MSP Seeks Assurances from Bank of Scotland on Cash Machines

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has sought assurances from Bank of Scotland on the continued availability of cash machines in Portsoy, Cullen and Macduff following the announcement that the bank’s branches in all three communities are to close in November.

Bank of Scotland plans to offer a mobile branch banking service in the communities affected, a service which currently runs in other communities across the North-east.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:

“It was disappointing to hear of the proposed closures of three Bank of Scotland branches within my constituency. I have received assurances from Bank of Scotland that staff in the Cullen Portsoy and Macduff branches will be redeployed and customers will be able to access counter services through mobile banking.

“Nevertheless, I am writing to Bank of Scotland to express my concerns and to seek clarification on whether the ATM service, which all of these branches possess, will remain available. As well as convenience for customers, tourism is very important along the Moray Firth Coast and access to cash machines is clearly very useful if we want tourists to spend money locally.”

New UK Energy Secretary Told to Live Up to North Sea Pledges

Action "Long Overdue" to Help Oil and Gas Sector Through Current Challenges
The SNP have today demanded that the new Westminster Energy Secretary puts his money where his mouth is and supports the oil and gas sector – after he claimed it was a “huge priority” for the UK government on a recent trip to Aberdeen.

Greg Clark visited Aberdeen for the first time in his new role yesterday, and the SNP have challenged him to deliver where his predecessors have failed – to support the sector through its ongoing challenges.

The SNP Government have consistently taken action to support jobs and workers across the North-East by investing in infrastructure, committing extra funding to the Aberdeen City Region Deal and working with the industry to help retrain staff to get them back into work.

Commenting, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Stewart Stevenson, said:

“It is vitally important to jobs and the economy across the North-East that Mr Clark doesn’t simply talk about making North Sea oil and gas a ‘huge priority’ but actually delivers on this.

“The UK government have failed miserably to support the North-East in these challenging times – action is long overdue from a government that happily reaps the benefits from the industry when times are good, but quickly deserts it when times are tough.

“The Tory government needs to show the same level of commitment to the North-East as the Scottish Government has – and take action to protect the industry, such as reducing fiscal barriers to exploration and improving access to decommissioning tax relief.

“The new energy secretary must live up to his pledges on the sector and take action now to protect jobs and livelihoods across the region. His predecessors have failed miserably to do this – Greg Clark must put his money where his mouth is and ensure he doesn’t become yet another member of the Tory government with a dreadful record in protecting jobs in the North Sea.”

MSP Supports Child Poverty Consultation

Scottish Government Setting Framework for Child Poverty Eradication by 2030
SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, Stewart Stevenson, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s newly launched consultation on ending child poverty. The consultation comes ahead of the Child Poverty Bill which will be introduced next year and will form part of the overall approach to tackle poverty and inequality in Scotland.

The Scottish Government aims to eradicate child poverty – and this consultation asks for comments on the proposals to introduce four statutory income targets seeking to drastically reduce child poverty by 2030, as well as how existing work can be strengthened.

These next steps will build on the range of work the Scottish Government already has underway to tackle poverty and inequality, such as the commitment to the Living Wage, free school meals, expansion of funded early learning and childcare, and the Scottish Attainment Challenge.

Commenting on the consultation launch, Stewart Stevenson MSP said,

“The launch of this consultation shows that the Scottish Government is taking vital action to tackle poverty and inequality across Scotland.

“I am delighted to see the Scottish Government taking this active approach to end the blight of child poverty. Tackling deep-seated inequalities is the job of all society so we need everyone across local authorities, business, the third sector and those who experience poverty to work together.

“The Child Poverty Bill consultation will allow further evidence and ideas to emerge, helping to build on efforts already underway – such as free school meals, a commitment to the Living Wage of £8.25/hour, the Scottish Attainment Challenge and duties to tackle inequalities of educational outcome due to socio-economic disadvantage.

“The Scottish Government sees child poverty as a priority – and this Bill consultation shows that the SNP in Government will work hard to end the cycle of poverty in Scotland once and for all.”