 WOMEN in Clydebank are being urged to get screened for cervical cancer – as shock figures show numbers are at a 10-year low in Scotland.
MSP Gil Paterson is backing the campaign by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which runs from January 22 to 28. The group also revealed only 69 per cent of eligible women in Scotland attended a screening last year. Mr Paterson has spoken out and urged constituents to get the potentially life-saving smear test. He said: “Cancer can be stopped much easier if it is caught in the very early stages – and that’s why screening is so important. “The number of women missing out on cervical cancer screening in Scotland is deeply distressing. It is the most common cancer in women under 35 and it’s on the rise for those older than 50. “I urge women in Clydebank, and across the whole of Scotland, to get screened. Screening can detect cervical abnormalities and women can receive treatment before this deadly cancer develops.” Robert Music, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “We have one of the best cervical screening programmes in the world which saves approximately 5,000 lives a year across the UK. “However, the number of women attending their screening is at a 10-year low in Scotland. “If we do not increase investment in prevention we will be faced with more women facing the physical and psychological cost of cervical cancer, increased burden on the NHS and state, and more lives lost.” ENDS About cervical cancer
 SNP MSP Gil Paterson has condemned the UK government for withholding details of a serious malfunction in a Trident test launch last June – just weeks before the vote to renew Trident to the tune of £205bn.
It has been widely reported that during a test launch, an unarmed Trident missile had fired in the wrong direction towards the US coastline. The major failure was not shared publicly ahead of the vote on Trident renewal. The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP said: “It is all very well for the Tory Government keeping this malfunction of Trident a secret – but Clydebank is just a few miles from these weapons of mass destruction Faslane. “I’ve been saying this for three decades: I’m not so worried about a war – I don’t think anyone will press the button – but the potential for human error that could wipe Clydebank, and indeed Scotland, off the face of the Earth. That’s why the Tory Government had kept this human error a secret. “Moreover, a disgusting £17 million is used every time one of these monstrosities are tested, and the recent news shows our nuclear weapons programme is not just grossly expensive but unreliable and unsafe. “In the Scottish National Party, we shall continue pressing the Tory Government for answers and hold the Prime Minister to account for her lack of transparency.” ENDS PLANNING decisions in Scotland must not weigh in favour of big developers, MSP Gil Paterson has said. The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP intervened during a speech by the planning minister Kevin Stewart MSP on Improving Scotland's Planning in the Scottish Parliament. Mr Paterson told how the balance of power often leans in favour of big developers and not the community, and called for a more equal treatment. It was said on the back of the struggle facing constituents at Duntiglennan Fields in Duntocher, with many residents campaigning against housing giant Taylor Wimpey’s potential development of a much-loved greenbelt. Mr Paterson said: “I intervened because at the moment there seems to be too much power in the hands of big developers in Scotland. “There must be a balance of power to make it fair for both parties, the big developers and communities. “We have many situations where communities are being railroaded into accepting a huge development, even on protected land, they have highly objected to. “It is essential as we shape Scotland’s new planning policies – which are currently being consulted on – that we make it fairer, and ensure the balance of power is maintained between developers and communities.”  Gil intervened during the speech by Kevin Stewart MSP You can view the exchange at gilmsp.com/news or on Gil’s social media. ENDS NOTES See below Gil’s intervention followed by the reply made by the minister. In the parliament chamber, Mr Paterson said: "We are all aware that, when it comes to developments, the developer has much more power than the community — that is not just a perception but a reality. Does the minister envisage that, following the consultation, which I very much welcome, the balance of power might change somewhat?" Mr Stewart replied: "I welcome Gil Paterson’s intervention. We need a much more collaborative approach. Wise developers already have a huge amount of consultation with local communities. In this day and age, when we see technological advances, much more use could be made of things such as 3D visualisations, so that people get a real idea of what is proposed for an area. "Of course, people’s input can lead to changes. As Mr Paterson is well aware, I was in his constituency on Tuesday, and I know that major developments are due to take place there. We hope that, in that place and in other places across Scotland, there can be more community involvement; community planning should be involved in spatial planning. "As members may have noted, we do not propose an equal right of appeal. We do not want more decisions to be made centrally, and we do not want to undermine investor confidence and create uncertainty for communities by generating more conflict at the end of the process. We are consulting on whether more review decisions should be made at a local level, to reduce appeals." Much more was said before and after the intervention, with the full speech available below.  Gil in the Scottish Parliament chamber. A FUNDING boost to help young unpaid carers in East Dunbartonshire has been welcomed by Milngavie’s MSP. Carers Link East Dunbartonshire secured nearly £50,000 from the Big Lottery’s Young Start Fund on January 24. Mr Paterson has praised the work of the charity, which assists more than 1,000 unpaid carers every year in the area. The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP has also lodged a motion to the Scottish Parliament commending the work of Carers Link. He said: “Supporting more than 1,000 unpaid carers every year is an absolutely phenomenal amount of work – so I am glad this funding has come through for Carers Link East Dunbartonshire. “It’s great to see the funding go to the young carers, who can much of the time find themselves in highly stressful situations they were absolutely not prepared for – I applaud anything that supports them. “It is right to recognise the work Carers Link does so I have lodged a parliamentary motion to share the great work done to fellow MSPs and the government.” Jennifer Roe, the chief executive of Carers Link East Dunbartonshire, said: “Carers Link is delighted that to receive ongoing support from The Big Lottery Young Start Fund, enabling us to continue our successful work with young adult carers. “The life of a young adult is full of important decisions about the future, as well as educational and social pressures. For those in a caring role, these challenges are more difficult and they can often feel socially excluded and isolated. “In the last year alone, we helped 22 young adult carers into college and university places, work placements and jobs, and this funding will allow us to support more young people to achieve their goals. “We are grateful to Gil for his recognition of our work, and for the increased publicity that the parliamentary motion will give it. The more people that know about our service, the more people that we can help.” ENDS The motion states: That the Parliament congratulates Carers Link East Dunbartonshire, which is based in Milngavie, on a successful application to Young Start programme, which is run by the Big Lottery Fund, for a £49,920 grant; notes that the project that the charity applied for will involve a holistic approach to supporting young people with caring responsibilities in the development of person-centred action plans for young adult carers to help them access information and advocacy for their caring roles, as well as identify and pursue educational, training and employment opportunities; understands that 70 unpaid, young adult carers will be involved in the project over two years; recognises the instrumental work done by Carers Link East Dunbartonshire to assist more than 1,000 unpaid carers in the area each year, and welcomes the funding boost provided by the Big Lottery Fund across Scotland. Supported by (26/1/17): Joan McAlpine, Ruth Maguire, Clare Haughey, Tom Arthur, Jeremy Balfour, Sandra White, Ross Greer, David Torrance, Fulton MacGregor, Colin Beattie, Graeme Dey, Rona Mackay, Stuart McMillan, Gillian Martin, Bob Doris  Coverage in the Clydebank Post on Wednesday January 26 2017 GIL Paterson has commented on the increased deliberate fire raising in West Dunbartonshire after being asked by the Clydebank Post newspaper.
His full comment is below: Gil Paterson MSP said: “I am bitterly disappointed that deliberate fire raising has increased across West Dunbartonshire — the people who commit these acts are a scourge on our society. The potential for loss of life is in the flick of an eye. “I’m very much a supporter of informing constituents, especially older ones, of the need to upgrade wiring and electrical infrastructure in their homes to avoid accidental fires starting. “In Clydebank Central, 22 per cent of the population is of pensionable age according to the last census, and this is the highest of all three wards in Clydebank, with Waterfront at 17 per cent and Kilpatrick 19 per cent. “The fire service in my patch puts a lot of resources and good work into informing the public of the dangers like electric fires and to keep an eye on chip pans, cigarettes, candles and others – which I very much appreciate. I’ve spoken out on this just last year, and will be holding an event on it too soon.”  A FUNDING boost to help young unpaid carers in East Dunbartonshire has been welcomed by Milngavie’s MSP.
Carers Link East Dunbartonshire secured £49,920 from the Big Lottery’s Young Start Fund on January 24. Mr Paterson has praised the work of the charity, which assists more than 1,000 unpaid carers every year in the area. The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP has also lodged a motion to the Scottish Parliament commending the work of Carers Link. He said: “Supporting more than 1,000 unpaid carers every year is an absolutely phenomenal amount of work – so I am glad this funding has come through for Carers Link East Dunbartonshire. “It’s great to see the funding go to the young carers, who can much of the time find themselves in highly stressful situations they were absolutely not prepared for – I applaud anything that supports them. “It is right to recognise the work Carers Link does so I have lodged a parliamentary motion to share the great work done to fellow MSPs and the government.” Jennifer Roe, the chief executive officer of Carers Link East Dunbartonshire, said: “Carers Link is delighted that to receive ongoing support from The Big Lottery Young Start Fund, enabling us to continue our successful work with young adult carers. “The life of a young adult is full of important decisions about the future, as well as educational and social pressures. For those in a caring role, these challenges are more difficult and they can often feel socially excluded and isolated. “In the last year alone, we helped 22 young adult carers into college and university places, work placements and jobs, and this funding will allow us to support more young people to achieve their goals. “We are grateful to Gil for his recognition of our work, and for the increased publicity that the parliamentary motion will give it. The more people that know about our service, the more people that we can help.” ENDS The parliamentary motion reads: “That the Parliament congratulates Carers Link East Dunbartonshire based in Milngavie for a successful application to Young Start by the Big Lottery Fund for a £49,920 grant; notes the project that the charity applied for will involve a holistic approach to supporting young people with caring responsibilities in the development of person-centred action plans for young adult carers for access to information and advocacy about their caring roles, identify and pursue educational, training and employment opportunities; understands 70 young unpaid adult carers will be involved in the project over two years; recognises the instrumental work done by Carers Link East Dunbartonshire to assist more than 1,000 unpaid carers in the area each year; welcomes the funding boost provided by the Big Lottery Fund across Scotland.” FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said it is important the concerns of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice are addressed. During First Minister’s Questions, MSP Gil Paterson asked Ms Sturgeon for a meeting with the health secretary to discuss the on-going crisis at the hospice. On Thursday, January 19 the First Minister also expressed how valued the services provided by the hospice are to those who benefit from them and that when she was health secretary had a close relationship with the centre. Mr Paterson, the MSP for Clydebank, said: “I was pleased that the First Minister accepted what I was saying and that a meeting will take place with the cabinet secretary for health and I. The aim is to come to a resolution on the matter at St Margaret of Scotland Hospice — the charitable status, and possibly even more importantly, the ethos of the hospice must be kept intact. The hospice is unique not because it’s a hospice in Clydebank, it’s unique because as far as I’m aware it’s the only hospice in Scotland carrying out this type of valuable work.” ENDS FULL TRANSCRIPT OF FMQs Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP): As the First Minister might be aware, there are on-going discussions about the future of 30 long-term care beds in St Margaret of Scotland Hospice in Clydebank, in my constituency. Yesterday, at a special full meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council, a motion on the hospice in the name of the former provost, Denis Agnew, was passed. The hospice is concerned that proposals by the integration joint board to use beds as social care beds might raise questions about the hospice’s charitable status and, more important, its ethos. I believe that an amicable solution is entirely possible. To that end, can I request a meeting with the health secretary to explore whether the Scottish Government can play a role in supporting a resolution to this very important issue between the integration joint board and the hospice? The First Minister: First, I know how valuable and valued the services provided by St Margaret of Scotland Hospice are to those who benefit from them. When I was health secretary, I had a very close interaction with the hospice and, indeed, helped to allay some of the concerns that it had back in those times. As I understand it, the West Dunbartonshire health and social care partnership has said that there is nothing in the proposed arrangements that would undermine the hospice’s charitable status. However, it is clear from what I have already heard and from what Gil Paterson has said in the chamber that the hospice still has concerns, and it is important that we try to address those concerns. Gil Paterson has asked specifically for a meeting with the health secretary, and she will be happy to meet him to discuss how the integration joint board and the hospice can find not only an amicable solution but, most important, a solution that will allow St Margaret of Scotland Hospice to continue to provide the excellent care that it provides for people in its surrounding communities.   THE MSP for Clydebank has backed a campaign encouraging constituents to be aware of how much alcohol they are consuming.
Drinkaware held a day of actions in Clydebank’s Asda on Friday, January 13 and was joined by Gil Paterson MSP. The parliamentarian met with campaign demonstrator Paul Sweeny and the supermarket’s community colleague Linda Maguire. Mr Paterson said: “I was delighted to join Drinkaware’s day of action in Clydebank’s Asda and talk about what the group is doing across Scotland about alcohol safety. “I fully support the message of Drinkaware – alcohol can be damaging in many ways, from physical health, mental health, relationships and financially. “I would urge constituents to take a look at the advice Drinkaware offers, from safe amounts of alcohol, how many calories in certain drinks and what to do if one is indeed struggling with an addiction.” Visit www.drinkaware.co.uk for more information. ENDS GIL Paterson MSP has questined the Scottish finance secretary Derek Mackay MSP during General Questions session at the Scottish Parliament on January 12. Local Government (Capital Budget) 6. Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government what allocation of its budget has been given to local government for capital spending. (S5O-00544) The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution (Derek Mackay): I can confirm that the total local government capital funding allocation for 2017-18 will amount to £756.5 million. That represents an increase of almost £150 million or nearly 25 per cent compared with 2016-17. Gil Paterson: Recent reports have said that schools down south that were built using the private finance initiative and public-private partnerships are being ripped off through the costs of teaching supplies as those supplies form part of the PFI/PPP agreement. Are any schools in Scotland that were built using PFI/PPP in a similar position? If so, what is the cost? Derek Mackay: I can confirm that none of the standard contracts that were previously used for schools PFI/PPP deals included the cost of school teaching supplies.  Derek Mackay MSP  OPINIONS are being sought from constituents in Clydebank and Milngavie on reforming the planning permission system.
Gil Paterson MSP is appealing for constituents to give an assessment on a raft of proposals from the Scottish Government to ensure the right bill goes to the Scottish Parliament later this year. There are a number of suggestions across a range of categories, from community engagement, house building for the future and reducing bureaucracy. The consultation opened on Tuesday, January 12 and will close on April 4. Mr Paterson, the SNP MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, said: “Planning is an important part of shaping our towns, communities and our own homes – so I very much welcome this consultation to put more power in the hands of ordinary people. “Planning issues often pass through my office and appear in local press – they can be a source of stress for all parties involved. These proposals have a view to cut bureaucracy, so it’s definitely worth taking a look at. “I urge my constituents to take part and help influence Scotland’s future by giving their views on the series of proposals put forward by the Scottish Government consultation.” In 2015, ministers commissioned an independent panel to undertake a review of the planning system. The review included opportunities to get involved through both written and oral evidence and an online discussion forum. Since then the Scottish Government has been working with a wide range of stakeholders, including community representatives, public and private sectors, to explore potential changes to the planning system. Visit consult.scotland.gov.uk/planning-architecture/a-consultation-on-the-future-of-planning to take part in the consultation.  PARLIAMENTARIAN: Gil Paterson MSP ST MARGARET of Scotland Hospice has an outstanding record at every level when it comes to the delivery of the 60 beds it provides.
Thirty of the beds are palliative care beds and remain unchanged - except that there has been an ongoing dispute in regards to the level of funding for St Margaret’s against what is paid to other hospices for palliative beds. This goes all the way back to the last Scottish Executive and has never been resolved. However, the new chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, John Brown has put in a considerable amount of work on these two historic issues and I believe there is now a real prospect of a conclusion to them. St Margaret’s also has 30 long-term beds for the elderly, who have complex medical needs, which are contracted by the health board. The health board has decided to not place any future patients in this category at St Margaret’s and has decided to retain them in-house by directly administering the patients themselves. The health board has issued an assurance that all of the present patients will remain at St Margaret’s and not be relocated. Officials also guaranteed the long term funding for this to happen. To make it easier to explain, the beds that will replace them in the future will not be medical beds but effectively care beds. Care beds are provided for people who decided, or their families have decided they are no longer able to look after themselves. They are funded by individual care packages. A care package can be provided whether you decide to stay in your own home or move into a retirement home, care home, nursing home, sheltered accommodation etc. Most of these establishments are now private, some are charity-owned and very few are local authority-owned. If a patient decides to stay in their own home - which can be privately owned, council, socially rented, rented in the private sector - it makes no difference to the care package. Nor does it if their family decide on their behalf to move to any of the other establishments I mentioned. The patient still does not pay for their medical needs. However, in regards to the social care needs, if one has no personal resources of their own, the state can fund the care package. If the patient has the personal resources, they pay for the package. Care packages were introduced in the first Parliament by the then Scottish Executive in 2002. Therefore, the hospice is caught in the middle since it has charitable status not to charge and although it would not be the hospice who were charging directly it would be West Dunbartonshire HSCP – a public organisation. People would need to be assessed just the same since the beds are not medical. From my position, I cannot see how it is not possible to find a way that charges are not made for those who attend St Margaret’s. As far as I’m aware, the hospice is the only establishment out with a hospital which carries out its present work. It does it so well I would want this resource used, not just to save it for saving sake, but to benefit society in general and in the future. Yours sincerely, Gil Paterson MSP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Clydebank and Milngavie (SNP) |
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