Stevenson Welcomes Return To Normality As EU-Norway Negotiations Conclude

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the news that a deal has at last been struck between the EU and Norway over this year’s fishing arrangements. The negotiations, which are usually concluded in advance of the December fisheries council, have now reached a conclusion at the fourth attempt.

The agreement sees a 16.5% increase in North Sea Cod quotas; an agreement on a 10 year management plan for Mackerel and agreement that long term plans for other jointly managed stocks should be developed; Harmonised starting dates for EU and Norwegian Mackerel fisheries to prevent Norwegian vessels having a competitive advantage; and a 500 tonne transfer of North Sea Whiting from Norway to the EU. However, negotiations also resulted in a 5% cut in the Mackerel total allowable catch while final quotas for North Sea Haddock and Whiting will need to be ratified by the Council of Ministers in Brussels.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“I welcome the news that much of the uncertainty that has faced skippers in Banff & Buchan while these negotiations have dragged on has now been removed. It has been an extremely difficult few weeks for many in the fishing industry as they have waited for agreement to be reached.

“The uncertainty that the industry has been experiencing is a clear demonstration of the problems caused by holding short term negotiations at the end of each year rather than planning on a longer term basis and giving the industry greater stability.

“However, the fact that agreement has now been reached is a positive development and the news that an increase in North Sea Cod quotas has been decided upon will be particularly welcome. These have been difficult negotiations, but I commend members of Scotland’s fishing industry and officials who have worked hard to reach the best deal they could secure.”

Stevenson Encourages Banff & Buchan Farmers To Take Part In Farm Payments Consultation

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has called for farmers in Banff & Buchan to have their say as part of the ongoing Pack inquiry into the future of farming support. Brian Pack has published his interim report and will now engage in a series of public meetings with interested parties to get their input into his recommendations.

The closest public meeting to Banff & Buchan will be held at Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre on the 1st of February at 7:30 pm which will give individual farmers the chance to contribute to the future system of support for farming in Scotland.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“This is an important opportunity for farmers in Banff & Buchan to have their say on the system of financial support that they want to see in Scotland. Brian Pack’s interim report is a useful starting point for debate, but there is still a significant opportunity for individual farmers to shape the final report’s recommendations.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to take that opportunity and attend the public meeting on the 1st of February. This report will shape agriculture in Banff & Buchan and across Scotland for years to come, and it is essential that farmers make their voices heard.

“The work that has been done by the inquiry so far has identified the key issues that surround direct support for farming and I hope that we will now see extensive contributions to the process from farmers in Banff & Buchan.”

Note:

The Pack Inquiry’s interim report can be found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/inquiry/interim

NHS Responds To MSP Concerns

AIM TO RE-OPEN BROCH MATTY UNIT BY END OF MONTH

NHS Grampian Chief Executive Richard Carey has replied to local MSP Stewart Stevenson stating that he is endeavouring to re-open the Fraserburgh Birthing Unit by the end of this month.

Mr Stevenson had approached NHS Grampian again on the closure last month with concerns from local people and fears about the apparent lack of progress being made in re-opening the Unit. The SNP MSP met the NHS Chief Executive in November along with SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford to push for progress. At that time, it emerged that the recruitment of a Team Leader for the facility would be key to re-opening the Unit.

Now, Mr Carey has confirmed that a Team Leader has been recruited from within NHS Grampian and will be deployed full-time with effect from today and, after a period of orientation to her new role, NHS Grampian aim to have the facility re-opened by the end of January.

Welcoming this response, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

"This is good news and should mean that the Fraserburgh Birthing Unit is open to local expectant mothers again by the end of next week.

"I cannot stress how important this facility is to local mothers and expectant mothers and constituents have left me in no doubt that the unit absolutely must re-open. I am therefore delighted that this now appears to be only days away."

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford said:

"This is excellent news for the Broch but I hope that NHS Grampian will have learned from this episode so that neither Fraserburgh nor any other town has to lose its maternity facility for months on end due to staff shortages.

"The local mothers fought an exceptional campaign to keep the facility in Fraserburgh in the first place back in 2006 and it must have been extremely frustrating to see it closed due to recruitment issues. I'm pleased that it looks like normal service will be restored next week."

Fraserburgh & District SNP councillor Brian Topping has also been at the forefront of the campaign to secure the future of the town's birthing unit, getting unanimous backing from all parties on Aberdeenshire Council for his efforts. He said:

"Fraserburgh is the only town in Scotland with a population of over 10,000 people which is more than one hour from an acute services hospital. We need to maintain the maternity provision we have in Fraserburgh for local expectant mothers so I'm very pleased with this news from Stewart Stevenson."