding important but when people shop locally and support local businesses it also boosts the economy here and ensure that money spent in the local area stays in the local area.

“I would urge local projects to apply for the Scotland Loves Local Fund and encourage people in Coatbridge & Chryston to continue to support local business at every opportunity.”