Latest News Archives - Page 98 of 160 - Colin Smyth - Colin Smyth MSP

NHS BORDERS A&E WAITING TIME STATISTICS WORST IN OVER 10 YEARS

South of Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has branded waiting time figures for NHS Borders as “shocking”, after statistics revealed the health board’s compliance with the four-hour waiting time standard was 85.1 per cent in December 2019, the worst in over 10 years. Since 2007, the national standard for A&E…

NEW FIGURES SHOW DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY HAS THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF PEOPLE EARING LESS THAN THE LIVING WAGE IN SCOTLAND

South of Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has raised serious concerns about new figures which show Dumfries and Galloway has the highest percentage of people earning less than the living wage of anywhere in Scotland. Benchmarking figures released last week reveal that in Dumfries and Galloway, the rate has increased…

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND MSP COLIN SMYTH PRAISES AMAZING WORK OF LOCAL CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICES AND CALLS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING

South of Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has praised the vital work of Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (DAGCAS) following a recent visit to the Annan branch. He has also called for local people to consider volunteering for DAGCAS, which has three offices in the region – Annan, Dumfries…

MSP GIVES CAUTIOUS WELCOME TO SALE OF PENMAN ENGINEERING

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has given a cautious welcome to the news that Dumfries based vehicle conversation specialists Penman Engineering has been bought and taken out of administration- but believes questions remain unanswered over the firm’s administration in the first place. The news comes a month after the company…

MSP BACKS LOCAL TRADE UNION CAMPAIGN ON ZERO-HOURS CONTRACTS

South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has given his backing to a campaign by Dumfries & District Trades Union Council to make local workers employed on ‘zero—hours’ contracts aware of their employment rights. However, the local MSP believes such contracts should be banned, with workers being given clear contracts and…

CALL FOR GOVERNMENT RETHINK AS SNP BUDGET PLAN LEAVE COUNCIL FACING £11 M OF CUTS

South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth and Labour Council Leader Elaine Murray have called for an urgent rethink by the SNP Government after it was revealed that their proposed budget will leave Dumfries and Galloway Council facing £11m of cuts in day to day services, and a loss of £4m…

BORIS NEEDS TO STOP FANTASISING OVER A BRIDGE AND INVEST IN THE A75, A77 AND PROPER RAIL LINKS- SAYS COLIN SMYTH MSP

South of Scotland Labour MSP and Shadow Transport Secretary Colin Smyth has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to demand any feasibility study into the creation of a bridge from Portpatrick to Larne in Northern Ireland must include an economic impact assessment of upgrading the A75 and A77 and improving…

LOCAL MSP HELPS LGBT YOUTH SCOTLAND MARK 20 YEARS SINCE THE REPEAL OF SECTION 28

South of Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth joined LGBT Youth Scotland at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday (February 4) to mark the start of LGBT History Month. This year also marks 20 years since Scotland repealed Section 28, a piece of UK Government legislation which banned teachers in schools from…

MSP SLAMS BUDGET PLAN TO AXE £4 MILLION FROM NEW SOUTH OF SCOTLAND ENTERPRISE AGENCY

South Scotland MSP and Scottish Labour’s Rural Economy Spokesperson Colin Smyth has slammed the Scottish Government for proposing a cut of £4 million from the planned budget for the new South of Scotland Enterprise Agency (SOSEA) – before the new Agency has even been established. In the draft Scottish Government…

MSP CALLS FOR “FAIRER DISTRIBUTION” OF SPECIALIST POLICE JOBS, FOLLOWING POLICE SCOTLAND’S PLANS TO AXE DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY SURVELLIANCE UNIT

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has called for a “fairer distribution” of specialist police jobs, after proposals were recently revealed by Police Scotland to axe a Police surveillance unit from Dumfries and Galloway. During First Ministers Questions in the Scottish Parliament today (6 February) the local MSP raised concerns with…