MSP in the Picture for Epilepsy Awareness Week

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast joined with his fellow MSPs to put themselves in the picture about epilepsy issues.

They framed their personal support for 54,000 people living with epilepsy in Scotland with a National Epilepsy Week (19-25 May) group photo to help highlight this year’s ‘many faces of epilepsy’ theme.

Mr Stevenson said:

“Epilepsy is still the most common, serious neurological condition in the world but it impacts each person’s life in a unique and individual way. Epilepsy affects men, women and children of all ages from every ethnic group and social status. The outlook is brighter for the half whose seizures are well managed with medication. The picture is less rosy for almost a fifth whose epilepsy care could be further improved while the remainder face a difficult time, as do their families and carers, due to uncontrolled seizures.

“Epilepsy Scotland believe that with the right treatment seven in 10 people with epilepsy could become seizure free. This would save the NHS money and afford an improved quality of life for thousands of families up and down the country. I want to help ensure that this happens. I am happy to be one of the many faces of epilepsy supporters in Scotland and to develop greater public awareness and understanding of epilepsy.”

Stevenson Writes to TESCO Over Stalled Banff Development

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson has written to Tesco’s Chief Executive regarding the lack of progress with the long-planned development in Banff.

The move by Mr Stevenson comes following reports that Tesco have applied for planning permission to extend the date by which development works must commence.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:

"It seems as if this long-running saga is never-ending.

"The lack of progress has effectively "frozen" a part of Banff which was in dire need of renovation and redevelopment ten years ago.

"It's now over eight years since I organised a referendum in Banff and Macduff which gave a clear signal to Tesco that this is something which had majority support within the local community. Tesco are in serious danger of squandering the goodwill they had at that time if some action is not taken soon and I have written to their Chief Executive urging the company to apply some urgency to resolving this."

Stevenson Welcomes Year-On-Year Drop in Unemployment

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire and the Buchan Coast, welcomed the figures published in a monthly North-east economic report.

From January 2012 to January 2013, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the whole of the North-east fell by 14.4%. During the same period, Fraserburgh saw an impressive 28% drop, while Peterhead saw a drop of 20.1%.

The current Aberdeenshire unemployment rate of 1.2% is the lowest of all the local authority areas in Scotland. The comparable rate for Scotland overall is 4.1%.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said

“Scottish Government initiatives such as record numbers of modern apprenticeships and the small business bonus scheme, which has allowed companies to invest in recruiting staff, have contributed to these low levels of unemployment.

“These figures underline the resilience of the local economy in the North-east, and are a testament to the people in our communities.”