MSP SAYS ‘SNP IS MAKING GOOD ON IT’S PLEDGE’
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson says ‘The SNP is making good on it’s pledge to tackle the NHS dentistry crisis left by Labour and the Lib-Dems in 2007’.
NHS dentistry was a key plank of the SNP election campaign in 2007 and 4 and a half years on the latest statistics for NHS dental registrations in Grampian show that the number of patients with an NHS dentist has increased from 35.2% in 2007 to 53.5% last year, with over 25,000 additional registrations in Grampian since last year.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“The NHS Dentistry service in Grampian was teetering on the brink in 2007 and the SNP pledged that we would tackle the dentistry crisis facing Scotland. That is exactly what we have done.
“Many thousands more people in Grampian are now registered with an NHS dentists, we have supported investment in more dental surgeries and a new dental school in Aberdeen which is making a real difference to the availability of NHS dentists in our region.
“Labour and the Lib-Dems left the dental service in an absolutely shocking state which has taken 4 years of solid support and investment to get it back on track. This was never going to be an easy task and there is still more work to be done but with NHS dental registrations now at a record high in Scotland, greatly improved on the position of 4 years ago I am very pleased with this progress.”
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has shown his support for International Day of Disabled People, which takes places on 3rd December.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr Stevenson said:
“I hope that the day help increase the understanding of the issues around disabilities and draw attention to the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities as well as increasing the awareness of the gains for everybody if disabled persons are integrated into all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life and raising money for resources for persons with disabilities.
“We must remember that persons with disabilities around the world make up approximately 10% of the population but sadly, even where disability laws are in place, its effectiveness can be held back by negative attitudes towards disabled persons.
“Persons with disabilities deserve equal rights: social, cultural, and political amongst many other important rights they need to live fairly in society.”
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government will create a dedicated Minister with responsibility for tackling the problem of youth unemployment. Announced during a debate in the Scottish Parliament today (Thursday), the Scottish Government will also add an additional £30 million to its ongoing efforts to help young people into work, education, or apprenticeships.
Details of the Ministerial post and how the additional £30 million of funding will be allocated will be outlined by Ministers before Parliament breaks for the Christmas recess.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“I welcome the decision that there will now be a dedicated Minister working on behalf of the unacceptably high proportion of young people who are currently unemployed as a result of the economic problems we face. Nobody should go through school only to find themselves unable to work at the end of it, and face potential problems for the rest of their working life as a result.
“When appointed, the Minister will help to ensure that there is a joined up approach to tackling youth unemployment across the Scottish Government and that is the right way forward if we are to tackle this serious problem.
“The creation of this post will build upon the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide every 16-19 year old who needs it a learning or training position through our Opportunities for All scheme.
“The announcement of extra funding is also good news and will only add to the extensive efforts that are already underway to support young people at this extremely difficult time.”
Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
