SCOTLAND must get a special deal for accessing the EU’s single market after Brexit, Clydebank’s MSP has said.
Gil Paterson MSP has also backed the First Minister’s call against a “Westminster power grab” after Britain leaves the European Union.
On Tuesday, December 20 Nicola Sturgeon announced a raft of measures to “mitigate damage to Scotland” due to Brexit, including bespoke membership of the EU single market and further devolution of former EU powers.
The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP told how the “ball is well and truly in the UK Government’s court”, and emphasised the region’s pro-EU vote in June’s referendum.
Mr Paterson said: “New powers must come to Scotland in the event of Brexit – we must stop a Westminster power grab of our farming, fishing, environment, consumer protection and employment laws.
“For the sake of jobs in Milngavie, Bearsden and the whole of my constituency we must ensure Scotland remains in the single market. The Fraser of Allander Institute have estimated 80,000 jobs in Scotland alone depend on the membership of the common market.
“Scotland’s Place in Europe is the first Brexit plan to come since the vote in June – and it is a promise kept by our First Minister. My constituents voted emphatically to remain in the European Union, so I will do my best as their MSP to fight their corner and retain as many benefits as Scotland can from the EU.”
ENDS
NOTES

-       View Scotland’s Place in Europe at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/12/9234

CLYDEBANK’S business community us being asked to get involved with a new inquiry on the gender pay gap in Scotland.
Gil Paterson MSP is backing the Scottish Parliament economy, jobs and fair work committee’s investigation that looks to “explore the effect of the gender pay gap on the Scottish economy”.
The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP, a committee member, is appealing to small and medium business people, academics, interest groups and expert individuals in the constituency to answer various questions on the gender pay gap.
The inquiry, which launched on December 15 and will also look at the public sector, is to advise the Scottish Government on reducing the gender pay gap and will be published before the summer recess in July.
The deadline for submissions to the inquiry is Friday, March 10 2017 which will be followed by evidence-giving sessions in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Paterson said: “I am appealing to business-minded people and interest groups in Clydebank to engage with the inquiry on the gender pay gap.
“The gender pay gap is a complex issue with many factors – so it is important we work out how best to define and measure it. Equality is a cornerstone of this SNP government.
“I am very keen to see what the inquiry unveils about the relationship between Scotland’s economic clout and women being paid less on average.
“The inquiry will guide the government into the future on reducing the gender pay gap but also highlight and discuss what action is being taken at the moment.”
ENDS
NOTES
1.       The inquiry remit says: To explore the effect of the gender pay gap on the Scottish economy, with a particular focus on business performance, the Scottish public sector and Scottish Government action required to address the issue.
2.       A full detail of the questions being asked is available at www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/102751.aspx.

​WOULD-BE disruptive road works on the Erskine Bridge have been postponed after Clydebank’s MSP expressed concerns.
Gil Paterson wrote to Scotland Transerv about the works that would see lane and slipway closures scheduled for December 17 to 21.
On December 8, the MSP outlined constituents would be busier in the lead up to Christmas and asked the firm to delay the works.
He insisted drivers and passengers should not be put through extra stress in one of the busiest shopping weekends in the year.
A spokesman for the contractors returned informing Mr Paterson the works would no longer be going ahead.
The MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie said: “I am delighted Scotland Transerv has postponed the road works on the Erskine Bridge, which would have reduced traffic to one lane and cause a bottleneck of thousands of motorists.
“At this time of year, many of my constituents will be out and about doing Christmas shopping at Braehead, for example, and would not appreciate delays to their journey at what can be a very stressful time of the year.”
“I congratulate Scotland Transerv for taking on board people’s comments and acting in such a good public-spirited fashion. I think we all appreciate the professionalism.”
ENDS
NOTES

Scotland Transerv’s plans for works on the Erskine Bridge were as follows:
ScotlandTranServ propose to carry out carriageway resurfacing, renew high friction surfacing, replace bridge joints and install detector loops on three of the slip roads - the onslip to the Erskine Bridge from Duntocher will not have any work carried out on it.
This work will be carried out over a series of nights. Traffic management will be implemented from 20:00 each night and will be removed by 06:00 each morning.
In order to safeguard ScotlandTranServ’s operatives the slip roads will be required to be closed with local diversions in place.
On two of the nights the northbound carriageway of the Erskine Bridge will need to be closed with traffic using alternative routes.
A breakdown of the traffic management proposals are:
Southbound onslip to the main south bound carriageway of the Erskine Bridge
This slip road will be closed on Saturday 17th, Sunday 18th and Monday 19th December 2016. Traffic will be diverted via the Dalnotter interchange to return northbound on the A82 to access the Erskine Bridge.
Northbound Carriageway of the Erskine Bridge       
The northbound carriageway of the Erskine Bridge will be closed on Sunday 18th and Monday 19th December. Signs will be erected at strategic points on the surrounding road network advising drivers of this closure and to use an alternative route.
Northbound off slip from the Erskine Bridge to the northbound carriageway of the A82 trunk road
This slip road will be closed on Tuesday 20th December 2016. Traffic will be diverted via the Dalnotter interchange to return northbound on the A82.
Southbound off slip from the Erskine Bridge to the southbound carriageway of the A82
This slip road will be closed on Wednesday 21st December 2016. Traffic will be diverted via the Dunglass roundabout to return southbound on the A82.

Emergency vehicles will be permitted to travel through any of the closures. However, they must report to a hold point and will then be escorted through the working area. 

INCREASED funding to local services was among the perks of the budget welcomed by Clydebank and Milngavie’s MSP.

Gil Paterson MSP welcomed the Scottish Government’s proposed budget after it was announced on Thursday, December 16.

The cabinet secretary for finance, Derek Mackay MSP, announced a raft of measures to boost public services around Scotland.

Mr Paterson applauded the increased fundraising powers for East and West Dunbartonshire Council, which will now be able to boost its coffers through the unfreezing of the Council Tax.

The SNP MSP said: “It’s clear this proposed budget will boost our public services, maintain and support jobs and ease the financial burden upon our families.

 “Councils, schools and social care services will all benefit from the Scottish budget’s plan to increase funding to local authorities to the tune of up to £240 million.

 “And of course, both East and West Dunbartonshire will have the power to unfreeze the higher bandings of the Council Tax if it so desires.

“Clydebank’s local services will be emboldened by the SNP government’s plan for a direct £120 million funding package going into our schools towards closing the attainment gap. 

“The budget will see £107 million NHS funding given to into social care partnerships for social care workers and for the living wage to be paid.

“What all these measures will do will ease the burden on our local services and put more spending power into the hands of West and East Dunbartonshire Councils. 

“Let us hope the opposition act responsible and come to a consensus with these positive proposals, those that help alleviate the terrible effects of Tory austerity on our local services.”

A full breakdown of the budget can be found on the Scottish Government’s website, atwww.gov.scot/Publications/2016/12/6610.

​PLANS to replace a train station's signalling system have been welcomed by Clydebank's MSP.

Yoker Train Station, at the very edge of the Clydebank and Milngavie, boundary will undergo renewal by April year.

Most delays and cancellations are due to signal faults at this particular section of the line, Gil Paterson MSP said.

The MSP welcomed the upgrade and praised actions by the Scottish Government to reduce delays.

Mr Paterson said: "I am glad to see the ScotRail Alliance Improvement Plan includes upgrades to the service in Clydebank.

"The performance of ScotRail since Abellio took over has rightly been under fire for delays it has caused my constituents — so this is good news.

"Signalling faults are to blame for many delays and cancellations, especially on this line going through Clydebank. The signalling upgrade will help alleviate delays."

The upgrade is outlined in the ScotRail Alliance Improvement Plan in the Glasgow & West Infrastructure Improvement Plan section.

On November 29, Transport Minister Humza Yousaf launched the improvement plan which aims to address delays and cancellations on Scotland's railways.

ENDS

Notes to reporters:

·         View the ScotRail Alliance Improvement Plan. Search ‘2.6’ for the Yoker station details: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/scotrail-alliance-performance-improvement-plan_actions.pdf

GIL Paterson MSP has questioned the Scottish Government on risk management of young people who have demonstrated harmful behaviour. 

​Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP): 
Can the minister give any further detail on the arrangements that will be put in place to ensure that there is monitoring and risk management of young people who have demonstrated harmful behaviour in early childhood offending and who continue to cause concern as they become adults?

Mark McDonald: 
Children can and do change—that is fundamental to the Scottish concept of social education and our reintegrative model. As I outlined in my statement, we need a system that reflects that and furthers our approach to addressing needs as well as deeds. For young people who are nearing their 18th birthday, appropriate plans should be in place to manage risks and we should ensure that those plans are shared with all the relevant agencies that have responsibility for supporting them and managing any potential risks. That happens currently.

Additional safeguards will be put in place for a young person moving into young adulthood whose behaviour has been assessed as continuing to be a source of serious concern and in relation to whom compulsory risk management measures are considered necessary and proportionate. That is our starting principle, and work on that will be progressed as the legislation is drafted.