Stevenson Welcomes Announcement On Rural Development Programme

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the announcement today by Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead of investment of almost £1.6 billion for Scottish agriculture, forestry environment and community projects as part of the Rural Development Programme from 2007 to 2013.

Mr Stevenson, who made a submission to the consultation on the Rural Development Programme, commented:

                "Farming and the rural economy are one of the mainstays of the North-east so I am delighted that this has been recognised so early in the life of the new SNP Government.

                "One of my colleague Richard Lochhead's first acts as Cabinet Secretary was to hold a meeting with industry representatives and the interest groups and that will be a hallmark of this administration.

                "In addition, I am delighted that key stakeholders such as NFU Scotland have given a broad welcome to the package of measures announced today and I am particularly pleased to see a support programme for new entrants into the industry included in that.  That is something which I have argued for for a long time now and it is pleasing to see an SNP Government taking this forward for the future of the farming industry."

MSPs vote to dump tolls

The Scottish Parliament tonight approved the Government's plans to abolish tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said abolition would 'eliminate 40 years of injustice' since both bridges were opened in the 1960s.

The Minister promised that tolls would be end 'as soon as is practicable' or by the end of the year.

Mr Stevenson said:

"The financial cost to the Executive - both capital and current - of removing the bridge tolls will be considered fully in the forthcoming spending review. I have been advised that the current toll income for the two bridges in total is estimated to be between £15 million and £16 million per year.

"In effect the income from the tolls will be replaced by the same income - but that income will be provided by the Government, not by the residents and businesses of Fife and its surrounding area."

Minister for not-so-silly walks steers clear of cars - Evening News

IAN SWANSON SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR

SCOTLAND'S new Transport Minister has told civil servants to plan his timetable so he can walk around Edinburgh more, instead of using a government limo.

Stewart Stevenson - once Alex Salmond's chauffeur - said he had started as he meant to go on by walking from the Scottish Parliament up to St Andrew's House for his first meeting with officials, rather than making the journey by car. "I'm not saying I will never use an official car," he said. "But I like walking and, where possible, that's what I'll do."

Mr Stevenson was appointed Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change in the new SNP minority government last week.

He said: "I've asked the civil servants to timetable engagements if they're in Edinburgh, so I can walk between them.

"I will, of course, find myself using a government car some of the time.

"But I certainly want to use my feet when I can, take the bus or the train when appropriate, and fall back on the car only when necessary. My private secretary, who controls the diary, said she thought it was a good idea - and I'm sure they will find a way to make sure I'm still working even when I'm walking."

Trips to and from St Andrew's House in Regent Road should pose little problem for Mr Stevenson, but walking from the Parliament to meetings at Bute House in Charlotte Square and back would take more than an hour out of his day.

Mr Stevenson, whose constituency is Banff and Buchan in the north-east, lives in Linlithgow during the week and commutes by train to Edinburgh.

"I deliberately bought a house near the station, so it's three minutes' walk to catch the train and then a walk from Waverley to the Parliament," he said.

He estimated that he currently walks around five or six miles a day, including up to one and a half miles just going about the parliament building.

for the complete story click on Evening News

Blame row erupts over power plant - BBC

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has rejected claims the UK Government caused the collapse of a major green energy scheme in Peterhead.

BP has abandoned plans for the £500m UK carbon capture power plant in Aberdeenshire, blaming Westminster delays over support.

Mr Darling said BP could not simply be awarded the contract.

The Scottish National Party has called for a debate in the Commons on the collapse of BP's investment.

Politicians and environmental groups have described the situation as a "disaster".

About 1,000 jobs were expected to be created if the green project was ultimately given the go-ahead.

I just hope that it's possible for Westminster ministers to re-think this Stewart Stevenson Banff and Buchan MSP

The proposal was to generate "carbon-free" electricity from hydrogen, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by capturing carbon dioxide and safely storing it in an oilfield nearing the end of production.

It would have seen the world's first industrial-scale hydrogen power scheme based in the town. The plans won praise from energy experts, environmental campaigners and politicians alike for pointing the way forward.

Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "A terrific economic opportunity for the north east appears to have been lost in the short-term, in the long-term for making Scotland a world leader in carbon capture technology.

"I just hope that it's possible for Westminster ministers to re-think this."

to read the complete story click on BBC

UK Government Loses Carbon Capture Plant For Peterhead

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson has reacted with anger after BP announced that it was not now proceeding with the plan for a carbon capture plant at Peterhead.

The change of plan is a direct consequence of the Westminster Government’s Energy White Paper which would have meant a further delay for the project and BP and its partners – who had already spent £70million on the project – decided it could not accept further delays from the UK Government.

Mr Stevenson commented:

"This is deeply disappointing news for the local economy, for BP, and also for the environment and I am extremely angry that the UK Government’s muddling and lack of vision has meant that this multi-million pound investment has now been lost from the North-east.

"Peterhead was set to benefit from the huge investment and jobs which would have resulted and also have the prestige of playing host to a world first in terms of environmentally-friendly technology. That opportunity has now been lost thanks to the dithering and indecision of the London Government.

"It is deeply disappointing news indeed."

A96 by-pass challenge dropped

Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson has welcomed news that the legal challenge to the A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch by-pass project in the Court of Session, has been dropped.

Transport Scotland can now move the important north east scheme forward and will start to update important ecological and landscape information along the route.

The project will invest £18m – £21m into the north east trunk road network by taking A96 trunk road past the areas of Fochabers and Mosstodloch, as opposed to the current lay-out where the route goes through them.

The scheme will bring safety benefits to the areas by removing heavy through traffic from them.

Transport Scotland’s roads team will carryout the information update exercise before moving to the detailed tendering process. Work is likely to start in late 2008 – into early 2009 with scheme completion expected in spring 2010.

Welcoming the news, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

“This is a vital link in Scotland’s transport network. This project will bring benefits for communities across the north east, cutting journey times, easing people’s commute and improving connections.

“Fochabers bypass is a key part of our plans to deliver a less congested, more efficient transport network across Scotland, and I am delighted that work can now progress towards the building stage.”

Stevenson Delighted At Ministerial Appointment

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Banff & Buchan, Stewart Stevenson, has today (Friday) expressed his delight on his appointment as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure & Climate Change.

Commenting on the appointment Mr Stevenson said:

"I am delighted to be a member of the new Scottish Ministerial team in the first SNP government in history. This has been a tremendous week for the people of Scotland and one which I hope will herald a new era in Scottish politics, an era of co-operation and effective decision-making.

"A key part of serving in Government is ensuring you hear at first hand the concerns of individuals and businesses. I have always listened carefully to my constituents and in Government it will be my priority to continue to serve all of my constituents.

“Transport, infrastructure and climate change are issues of vital importance to Scotland’s economy and indeed the quality of life of people in Scotland. In my role as Minister I look forward to advancing an improved, safer and greener transport network here in Banff & Buchan and across Scotland.”

Stevenson Welcomes Nearly £25,000 In Lottery Grants For Banff & Buchan

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the latest announcement by Awards For All, which sees numerous local groups engaged in a variety of community, sports, arts, heritage, health, environment and education based projects benefiting.

Commenting on the welcome news, Mr Stevenson said:

"I am delighted to learn that many local groups have been successful in obtaining Lottery Funding. This will secure the future for many of the groups, and I'm sure it will go a long way to making a big contribution to the local communities.

"The communities in question and the local surrounding areas shall benefit immensely from these awards and I applaud their fortitude in seeking the funding that's on offer. "I would encourage more local groups to apply for funding, which is available from Awards For All which is supported by the Scottish Arts Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund.

"Once again, my congratulations go to the successful organisations on such welcoming news."

Note: The local awards are:

National Schizophrenia Fellowship Scotland – (Banff) £8720

Stuartfield Pre-School Group £1793

Portsoy Primary Parents Support Group £7904

Home - Start Deveron £5860

Local MSP Seeks Early Meeting With New Justice Secretary On Peterhead Prison

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has requested an early meeting with the new Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny Macaskill MSP to press the case for Peterhead Prison.

Mr Stevenson has been campaigning since he was elected in 2001 to secure the future of the prison which resulted in the then Justice Minister Jim Wallace overturning the decision to close it.

Speaking from his office in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Stevenson said:

"Obviously I am delighted that my party signalled its commitment to Peterhead Prison in the SNP Manifesto.

"People in the North-east are aware of the SNP's relentless dedication to this campaign. I am confident that the new Justice Secretary will recognise the urgency of the situation given that the staff at Peterhead have been left in limbo now for years by the previous Government.

"I look forward to a positive meeting with Mr Macaskill in early course."

Nats sweep the board - Banffshire Journal

By Kevin Duguid, Banffshire Journal

STEWART Stevenson was returned to the Banff and Buchan seat on a night of Scottish Parliament success for the SNP, but one of failure for the voting system.

Around 100,000 ballot papers were spoiled throughout Scotland, including a number in Banff and Buchan.

And many postal voters were also disenfranchised after they did not receive their ballot papers in time to return them for inclusion in the count.

However it was an overwhelming victory on all fronts for the SNP in Banff and Buchan.

In both the Banff and District and the Troup multi-member wards it was SNP candidates Ian Gray and Mitchell Burnett who were first to secure enough votes to be elected.

Alex Salmond ousted sitting MSP Nora Radcliffe in neighbouring Gordon and looks set to become Scotland’s First Minister.

Other members elected to represent the Banff and District Ward at the local elections were John Cox, Independent and Jack Mair, Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The Troup Ward also saw John Duncan, Scottish Conservative and Unionist, and Sydney Mair, Independent, elected.

There was a 51.2% turnout in the Banff Ward and a 50.58% turnout in the Troup Ward.

The new local members are predicting that they can represent the new multi-member wards well together.

In the constituency election Stevenson polled 16,031 – well ahead of his nearest rival, Tory Geordie Burnett Stuart with 5,501.

Kay Barnett (Labour) gained 3,136 votes and Alison McInnes (Lib Dem) polled 2,617. The turnout was 48.4%.

Mr Stevenson was delighted with the result. He said: “I’m feeling very pleased to have the opportunity to work for the people of Banff and Buchan for another four years. The majority in Banff and Buchan is the biggest in Scotland and that’s a vote of confidence in the programme that Alex Salmond has put forward on behalf of the SNP. We look forward to forming a government and being able to deliver what people want. I’m confident that the new First Minister will be Alex Salmond.”

However he was disappointed that some votes were not counted. He added: “My first and substantial disappointment was with the late delivery of postal votes. I know that this cost many people in Banff and Buchan their opportunity to vote and I want to understand very clearly why that happened and how we prevent that in the future.

“The spoiled papers in Banff and Buchan appear to be substantially lower than in many other places. I think it’s important to find out why some places had higher numbers and some places were lower. It’s clear there was something badly wrong and we need an independent inquiry.”

for the complete article click on Banffshire Journal

Scottish National Party hails election performance - Gulf News

By Daniel Bardsley, Staff Reporter, Gulf News

Dubai: Scottish nationalists have hailed their performance in the Scottish Parliament elections as the largest step towards independence for 300 years. The Scottish National Party (SNP) now has 47 seats at the 129-seat Holyrood Parliament - one more than the Labour Party, which had been the largest party since the parliament began sitting in 1999. The SNP's potential coalition partner, the Liberal Democrats, have warned however they will not help the nationalists form a government if the SNP insists on fulfilling its pledge of holding a referendum on independence. Stewart Stevenson, re-elected as the SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Banff and Buchan, told Gulf News: "We're on the brink of being in government and we've made the most substantial step towards independence since 1707, which saw the ending of the first Scottish Parliament." Stevenson said "opinion poll after opinion poll" showed that Scots were in favour of a referendum on independence, although he said the timing of any such referendum was up for discussion. "I am sure there will be a referendum. The issue is when that referendum is. To some extent that will depend on the coalition. 2010 has always been our target date, but we'll have to see when it happens," he said. Mike Rumbles MSP, one of 16 Liberal Democrats to be elected to the Scottish Parliament, played down the possibility of a referendum. "As far as we're concerned, this is not a step towards independence. There certainly isn't going to be a referendum," he told Gulf News. He said it was "possible but not as high as a probability" that the Lib Dems would form a joint administration with the SNP - as long as the latter did not insist on a referendum. If the SNP did insist on a referendum, he added, there was "absolutely no question" the Lib Dems would refuse to form a joint administration. to read the original story click on Gulf News

Banff & Buchan Result

CANDIDATES
Name	Party	Votes	%	+/- %
Stewart Stevenson	SNP	16,031	58.8	+5.8
Geordie Burnett-Stuart	CON	5,501	20.2	-0.7
Kay Barnett	LAB	3,136	11.5	+0.5
Alison McInnes	LD	2,617	9.6	+1.1
Majority		10,530	38.6
Turnout		27,285	48.4	+3.6
Swing: 3.3% from CON to SNP