Scottish Liberal Democrat representatives of Orkney and Shetland in Holyrood and Westminster have today asked dog-owners to take extra care while walking their pets during lambing season and calving season.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has raised frustrations with repeated failures by energy companies to deliver large amounts to people entitled to “feed-in tariff” payments for producing renewable energy.
Responding to news that Humza Yousaf has been elected as the new leader of the SNP, Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael said:
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has this week highlighted the challenges of the “energy trilemma” – balancing energy affordability, security of supply and decarbonisation – in a speech in Parliament.
Responding to the 20th anniversary this week, Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has reflected on the legacy of the war and the reaction from people in the isles at the time.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today pressed ministers for a renewed debate on the operation of the Alternative Fuel Payment, citing the “utterly random” delivery of funds to people in the isles. Mr Carmichael noted responses from constituents to his online survey, which found close to a 50-50 split between people using electric heating (which in theory is not eligible for the AFP) who had or had not received the payment. Mr Carmichael previously secured a commitment from ministers not to “claw back” wrongly delivered payments for those on electric heating.
Responding to the Spring Budget today, Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has criticised the “skewed” priorities of the Conservatives in pushing major tax breaks for the wealthy and major businesses while refusing to expand energy bills support and hitting families and small businesses with further taxes.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on the government to reverse its “questionable” decision to exclude distillers from the successor energy bills discount scheme coming in next month, ahead of this week’s Budget. Writing in PoliticsHome today, Mr Carmichael highlighted the “linchpin” role many distillers play in providing quality jobs and tourism interest in communities in the Highlands and Islands, including in the Northern Isles. He further noted that beer brewers and winemakers are to be included in the provisional criteria, despite being far less energy-intensive industries than distilling.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has called for a better strategy from the government on brain tumour research funding in a debate in Parliament. Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Carmichael highlighted the progress made in recent years in delivering ringfenced funding for research, but warned that structural problems were still standing in the way. The MP also highlighted the wider need for more openness in talking about brain tumours amongst friends and family.
Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur today marked the launch of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s national week raising awareness of mental health, during a visit to Orkney Blide Trust.
My week had an unintended rural theme.
Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has thanked organisations active in helping provide support to those in rural and island areas struggling with their mental health.
Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has urged the Scottish Government to ensure dentists are provided with detailed information on future funding arrangements as soon as possible and well ahead of the deadline for reforms being introduced in November this year.
Orkney MSP Liam McArthur reiterated his call for a fourth daily return sailing between Stromness and Scrabster following the grounding of MV Pentalina earlier this month.
The big events this week in the Parliament were two debates on Highly Protected Marine Areas, or HPMAs.
Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland MSP, Beatrice Wishart, has quizzed the Transport Minister on the booking system for the Northern Isles ferry route. Bookings beyond 30th September are not open.
So ferries look set to be the focus of attention at Holyrood again this week following the grounding of MV Pentalina on Saturday evening, albeit the attention shifts from events on the west coast to here in Orkney.
Liam McArthur today praised the ‘calm professionalism’ of those involved in the rescue of passengers aboard MV Pentalina on Saturday evening and the ‘generosity’ of the local community who looked after them once ashore.
