The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP
Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Gordon
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The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Gordon |
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| The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP | <info@malcolmbruce.org.uk> | 12th March 2010 |
20 Most Recent Press ArticlesMarch column (1)Written by Malcolm Bruce on Thu 11th Mar 2010 Time for Government to help us tackle our costly fuel bills ================================================================================ Last week I had the opportunity to lead a debate on home energy efficiency and fuel poverty addressing a wide range of issues raised with me by constituents. Given the recent long spell of cold, snowy weather people have been understandably concerned at the high cost of fuel which disadvantages people living in Gordon not just because we have colder, longer winters than average but also because we have many hard to treat homes and many that do not receive a gas supply. Older, solid wall houses and the early timber framed homes comprise as much as half our housing stock. Such homes face a double whammy. They are hard and expensive to keep warm; and they cannot be easily or cheaply insulated. Energy companies have a responsibility to promote energy efficiency and insulation but they are not subject to detailed requirements so they take the easy option. They offer loft and cavity wall insulation, neither of which is of any or much use to these properties. There is a lack of good technical solutions and those that do exist are expensive. A co-ordinated programme could give us better, more affordable ways of tackling the problem and substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Added to these problems, a constituency like Gordon has a high proportion of homes that are off the gas main. On average these cost one third more to heat than those on gas - relying on oil, LPG, solid fuel or electricity. I suggest that energy companies should be obliged to prioritise these homes in their energy efficiency programmes and the government should consider giving such properties access to grants and low cost finance to upgrade to more efficient modern technologies such as micro generation, heat pumps and renewable sources. In a cold winter the fuel poor - defined as those who spend more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel - may qualify for cold weather payments but only if they are on qualifying benefits. On top of that the weather stations chosen to determine the temperatures that trigger the payment of cold weather payments are singularly inappropriate. The area of Gordon round Alford gets cold weather payments based on Braemar, which has triggered 8 times this year. Yet the area round Lumsden and Rhynie which I can personally testify has been as cold and snowy as Alford is based on the Dyce weather station which has only paid out four times this winter. My recommendation is that the base weather station for the Huntly area should be changed to somewhere more appropriate and, in addition, that as a start, pensioners living off the gas main should qualify automatically for cold weather payments. Fuel bills for everyone living here on the North East will always be well above the UK average and this year more so than ever. Government support should be designed in ways that help us more too. ================================================================================ Moving core samples to Notts is insane ================================================================================ I am in the middle of making representations to stop the removal of drilling core samples from Gilmerton in Edinburgh to Nottinghamshire. These 175,000 samples have been built up over decades and are used by academics and industry in evaluating the geology of the North Sea for future development. This will be relevant for recovery of the substantial reserves that still remain to be recovered from our continental shelf. Removal is estimated to cost £4.3 million to save an estimated £200,000 a year. But this saving will be worthless if, as is likely, the cores are irretrievably damaged and costs to universities and companies rise. This may reduce the amount of oil and gas we recover by hundreds of millions and compromise the necessary evaluation for carbon capture and storage schemes. I believe this proposal is insane and should be reversed. ================================================================================ Zuma must lead on Zimbabwe ================================================================================ Zuma must lead on Zimbabwe Last week I attended a private meeting with President Zuma during his state visit to Britain. He has the honour to be President of a multi racial South Africa. Of course his first priority is to tackle poverty and injustice in his own country. But as a member of the G20 South Africa has a responsibility to provide leadership in the world and across the African Continent. According to well conducted polls Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party has the support of between 10 and 12 per cent of Zimbabweans. Having visited Zimbabwe last month I can tell you that were there to be a free and fair election in Zimbabwe irreversible change would be delivered. I believe that many more enlightened former adherents of ZANU-PF could be part of the change. Zimbabwe could become an economic engine of growth and recovery for the whole of southern Africa. But this will only happen if South Africa stands up for the basic rights of Zimbabweans to choose their own destiny. After all they have more Zimbabwean refugees than any other country and have more to gain from a democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe. President Zuma needs to understand that when he asks for the lifting of sanctions, which only apply to the leaders of Mugabe's regime and not the people or the economy, that there has to be progress towards fulfilling the obligations Mr Mugabe entered into with the inclusive government and which he has consistently flouted. ================================================================================ Dispelling digital switchover myths ================================================================================ Consultations are taking place across the North East about the forthcoming switchover to digital TV which takes place for our area in September. I have been astonished to hear of people throwing their old TV sets away because they think they need to get a new flat screen HD set. This is, of course not the case. I have a set that is more than thirty years old which I have switched to digital simply by connecting a Freeview box through the video recorder. Similarly, I have heard people requesting a digital aerial. There is no such thing. For most people simply by connecting a digi box to their set will enable them to convert. For people on benefits there is special help available so I would urge people not to panic just follow the advice available. ================================================================================ Vince challenges Alex over future budgets ================================================================================ Alex Salmond has written to Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable asking them not to cut the Scottish budget. Vince tells me he has replied telling him that the Liberal Democrats will be laying out plans for tax and spending for each year of the next Parliament in our manifesto and he has assured Mr Salmond that Liberal Democrat plans would not reduce the Scottish budget but in fact increase it. However, he also added that Mr Salmond acknowledged in his correspondence that from 2011-12, the public sector will face several years of fiscal austerity in Scotland, as well as the rest of the UK. Justifiably, Vince points out that the Liberal Democrats have led the way on coming up with a credible and rational plan to deal with the deficit. He went on; "It's time that other parties displayed the same openness and honesty with the British people. To that end, I have asked Mr Salmond if he will follow our lead and set out how the Scottish government intends to meet higher budget controls in the coming years". Answers on a postcard? 8 March 2010
February Column (2)Written by Malcolm Bruce on Thu 25th Feb 2010 Hoping for ambitious promotion of 'iconic' mill site ================================================================================ It is encouraging that a feasibility study for biomass fuelled development of the site of the Inverurie paper mill has indicated its potential viability but this is still some way short of the comprehensive redevelopment of this iconic site. Most people in Inverurie were understandably saddened at the closure of the mill and the inability to find a future in papermaking which has been part of the local economy for 150 years. Yet Inverurie has proved resilient in the face of economic change. More than 40 years after the closure of the loco works the Inverurie economy is more diversified than ever - although we still haven't got the former site fully integrated into the present and future. I hope we will not be speculating about the site of the paper mill for decades. The site has great potential to attract modern development to the town and be a beacon of modern development. I very much hope that the consortium and present owners of the site will be in a position to start marketing its potential in the fairly near future to coincide, let's hope, with an economic upturn and the eventual construction of the Aberdeen Western peripheral route that will put the site in a strategically strong position, minutes from the airport, on the railway and well connected to the fast road routes to the south. ================================================================================ Union Terrace gardens - let's get the right answer ================================================================================ As the Gordon constituency includes the northern part of the city I have been following the debate about the development of Union Terrace Gardens with a close interest. In any case those who live in the shire have a keen interest in the development of Aberdeen even if they do not take a direct part in it. Until recently it seemed that alternative proposals were divisive and that may still prove to be the case. The problem is the Peacock proposal for an arts centre built into the Union Street end of the Gardens and tiered down into them seems to contrast sharply with the alternative proposals to raise the whole site to the Union Street, Union Terrace level. Funding does exist for the more modest Peacock proposal whereas the more ambitious proposal requires tens of millions of pounds to be found in spite of the offer of £50 million from Sir Ian Wood. What would be the worst outcome would be for the Peacock proposals to founder and the raising of the gardens to fail to get the necessary funds in the present climate. The Peacock proposal would provide street level access down to the gardens which would otherwise disappear under concrete. I hope a good compromise can be arrived at but it must be one that works and is affordable. It is ironic that SNP ministers say they might be able to make a contribution when they have refused to review the city's funding formula or even meet civic leaders to discuss it. ================================================================================ Flood prevention challenge for Huntly ================================================================================ I had a useful meeting with Aberdeenshire Council officials for an update on the aftermath of the major flooding in Huntly at the beginning of November. Having been flooded in my own home a few years ago I can relate to the misery of those residents affected last year and know that it takes many months to dry out and refurbish properties. Nevertheless, it seems to me that the council have done a good job in finding accommodation for 27 displaced households and offering other forms of support and keeping them informed of progress towards their eventual return home. At the same time the council has not been idle in evaluating what could be done to prevent the same thing happening again. There is no doubt that the Deveron reached record levels last November and it may not reach that level again for a long time. Nevertheless, the prediction of more extreme weather patterns clearly requires an assessment of what steps would be required to stop the same thing happening again. This could include building up the river bank where it burst, provided that doesn't risk displacement flooding somewhere else. Work has already been carried out dredging and clearing the path of the Meadow burn and it may be that new culverts and bunds may help. SEPA have also put on place a flood warning system to alert people at risk if there is any flood threat. Clearly all of these options need to be evaluated and costed and that is what is going on now. As everyone knows Aberdeenshire suffered flood damage across the whole area from the Bervie Braes above Stonehaven to the Pennan cliffs and bridges and roads across the area, including most recently the listed bridge at Keig. Nevertheless council officials are working to assess the best way forward and in due course the council will have to assess proposals and work out priorities. I hope when that is complete there will be a clear plan for Huntly. ================================================================================ Iraq knocked Afghan mission off course ================================================================================ The current heavy NATO offensive in Afghanistan with its growing list of British casualties and civilian deaths is clearly bringing into question our continuing engagement. It is right to remember that the original engagement in Afghanistan was supported by the United Nations and entrusted to NATO. It was knocked badly off course by the decision by George Bush, backed by Tony Blair (and almost all the Conservative party) to invade Iraq without international support or authorisation. Had that not happened it is likely that NATO's original mission in Afghanistan would have been accomplished by now. At the time of the original action in Afghanistan NATO had the overwhelming support of the majority of the population weary of the civil war, the Soviet occupation, the Mujahadeen and the Taliban. That goodwill has diminished, although it was still quite strong when I visited the country two and a half years ago. We cannot stay indefinitely or even for very much longer but immediate withdrawal, although it might be popular, would be damaging and would nullify the sacrifices made by Afghans and NATO allies. The Afghan army is two thirds of the way to taking over the military tasks of NATO. The police have much further to go to win trust. Development is happening in terms of education, health care and the development of livelihoods but it needs to go further and faster. I believe that is the best way to enable the majority of the people of Afghanistan to take control of their own destiny and reduce the risk of terrorism and instability across the region. But time is short. ================================================================================ Bullying - real issue or election froth? ================================================================================ I am not sure what to make of the accusation of bullying in the Prime Minister's office other than note that it is the kind of personal stuff that seems to come into play when we get close to a general election. The National Bullying Helpline's founder Christine Pratt did not cover herself in glory by saying there were calls to the service from Downing Street but that they did not apply to the Prime Minister and appeared vague and non-specific. Also given that the whole point of the helpline is to protect those being bullied and preserve the confidentiality of the parties what did she think she was doing blabbing to the national media? No wonder one of her patrons promptly resigned and another, Anne Widdecombe, followed suit. Few can doubt that Gordon Brown is a brooding and obsessive personality. That he might lose his temper comes as no surprise either. I think we should move on and concentrate on the substance of politics rather than just the personalities. 22 February 2010
February Column (1)Written by Malcolm Bruce on Tue 23rd Feb 2010 Train usage makes the case for more rail services ========================================================================================================== The phenomenal increase in the number of people using the trains in the North East should surely persuade the recalcitrant Scottish Government of the case for backing the long promised Crossrail commuter link from Inverurie to Stonehaven. Over many years I have campaigned for extra trains and stations securing Sunday services and the re-opening of Dyce station and increased frequency and shorter journey times. Since it was re-opened Dyce station has always exceeded expectations and this year has increased by 68 per cent and Inverurie is up by about 50%. Yet ministers and Transport Scotland have so far failed to embrace the case for a new station at Kintore and for commuter services to Aberdeen and have questioned the viability of the proposals on the basis of unrealistically low forecasts of usage. Compared with the massive costs of road upgrades, rail represents a valuable investment in infrastructure which eases road congestion and pollution. Faced with frustrating hold-ups on the airport roundabout and the Haudagain it is no wonder people are switching to rail, Thousands more would, I have no doubt if a more frequent service was available. ========================================================================================================== Refreshing climb down by First Bus ========================================================================================================== Also focussing on public transport I was delighted that First Bus responded to public pressure to withdraw proposals to end the Number 5 bus link between Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dubford in the Bridge of Don. This route was developed with grants from the Scottish Executive and Aberdeen City Council and appears to have been well used judging by the storm of protest that plans to axe it triggered. As the protest gathered momentum, First Bus initially offered a reduced service but then a complete climb down. I organised a public meeting which Aberdeen First Bus chief executive, Bob Dorr, agreed to attend. I give him credit for acknowledging to the meeting that he had got it completely wrong and that more people appeared to be using the service than their records showed. He undertook not only to maintain the service but to work with the local community to develop it increasing the number of buses deployed on the route from 8 to 9. This was very refreshing and what could have been a lynching turned into a very constructive meeting and genuine thanks to Mr Dorr. Since buses were deregulated there has been concern at the apparent conflict between commercial interests and public service. The competition authorities are currently reviewing bus operations in the UK on the grounds that bus services receive subsidies for particular routes to the tune of £1.2 billion a year yet do not always appear to meet the users' needs. For a commercial public service provider to move from slash and burn to compromise to complete reversal over a period of four weeks based on a well focussed campaign by users is refreshing and I hope we will see more of this in future. ========================================================================================================== Zimbabwe - on the cusp of change? ========================================================================================================== The International Development Committee which I have the honour to chair made a visit to Zimbabwe last week which gave us a fascinating insight into that strife torn country since the inclusive government was established ten months ago. This came about after the elections which were clearly won by the then opposition Movement for Democratic Change who were denied their victory by the violence and obduracy of Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF. Under pressure from South Africa a Government of National Unity was formed. Most of the levers of power remain with Robert Mugabe who stole the Presidency. Morgan Tsvangirai was given the new job of Prime Minister and ministries were divided between ZANU and MDC. This is, to say the least, an uneasy arrangement. Our committee's mission was to evaluate the UK's $100 million annual aid programme in terms of delivery and assess whether it could contribute to a positive change for the better. One thing we quickly established was that the replacement of the hyper inflated Zimbabwe dollar with the US dollar has allowed a degree of normalisation of the economy and set in train some recovery. The cities of Harare and Bulawayo are in remarkably good shape and the shops are well stocked with goods of all kinds. The problem for most Zimbabweans is that they live in rural areas, poor and traumatised and can only take minimal advantage of these improvements - although remittances received in dollars or other hard currencies are of more value than they were before. The other benefit of this situation is that it has allowed donors such as the UK and NGOs to deliver real improvements in basic services. We saw well run functioning hospitals delivering a range of treatments and drugs thanks to UK assistance and that of others. We also saw orphan and vulnerable children who had been displaced by ZANU brutality getting catch- up intense education and moving into primary schools offering them a real chance for the future and if the programme can be maintained helping Zimbabwe avoid the disaster experienced by South Africa with a generation of lost children. So what is our verdict? Well we still have to take further evidence and deliberate on what we have seen and heard but I can confirm that our aid is reaching the poor and needy and making a difference, although we need to know more about the cost of delivery. As far as the politics is concerned, we did meet Morgan Tsvangirai in his garden and found him upbeat and resilient. He believes the political process has reached the point of no return. Others are less sanguine and the sad truth is it could go unpredictably in almost any direction. Nevertheless, the present arrangement is definitely delivering improving conditions for most Zimbabweans albeit from a low base. Support for ZANU-PF has fallen to around 10 per cent. If credible elections were to be held then real change would be secured. However as long as Mugabe controls the army, police and security services, that is unlikely. ========================================================================================================== Who'll allow local taxes for local services? ========================================================================================================== One of the issues of the forthcoming General Election is likely to be central control versus local decision making. In spite of having delivered devolution Labour has proved a highly centralising party like the Tories before them. This has not stopped them presiding over an unprecedented financial crisis and, although, spending on the NHS has increased dramatically and waiting times have been reduced there is still a great deal of waste and distortion and worrying increase in hospital infections. The Tories are planning to impose radical changes in education on English local authorities whether their communities want it or not. The SNP has been even more centralising - freezing the council tax and imposing centrally determined targets on class sizes and free school meals reducing local councillors' discretion to determine the best priorities for local people. I am in favour of some redistribution from rich to poor both in terms of individuals and communities. Nevertheless I believe local people should have more say in local decisions. Here in the North East we make a huge contribution to the economies of Scotland and the UK yet too much of our taxes go elsewhere. That is why I favour the return of local business rates to local councils and a fairer local tax system which makes us less controlled by central government in Edinburgh or London. We should as far as possible have local taxes for local services not as determined by ministers with a political agenda driven from elsewhere. ========================================================================================================== It's colder inland from Dyce ========================================================================================================== The cold weather we have experienced since Christmas raises again the thorny issue of cold weather payments. I accept that the trigger has to be based on some weather centre but using Dyce certainly means that many communities inland from the coast suffer lower temperatures than Dyce records which would qualify them for cold weather payments if based on a more appropriate centre. Malcolm Bruce 9 February 2010
January Column (2)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 25th Jan 2010 **************************************************************************************************** After the devastation, where next for Haiti? **************************************************************************************************** The scale of death and destruction caused by the Haiti earthquake is almost unprecedented and has shocked the world. Development Economics Professor Paul Collier is absolutely right when he says the challenge is not about getting Haiti back on its feet because the country has never been on its feet. Decades of brutal dictatorship has left Haiti impoverished and without the basic infrastructure of a functioning state. That is why the United Nations has such a presence in the country and they too suffered the destruction of their own headquarters and loss of life. There clearly was some chaos in this situation when the airport and seaport were both seriously damaged. It was ironic that hoards of the media managed to get to the island when relief supplies were having difficulty getting in and out of the airport. However, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander assured me that the airport which could only handle three planes a day at first had quickly increased it to over 100 and secured refuelling supplies. The United Kingdom does not have a particularly close relationship with Haiti which after all is a francophone country which looks to the USA, France and Canada as its key development partners. The UK's immediate response therefore was to send in the equipment and expertise that we had best suited to saving lives and securing the means of life. As always the British public have responded generously to the emergency appeal by the leading charities and NGOs. It is worth stressing that the UK Government, apart from delivering direct assistance of £20 million is a major contributor to the United Nations and the European Commission. It is sensible that the United States should take the lead being a near neighbour with the necessary resources. In the longer term there needs to be an administration for Haiti which is accountable to the people and is led by the Government of Haiti and the UN and key donors. The task is to build the basics of a functioning state from scratch and learn how the international community can best respond to this kind of situation as, in spite of recent reforms, the United Nations is not ready to take on the role by itself. **************************************************************************************************** Rededication celebration for Ellon Parish Church **************************************************************************************************** I was delighted to attend the service of re-dedication of Ellon Parish Church last Sunday. I have had a long association with the church over the years and see it as an effective and active part of the Ellon community through the popular Kirk Centre and its leading role in making Ellon a Fair Trade town. Now, after major refurbishment the church has made itself a focal point. Gone are the old wooden pews to be replaced by comfy chairs, under floor heating and computer controlled lighting and sound systems. The church is warm and welcoming and ready to be even more engaged with the community, through its many organisations and its basic approach of opening the door to all comers. I am sure there will be many and varied well attended activities in the building in the future and I wish it well. **************************************************************************************************** What does the future look like for Digital Radio? **************************************************************************************************** The Government is trying to get its Digital Britain Bill through Parliament before the election. One aspect of the bill, which is generally supported, is generating some controversy. The Government has declared that they intend to switch to Digital Radio in 2015 which means that all radio stations broadcasting on DAB will cease broadcasting on FM which will be reserved for small local stations. This presents a number of problems. The overwhelming majority of radios, in the UK, including those in cars, are analogue. Digital is almost certainly the future but if local stations are left behind on FM they may find it difficult to survive. One idea is to have a tuning system that seeks for all available stations - digital and FM, so that the user does not have to switch between the two sources - but this does not yet exist. The concern is that some time in the future FM may disappear and with it the local option unless we opt for what is known as DAB+ a much more advances system that could accommodate all radio stations - although there is still a cost to switching to digital that smaller stations may not afford. In the North East we are well served by a plethora of local commercial stations. The BBC, which offers 24 hour local services to many parts of England does not offer that service in Scotland and are not a player in local radio. I am writing to all our local commercial radio stations to seek their opinion as to how the changeover will affect them to ensure that the North East does not lose out when the switchover happens. Of course the TV switchover happens next year but it is becoming clear that radio may not be quite so straightforward. **************************************************************************************************** Gordon Highlander veteran receives Normandy honour **************************************************************************************************** I was delighted to have the opportunity to present the Normandy Bar medal to local World War Two veteran, Mr Jim Glennie last week.
Mr Glennie was a private in the Gordon Highlanders who landed in France on D-Day, June 6 1944 but he was unable to travel to France for the 65th anniversary of the invasion last year. I wrote to ask if Mr Glennie could be given the medal, as he wasn't able to attend the ceremony, and the Normandie Memoire Association asked if I could present the medal on their behalf, which I was honoured to do. It is a small token of appreciation from the people of Normandy to those who fought to liberate them in 1944 and commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Normandy landings. We should never forget the sacrifice and courage of those like Mr Glennie who fought for freedom on D-Day. ENDS
January Column (1)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 11th Jan 2010 **************************************************************************************************** Weather - why are we surprised by it? **************************************************************************************************** The weather has clearly been the dominant feature of the news at the start of the year - not least, of course, because it has affected the whole of the UK not just the North East. For me the main challenge was getting to Huntly Rotary Club for their meeting on Monday 4 January through serious snow. It has been a tradition since the war for the Member of Parliament to speak to the club on the first meeting of the New Year. The meeting has never been cancelled and I have never missed it so it was a matter of honour to get there. Discretion being the better part of valour however, my wife and I were pleased to accept the kind offer of overnight hospitality rather than drive back into the weather. So may I offer our sincere thanks to the welcome hospitality of our generous hostess? Returning the next day we were pleased to follow ploughs clearing the road to Rhynie and astonished at criticism being levelled at the driver by one vehicle who failed to appreciate the dedication from early hours or have the patience to follow the plough which saw us through to Rhynie a few minutes later. I had time to call into the shops and learn first hand about the poor post office service these communities were experiencing and the frustration at the lack of fresh milk delivery. The roads were, after all, open. Of course, the weather had other effects in travel disruption and school closures which led to a chorus of complaints from many quarters - not all of them fair or thought through. We had several bursts of heavy snow over a few days which adds to the challenge of keeping the main roads open and, although many local pavements were ploughed it clearly was a matter of prioritising. Similarly, the decision to close schools obviously caused disruption especially to those families with working parents. However, the roads were treacherous for school transport and had the schools been kept open and there been accidents involving school buses or teachers travelling to or from their work, there would have inevitably been complains about that too. The City was particularly badly hit as it experienced more snow than usual and lower temperatures. There may be a debate as to how much the city should invest in snow clearing equipment that would be rarely used - but I have been reminded in recent days that in other counties - Canada and France have been mentioned - it is a legal requirement for property owners to clear their own frontage. This raised another issue in the national debate as some shop keepers claimed that if the cleared their frontage and someone fell and was injured they would be held liable. If this is true then it is nonsense provided the clearing is done with reasonable diligence. **************************************************************************************************** Cadbury - might be a better bet independent **************************************************************************************************** I am currently engaged in a fellowship programme with Cadbury and the Industry and Parliament Trust. The aim is to give MPs insight into corporate business and in return give them a feel for how MPs and Parliament operate. I have worked in the past for corporate business (as a buyer of cosmetics and toiletries for Boots). However I was interested in getting an up to date exposure. I chose Cadbury because of its Quaker background that made it a model employer in the past and which still gives the company a culture that is more in tune with my idea of business. This was a feature of other chocolate companies such as Fry's (now part of Cadbury), Rowntree's (sadly now part of Nestle) and Terry's. The characteristic was also shared with soap-makers Lever Brothers. Where Levers built Port Sunlight model village for its employees, Cadbury build Bournville. When I started the fellowship the bid to take over the company had not been launched by Kraft. As Cadbury had just disinvested itself of Schweppes to concentrate on becoming an even better chocolate, candy and gum company it would be ironic if it found itself sucked into an American conglomerate. The company argues that it's strategy as an independent will increase its margins and enable it to grow its market share - and that this is already in evidence. I would hope that our city slickers who determine the outcome of these bids will consider this case and reflect on how overbidding has brought down RBS and cash now may be no substitute for better profits in the future. Money talks of course but just grabbing the cash without considering the longer term is what has helped get us into our current economic mess. It is not the best way out of it. There is also talk of Italian chocolate maker Ferrero Rocher entering the fray possible with US company Herschey. That would be a better fit for Cadbury's strategy as a chocolate maker bit I can't help hoping that Cadbury is given the time to prove that its strategy can deliver. **************************************************************************************************** Royal Mail - total failure to deliver **************************************************************************************************** My visit to local post offices reinforced my dissatisfaction with the service Royal Mail is providing to our rural communities. We had a well attended public meeting in Rhynie in which the local community spelled out clearly their disbelief that Royal Mail could deliver an adequate service on the basis of the proposed out reach service. I put in a detailed submission on the basis of this evidence and other feedback from the local communities. The experience of the past year has proved us right. The portable equipment does not like being moved and has failed at least four times. Due to technical problems or weather the service has been cancelled at short or no notice more than once. This is not a criticism of the local staff but of the lack of adequate support by Royal Mail. Both the shops at Rhynie and Lumsden could offer a better service more reliably but were never given the chance to do so. Similarly in Udny Station a good service was provided from the village hall until the postmistress retired. Now elderly claimants are expected to wait in the snow outside a van in the car park of the pub. This is no service. Royal Mail say they are hoping to find a new postmaster to take over the service for Newburgh and Collieston following the current one's resignation. I hope that is so but I expect this kind of disruption will become the norm rather than the exception if this is the way Royal mail are offering the service. I have demanded that they carry out a full review in the light of this catalogue of failure across Gordon. **************************************************************************************************** Devolution - institutions before personalities **************************************************************************************************** The turmoil surrounding Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson and his wife Iris shows the importance of institutions above personalities. The couple have made their politics around an uncompromising brand of Presbyterianism that has now turned round to bite them at a crucial time for the Province. There are those on both wings of the debate who oppose power sharing and will use this situation to try and end it - bringing the risk of a return to the troubles that many worked so hard to end. That must not be allowed to happen. Peter Robinson has stood aside temporarily but if he cannot answer his critics and rally his party quickly he will have to make way for someone who can and soon. 11 January 2010
Malcolm Bruce MPWritten by January (1) on Tue 29th Dec 2009 **************************************************************************************************** By-pass welcomed but overdue and still to be delivered **************************************************************************************************** I believe the majority of people in Gordon will welcome the long delayed announcement of the go-ahead for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, but will still want to know where the money is coming from, especially for hard pressed local authorities' contributions. More to the point is how long it will take to build and open as it will make a huge difference to many businesses located north and west of the city whose major markets are down south. I am sympathetic to the argument that just building another road does not solve traffic problems and the AWPR does not solve the problems of the Haudagain roundabout, a third Don crossing, the Tipperty section of the A 90 or the Inveramsay Bridge. All these road improvements are necessary and justified for the traffic growth that has taken place but we must build in public transport options. It is a tragedy that when the Deeside and Buchan railway lines (and the Kemnay - Alford spur) were closed the wayleaves were not protected as they could now be brought back into use. Nevertheless, there is no excuse for not proceeding with the investment in commuter services and new stations at least between Inverurie and Stonehaven especially if it was integrated with connecting dedicated bus services. Over the years, I have campaigned for transport improvements under a succession of different administrations and my experience is that it takes cross party support and sustained local pressure and always takes longer that seem reasonable. The present SNP administration is no different and it would do well to remember that the proposals for the route came from our local transport body Nestrans which includes representatives of local councils and businesses. In addition to that it was the previous administration that gave the commitment in principle and identified the line of route which the road will follow. It will continue to require active monitoring and pressure to ensure it is completed as proposed and the other essential transport improvements are not forgotten. **************************************************************************************************** Airline collapse calls for new get you home scheme **************************************************************************************************** The collapse of Globespan disrupted many people's travel arrangements in the run up to the Christmas period. It is clearly disappointing to lose the routes the airline had developed out of Aberdeen. It would also make for a bleak Christmas for the staff of the airline many of whom found out about the collapse from the media rather than the management. The sad reality is that Globespan was operating on the margins and had been known to cancel services and routes at short notice. It clearly required a rising market to succeed and in the economic recession failure was perhaps inevitable. It is only unfortunate that its demise could not have been managed in ways that did not let so many people down so suddenly. Of course, I hope that other airlines might pick up some of the routes and the staff but that may be a little forlorn in the present climate. What concerns me in all this is the refusal of the Government or Civil Aviation Authority to support a levy and compensation scheme for ticket only purchases. This is something I have been calling for for some years and I will raise it again when the House returns. The collapse of airlines without warning happens all too often and the authorities need to be better organised to manage it in ways that limit the damage and disruption. **************************************************************************************************** Thanks again to my card designers **************************************************************************************************** Once again I want to thank all the schools that took part in my Christmas card competition. The standard of entries on the theme of a Christmas song or carol was particularly high this year. For the fifth year in a row Braehead School in Bridge of Don produced a prize winner - actually this year two second and equal third along with Kennethmont. The overall winner, however, was Emma Power from Kintore Primary with a delightful picture of carol singers under a lamp post. By pure serendipity, the day I presented Emma with her prize was also her tenth birthday (and her twin sister's, of course). So, thanks to the young artists and their teachers for making such a difficult choice from really well designed cards. **************************************************************************************************** Leaders' debate novel but still choice is local **************************************************************************************************** The agreement between the broadcasters and main party leaders to allow for televised debates during the General Election that must take place within the next six months caused quite a bit of comment over the holiday period. I have slightly mixed feelings about it as we only have one vote and that is cast for our local MP and it will be a sad day if Presidential style 'beauty contests' take over from choosing the best local representative. After all, in countries with Presidential systems, voters have separate votes to decide their local parliamentary representatives, as distinct from the vote for President. However, I can see that the leaders' debates will add interest to the election and give people a chance to assess the leadership qualities of the main contenders to head a Government. Of course people have had a chance to judge Gordon Brown as Prime Minister but there are questions to be asked of Nick Clegg and David Cameron. On the basis of polls so far, Nick Clegg, stands to gain as people get to know him better. He has also made it clear that he wants to be Prime Minister and believes that the Liberal Democrats have the best people, ideas and policies to lead the country. David Cameron is presenting himself as almost the Prime Minster in waiting, but again, polls and anecdotal evidence suggest that people are not sure about his policies or his personal qualities. Other parties may complain but it seems reasonable that the parties that are fighting seats right across the UK and have the base to form a Government should be treated differently from those who are fighting a limited number of seats or have yet to prove their ability to win seats in Parliament. I do not believe a legal challenge will work or should stop the broadcasts. Of course, it might prove a useful publicity stunt for some parties but ultimately the judgment will be in the ballot box not the courts. **************************************************************************************************** Royal Mail lets down post offices again **************************************************************************************************** It is disappointing but not surprising that as a New Year starts we continue to have serious complaints about the functioning of our local offices. I continue to receive complaints that by the service provided by the new outreach post office at Rhynie and Lumsden falls short of the communities' needs - as was predicted it would. Folk in Udny Station are not happy since the service efficiently provided in the hall moved to a mobile van in the pub car park after the retirement of the sub post mistress - not least because it can involve waiting out in the cold and that is no place for anybody these frosty days. The resignation of the sub post mistress in Newburgh has left the village and Collieston with no service at all until a replacement is found and that won't necessarily prove easy. The fact is that Royal Mail has run down the services provided by sub post offices to the point that they are not viable and the cost of maintaining them keeps rising. It is a familiar refrain from the post offices I visit across the constituency that for many the pay received for the work required is hardly worth it. I will be challenging Government and Royal Mail to review what they are offering or admit that they are knowingly squeezing the smaller offices out of business while pretending to support them. These are vital social services and post masters and mistresses should be properly rewarded and the community decently served. Happy New Year Finally, I'd like to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. 29 December 2009
December column (2)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 14th Dec 2009 **************************************************************************************************** School children and posties together for Christmas
**************************************************************************************************** In the run up to Christmas I have been getting into the seasonal spirit visiting sorting offices busy with Christmas mail and presenting certificates and book tokens to the winners of my Christmas competition for schools. The overall winner was Emma Power of Kintore, who also celebrated her 10th birthday on the day I thanked her for her charming design of carol singers. The runners up were of a high standard too. Second place went to Sarah Ross of Braehead School in Bridge of Don (which has provided a prize winner for the last five Christmases) with a very lively Rudolph. Braehead also produced the joint third placed entry designed by Carly Main of a figgy pudding for "We wish you a Merry Christmas". Caillay Campbell of Kennethmont was third equal with an original Holly and Ivy design. The card with Emma's design will go out to over 800 people and the runners up are printed on the back so people can see how high the standard was. This is of course the busiest time of year for Royal Mail and our local posties and I visited Huntly and Bridge of Don sorting offices to thank them for their efforts on our behalf. I know how much people value the daily visit of the local post men and women and they are naturally anxious about the future of the service. We all know that the last mile is the most important and if Royal Mail loses too much business to competitors who are not obliged to provide a universal service we could all lose out. At the very least, other providers of postal services must pay a realistic rate for the last mile delivery. We already know that the North East is being classed as remote by some suppliers and charging extra for delivery - even when they are using Royal Mail. We must stay vigilant to keep the service we need. So Merry Christmas to our talented primary school children and hard working postal workers. **************************************************************************************************** Friends look to re-open Leith Hall
**************************************************************************************************** After the angst and misunderstanding surrounding the future of Leith Hall I am pleased that a Friends of Leith Hall group has now been formed to work with the National Trust for Scotland to help secure the re-opening of the hall and the retention of its really valuable and interesting memorabilia. This is likely to involve upgrading the flats within the hall and possibly some other properties on the estate to provide long term income. I also hope that the hall itself will find a more varied role for the community which protects its heritage but brings it to life as the centre for many and varied events which enable people to enjoy the atmosphere and character of the house. I have been more than happy to give this positive development my support. **************************************************************************************************** My message to PM - work with insurers to fund flood prevention
**************************************************************************************************** People who are being forced to spend Christmas away from their own homes due to flooding will be anxious to know how Government is going to act to prevent future flooding of the kind we have experienced recently. Changing weather patterns are likely to mean more events of the kind we have experienced with record recent rainfall. That's why I challenged the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, not only to secure a deal to fund climate adaptation measures in the poorest and most vulnerable developing countries but also to explain how he intends to bring together Government and the insurance industry to pay for flood prevention and adaptation measures here in the UK. Headlines focussed understandably on those who were flooded out but others had a narrow escape and Aberdeenshire Council reports many roads and bridges suffered substantial damage which will necessitate extensive repairs. **************************************************************************************************** SNP learn a hard lesson on schools **************************************************************************************************** The failure of the SNP's commitment to deliver on education - especially on class sizes led to the dramatic sacking of the Education Minister when it became apparent that the opposition parties would not back down on their motion of no-confidence. This time the previous bluster of threatened resignation of the whole administration was called. Smaller class sizes may well be desirable but such a commitment can only be delivered with more investment in teachers and classrooms and this has not been forthcoming. Threatening to centralise the administration of education was the last straw for many. It accords with the desire of the SNP to take control of many things in Edinburgh to the disadvantage of areas like the North East. It remains my view that education services and priorities are best delivered locally within overall national guidelines. When the administration wills change that costs money it must provide the means or accept that it is up to each authority to make its own priorities according to their assessment of needs. After all they are democratically elected too. **************************************************************************************************** Blair's Iraq venture costs us dear in Afghanistan ****************************************************************************************************
I found pretty strong local reaction to Tony Blair's admission that he would have sought to invade Iraq even of there had been no weapons of mass destruction. NATO with the backing of the United Nations went into Afghanistan to remove a Government that was hosting the Al Q'aeda terrorists who had launched the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. Most people in Afghanistan - and especially women and girls - welcomed the removal of the Taliban and hoped for the rebuilding of the country, Unfortunately under the influence of a pre-determined neo Conservative strategy the United States decided it wanted to launch an attack on Iraq to secure regime change, despite the fact that there was no connection between Iraq and the 11th September attacks. This was opposed by many European countries and a substantial tranche of public opinion in the United Kingdom. I and all my Liberal Democrat colleagues voted against the invasion of Iraq - not because we held any brief for Saddam Hussein but because we saw no cause, little international support and the need to finish the job in Afghanistan. Apart from attracting huge opprobrium on Britain as the USA's accessory to a probably illegal war, it has prevented us from achieving stability and adequate progress in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister's visit to the front line may be the right thing for him to do but his problem is that public opinion shows lack of support for our engagement at a time when our forces feel that they are making progress in spite of understandable concern back home over casualties. Were it not for the invasion of Iraq we would probably have achieved our objectives in Afghanistan by now - something Tony Blair never seems to consider. **************************************************************************************************** Bus safety - room for Holyrood and Westminster to act together
**************************************************************************************************** I am pleased that the Scottish Parliament continues to take an interest in school bus safety which I have been promoting through my school bus safety bill. I was asked to give evidence this week to the Parliament's petitions committee along with local campaigner Ron Beatty. Attention focuses on the 'No overtaking' rule which I believe still has merit although it is controversial. However, there are other measures over which there is wide agreement that we could do more to promote. These include a commitment to standardise three point safety belts in contract school buses. In addition, Aberdeenshire and some other authorities are looking to develop new electronic signage for school buses. This is commendable but it would be helpful if there was co-ordination to develop the best common approach. The Scottish and UK Parliaments could and should work usefully together on these.
**************************************************************************************************** BA strike could destroy strikers own jobs **************************************************************************************************** The decision by BA staff to vote to strike over the holiday period looks like an act of wanton self-destruction. Other airlines may not be able to cover the entire shortfall but BA is already uncompetitive and haemorrhaging money. This could hasten its demise meaning there will be no jobs to negotiate pay and conditions for. 14 December 2009
December Column (I)Written by Malcolm Bruce on Thu 3rd Dec 2009 **************************************************************************************************** High Speed rail a must for development ****************************************************************************************************
The Government is currently taking advice on proposals for a high speed rail link from London to what is referred to in metropolitan circles as "The North". At the moment this appears to stop at Manchester. However, I have recently had an opportunity to brief consultants advising the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, and make the case for a high speed line to Scotland. I can think of no investment that would do more to reduce regional disparities and encourage more balanced development across the UK. In reality Manchester already has a fast rail link so it is only by building a completely new line up the spine of Britain that we can have the capacity and development potential that could transform our economy. The distance from Paris to Marseille is roughly equivalent to the distance between London and Aberdeen yet the journey time in France is just over three hours compared with seven and a half hours at best for the London- Aberdeen route. Such a development does not come cheaply but in reality I believe we cannot afford to deny it. If we are going to switch more freight from road to rail and more passengers form air to rail then we will need more capacity than the current network provides and we need it to be high speed. **************************************************************************************************** Inept administration failing North East **************************************************************************************************** The new financial settlement for Scottish Councils is clear proof that the Scottish administration has mishandled Scotland's finances. Finding themselves unexpectedly running a minority administration the SNP launched a series of populist initiatives including abolishing bridge tolls, freezing the council tax, pledging free school meals, smaller class sizes and free prescriptions for all. This has proved unsustainable. Promises such as abolishing student debt were abandoned as never deliverable but other commitments are running into the long grass. Times are difficult and blaming London won't wash, not least because sadly the UK Government has had to find billions to bail out Scotland's biggest banks. The world has changed and ministers will have to change too. Instead of imposing the delivery of one party's unaffordable manifesto promises ministers should allow local authorities to answer to their own electorates and set the priorities within straightened circumstances that best meet the needs of their own communities. Beware too the trick of top slicing local government funding and then handing out targeted largesse for political benefit. Local Government needs access to its own tax base to reduce its dependence on centrally controlled grants that are not allocated fairly to councils in the North East. **************************************************************************************************** Independence obsession has no mandate **************************************************************************************************** The constrained economic times in which we are living make the SNP's obsession with an independence referendum a waste of time and money for which the party has no mandate and has no doubt been the main contributor to the collapse in its support.
The SNP are of course entitled to campaign for independence - that is the sole reason for their existence. However, it is not entitled to impose its minority views against the wishes of the majority. But what, in my mind undermines the SNP's pretence to be a serious political party is its refusal to engage with others on reforming the constitution in ways which give Scotland more autonomy within the United Kingdom but are then happy to bank the reforms when they emerge. The SNP boycotted the Scottish Convention and have done the same with the Calman Commission. They were happy then to support the devolution settlement and now they are happy to accept the transfer of further powers over laws and taxes. I believe the Scottish Parliament should have access to a share of taxes raised in Scotland. This gives the Parliament a stake in growing the tax base - and punishes failure to do so. But I see no reason why we should be forced to have a costly and distracting referendum on independence when the clear majority of voters have voted for parties that believe that Scotland's future lies within the United Kingdom. The only rider to this is the position of the Conservatives which looks like a throwback in time. Vote Conservative and they will offer a better reform. We've heard that before and we know what happened, which makes you wonder why the Government won't bring forward the legislation it says it wants. **************************************************************************************************** Climate change deal needed at home and abroad **************************************************************************************************** World leaders start gathering next week in Copenhagen to see if they can hammer out a deal to tackle climate change. There have been some encouraging noises in recent weeks - notably from China and the United States two of the most key players. Nevertheless as everyone - large and small countries alike - have to agree it seems more likely that Copenhagen will set out the principles rather than deliver a legally binding agreement in one go. Developed and emerging economies are the biggest contributors to climate changing emissions yet the biggest victims are the poorest countries who are likely to be opposed to an agreement that doesn't provide them with substantial new funding for adaptation measures and allow them to grow using green technology where possible but without the constraints legitimately put on the main polluting countries. Floods in the United Kingdom, in Cumbria on an unprecedented scale but also here in Aberdeenshire are clear signs of climate change. The floods followed record rainfall. This makes the case for a domestic UK climate change fund as, clearly, more resources will be need to deal with flood damage to roads, bridges and property and for new flood prevention measures. **************************************************************************************************** North East must keep up with digital age **************************************************************************************************** As we move further into the digital age the North East faces in the coming months the need to prepare to switch-over to digital television.
Many of us have already done so, for example, through Sky, Freeview, Freesat and other similar digital providers. Those who haven't will need to do so before the analogue signal is switched off in 2010. The reassuring fact is that any TV can receive digital and no special aerial is required although it may need adjusting or in some cases replacing. Parts of Scotland have already gone digital and it seems to have gone quite smoothly. For some people a help package is available and more information can be obtained by phoning 08456 505050.
November Column (II)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Tue 17th Nov 2009 **************************************************************************************************** Saving Aberdeen Met Office vindicated
**************************************************************************************************** My recent visit to the Met Office in the Aberdeen part of my constituency really vindicated the cross party campaign I led to keep the operation here when the Met Office were planning to move most of it to Exeter. In fact the operation is now larger than it was four years ago when the cuts were mooted and the Met Office has clearly acknowledged the value of having Aberdeen as a major outreach operation, which it is supporting and expanding. The local knowledge cuts both ways. We are likely to receive better and earlier weather warnings and the Met Office will get useful information from the North of Scotland. The Aberdeen Office has now built up significant commercial business and confirms that the recent flooding is connected with climate change which gives us more frequent sustained heavy rain than we are used to. It also appears that Scotland's steady rise above sea level is set to reverse meaning that coastal flooding may become more widespread in the future.. So, clearly, we will need to consider this information when planning new flood defences. **************************************************************************************************** Parliament needs reform not headlines **************************************************************************************************** The Queen's Speech is more than usually an empty exercise this year with only 70 Parliamentary sitting days available before there must be a General Election. I have often fantasised that the Queen one year would arrive at Parliament and announce "This year my Government will introduce no new bills and will repeal 50 existing Acts of Parliament".
So much of what we do in Parliament is debating laws proposed by Government to placate the tabloids and give the impression of doing something. In reality, Parliament would serve the national interest better if it passed fewer laws and considered them more carefully. In terms of determining and controlling the budget the UK Parliament is one of the weakest in the world and MPs could certainly improve the process - and probably reduce waste - if they had more say in determining spending priorities. More and more people are turning away from the main parties. Less than a quarter of the electorate voted for the Labour Government at the last election. All the signs are that more people will vote for parties other than Labour or Conservative at the next election and fewer will bother to vote at all. So we would be better reforming not just the pay and expenses of MPs but the number, system of election, accountability of the executive and passing of power down to citizens and communities. It won't happen and Labour and Conservative will enter the unholy conspiracy of the two party system - blatantly revealed by Ken Clarke last week when he said that it would be better to have another Labour Government if the Tories could not win an outright victory. In other words let's keep the Buggins turn winner takes all system. It won't wash. The system is under intolerable strain and will reach breaking point in the next few years if it is not reformed. For Labour to be credible any attachment to reform comes too late and the Tories have no real interest in anything that doesn't give them the possibility of untrammelled power. **************************************************************************************************** Aberdeen/Heathrow slots must be kept ****************************************************************************************************
Reports that BMI may consider selling some of their Heathrow slots to help pay off their losses do not bode well for the North East. While it may appear that BA faces competition on the route, BMI operate much smaller planes which means that flexibility is reduced and the number of cheaper seats is also fewer - hitting people paying their own fares to keep in touch with family and friends in the south. Heathrow slots are valuable property - the more so if they are used for international flights with a large payload. Yet they are invaluable to the people and businesses of the North East and neither BAA or Heathrow operators should, I have argued, be allowed to sell to the highest bidder. The fact that BMI, now owned by Lufthansa, has not given any assurance regarding the future of the Aberdeen slots only adds to the concern. At the same time as these slots are under review the Government has heaped uncertainty onto the East Coast Mainline. Currently in public ownership it is being allowed to increase fares, has no incentive to invest and within a short time scale will be franchised back to a private operator. A better option would be to keep it as a public franchise for five years with a clear strategy to win passengers from road and air. As it is, it seems likely for people booking their journey a month or more ahead it will be cheaper to fly - if the landing slots are still available, of course. **************************************************************************************************** Scorn on Brown undeserved - but we need a clearer message **************************************************************************************************** Gordon Brown did not deserve the rough handling he got over the letter he wrote to Jacqui Janes and the subsequent phone call - covered exploitatively and shamefully by the Sun With only one eye it is well known that he finds it hard to write clearly but the fact that he writes personally to the next of kin of every soldier killed in action is not a cynical ploy and there is no doubt that every death of a British soldier he has to read out in the House of Commons affects him personally.
The truth is we are more deeply mired in Afghanistan precisely because we invaded Iraq arousing suspicions among Muslims everywhere as to the motives. According to polls conducted in Afghanistan the majority of the Afghan people want the NATO forces to stay and help give them security. Most of them, and especially the women and girls, do not want the Taliban back. In spite of the casualties there are signs of success in training a competent Afghan army capable of dealing with the Taliban. What Gordon Brown does not explain well is that Afghanistan is much more than a military operation but one where international aid, including the UK's, is making a difference across Afghanistan delivering schools, health and some livelihood opportunities. Nevertheless, this is undermined by the corruption that surrounds Kharzai. Aid and development may have to find other ways of reaching the people than through the corrupt parts of Kharzai's government. This may explain why Afghanistan is one of five countries through which the re-branding of British development assistance will be channelled - in the shape of "UK Aid" which could help more of the Afghan people understand the support Britain is giving them cross the country. **************************************************************************************************** Glasgow has no by-election heather to fire ****************************************************************************************************
The Glasgow North East by-election was never likely to set the non-existent heather on fire in that poorest part of Glasgow. Nevertheless, the fact that, on a low turnout, there was a swing to Labour was a little surprising and a certain damper on the SNP which has seen its support decline sharply in the past year - in Parliamentary and council by-elections and recent opinion polls. The Liberal Democrats have not been active in this area, especially as we respect the convention of not contesting the Speaker. However, the nature of our support is that is it is spread unevenly so that we have a record of not performing well in by elections where we have a weak base but still winning parliamentary seats at the following election. The SNP now have to recognise that it is harder to live on hype when you have a record to defend - and always blaming someone else wears thin as an excuse. So Labour's win is not sensational but a return to form which makes the next election harder to call than ever. ENDS
November column (I)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 2nd Nov 2009 **************************************************************************************************** Local flooding testimony to climate change… **************************************************************************************************** The severe flooding across the North East following on flooding only two weeks before is testimony to the fact that we are living through climate change. Of course, we have had rain and floods before, but, generally, the North East benefits from being in the lea of the Cairngorms and we do not often experience rainfall of this intensity, closing roads and raising the flow of our rivers so much that they reach record or near record highs. I have every sympathy for the residents of the Meadows who had to be evacuated as the waters rose - a situation that had been put on standby only weeks before. **************************************************************************************************** But my activities focus on global dimension **************************************************************************************************** Councils and Government have to make a constant review of the measures we need to adapt to the effects of more severe weather events. The Meadows is close to the Deveron on land that has been known to flood and it may be that more flood relief measures will need to be considered. It is ironic that I have had a major focus on climate changes issues in the past week, having spoken in a debate in the House, taken part in a legislators' forum hosted in Copenhagen by the Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and organised by GLOBE, of which I am an office bearer, and seen for myself the retreating glaciers and growing melt lakes in the Himalayas. The Parliamentary debate focuses on the 10-10 campaign in which people and organisations are encouraged to sign up to reduce their emissions by 10 per cent by the end of 2010. I am undertaking to it myself as are many organisations. A Liberal Democrat motion called on Government and Parliament to join in, which the Government chose to oppose on weak and spurious grounds. The Minister claimed that the Government had taken steps to achieve greater cuts over a longer time scale which clearly implies a ten per cent reduction could be achieved by the end of next year if it applied itself to it. However, disappointingly the Government seemed unwilling to allow Labour MPs to support the case for Parliament giving a lead. A few honourably defied their whips, but sadly not enough to carry the day. At the weekend I attended a forum of legislators from 20 countries - ranging from Canada and the USA through Brazil to China, India, South Africa and Europe There is growing agreement on some of the principles needed to secure international agreement on tackling climate change. However the Prime Minister played down the likelihood of agreeing a treaty and funding mechanism at the Copenhagen summit next month. Nevertheless, the Environment Minister, Connie Hedegaard, who is leading the negotiations, made the fair point that the money required by 2020 was far less than the rich nations have committed in the past year to tackling the financial crisis. I made the point (as a member of GLOBE) that the poorest people in the poorest countries were the biggest victims of climate change which they had done nothing to cause yet they had to agree any deal at Copenhagen or thereafter. The Prime Minister agreed that without finance for adaptation and the rich countries taking the lion's share of emission cuts they could not be expected to sign up and the process would founder. As part of the International Development Select Committee's visit to Nepal and Bangladesh to report on the Department for International Development's substantial programmes in these two countries I had an opportunity to view the retreating glaciers in the Annapurna Range in the company of Nepalese climate change specialists who were able to point out the glacial retreat and the growing size and number of melt lakes. Climate change is happening now and the effects are being felt down river from the Himalayas in Bangladesh, where cyclones, severe floods and rising sea levels are threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions. These are the victims - not the perpetrators - and we have an obligation to help them with technical help and resources to adapt to climate change while changing our own behaviour to try and prevent the worst outcomes of incontrollable change if we cannot take action to stop and avert the extreme consequences of rising sea temperatures. *************************************************************************************************** Shell job losses cause a tremor ****************************************************************************************************
News of further job losses at Shell will send a tremor through the North East economy. It is as a result of the company's poor performance and is world wide rather than reflecting on the particular prospects of the UK Continental Shelf. Shell is not the only operator and the oil majors who pioneered the early development of the North Sea are reviewing their priorities. There are other companies who want to apply their enterprise to squeezing more oil and gas out of the UK. However, they rely on securing investment funding from the financial markets, exposing them to the effects of the credit crunch compared with large companies which have financed development form their internal resources. That makes it more important that it uses its leverage on the banks to lend more and maintains a tax regime that encourages investment. *************************************************************************************************** Taking on the BNP beats promoting them **************************************************************************************************** The participation of the BNP in Question Time may have done wonders for the programme's ratings but didn't necessarily reflect to the BBC's credit or serve the interests of balance TV debate. The programme was inevitably a stitch-up for which Nick Griffin was not well prepared and which, with one or two exceptions he stumbled through. It is worth recording that the BNP did not increase their vote in the Euro elections. It was just that the fall in the Labour vote enabled them to gain two seats. The only way to deal with the BNP is to tackle them head on as Liberal Democrats have done in Burnley where Labour has been routed. The BNP need to be exposed as racists whose approach will only inflame, and, in particular, highlighting the suggestion that immigrants could be sent home is a lie and a deception. Millions of them are British citizens and this is their home. Yes we need a fair and balanced immigration policy and cannot open our borders unconditionally and we also need to engage the concerns of poor working class whites and help them raise their life chances. But promoting community resentment and strife with dishonest and offensive policies will only aggravate the problems rather than addressing them. *************************************************************************************************** Scottish suspension bridges in Nepal - information anyone? ****************************************************************************************************
I came across a very interesting local link in Nepal. The first trail suspension bridges in that country were built in Aberdeen at the turn of the last century. About 20 were shipped out and most of them are still in use and look remarkably like the Cambus O' May bridge. I haven't yet had the chance to know exactly who designed and built the Nepalese bridges but our local ones were designed by James Abernethy. I would be very interested to know if anyone has the history of the Nepal bridges - who designed and built them etc as a new programme is going ahead, partly financed by the British Government to build bridges using similar techniques but enabling them to carry vehicles and not just pedestrians. 2 November 2009
October Column (II)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 19th Oct 2009 **************************************************************************************************** MPs are switched onto climate change - roof protesters take note ****************************************************************************************************
You couldn't make it up. The House of Commons returns after a 13 week recess to find Greenpeace protesters on the roof of Westminster Hall calling for strong action on climate change but reinforcing how poor security is around the Palace of Westminster. As a former President of Globe International and Chair of Globe UK and still active vice president and vice chair, I will affirm that some MPs around the world are really working to push for strong international targets on climate change. Indeed, we will be seeking international agreement this week on a text supported by legislators from more than 20 countries including China, India, European nations and the Americas to press for strong concerted action at the Copenhagen summit in December. The real challenge will be to persuade Europe and America to accept tough targets while accepting that the emerging economies have head room and the poorest countries - often the biggest victims of climate change - are given the help they need both in technology and resources. I was in at the beginning of the Globe Legislators Climate Change forum having co-chaired the first one with Joan Ruddock in London in the run up to Gleneagles. Since then it has gone from strength to strength and secured support from more and more Parliaments, multilateral organisations, businesses and academic institutions but being beholden to none of them. It is cross party and requires broad representation so that its coherence continues beyond any one Government. I am also looking to what actions I can take personally to reduce my own carbon footprint although for individuals to deliver, it requires government not just to set targets but to follow the targets up with practical policies to bring them about. **************************************************************************************************** Megrahi enquiry needed - not just in Scotland **************************************************************************************************** There was also an element of déjà vu about the fact that Foreign Secretary, David Milliband, chose to make a statement on the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi - almost as if he wanted to put his version of events on record. It didn't add anything to the sum of human knowledge.
Reaction to the affair has been mixed and a little confused. Some - especially in the USA - are furious that a convicted terrorist has been release at all. Others, including some of the British relatives of the Lockerbie victims do not believe that Megrahi was the perpetrator and therefore believe his release is justified. Certainly I pressed on Milliband the concerns that Megrahi withdrew his appeal the day before MacAskill's drawn out announcement of his decision to release him on compassionate grounds - in spite of the fact that for compassionate release he wasn't required to do so - although, as I understand it, to serve out his sentence in Libya under the Return of Prisoners agreement he was required to have no appeal outstanding. As Megrahi was charged to have perpetrated the atrocity with others none of whom have been brought to trial there are many who wanted an appeal to bring more evidence to light. This in my view justifies a full enquiry something, Milliband insisted, was a matter for the Scottish authorities - yet this was an international crime making an inquiry of relevance to anyone who believes that justice has not been done and the real terrorists have got away, if I may use the phrase, 'Scot-free'. **************************************************************************************************** NATO must back women of Afghanistan ****************************************************************************************************
Another statement on a sensitive international subject was made by the Prime Minister on Afghanistan. There is little doubt that the growing casualty list of British service personnel is making more people uneasy about our engagement in Afghanistan. It is worth recording that although Britain is taking a major share of the engagement and responsibility, other countries - notably Canada, Denmark and Estonia are not shirking theirs and, indeed, proportionately, the Danes have suffered the hardest. This NATO engagement is quite different in character and intent from previous incursions in Afghanistan by the British, Soviets and Americans. This is not an attempt at subjugation but a mission to try and build an effective state rather than a lawless and dangerous piece of territory that can destabilise the whole region and beyond. That is why my question to the Prime Minister concentrated on the role of women in rebuilding Afghanistan. The United Nations Resolution 1325 specifically recognises the importance of women in preventing conflicts and post conflict reconstruction. Yet President Karzai, who originally had five women ministers, got rid of all but one and she was the Minister for Women. Accordingly, I asked the PM in his discussions with President Karzai and Dr. Abdullah what steps did he take to ensure that women will have a significant presence in any new Government, however it is formed, at both a national and a local level and that they will have access to secular courts of justice rather than having to rely on sharia? I am afraid the answer was disappointingly evasive. If we are to continue to expect the British people to back our involvement in Afghanistan we are entitled to know, not that we are trying to create Western style democracy, which is pure fantasy, but that we expect basic human standards. That includes a clear recognition that women are essential to the process of rebuilding Afghanistan and that we certainly cannot go on pumping lives and money into a country that is not only corrupt but believes marital rape and wife beating are acceptable norms.
**************************************************************************************************** Tories Met office plans threat to Aberdeen and our troops **************************************************************************************************** Four years ago I was heavily involved in a successful campaign to keep the main Met Office activities in Aberdeen. It was not easy nor a foregone conclusion but there was cross party support and we were able to present persuasive economic and political arguments to win the case. Now the Conservatives say that if they were to win the election they would privatise the Met Office throwing the whole thing into confusion and uncertainty once more. This is, of course, a bigger issue than just Aberdeen. The Met Office comes under the Ministry of Defence and our armed services depend on its super computer forecasting. Could we really expect our forces to go into action, or even training for action without having control over the weather forecasting service which may be crucial to the outcome? **************************************************************************************************** RNID trustee role ends but not the music **************************************************************************************************** For the last six years I have been a trustee of the RNID (Royal National Institute of the Deaf) and this comes to an end at the AGM next month. The board at its last meeting and the Scottish Advisory group which I have been chairing latterly both were kind enough to give me a presentation.
That was quite unnecessary as it is a service I have been happy to provide and which has given me more insight and some influence over services and campaigns for deaf people. I will continue to work with the RNID and other deaf charities, including the National Deaf Children's Society of which I am an honorary vice president, in my capacity as chair of the all party parliamentary group on deafness. Last week I took part in an interesting visit to the Ear Institute which is doing interesting basic research into the causes of deafness and possible ways of preventing or reversing its onset. Seeing how the key nerves that provide hearing wear away with age (or exposure to excessive noise, some medical conditions and some drugs) makes me very conscious of the need to look after our hearing and the huge benefit we would get if we could delay the ageing effects (which are more pronounced in men than women). It gives real edge to the RNID's award winning campaign 'Don't lose the music' which warns of excessive noise from music in clubs, discos and i-Pods - something that many rock stars are only too aware of. ENDS
October ColumnWritten by Malcolm Bruce on Thu 8th Oct 2009 **************************************************************************************************** New academies welcome but let's have more orderly and local funding **************************************************************************************************** Of course I welcome the commitment to the new Ellon Academy, which is the result of persistent hard work by Liberal Democrat led Aberdeenshire Council and thanks to the insistence by Liberal Democrat MPs that the Scottish Futures Trust which until now has been good for nothing be given a funding stream. In the past it took years of lobbying and the visit of two education ministers at my invitation to secure funding which delivered Meldrum Academy which gave Ellon much needed space. It will still be some years until we get the funds for the new Ellon Academy. However, work could start now if the money was available now and in addition we have had to wait two and a half years for the Scottish Government to event begin to get it's act together. The council still has to find its share of the capital for two new academies as well as fulfilling its own programme for a new Alford Academy and upgrades or replacement of several primary schools. It should not be left to the largesse (with our taxpayers money) of Scottish Ministers for new schools to be found. Nor does this answer all Aberdeenshire's needs. Kintore Primary is bursting at the seams and Kemnay and Inverurie Academy's both require upgrades. What is required is a proper process for upgrading or replacing schools and where necessary, building new ones rather than the stop-start unpredictable process that we currently have. **************************************************************************************************** Thanks for constructive bus safety meeting **************************************************************************************************** I very much appreciate the constructive engagement of all those who took part in my recent meeting to take forward constructive proposals on school bus safety. Campaigners Carla Oldham and Ron Beatty deserve special thanks as it is emotionally hard for them but their participation gives real purpose to such meetings. It was good to get the perspective of bus operators large and small, as well as the three local education authorities, fellow MPs, Robert Smith and Anne Begg, designers of safety devices and signs and a representative of the Department of Transport. I am taking forward a number of proposals. There is still a call for a pilot of a no over-taking rule and no clear explanation of why this can't happen. New electronic signage offers considerable scope for improved safety (and safely testing no overtaking) but it makes sense for the Department of Transport to take a lead on this rather than leave education authorities to do their own thing all of them different. Similarly, it seems common sense to establish common standards on seatbelts on school buses. Above all, we need a high profile safety campaign aimed at all road users and school bus passengers to make them aware of the dangers and to adopt a higher culture of safety where school buses are concerned. I am taking these issues up with Ministers to try and get focussed progress. **************************************************************************************************** Opting out of BBC is tartan parochialism **************************************************************************************************** Broadcasting is in difficulties in the present climate. The BBC is facing pressure from commercial competitors who regard it as bloated and privileged for its state funding. The collapse in advertising revenues has emasculated ITV and is leading to STV virtually annihilating its Aberdeen presence, completing a process that started when Grampian sold out. In the middle of this the SNP have tossed in their six pennyworth - a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation divorced from the BBC and funded by a higher licence fee and advertising. Don't worry you will still get all your favourite programmes, they say. But that would not be under their control. BBC would no longer have a commitment to Scotland and if Scottish viewers want to watch Eastenders or Strictly Come Dancing, they will either have to pay a subscription or the Scottish broadcasting corporation would have to buy it at commercial rates, leaving precious little for Scottish programming. The BBC is not above criticism. It has a built in two party bias. It under-invests in the North East. Why don't we have a full time radio station for the North East and more local TV news and current affairs and local programmes? Nevertheless, Sky charges hundreds of pounds a year for its services but it makes little contribution to programme making, preferring to broadcast sport, movies and re-runs of other programme makers' output. By contrast the BBC is the world's most respected and influential broadcaster and a major programme maker which generates foreign earnings for re-investment. Does Scotland really want to be cut off from that and from BBC Radio and the World Service which offers a wide range of programmes no Scottish Broadcasting Corporation could match? If the SNP can find more money to supplement the BBC and stimulate Scottish programme-making that would add value and might reverse the emasculation of programme making in Aberdeen. Cutting ourselves off from the BBC is the worst kind of tartan parochialism. **************************************************************************************************** Media's two party basis no basis for SNP grumbling **************************************************************************************************** The party conference season has ended again without greatly altering the political mix. I note with interest that the Liberal Democrats poll ratings always peak after our party conference and then decline until the election season in the spring when they rise again. This is a direct correlation to the amount of coverage the party gets at other times and explains why the Liberal Democrats nearly always adds five or six points to its poll ratings during a General Election campaign. That, and the fact that not one newspaper in the country supports the Liberal Democrats, helps to explain why the media are conspiring to keep the country in a two party straitjacket. In spite of this fewer and fewer people are supporting Labour and Conservative and more and more people are staying away - recognising that what we suffer from in this country is a far from representative democracy - and growing disillusion among voters. Will a leaders' debate change this? Well, if it acknowledges there are three not two nationwide parties in Britain that will be progress but the arrogant insistence by Labour, Tory and the media establishment that you must choose between Brown and Cameron will undermine that. Of course I understand the SNP's concern about being shut out but they have weakened their case by insisting that Salmond - a largely absentee MP who will not be a candidate for Westminster - should be in the line-up and threatening legal action on shaky ground. Yes there should be Scottish debates in which the SNP take part but as they do not have a candidate for Prime Minister the case for equal status seems to me to fall. In the end, we are electing a Member of Parliament, and people in the North East often tell me that they choose to vote for a candidate first and party second. We don't have a presidential system - yet. **************************************************************************************************** House returns to development reports and oil safety debate **************************************************************************************************** The House of Commons returns next week after the summer recess. The International Development Committee, which I chair will be finalising two reports. The first is on Nigeria, where development indicators are dire and the levels of corruption and lack of leadership make it difficult to deliver effective development assistance. The second is on urban poverty which is of increasing importance as the majority of the world's population live in towns and cities where slums are expanding faster than development can match. I am also hoping to speak in a debate on safety in the oil and gas industry which is timely following the Offshore Europe Conference which highlighted the challenges facing the UK Continental Shelf given the current oil price and the need for Government to continue to stimulate a climate of confidence and investment. The recent North Star business awards showed how many global high tech companies we have operating in Aberdeen. This is an industry that employs half a million people, accounts for billions of pounds in investment and contribution to our balance of payments and needs to be nurtured for the long term. But given the enormity of the challenge technically and economically we must ensure the highest of safety standards. I hope the Government will listen and respond. ENDS
September Column (II)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Tue 22nd Sep 2009 **************************************************************************************************** Cuts should be at the centre **************************************************************************************************** Whichever way you look at it the country is in a deep financial mess and we will all finish up having to pay for it one way or another. Last week it was the Scottish budget - setting out the spending priorities of the SNP. In November we will get the Chancellor's pre-budget statement which will have to itemise what we can no longer afford. It ought to be a chance to cut extravagance at the centre - ID cards, Government IT contracts which all go over budget and over time and often don't even work and the highest tech defence spending which doesn't meet the needs of our front line troops. The SNP's harping on about the shortfall on the grant provided by the UK Government leaves me cold. I am in favour of reform that gives the Scottish Parliament access to taxes raised in Scotland but in the present climate the SNP have to explain why they didn't maintain capital spending when they had the chance and how they are going to manage the budget they have got - that is, after all, their principal responsibility. Suggestions that the budget was a boost to the North East fall short of the mark. Reports that there was to be a modest boost to council finances to acknowledge the need to support the oil industry were quickly denied with implications of pressure from Glasgow - the best funded authority in Scotland. What appears to be lost on Edinburgh and London is that the North East makes a huge contribution to the economy of Scotland and the UK but that the bulk of the public sector benefit goes out of our region - in the form of business rates and personal taxes - by-passing local authorities and the health service, which are under pressure from increasing demand brought about as a result of economic growth. Yet our hard pressed local councils are seriously underfunded, Much needed infrastructure projects such as the Western Peripheral Route are delayed, or, in the case of Crossrail, off the agenda. Of course, in a recession, all spending is under pressure but there is little justification for London and Edinburgh pocketing all of the contributions we make to the economy and returning so comparatively little. **************************************************************************************************** Local taxes for local services? **************************************************************************************************** This was a theme I warmed to at the Liberal Democrats' party conference in sunny Bournemouth, where I spent last weekend. I got a warm reception for suggesting we needed to be more radical with our local income tax proposals. Too much of our taxes are taken by central government who waste it on trying to micromanage from the centre - commissioning extravagant computer systems that end up delayed, over budget and not working. This would not be necessary if local councils got most of their budget from income tax and central government took less and did not try to lock our democratically elected councils into a straightjacket, making it more difficult to deliver vital services. Successive Tory, Labour and now SNP Governments have taken powers and resources away from local authorities, first by rate capping and then by nationalising local business rates. Only about 25% of local budgets are raised locally from the council tax which has been under enforced freeze for two years. Councils should get most of their income from local taxes not from grants funded by the taxes we pay to central Government. **************************************************************************************************** It's not Buggin's turn, it's your turn **************************************************************************************************** The mood in Bournemouth was positive but frustrated that the media - especially the BBC - seemed to think they know the result of the next election which still has to take place. I meet many people who believe the Labour Government is finished but do not believe the Tories are a credible alternative just because they benefit from the 'Buggin's turn' principle. For more than 50 years since the war we have spent every few years turning out Labour in favour of the Tories and vice versa and it has only brought disappointment and tears. I meet a growing number of people who tell me that this time they want a complete change and recognise on many of the big issues, Iraq, ID cards, the economy the Liberal Democrats have been the voice of common sense. So this time, so the polling analysts tell us people just might turn their backs on the two larger parties and give the Liberal Democrats a chance. It would certainly liven up the election campaign. **************************************************************************************************** Licence turmoil and a pub with no beer **************************************************************************************************** The sun also shone on my summer tour where people raised a variety of issues. A recurring theme was the cost and delays of the new licensing scheme which has left us with a pub with no beer, a shop with increased hours but no extension to licensing times and landlords with massive charges which could force up student rents. Otherwise I had the chance to catch up on local developments in shops, schools and other community activities. I was glad to be able to say thanks and farewell to Abbey and Islay Stott who have finally closed the door on their shop and post office at Collieston after 47 years, Their dedication and service is much appreciated and Collieston will miss it. I am only sorry it has not proved possible for anyone to fill the gap. **************************************************************************************************** Pharmacy plan threatens surgeries **************************************************************************************************** Plans to open a pharmacy in Tarves are proving controversial as it is said that it would threaten the dispensing services provided by the local GP practice and this in turn could undermine the viability of the outreach clinics provided by the practice in Tarves and Pitmedden. The problem is not that a pharmacy is hoping to open its doors in Tarves. Rather, it is the knock-on effect that it could have on health services in all three communities. "The branch surgeries currently provided by the Haddo Medical Practice are an excellent example of local and responsive services. That is why I am writing to the Chief Executive NHS Grampian to urge him to do nothing that would jeopardise their futures. Local people, I know, are making their views known and they should be listened to **************************************************************************************************** Fewer MP's - beware Tory motives **************************************************************************************************** There are calls to cut the number of MPs and, no doubt many people will support that. However I would urge people to consider carefully how this might be done. David Cameron wants to retain the present voting system and will, no doubt want to redraw boundaries in ways that favour the Conservatives to consolidate their hold on power if they were to win a General election. The problem is that the first post the system is becoming more and more unrepresentative. At the last election Labour polled 36 per cent of the vote on a 62 per cent turnout. This gave them a 70 seat majority in the Commons even though more than three quarters of the electorate did not support them. Of those who voted almost a third did not support either of the largest two parties. Democracies require a reasonable connection between the way people vote and the outcome. This disjunction is a travesty of democracy. Simply reducing the number of MPs without changing the system would make this mismatch worse. Only a fair voting system could justify a smaller, more representative Parliament. 22 September 2009
Read "September Column (II) ". September ColumnWritten by Malcolm BRuce on Mon 7th Sep 2009 **************************************************************************************************** Looking forward to my 27th tour **************************************************************************************************** Starting on Saturday and running through next week I will be making my 27th summer tour of the constituency. When I started this only a handful of MPs did anything similar. Although I hold regular surgeries around the constituency and regularly meet constituents by appointment the annual tour gets me to many smaller places and covers the whole constituency. This year Royal Mail has delivered detailed information about the tour to almost every household and it is also being advertised in the local papers. The tour gives me an opportunity to view what is happening in pretty well every corner and catch up on local information when I pop into schools, shops etc. People can come to meet me to raise any issue. The van acts as a mobile office and offers confidentiality and shelter if required. Sometimes people come to tell me their view or ask mine on issues of concern. Other people may be seeking help or advice on a particular problem they are encountering. The Gordon constituency is very diverse and the Westminster boundaries are very different from Holyrood since the last boundary review. The electorate is much larger and nearly a third of them live within the Aberdeen city boundary in Bridge of Don, Dyce, Danestone and Bankhead. Two thirds of the electorate are within Aberdeenshire including Huntly, Ellon and Inverurie and the rural areas contained around them. If you have missed when I am in your area and would likely to catch up just see local press, visit my website www.malcolmbruce.org.uk or call 01467 623413 or 013398 89120 and one of my staff will give you the details. **************************************************************************************************** Trying to raise the bar on bus safety **************************************************************************************************** I am continuing to gather support for the campaign to improve school bus safety. There seems to be an unwillingness to change the law but I am seeking common ground on measures that will I hope reduce accidents and help save lives. I have been very touched by the personal tragedies of local families who have had children killed or injured in accidents involving school buses. They are convinced that a 'no overtaking' rule would have saved their children. However, it appears that 'expert' opinion is opposed to this north and south of the border which has dashed my hopes of testing a pilot scheme in Scotland. The arguments for a ban relate to incidents where pupils were knocked down as they crossed the road by cars overtaking the bus and failing to see them. The arguments against seem to be that it may encourage a false sense of security in pupils or encourage motorists to cut in front of buses to avoid being caught by the no overtaking rule. The Highway Code simply says Drive carefully and slowly when passing a stationary bus showing a 'School Bus' sign as children may be getting on or off. The rule applies across North America but there are apparently no useful statistics to prove its effectiveness. There are a lot of other issues around bus safety to consider such as the fitting of three point seat belts, use of single deckers only, the fixing of prominent flashing school bus signs making clear the bus is stopping or stationary to allow passengers on or off (much more conspicuous than the small unlit signs mostly used at present) and a number of electronic warning devices designed to make motorists and other road users more alert to the dangers. I am arranging a meeting of interested parties in the Wyness Hall, Inverurie on Wednesday 23 September between 2 and 4. I know this doesn't suit everyone but I hope a number of key interested parties will attend and others may feed in information. **************************************************************************************************** Lockerbie - Governments and victims at odds on closure **************************************************************************************************** The Megrahi decision continues to make headlines in ways that are not comfortable for the UK or Scottish Governments. The extraordinary obtuseness of Gordon Brown has been clumsy. Had the decision been made by a Labour Justice Minister would he have been so reticent at least after the event? If, as it appears, the UK Government did want Megrahi returned why not say so. That requires explanations from both London and Edinburgh particularly about consideration of the victims views and feelings. If an assurance was given to the US families that the sentence would be served fully in Scotland then the UK Government needs to explain why they were so keen on the Return of Prisoners Agreement. As this was so vigorously opposed by Scottish Ministers why did they feel releasing him on compassionate grounds would not caused the same degree of hurt. At the very least a lot more could and should have been done to explain this sensitively to the Americans. UK victims take a very different view although this appears to be coloured by a belief that Megrahi was not guilty of the offence making it emotionally easier to contemplate his release on compassionate grounds. Kenny MacAskill, however, emphasised Megrahi's guilt, pointing out that he had been convicted and lost an appeal. Is there any concern that a further appeal had it not been abandoned might have proved embarrassing for the Scottish legal system as well as unearthing some of the shadier sides of international diplomacy. It seems the British, Scottish and US Governments all want closure on the Lockerbie case. The families of the British victims and at least some of the American victims are aware of too many unanswered questions with very large implications surrounding them. They deserve better but I fear they won't get it. **************************************************************************************************** Referendum an untimely distraction **************************************************************************************************** Discomfort over Megrahi may explain why the Scottish Government were so anxious to put an independence referendum at the top of their legislative agenda as a distraction - and distraction is precisely what it is. I defer to nobody in my commitment to Scotland. I am proud of my Scots ancestry which goes back on both sides of my family into the mists of history (although I am also intrigued by some of my Dutch connections). Scotland struggled to secure its identity in the Middle Ages but in the end emerged as a nation. Its identity has, in my opinion, far from being lost in the Union has been immeasurably enhanced. Scots led the industrial revolution and the enlightenment and helped build the New World. Visiting relatives in Canada this summer I was reminded that it was Scots engineers that built the Trans Canadian railway, which explains why the Banffshire born President of Canadian Pacific named the famous resort of Banff and the Last Spike linking east and west was driven at Craigellachie, British Columbia. I took an active role in securing the Scottish Parliament and believe we can take more control over our domestic affairs. But I equally strongly believe that being part of the United Kingdom is of mutual benefit. However, having stated my long held position I cannot think of a more inappropriate time to turn in on ourselves to debate independence that neither has majority support nor is high on the list of most people in Scotland. We are in the midst of the deepest recession since the 1930s. Two of Scotland's banks are majority owned by the British Government. We have a sharply rising national debt that Scotland shares. So why not give the Scottish people the chance to decide, you may ask? My answer is that it will cause convulsions that undermine economic recovery, damage investment and is fundamentally divisive. The campaigns of Canada's Quebec nationalists set back Quebec and Canada for years. Scotland is a cornerstone of the United Kingdom. While not everyone in England accepts this I firmly believe that a threat to the continuance of the Union is a threat to everyone in the UK. It would be viewed with incredulity by the international community that at a time of deep recession we turned in on ourselves and tore our community apart. It is a distraction we don't need. **************************************************************************************************** Sweet thoughts in recess **************************************************************************************************** People could be forgiven for thinking that with Parliament in recess, MPs take 12 weeks off. The fact is that MPs work does not only centre round Parliament. There is a constant round of constituency engagements and other activities related to our Parliamentary work that we undertake. It is a refreshing change not to be commuting every week to London. Nevertheless I have had reason to be in London to meet with a Minister and for other meetings. I have also started a fellowship with the Parliament and Industry Trust which helps bring MPs and companies together. I am spending time with Cadbury which is going through an interesting time since its de-merger from Schweppes. Cadbury derives from a Liberal Quaker tradition that was a characteristic of all our chocolate makers (it was seen as an alternative to alcohol). These values still characterise the company. It has launched Dairy Milk as a Fair Trade brand and promoted a Cocoa Partnership to help cocoa farmers in Ghana improve them prosperity and incomes while improving quality and security of supply. This is, of course, of interest to me as Chair of the International Development Select Committee. I have a post graduate degree in Marketing so it is interesting to get up to speed with current consumer marketing and, I cannot deny, I like chocolate! ENDS
Aug/Sept ColumnWritten by Malcolm Bruce MP on Thu 20th Aug 2009 Column from Malcolm Bruce MP **************************************************************************************************** Has MacAskill's decision compromised justice? **************************************************************************************************** Kenny MacAskill's decision to release convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has reverberated around the world and divided opinion in Scotland. The handling of the decision has been understandably criticised even by those who believe it to be the right one. First of all the impression was given that Mr MacAskill was seeking to maximise his place in the spotlight - something he may now regret - allowing campaigning momentum to build up in Libya and the USA. Certainly the sight of Scottish saltires waving in Tripoli as Mr Megrahi returned was curious. More to the point questions need to be asked as to why Mr MacAskill needed to meet Megrahi, what precedent that sets and what was discussed given the subsequent decision to drop his appeal giving rise to the impression that this might have been perceived as a condition of his release. There was also a gratuitous swipe at the UK Government's treaty agreement on the return of prisoners. This is a normal arrangement with many countries with which we have good or improving relationships. All the UK was doing was making it an option between Libya and the UK. Any decision to return a prisoner would still have been a matter for the Scottish Justice Minister. Scottish ministers seemed to argue that because there was only one Libyan prisoner in Scotland the treaty should not have been concluded. Some people might have preferred an arrangement to return him to complete his sentence in Libya rather than freeing him. These are specific questions about Megrahi's release. There are wider concerns. Was there any suggestion that there was a connection between oil development and investment opportunities and Megrahi's continued imprisonment? As it was alleged that Megrahi was part of a wider conspiracy involving others why has nobody else been brought to justice? There are suggestions that foreign powers other than Libya might have been involved and that Megrahi may have been scape-goated to secure closure. We certainly know from our experience of Irish bombers that the need to secure convictions has led to miscarriages of justice. For that reason, it appears that families of the British victims of the Lockerbie bombing wanted his appeal to continue in the hope that some of these questions might be addressed. If it turns out that the appeal was abandoned because it was thought to prejudice Megrahi's chance of returning home to die and this was in any way connected to Mr MacAskill's decision then this would be a serious miscarriage of justice. **************************************************************************************************** Leith Hall and contents should be kept **************************************************************************************************** I was glad to remind myself of the delights of Leith Hall and its contents at last weekend's opening of the house. I have visited the House many times over the years and I have already expressed support for the campaign to try and secure access to the house and its fascinating contents following the National Trust's crisis decision to close the house to the public on the grounds that it was not sustainable and the Trust's overall finances were in dire straits. I am please that the Trust has indicated to myself and Alison McInnes MSP that it is looking at options for Leith Hall that could enable it to be open again to the public and for its treasures to be retained and viewed at the house. The fascinating artefacts, paintings, furnishings and the unique original Jacobite pardon are much more interesting because of their connection with the house and would not have the same resonance in another location. Future options appear to include upgrading the letting accommodation and working with local agencies to attract events and functions and increase visitor numbers. This was a model that worked in the 1970s and with the lively support of local agencies and friends of Leith Hall I believe we can change this shock closure decision into a positive opportunity and I will be working with all campaigners and the Trust (of which I am a long standing member) to help bring this about. **************************************************************************************************** US health row will feature in UK election **************************************************************************************************** The debate in the United States over President Obama's proposals to extend health cover to America's poorest people who are largely excluded from health care because they are either too poor to pay the insurance premiums or get it from their employer has generated a fierce debate over the Atlantic. During the presidential election campaign John McCain attacked Obama's proposals and made unflattering comparisons with the NHS. This has been picked up in recent weeks where some right wing commentators have implied that the NHS was some form of failed neo communist bureaucracy. David Cameron's Tories have waded in with their own unflattering comparisons revealing a strong strand of Tory thinking which wants to privatise large sectors of the NHS. No health service is perfect and there will always be inadequate resources to keep up with new medicines and technologies. It is probably true that the richest nation in the world leads the world in many health innovations. However, 60 million Americans (equivalent to the UK's entire population have little or no access to health care. In the UK we pride ourselves on the inclusiveness of the NHS. It is the US system's exclusiveness that is its downfall as a role model. The Labour Government have poured money into the NHS but this has come to an end and we face a tight funding future. There has also been too much central micro management of targets and objectives that have been distorting. Nevertheless, the NHS 12 years ago was in crisis and the right wind of the Tory party's love affair with expanding the private sector is not the answer and looks set to be a hot topic of debate in the forthcoming general election. The administration of the NHS in Scotland may be devolved but any change in the funding mechanisms introduced by Westminster will have repercussions north of the border. The US debate has helped to flag this up in the UK. **************************************************************************************************** Annie Lennox right to speak out on AIDs **************************************************************************************************** Aberdeen's own Annie Lennox was outspoken in her recent criticism of the Catholic church over the Pope's recent statements in Africa on HIV/AIDs. In response the church sought to deflect her criticism by saying membership of the church was low in the counties in Africa that had the highest incidence of HIV/AIDs which is to miss the point. Having produced annual reports on tackling AIDs and a report on Maternal Health I am very aware of the concerns amongst development workers at headline grabbing statements that compromise the processes of education and awareness on the issues of transmission of diseases and the lack of access to birth control and safe abortion. My committee has commented on the need for practical information to enable people to minimise the risks of transmission and to enable women to make choices in relation to their reproductive rights. Of course churches are entitled to encourage their members to take moral decisions but public statements make it more difficult to support the rights of women to demand the right to contraception and more safe abortion for unwanted pregnancies that can be life threatening. Churches may disapprove of practices that encourage the spread of AIDs but if people are to engage in such practices is it not sensible to encourage them to take sensible precautions that at least reduce the risk? This is particularly important for women, who are often infected by men who have had sex outside a stable relationship or with men, or taken intravenous drugs. They will be better protected if the men take precautions in these circumstances rather than take half the Pope's message - i.e. don't abandon the 'immoral' practices but refuse to take precautions such as using a condom. So, well done, Annie Lennox, for speaking out. **************************************************************************************************** Questions on inappropriate use of UK arms supplies **************************************************************************************************** The Committee on Arms Export controls on which I sit has expressed its concerns about British arms exports to Israel and Sri Lanka - on both of which I had input. It appears that equipment supplied to the USA by British suppliers, has probably been incorporated into arms sold by the USA to Israel and then used in the recent conflict in Gaza. This is a tricky area as the USA is a major defence market but the UK and the EU have strict criteria for arms exports which must be strictly applied. In the case of Sri Lanka it appears we may have supplied arms during the cease fire when the Sri Lankan government was preparing its decisive offensive against the Tamil Tigers. In both cases the committee accepts the right of the Israeli and Sri Lankan governments to defend themselves but is concerned if arms we supply are used against their own citizens and prejudice the potential for long term peace settlements. ENDS
August ColumnWritten by Malcolm Bruce MP on Wed 12th Aug 2009 **************************************************************************************************** Oil reserves need careful management - whatever the total **************************************************************************************************** It is intriguing that there is a 10 billion barrel disparity between the UK Government's assessment of North Sea reserves remaining and that of the industry. There is no doubt that the North Sea has passed its peak of production and yielded more than half of its potential. It is equally true that the reserves still to be produced will be more costly and more technically challenging to produce than what has come ashore to date. The industry is trying to persuade the Government to provide tax incentives to explore for and develop more marginal reserves. The Government made minor concessions in the last budget but exploration has collapsed in recent months. Of course, there may be a degree of commercial bluffing going on as companies wait for rig day rates and other service costs to fall. There is no doubt that it is not just local self interest that makes it essential to get the climate right. If the UK is to maximise our long term production from our own resources and reduce our dependence on imports while we develop alternatives then we need to ensure policies are pursued that keep the North Sea active and sustains our major export industry - especially in our world leading sub-sea services. There seems to be some intense debate about the case for an oil fund and who thought of it first. In the1970s as energy spokesman for the Liberals I argued for revenues from impending oil and gas production to be shared between Scotland and the UK The then leader of the Scottish Liberals, the late Russell Johnson made the case for an oil fund to be sustained for long term investment. These proposals were resisted by the Governments of the time and the tax revenues that have flowed from oil and gas production have just gone into the general coffers to fund current expenditure. A small allowance was made to North East local authorities to pay for some early infrastructure but that soon ended. As a result our local councils have been denied the funding needed to maintain essential infrastructure which has not been provided by central government either. So the Aberdeen Western Peripheral route remains a controversial dream, progress on Crossrail is non existent and schools and health services are under intense pressure with little sign of relief. The new leader of Aberdeen City Council has controversially called for an oil fund for the city. He has a point although it should be extended to Aberdeenshire as well. The SNP glibly talk about a Scottish oil fund but have failed to address the chronic and unfair under-funding of our public services in the North East. If we are to support the development of hard to reach reserves we need to ensure that the services on 'the beach' are adequate to support the needs of those working in support of offshore development. We should underpin success and invest for the future. **************************************************************************************************** New airlinks key to economic development **************************************************************************************************** The Scottish Council Development and Industry have called for the development of more airlinks from Aberdeen and Inverness to Continental Europe. To be fair Aberdeen has seen a growth in destinations served in recent years. To be sustained they have to generate enough traffic but incentives can be useful to launch routes. For international connections we already have useful feeders to Paris, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. It would be useful to add Frankfurt to that list as well as Madrid or Barcelona and Brussels These are more likely to be provided by Lufthansa (now that they are taking over BMI) or Iberia than British Airways or other UK or Irish airlines. Of course, people will still want holiday routes but it is clearly good for business if there can be year round scheduled routes to key destinations. Let's hope that some airlines will rise to the challenge. **************************************************************************************************** 'Active' claim doubtful **************************************************************************************************** It is up voters to decide whether or not they find it acceptable for someone to try to represent two different constituencies in two different parliaments. Nevertheless, I find Alex Salmond's claim that he is one of the most active MPs beyond belief. According to They Work for You.com he is not a member of any committees, has spoken only twice in the past year, has received answers to 14 written questions and voted in 16 per cent of votes. That is not the record of an active MP by any standards. I wonder if the voters of Banff and Buchan regard it as adequate. **************************************************************************************************** New planning rules more democratic **************************************************************************************************** New planning rules have come into effect to require planning decisions of major regional or national importance to be put before the full council. This clearly has arisen following the controversy over the Trump application. This was always going to be an application that would arouse strong feelings - especially given the style and track record of Donald Trump. Nevertheless it was always my view that it would be best if the decision could have been locally determined, and to be decided on the casting vote of the chairman of a small committee - against the wishes of the area committee and with the majority of councillors having no say - was never satisfactory. It is possible that the full council might have been persuaded to oppose the application or impose stricter conditions. The irony is that the process that followed the narrowest of rejections gave the Trump application an easier ride than its opponents would have wished. **************************************************************************************************** Time to get started on Olympic pool **************************************************************************************************** I hope that the controversy over the proposed Olympic swimming pool for Aberdeen will not delay it. After all, the Olympic Games are only three years away and it would be good have it operational in good time. Our local stars, especially Hannah Miley have been part of the inspiration for this project and I certainly was in at the beginning of the campaign to secure it. Of course it will stand good for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 but the value will be in having it ready for both. I am not sure what the extra cost of a ten lane pool as compared to an eight lane amounts to but it would be ideal to have the full size. What we do not need is any excuse for a further delay. Indeed I am looking forward to the announcement of a firm starting and completion date. **************************************************************************************************** Hope for Leith Hall **************************************************************************************************** I can understand the disappointment over the National Trust's proposed closure of Leith Hall which has been a long standing attraction in our area - even if visitor numbers are lower than other big attractions. In the past the house has managed to have leased apartments with some public rooms open to the public. (Indeed one of my predecessors, Colin Mitchell stayed there). This would be a good option over and above just keeping the gardens open, welcome as that is.
July (2) ColumnWritten by Malcolm Bruce MP on Tue 28th Jul 2009 **************************************************************************************************** Making Afghanistan famous for pomegranates **************************************************************************************************** The casualty rate in Afghanistan has led to an increasingly intense debate about the UK's role, whether it's a 'winnable war' and whether our forces are well enough equipped. The brutal truth is that the situation in Afghanistan has dragged on and become more difficult because we became embroiled in an unnecessary and unjustified war in Iraq. Tony Blair's folly was that he wanted the UK to be America's closest ally and committed us to military engagements over and above our more domestic commitments regardless of whether our troops were sufficiently prepared and supported. There has long been a call for more helicopters and there is no doubt that helicopters can help get troops and casualties quickly in and out of tight situations. Helicopters alone would not avoid casualties but it is true that deploying them in a hostile environment means more sophisticated equipment and training is required. However, if NATO were to pull out now it would leave a vacuum into which nothing positive could move - destabilising a whole region. We are not at war with the people of Afghanistan - but trying to create security to enable them to rebuild their lives for mutual benefit. Most of our aid and development budget is being spent to build public services across the whole country not just in Helmand and that has delivered some success especially for educating girls. Afghanistan is a deeply conservative, tribal society in which women's rights are limited but nevertheless much better than under the Taleban. It may not be western style democracy but if it can aspire to stable government and improving services then NATO's engagement will have served the alliance strategic interests to the benefit of better living conditions for the region. Afghanistan is notorious for opium poppies where it was once famous for pomegranates. May the pomegranates flourish again. **************************************************************************************************** Public interest priority for East Coast mainline **************************************************************************************************** Yet another debacle with the franchise on the East Coast mainline has left the Government with no option but to take the franchise back into public management. This is small comfort to passengers to and from the North East who have suffered an increasingly unreliable service in terms of excess charges and uncompetitive fares. Even if there has been an improvement in journey times without major investment it will never be competitive with the airlines. In any case for passengers booking ahead the fares have more often than not been uncompetitive with air fares. The North East has a good quality of life and contributes enormously to the national wealth but we are a long way from everywhere else and deserve decent communications with the rest of the UK. There is, I believe, a good case for keeping the east coast franchise in public ownership and even allowing a publicly owned company to bid for it in due course. The nonsense of British privatisation has been that no publicly owned company has been allowed to bid but foreign ones have. Railways do not make money. They require public investment and subsidy. That doesn't mean there is no room for private sector involvement but it is always going to be a tricky balance. The east coat route is testimony to that. **************************************************************************************************** Kevin Mcleod's positive signal for our hard to heat homes **************************************************************************************************** I was happy to take part in a photo opportunity with Kevin McLeod promoting new means of insulating hard to heat homes. Aberdeen and the North East has a disproportionate share of such homes and not enough research has been carried out into how they can be made warmer and more efficient nor is enough done in the way of grants. In the sixties and seventies a lot of houses were built that do not have cavity walls or fireplaces and which, thermal imaging shows, put more emissions into the neighbourhood than into the house. The result is high energy bills and cold houses. It does now appear that new insulation materials offer more viable solution that do not take too much off the internal dimensions of what are often small houses. The next step is to bring the cost down so that people can afford to install it and gain the benefit as well as reducing the climate change impact. **************************************************************************************************** How Scottish is Scotch? **************************************************************************************************** Diageo have clearly raised a storm over their decision to sever its connections with Kilmarnock and invest in Fife instead. The proud boast of the brand has been 'born 1820 and still going strong' and the connection has continued for nigh on 200 years. The company may argue that it is simply facing economic fact and is still committed to Scotland, but whisky's cache or unique selling point is its connections to Scottish communities. As Johnny Walker is a blend there is nothing peculiar to Kilmarnock that characterises the whisky. Nevertheless the associations of a blend can still be a potent part of its appeal and Diageo disregards that at its peril. Diageo has not covered itself with glory having had to invent the neutral name after the disaster of the Guinness takeover. Investment and disinvestment of whisky brands and distilleries has been a merry-go-round in recent years. This may be the moment the industry has to decide just how Scottish is Scotch! **************************************************************************************************** Chilcott inquiry will put Blair and Brown in the spotlight **************************************************************************************************** Sir John Chilcott is setting about his enquiry into the Iraq war having to recover from the government's nonsense that it should be conducted in secret - clearly an absurd and untenable position. Most of the enquiry will now be in public but it will clearly continue beyond the next election. Gordon Brown and Tony Blair among others may yet have an uncomfortable time being cross-examined on their conduct in the run up to the war. The enquiry will be the poorer for not being able to call Robin Cook but Clare Short will no doubt make an interesting witness. What is accepted by almost everyone today is that there was no connection between Iraq and Al Q'aeda and there were no weapons of mass destruction. The war took massive resources that might have been better deployed elsewhere and radicalised young muslims throughout the world - hardly a great contribution to defeating terrorism. **************************************************************************************************** PM fails to answer question on Scottish banks' future **************************************************************************************************** The Prime Minister made his twice yearly appearance before the House of Commons liaison committee last week. He maintained his usual bludgeoning style - avoiding the questions and just presenting what he wants to say. I would have liked to have pressed him harder on the future of British banks. Having denied he had any such intention before the 1997 election Gordon Brown as Chancellor made the Bank of England independent and set up the Financial Services Authority. This did not stop the worst banking crisis since the 1930s. The Prime Minister was unable to explain what he has done to stop such a collapse happening again. On our Scottish Banks he argued that the fact that HBOS would have failed was sufficient justification for setting aside the competition rules and allowing Lloyds/TSB to take it over. He ignored the fact that HBOS was in such a mess it forced Lloyds into the arms of Government which it might otherwise have avoided. He also ignored the European Competition Commissioners which warned that HBOS may have to be sold off separately again and that RBS needed to be broken up to fit the European single market. He didn't even begin to address why the British taxpayer should continue to underwrite the global debts of RBS or how the bank might be restructured to reduce exposure, get some return and offer consumers better choice. Soon enough Mr Brown will have to answer to the British electorate. ENDS
Column JulyWritten by Malcolm Bruce MP on Thu 2nd Jul 2009
**************************************************************************************************** Speaker Bercow - a colleague and a friend **************************************************************************************************** The election of a new speaker was an unusually personal event for me as I have got to know John Bercow really well in recent years. When he was first elected to the House as the MP for Buckingham he was an acerbic right winger espousing all the causes and opinions I most opposed. In recent years he has moved to the Liberal centre encouraged by his Labour supporting wife. This infuriated most of his former colleagues although I do not believe the views he expresses are incompatible with mainstream Conservatism. During this Parliament John has been a member of the International Development Committee which I chair. Although the demands of the Chairman's panel and other activities have restricted his participation his contributions have been invaluable. He visited China with the committee last year and more recently was a member along with me of Des Browne's all-party mission to Sri Lanka. I found him entertaining, thoughtful and interesting company. The views he has most recently expressed are genuinely his own revealing that he has undergone an almost Paul-ine conversion. He spoke out strongly on human rights especially in the context of Darfur and Burma. He made a robust intervention with the Chinese Deputy Foreign minister on these issues and received an equally robust response.. In Sri Lanka he provoked an outburst from the President when he pressed the case for letting the UN and international media into the conflict zone. As is required he leaves behind his political views prompting Gordon Brown to comment he thought he had and David Cameron to express the hope he had abandoned all of them. I was pleased to sign John's nomination as Speaker, telling him that had anyone forecast that I would do so when he first entered the House I would have thought them insane. However, he now has an extremely challenging role to which I expect him to apply himself with diligence. **************************************************************************************************** Government must take seriously plea for North Sea tax deals ****************************************************************************************************
The Government would be wise to take seriously the appeal by UK Oil and Gas for more tax concessions to secure future exploration and development of North Sea oil and gas assets. The changes introduced in the budget were minor, will have little effect. Exploration has now plummeted presenting us with the danger that new discoveries may not be found in time to be tied into the existing infrastructure. People may be forgiven for thinking that oil companies have plenty of cash and don't need any tax relief. The reality is that an increasing amount of investment is coming from smaller companies who have to raise capital on the markets and may struggle in the present climate. Other areas of the world may often easier returns and less risk. Russia has found at the hard way the dangers of driving investment away and are having to plead for its return. If we lose momentum in the UK we may find it hard to regain. This would prejudice our domestic industry, exports and long term security. Well targeted tax relief - e.g. for field investment or new exploration and appraisal drilling would almost certainly pay dividends in terms of jobs and future tax revenue. **************************************************************************************************** Hannah's form shows sponsorship well deserved
**************************************************************************************************** Good to see Inverurie swimmer Hannah Miley in good form and to see she is receiving sponsorship from our local councils. Hannah is improving all the time and is meeting world class status which bodes well for record and medal bids in the future. Even in hard times I believe it is right that local councils put support behind their local sporting sons and daughters. Would Torvil and Dean have made it without the support of Nottingham Council? It is also right that Aberdeen City Council stick to their pledge of a 50 metre pool which would help all local swimmers although more should be made available to upgrade our existing pools. **************************************************************************************************** My bus bill will help safety **************************************************************************************************** I am continuing to press for government support for my School Bus (Safety) Bill which is debated in the House this week. I realise that not everyone agrees with every detail of the bill but I believe it contains enough to command widespread support. If even some of the measures were adopted it would contribute to improved safety. The main objective is to create a culture of safety around school buses for both drivers and pupils - especially when the bus is stopping to drop off or pick up passengers. Some education authorities, such as Aberdeenshire, have already set their own standards above the legal minimum - for example with regard to seat belts and safety training. Even if the Government cannot accept all my proposals I hope they will recognise there is real public concern among parents who necessarily entrust their children to school buses each day and give careful consideration to all my proposals - including the provision of flashing lights when a bus is stopping and the no overtaking when the lights are flashing. Even discussing these proposals can make a contribution to improving safety. **************************************************************************************************** Deepest recession will cost us all dear ****************************************************************************************************
Britain is a long way from coming out of the deepest recession since the 1930s and there is real debate as to what will change as a result and how much it will cost us in the future. Huge amounts of taxpayers' money have been poured into banks - yet there are signs that the bonus culture may be returning faster than the availability of mortgages especially to first time buyers. A small amount may have been repaid but billions more has yet to be accounted for. 25 per cent deposits for mortgages are the norm and this is a huge burden on young couples and families. They will not be pleased to see their struggle continue while bankers who have squandered billions and been bailed out by the taxpayers return to their lavish multi millionaire lifestyles. The takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB was not only a bad deal for Lloyds it was bad for banking customers too and unfair to other banks. There is a strong case to unscramble the merger and restore two banks. Nor is it right to continue to mix high risk investment banking and more conventional retail banking. The Government may have guaranteed UK depositors but at what cost? Is it entirely fair that people who deposited their savings openly with top security rated non UK banks should be left without any comparable recompense? Meanwhile, the Government are claiming they can maintain public spending as debt soars to record levels. Few people believe them. Most people expect that spending will be cut and taxes will rise to pay for the hangover. Selling off part of Royal Mail no longer looks attractive given the state of the stock market. Trident may not be affordable, let alone ID cards, IT contracts, 50 per cent university enrolment etc. We need a serious and responsible debate about what we can and can't afford. Otherwise pensions will shrink along with the economy and everyone's standard of living will fall. Government needs to show how it is dealing with this. Right now, it's not. **************************************************************************************************** Lady Aberdeen remembered **************************************************************************************************** The death of Lady Aberdeen at the age of 95 was a sad event for Haddo and the North East. I met her on a number of occasions - most recently at the Haddo Choral Society Ball a few years ago. She was a huge enthusiast for the arts and the family had deep political connections. I remember after my first successful defence of the seat in 1987 I was at an event at Haddo and she told me she was pleased I had got back as she was afraid I might not, given my majority. "I was so worried", she said, "I nearly voted for you." Subsequently she became even more disenchanted with the then Conservative Government for as she put it "abolishing our regiment". She said she had told a tenant she might vote Liberal only to be put right. "Laird's vote Tory. Tenants vote Liberal; but remember there are more tenants than lairds". Haddo is a great North East institution steeped in history and character. Lady Aberdeen was a long established and revered part of it. It will never be quite the same without her.
Column (June 2)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 15th Jun 2009 **************************************************************************************************** Scotland's newest MEP will make a difference **************************************************************************************************** I'm delighted that George Lyon was successfully elected to be the Liberal Democrats' member of the European Parliament in last week's elections and Scotland's newest MEP. As a former president of the Scottish NFU and Scottish Finance Minister I am sure he will be an effective member of the Parliament and will campaign around Scotland to ensure Scotland's interests are effectively represented. Overall the level of public and media interest and participation was low. The turnout in the North East was only around 29 per cent. I am sure part of the reason is that voting for a party disengages voters from personalities. In the end there was little dramatic outcome across the country. The fall in the Labour vote meant that the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats UKIP gained a seat each and the BNP won two seats in spite of not increasing their vote. The SNP gained none and Labour lost 5. I am in favour of proportional representation but there are many better systems than this. Overall the turnout and method of voting means that the outcome of the Euro elections gives little or no guidance as to any general election. Taken with the English council elections the main news was the appalling showing of the Labour Party. The Conservative vote was below expectations. The Liberal Democrats more than held up but Labour had their worst result ever. **************************************************************************************************** Labour collapse has unforeseeable consequences **************************************************************************************************** In the wake of such appalling results and the walkout of a stream of ministers Gordon Brown was forced into an early reshuffle. These events are always hyped by the media but are generally greeted with a big yawn by the public. The conventional wisdom is that any change of Prime Minister would force an early election that would see Labour wiped out. Labour MPs therefore conclude that keeping Gordon Brown is a lesser evil although I suspect he will be at risk after the party conference when it might be argued that by the time a new leader is elected it will be nearly Christmas and an election can still be held over until May. The Prime Minister's talk of democratic renewal has been greeted with understandable scepticism. Labour came in pledged to reform but after 12 years hasn't moved. Now is too late. To most people it seems that Labour is doomed beyond recovery. This seems likely to lead to a low turnout and a fragmentation of votes in different directions. The Tories are not the sole beneficiary and could find themselves without a popular mandate. **************************************************************************************************** Reshuffle gives low priority to oil industry **************************************************************************************************** Locally the reshuffle has shown once again the low priority given to the oil and gas industry by the Government. It is true that the industry has established better relationships with the Treasury but that has only yielded modest concessions. Now the industry is represented by Lord Hunt, a minister in the Lords, and an unpaid junior minister in the Commons. Yet oil and gas still represents a major part of UK industrial investment, sustains hundreds of thousands of jobs and an important export market. In the North East we know how important it is to our economy and how challenging it will be with volatile oil prices to maximise our long term production. It is comforting for us to see the oil price top $70 but rising fuel bills have an adverse effect on other sectors. In any case, companies have postponed some developments, downward pressures on costs are hitting contractors and suppliers and uncertainty over the fuel price and UK tax intentions make it more difficult for medium sized operators to raise the necessary finance. We need a positive attitude from Government and more security of price if we are to get through the downturn without too much impact on local jobs and earnings **************************************************************************************************** Fuel tax should go to transport **************************************************************************************************** Meanwhile, prices at the pump are on the rise again with the combined effect of rising crude prices, the exchange rate and the fuel tax escalator. The Government may be understandably reluctant to give up revenue given the dire financial mess we are in but for people and businesses living in remote and rural areas rising prices are a worry. The Government could have a tax variation for such areas and I believe our new MEP George Lyon will be pursuing this with Brussels. However, paying high fuel taxes might be more acceptable if the Government was to divert the revenues to support investment in public transport. The Government crashes ahead with building a third runway at Heathrow while making no progress in giving Britain the high speed rail links that it needs and that are commonplace on the Continent. We are not even getting the modest investment in commuter services that we are entitled to and would give people at least the option of leaving their car behind for more journeys. **************************************************************************************************** Time for Scottish taxes to fund Scottish services **************************************************************************************************** The Calman Commission has come up with some interesting recommendations on the future financing of the Scottish Parliament which are not dissimilar to those actively discussed in the constitutional convention in the mid 1980s. Essentially it is suggesting a share of the taxes raised in Scotland should be directly assigned to the Scottish Parliament which should also be given powers to borrow. This would reduce the Parliament's dependency on the Barnett formula and help spread the cost of funding capital, projects so that we wouldn't face the present problem that replacing the Forth Bridge would not squeeze out every other investment project. It would make the Parliament more accountable and would connect its revenues with its performance in contributing to economic and income growth. I hope that at the same time we would review the funding of local councils which is currently worked out in a way that is unfavourable to the North East. Before the introduction of council tax and national business rates local councils had direct control over much more of their income than is the case today. Millions of pounds of business rates leave the North East every year never to return and the formula for distributing Government grants to local councils has been abdicated by ministers to COSLA ( the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) a highly political body geographically and political controlled by people with no understanding of or interest in the needs of the North East. **************************************************************************************************** It is high time Ministers took some leadership. **************************************************************************************************** The North East probably contributes more per head to the UK and Scottish economy than anywhere else in the UK yet we are struggling to get a bypass, a commuter rail service, various road upgrades, a high speed rail link and much needed new or improved schools and hospitals and more social housing for those hard-working people who do not achieve the heights of economic benefits. . This seems to be a matter of complete indifference to either the Scottish or UK Governments. Over the years I have campaigned for and got improvements to all of these services by dint of perseverance. I will continue with that for as long as it takes. **************************************************************************************************** Poor mega cities are a major challenge **************************************************************************************************** Arguably the challenges facing us pale into significance when compared with developing countries. This week I have been looking at the challenges facing the urban poor in Africa's largest city - Lagos. At the time of Nigeria's independence Lagos was not even Nigeria's largest city. Now the population is estimated at around 18 million and projected to reach 25 million within the next few years - making it the world's third mega city. I visited some of the poorest slums in the city and saw the challenges facing people living right on the edge - without security, infected by HIV/AIDS, miserably poor with poor schooling and surrounded by effluent and rubbish. For those who have jobs, travelling across the city can take hours. The opportunity for improvement is limited as the population of the city is swollen by migration and natural growth. If Lagos cannot cope now, how will it cope with 6 million more? We saw admirable measures to improve the environment, to provide dedicated bus routes and to tackle HIV/AIDs. They were worthwhile but only scratching the surface. We cannot solve the problems of urban poverty in developing countries but we can help. When you see the determination of urban slum dwellers living in unimaginable squalor you really want to help. Aid and development is not just about the rural poor or humanitarian relief - it is about creating income opportunities and creating a functioning economy to generate the tax revenues that can fund urban renewal. And it is about fostering the political will to use those revenues to make the difference. ENDS
Column (June)Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 1st Jun 2009 **************************************************************************************************** Euro protest will come at a cost ****************************************************************************************************
I suppose it is easy for people to ignore the European elections or use their vote for fringe parties if they believe the European Parliament is remote and irrelevant to their everyday concerns. The trouble is that the European Parliament has an increasingly important role in shaping European rules and regulations and registering a protest vote on one day will have consequences for the next five years. Most parties are affiliated to groups that operate together in shaping legislation. The largest blocks are the Socialist group followed by the European People's Party which currently includes the British Conservative followed by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe - often the group whose support determines the outcome. Other smaller groups include the Greens, some far left groups and the Independence/Democracy group of UKIP one of whose MEPs was convicted of benefit fraud and another was charged with false accounting and money laundering. The Conservatives are set to leave the EPP and put themselves on the very fringes of Europe which may raise cheers from rabid Euro sceptics but will be deeply damaging to Britain's interests in Europe if the Tories were to form a future government. We will know the result on Sunday but I will be disappointed if parties who only have a wrecking agenda have undue influence. Scotland and Britain actually does need conscientious MEPs who will take their job seriously and help shape legislation in our best interests, which does include working with like minded politicians of other nationalities. **************************************************************************************************** North East pupils stand up for poor children ****************************************************************************************************
At this time of year I often find myself receiving school visits in Westminster as well as visiting a number of schools across the constituency. This week I was scheduled to present to Number 10 Downing Street the work of the pupils of Kellands School, Inverurie as the culmination of their Send my Friend to School 2009 campaign. The pupils had made cards modelled on the door of Number 10 Downing Street and written in their own words the case for finding the money to enable the 75 million children in the world denied education to receive at least primary education. This is a cause I strongly support and I have been delighted over the past few years to carry strong messages on behalf of school children from all over Gordon to our Government. Going to school isn't just about education but is also about addressing poverty. In too many countries it is not school buildings that are the problem but the lack of clean water and sanitation and the shortage of qualified teachers. Books and jotters are also in short supply and that is where local charity Books Abroad plays such a valuable role. Our part of Scotland has shown itself aware and supportive of the needs of disadvantage poor children in developing countries. **************************************************************************************************** Now not the time to cut back on international development ****************************************************************************************************
This week the International Development Select Committee published two reports - on Aid Under Pressure and Sustainable Development. Both of these relate very directly to the effects of the economic downturn and climate change on developing countries. As the world has tipped into recession it is estimated that 90 million people have fallen back into abject poverty. 400,000 more children are likely to die as a result. This has come about for a variety of reasons including deteriorating trade, rising food prices and reduced aid. At the same time the UK's aid and development budget while it is increasing in real terms is falling in terms of its buying power because of the decline in the value of the pound. This is not time to reduce the UK's development budget. All parties are committed to maintaining it and indeed increasing it to meet our commitment to give 0.7% of GDP by 2013. This will be hard to achieve but we cannot lead by example if we fall back. In order to maintain public support for development assistance we think it is important that the Department has a more British identity. What matters most is that our money really does deliver reductions in poverty but both the poor people in recipient countries and taxpayers at home should have some idea of how the UK compares with others - especially as it is usually a good story. So changing the department to UK DFID or British International Development would be a good idea. At the same time we have to make sure that tax havens in British Dependent Territories are fully transparent and no longer provide cover for massive tax avoidance which deprives poor people in poor countries of the vital revenues they need to help make poverty history. Developing countries need the long promised trade deal so far denied them. At the Climate Change summit in Copenhagen in December developing countries that contribute little and suffer the most form climate change need to no that agreement on emissions caps does not inhibiting their development and the costs of adapting to the impact of climate change are fully met. **************************************************************************************************** Have your say in the local development plan ****************************************************************************************************
Public consultation over the new local development plan for Aberdeenshire is currently in full swing. Public meetings are being held throughout the area and full details of the plan are on the council's website www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk This really is the time to study the proposals and the effect they could have on local communities - positive or negative. Consultations close at 10a.m. on 6 July. I really do believe Aberdeenshire Council is trying to secure as much feedback as possible so that development can accommodate local preferences but that requires input now. I have no doubt that many people will be concerned to ensure that if development is to take place the necessary public investment to match it will be forthcoming. So called planning gain cannot and should not be the prime source of that (especially not if it leads to favour for larger developers at the expense of the smaller ones). The Scottish administration at Holyrood really has to play its part in re-establishing capital investment given the failure of the Scottish Futures Trust to live up to its promise. **************************************************************************************************** MPs need staff, offices, travel and London accommodation
****************************************************************************************************
The furore over MPs expenses has clearly shown some MPs abusing the system but the reason for having the system of allowances in the first place has been somewhat overlooked. MPs from outside London and certainly those representing the North East of Scotland clearly need provision for accommodation for the nights they have to spend away from home in London. They also need to be able to travel between the constituency and London on a weekly basis and because of the poor rail service from the North East, flying is the most practical option. MPs do need to maintain an office away from London to serve the needs of their constituents and the resources to run it - although when I was first elected this was not really provided for. It was subsidised by me and my local party. MPs do need staff to help them do the job - dealing with casework, organising a busy diary, arranging and following up meetings and helping with Parliamentary research when all these other activities are taking place. What is required is that all these arrangements should be independently set and audited and be published. I have consistently voted for this but too often have been on the losing side as the larger parties have voted to maintain a flawed system that has now been exposed as such. 1 June 2009
Archive of earlier Press Articles.
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