FIGURES showing a steep decline in recorded crime in East Dunbartonshire since 2007 have been welcomed by East Dunbartonshire’s MSPs.
​
Nine years after the Scottish National Party entered office, recorded crime in the local authority area has fallen by 46 per cent, and 41 per cent nationwide.

It comes as a National Statistics for Scotland publication by the Scottish Government, Recorded Crime in Scotland 2015/16 was published.

Gil Paterson MSP and Rona Mackay MSP believe this sharp decline over the SNP’s period in office shows the party’s policies on policing are working.

Gil Paterson said: “The policies of the Scottish National Party alongside our hard working police force has created this brilliant decrease in recorded crime.

“It’s important we continue this trend in order to make communities around Milngavie and Bearsden, and indeed the whole of the country, as safe as they possibly can be.

“But make no mistake, 46 per cent in East Dunbartonshire, and 41 per cent across Scotland, is a huge result in such a short amount of time, and I am very proud to be elected on these policies.”

Ms Mackay, Strathkelvin and Bearsden’s MSP, and deputy convener of the justice committee, said: “These are welcome figures that show a steep fall in recorded crime in the period since the SNP entered office in 2007 – and shows that SNP policies, such as having more police officers, have made our communities safer.

“It is excellent to see a decline in recorded crime of 46 per cent across East Dunbartonshire, part of a Scotland-wide picture that shows an overall fall of 41 per cent since 2006/07.

“Having safe communities where everyone feels welcome are vital to creating the Scotland that we all want to see – and these figures show that, under the SNP, we have made significant progress in achieving this goal.”

Changes in total recorded crime between 2006/07 and 2015/16, by local authority area, available here: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00506122.pdf

Gil Paterson's speech at the NHS debate in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday September 21 2016.

Watch the full video below or see the transcript from the Scottish Parliament's official report.


Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP): 
Only last week, I spoke in a Labour debate on local health services, which in itself was a bit ironic. However, today’s debate is something else. We are here to debate a so-called national health service crisis.
I should really take the opportunity to check that today’s debate is not meant for Westminster. I need to check because the words “crisis” and “no confidence” in Donald Cameron’s motion are the words that are being uttered by patients, families and professionals about the current situation in NHS England, which is run by his Tory colleague Jeremy Hunt.
However, hold the presses—the Tories came across a report showing, according to Ruth Davidson, that NHS Scotland is facing “pockets of meltdown”. The report linked to an article that stated that
“hospital accident and emergency performance is now the worst it has ever been”
and to another story that said:
“we ended last financial year with trusts reporting the largest deficit in NHS history”.
That does not sound good at all for Scotland.
As the cabinet secretary said, out of the 94 hospitals that are covered in the report, only three are in Scotland, namely, Aberdeen royal infirmary, Ninewells hospital in Dundee and Raigmore hospital in Inverness. What the cabinet secretary did not say is that the accident and emergency performance levels for the areas in which those hospitals are located are 96.7 per cent for NHS Grampian, a phenomenal 99.2 per cent for NHS Tayside and 97.5 per cent for NHS Highland. The core A and E performance for Scotland overall in June was 95 per cent compared with under 86 per cent in Tory-run England, and under 79 per cent in Labour-run Wales. Overall, Scotland’s core A and E departments have outperformed the rest of the UK for the past 17 months.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): 
Will the member take an intervention?
Gil Paterson: 
You would have a cheek. Oh, my apologies. I mistook you for a Tory—carry on.
Alex Cole-Hamilton: 
That has never happened before. I thank the member for giving way.
How does the constant misdirection to what is happening in other parts of the United Kingdom make up for the fact that there are patients languishing on waiting lists and in hospitals in the jurisdiction where Gil Paterson’s party has been in power for the past 10 years?
Gil Paterson: 
As my colleague pointed out, thank God it is us in power, because your record is the statistics that I am citing. It does not matter what performance indicator we look at; the Scottish Government outperforms any other, including your own.
The headline of the story about the aforementioned deficit reads “NHS hospitals in England reveal £2.45bn record deficit”. The original reference to meltdown is targeted at Tory-run NHS England, but here we are debating a report that has no relevance in Scotland.
I agree with the motion in commending the staff across NHS Scotland for their hard work and dedication. During the term of this Government we have seen our staff ensure that our hospitals are cleaner and safer. There have been major reductions in the number of hospital-acquired infections since 2007. The number of cases of Clostridium difficile in patients aged 65 and over has reduced by a whacking 86 per cent, and the number of cases of MRSA has reduced by 87 per cent. NHS Scotland has one of the safest healthcare systems in the world, with record low infection rates and an internationally recognised patient safety programme.
In primary care, I am proud to say that my constituency has benefited significantly from big investments in the Golden Jubilee hospital. As a result of the tremendous effort on the part of many people, the previous finance secretary, who played no small part in that effort, was able to announce that a new, much-needed health centre in Greenock will be built. That is not in my constituency, but a new Clydebank health centre that is in my constituency will be built as part of a combined capital investment of £38 million.
Neil Findlay: 
Will the member take an intervention?
Gil Paterson: 
No, thanks.
That will allow the continuation of community health services in Clydebank. With mental health provision high on the Government’s agenda, I understand from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that primary mental health services will form part of the new health centre, which will be the focal point for primary healthcare in Clydebank. For me, that only adds to the evidence of the importance of this area to the SNP Government.
Despite those positive results and the steps that have been taken by our NHS, Tories both here and in Westminster, through narrow-mindedness and self-interest, have taken Scotland into uncharted waters. With approximately one in 20 of NHS Scotland’s doctors coming from elsewhere in the EU, the Tories are threatening our NHS not just through front-door cuts to Scotland’s budget but via the back door using Brexit, which threatens our ability to recruit health and care staff in the future.
For the Conservatives to hold this debate on health is a bit rich and there is a considerable dose of Tory brass neck in calling it today. I commend the cabinet secretary’s amendment to the Parliament.

​CLYDEBANK and Milngavie's MSP was asked to comment on crime statistics in West Dunbartonshire by the Clydebank Post.

Numbers showed overall crime is down in the region but Clydebank remains the highest of all the towns. Domestic abuse has seen one of the biggest decrease in the stats.

Gil Paterson MSP said: “Just last week (Thursday) I made a speech on domestic abuse, so I am glad to hear the recorded crime level has decreased in Clydebank.

“I commend the work done by Clydebank’s police force to get these figures down, I know they work tirelessly to make the town safer for everyone.

“However, we must remember crime is a direct consequence of the poverty that scars many communities in Clydebank – and only with full control of the economic levers of Scotland can we actually address this, which is a priority for the Scottish Government.

“Scotland’s new social security system will be at the heart of reducing deprivation in Clydebank. The attainment fund has injected cash into schools to improve literacy, numeracy and well-being of pupils in the poorest areas. The freeze of council tax, commitment to living wage, baby box, free child care are among many measures I have voted for as an MSP by the SNP government.”

QUESTIONS have been asked about why so many new mums are opting to give birth outside the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Gil Paterson MSP is seeking answers after Jackie Baillie MSP used proposals to move the ward by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) to attack the SNP.

Health chiefs at NHSGGC are in the process of consulting with the public over a proposal to move the maternity unit to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

An NHSGGC report 'Proposed Report for Changed Services' states how “the number of women opting to use those delivery services have continued to decline from the planned level of around 200 for each Unit. During 2015/16 there were only … 43 at VOL [Vale of Leven Hospital]”.

Mr Paterson was roped into the issue in July when Jackie Baillie demanded via the press he support her motion against the Scottish Government for a debate on the undecided NHS proposal.

Gil Paterson said: "The National Health Service Act (Scotland) 1978 section 2(5) clearly states where ministers would intervene in the mechanics of a health board’s decision-making. These are dire situations where health board officials defy the government or break regulations.

"An intrusion from Scottish ministers during the consultation to shift a ward is unfathomable but Jackie Baillie knows this fine well. And God forbid unqualified politicians start playing doctors and health professionals.

"On this particular maternity ward at Vale of Leven Hospital, projections expected 200 babies to be born in the area - but just 43 chose to have this delivery at the Vale of Leven Hospital in 2015/16. That would be one baby born every 8 days, and a whole maternity unit to back it up. What is going on here?

"The A&E was removed from Vale of Leven Hospital by Scottish Labour, when Jackie Baillie was a government minister. For this reason, there is no emergency care in case of complications during birth - this service is at Glasgow, where most mums go. This may explain the lack of deliveries there and why the health board wants to transfer it.


Jackie Baillie has attacked the SNP
"Jackie Baillie may want to review the facts, law and history before whipping up a party political debate to try smear her political enemies on vital, sensitive issue as the birth of babies.”

And here are a few figures on what the SNP has actually done for local health facilities:

On investment in NHSGGC:
Under this Government NHS Greater and Glasgow has a record high budget this year of over £2 billion, which has increased by over 27%.
In 2016/17, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s annual resource budget increased by 5.2% to a record high of £2,079.2 million - an above inflation increase, having previously increased by 2.7% in 2015/16.
Board receives £7.1 million (each year for 3 years from 2015/16) from the delayed discharge funding, announced by the Health Secretary on 20 January 2015
All Health Boards, including Glasgow & Clyde, are expected to make savings so to reinvest in their frontline services. £69 million in savings represents 3.3% of the Board’s resource budget for 2016/17.

Infrastructure projects:

Completed since May 2011
£21 million public capital - Vale of Leven Centre for Health and Care ( 2013)
£10.4 million public capital - Possilpark Health Centre (2013)
£18 million public capital- Glasgow Royal Infirmary University Tower Refurbishment (2013)
£842m pub capital – Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children (opened 
May 2015 – on time and budget)
£13.7 million - Maryhill Health Centre (2016)
£11 million – Eastwood Health and Care Centre (2016)
In progress (announced since May 2011) 
£15 million - Gorbals Health Centre 
£16 million - Woodside Health Centre 
£38 million – New Health Centres for Greenock and Clydebank 


END


A full transcript and video of Gil’s speech in the parliamentary debate on 13/9/16 is available on www.gilmsp.com. 

​ASPIRING journalists from Clydebank visited the Scottish Parliament to see politicians lock horns on the issues of the day.

West College Scotland design and media students met Gil Paterson MSP, attended First Minister's Questions and were given a tour of the Edinburgh complex.

Around 60 HNC and NC students were welcomed by Mr Paterson and his staff as part of their course at the Clydebank college on Thursday September 15.

The MSP said: "It was fantastic to welcome the students to the Scottish Parliament, where they can get an idea of how the democratic organs of Scotland function. It's important for media students to see it up close, and I was delighted that most of the students were also from Clydebank or nearby."

CLYDEBANK and Milngavie will benefit from a "new chapter" in Scotland's treatment of domestic abuse, Gil Paterson MSP has said.

During a debate on domestic abuse in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday September 17, Mr Paterson delivered a speech on the new legislation.

The new law includes plans to create a specific offence of "abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner'' as well as proposals to ensure that psychological abuse, such as coercive and controlling behaviour, can be effectively prosecuted under criminal law.

In the chamber, Gil Paterson said: "This Parliament—and indeed Scotland—can be proud that in nearly every session since the Parliament was reconvened, domestic abuse in its different forms has been addressed by members. More important, it is a topic that tends not to be used as a political point scorer, because of the broad consensus that domestic abuse requires not just a political but a social solution and work with key partners and agencies to ensure that everyone who experiences domestic abuse knows where to go, knows that they will be listened to and ultimately knows—I hope—that action will be taken. More of the politics can be removed from this issue when we think how likely it is that all of us in the chamber know someone who has been in this difficult and distressing situation—although the manner and form of the abuse might be somewhat different.

"It has been recognised that domestic abuse is not carried out exclusively by men; women have engaged and do engage in violence in the home. That said, the vast majority of incidents are, without a shadow of a doubt, carried out by men and, crucially, the level and severity of physical attacks on women and children are significantly greater. As a result, my main focus today is on men's behaviour.

"We must remember that abuse does not require bruises or physical marks; it can be hidden and long-standing. Furthermore, there can be other victims who might not be the direct target of the abuse. Children can become involved by witnessing the abuse, by being a secondary victim in the wider abuse, or by being used in some way as part of the mental abuse of the mother, which relates to today’s debate.

"The introduction of the new offence has positive implications for children in other ways. Section 67(2)(f) of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 makes it a ground for a child to be reported to the children's panel if 'the child has, or is likely to have, a close connection with a person who has carried out domestic abuse'.

"By widening the definition of—and recognition of—domestic abuse, we can use our already established and well-renowned children’s hearings system to protect our children.

"As for other already established systems, last year Police Scotland rolled out nationally its disclosure scheme for domestic abuse. The addition of modern abusive factors will also improve that scheme by empowering those who use their right to ask for important further information on their partner.

"I believe that, today, we are seeing the beginning of a new chapter in Scotland’s fight against domestic abuse and in our understanding of it. The introduction of this domestic abuse legislation is an attempt to acknowledge the modern issues that surround abuse and to recognise that abuse can go beyond the physical and can involve the psychological abuse of partners. Perpetrators can use a range of tactics to psychologically abuse victims, including controlling their finances, what they wear and their use of social media and threatening to harm others, including children.

"Such an offence will also have a significant impact on how society views domestic abuse by ensuring clarity about what is unacceptable under the law. It will help to change societal attitudes about what amounts to domestic abuse, which comprises not only physical violence but psychological abuse that can involve exerting total control over a partner’s every movement and action and forcing a partner and children to live in constant fear, which is criminal and unacceptable.

"I understand that it is challenging to use existing laws to prosecute those who carry out psychological abuse such as coercive and controlling behaviour, and the new offence will help the Scottish Government’s justice partners, such as Police Scotland and the Crown Office, to deal with domestic abusers more effectively. The proposed bill will bring clarity for victims and let them know that the justice system is focused on their needs.

"The Parliament has started to address wider and growing modern issues of domestic abuse. In March, the Parliament passed the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016, which creates a specific offence of sharing private intimate images without consent, which is often referred to as revenge porn. The act also introduced a new statutory domestic abuse aggravator, to ensure that the courts take domestic abuse into account when sentencing an offender, and statutory jury directions, which I very much support, for certain sexual offences.

"The new offence will add to our understanding and recognition of the modern challenges of domestic abuse. I very much welcome and support the motion."

Last night Gil Paterson back at claims by Jackie Baillie in a debate that the Scottish Government does not support local health services. A quick look at some facts below prove her outrageous claims to be another smearing of the SNP.

​Take a few minutes to watch my speech, and if you can't watch it please see the transcript from parliament below.

On investment in NHSGGC:

Under this Government NHS Greater and Glasgow has a record high budget this year of over £2 billion, which has increased by over 27%.
In 2016/17, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s annual resource budget increased by 5.2% to a record high of £2,079.2 million - an above inflation increase, having previously increased by 2.7% in 2015/16.
Board receives £7.1 million (each year for 3 years from 2015/16) from the delayed discharge funding, announced by the Health Secretary on 20 January 2015
All Health Boards, including Glasgow & Clyde, are expected to make savings so to reinvest in their frontline services. £69 million in savings represents 3.3% of the Board’s resource budget for 2016/17.

Infrastructure projects:

Completed since May 2011
£10.4 million public capital - Possilpark Health Centre (2013)
£21 million public capital - Vale of Leven Centre for Health and Care ( 2013)
£18 million public capital- Glasgow Royal Infirmary University Tower Refurbishment (2013)
£842m pub capital – Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children (opened May 2015 – on time and budget)
£13.7 million - Maryhill Health Centre (2016)
£11 million – Eastwood Health and Care Centre (2016)
In progress (announced since May 2011)
£15 million - Gorbals Health Centre
£16 million - Woodside Health Centre
£38 million – New Health Centres for Greenock and Clydebank

Full transcript:
​
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP): 
For the purposes of time and my speech, I will focus on the part of the motion that relates to the Vale of Leven hospital.

History does not bode well for Labour when it comes to the NHS and, specifically, to the Vale of Leven hospital. In 2009, the vision for the Vale ended a decade of damaging uncertainty for the Vale of Leven hospital and for the erosion of services—including accident and emergency—by the previous Labour-led Scottish Administration. The then Cabinet Secretary for Health, and now First Minister, made a commitment to protect the Vale, and this year—on camera and in front of 400 people in West Dunbartonshire—Nicola Sturgeon made the same commitment to the Vale of Leven hospital. If that was not enough, the cabinet secretary reiterated the commitment of the Scottish Government to the Vale of Leven hospital remaining open in front of the Parliament, the public and, again, on camera.

Jackie Baillie: 
I agree that that was all very helpful and I want to agree with both the First Minister and the health secretary about the Vale hospital. Why, then, do we have the proposal before us today? Does Gil Paterson support my specific call that it should be designated a major service change so that it is signed off by the very ministers who said that they would protect the Vale?

Gil Paterson: 
If it was another situation or any other element of the health board, if the Government was telling health boards dominated by the Labour Party to do one thing or another, or if the Government interfered willy-nilly with health boards, Labour Party members and other opposition MSPs would be up in arms. That is not the Government’s job and that is not how it works. The Government will be involved once the process has taken place and not at the present time.

Jackie Baillie: 
Will the member take an intervention?

Gil Paterson: 
I have just answered you, Jackie.

Jackie Baillie: 
No, you have not; you misunderstood.

Gil Paterson: 
That is the answer that I am giving you.

Jackie Baillie: 
It is wrong.

Gil Paterson: 
Thank you very much for that.

The Deputy Presiding Officer: 
Would you two stop having a spat? You can take it outside after the debate.

Gil Paterson: 
I apologise. It is not like me, Presiding Officer.

As it stands, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board is carrying out a review of services and I welcome the Scottish Government’s view that it would be unacceptable if any proposals were not consistent with national policy—such as the review of maternity services that is being carried out—and the view that any proposals must be subject to proper and meaningful engagement with the people affected.

The motion asks for the cabinet secretary to intervene. However, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board has already initiated a consultation period and we need to encourage everyone with a vested interest to engage with the process.

A serious question arises from the consultation in regards to the community maternity unit at the Vale of Leven hospital. The Vale of Leven and Inverclyde hospitals provide a wide range of maternity care services to women in each locality with 5,000 non-birth contacts each year, which is very positive news indeed. However, the figures for the Vale’s baby delivery service are shockingly low. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had a planned figure of 200 births per year for the Vale, yet in 2015-16 the actual figure stood at just 43—less than one birth a week—and the figure peaked at 112 births in 2009.

It must be remembered that women are advised consistently during their pregnancy by midwives and other medical professionals, including on what happens when complications arise. There is a concern that, with fewer women meeting low-risk criteria, there is a higher chance of complications, and it would seem that women are voting with their feet--

The Deputy Presiding Officer: 
You have to close now, Mr Paterson.

Gil Paterson: 
Sorry?

The Deputy Presiding Officer: 
Will you come to a close now, please?

Gil Paterson: 
I will, Presiding Officer.

It would seem that mothers are using the Vale for all other maternity services but opting to have their delivery elsewhere. The figures need to be analysed and the question needs to be asked why the vast majority of mothers in the Vale area are not using the unit for delivery. I want to know about that, not just as an MSP but as a father and a grandfather.

The Deputy Presiding Officer: 
Mr Paterson--

Gil Paterson: 
I will close. I did take quite a long intervention--

The Deputy Presiding Officer: 
Mr Paterson, you are well over your time. Thank you.

Gil Paterson: 
Thank you. [Applause.]

The Deputy Presiding Officer: 
Well, you got a clap, anyway. [Laughter.]

​GIL Paterson took centre stage at First Minister's Questions when he asked Nicola Sturgeon about what measures are being taken to protect business during uncertain times post-Brexit.

He was eight on the list and the third SNP MSP to quiz the First Minister. Here are Gil's questions:

Question: "To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is ensuring accelerated funding and additional business support in light of Brexit uncertainty."

And for the supplementary question, he quizzed: "I thank the First Minister for her answer. Does she agree that it's high time the UK Government followed our lead an announced their own economic stimulus package - rather than continuing to brush off all concerns over the future of our economy by repeating their meaningless mantra that 'Brexit means Brexit'?"

FIGURES showing a disproportionate amount of older people are facing dangers from electrical fires have been highlighted.

Gil Paterson MSP has thrown his weight behind Electrical Safety First campaign’s to raise awareness of dangers facing older people.

Injuries caused by electrical faults cost Scottish taxpayers around nearly £9 million – and around a third of that money goes to people age 60 or more, who make up just 18 per cent of Scotland’s population.

The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP said: “in Scotland, people age 60 or older make up less than a fifth of our population but they account for well over a third of the injuries and deaths caused by electricity.

“This is even more important in Clydebank and Milngavie where people aged 60 plus make up 24 per cent of the population.

“Given the fact we have an ageing population, and most fires in Scottish homes arise from electricity, it’s a problem that needs to be addressed urgently.”

A report produced by the charity -- Age Safe Scotland: Electrical Safety in an Ageing Society -- found that injuries caused by an electrical fault costs Scottish taxpayers around £8.9 million each year, yet a third of this (£3 million) is spent on older adults – who represent 18 per cent of the total population.  

To put this in perspective, the average cost of a hospital admission for someone over 65 is comparable to the weekly cost of 28 people living in a care home.

The report also shows that most (72%) of older people are owner-occupiers, whose homes often lack important electrical safety features. Critically, Scotland’s quality standards for social housing and the private rented sector don’t apply to people who live in, and own, their home.

But even if they don’t remain under their own roof, older people are still at risk, as Scottish care homes are not legally required to carry out mandatory electrical safety checks. Yet in 2014-2015, there were 81 fires with an electrical source in Scotland’s care homes and the number of fires in the sector has increased over the last five years.

Gil added: “Most older people want to remain in their own homes but as the Electrical Safety First report makes clear, unsafe electrics can make that a very risky business.

“Our ageing population will see a significant increase in age-related illness and frailty with, for example, growing numbers suffering from dementia – and this report also found that electrical safety is a key issue for carers when leaving a person with dementia on their own. We have a duty of care to our older people and I applaud Electrical Safety First for highlighting this issue.”

The Charity’s report makes a series of recommendations to the Scottish Government, including a call for free, five yearly electrical safety checks for all households with one person of pensionable age paid for by the power companies. It has also recommended mandatory checks in the social housing and care sectors and argued for the installation of Residual current devices (RCDs) - which rapidly cuts the current to reduce the risk of electric shock – in all PRS homes.

Phil Buckle, Director General of Electrical Safety First, said: “Over the last 6 years we have made over £90K available to Care and Repair Agencies in Scotland, to improve electrical safety in older people’s homes.


“But as this report makes clear, there is much more that needs to be done to protect Scotland’s ageing population. We hope the Scottish Government will take note and act on its recommendations.”​

A DEPRIVATION map of Scotland has shown Clydebank to be one of the worst places affected by poverty.

Clydebank, and many adjacent areas like Drumchapel and Yoker, appears as a giant sea of red amongst other prosperous areas like nearby Bearsden, and parts of west Glasgow.

The deprivation level is based on income, employment, health, education/skills, housing type, geographic access and crime levels. The more deprived an area is, the redder it appears on the map.

Gil Paterson MSP said: “Like many other former industrial heartlands in Scotland, Clydebank has been left to be ravaged by poverty in recent decades.

“The deprivation map starkly illustrates what happens when people are made jobless on mass – poverty, crime and a draining of confidence runs rampant.

“However, Clydebank is a unique town with an incredible heritage and magnificent achievements – I believe its legacy will still inspire a brighter and prosperous future, carried out by the strongest asset the town has had – its resilient people.”