Best Start Grant Pays Out £2.7 Million in First Two Months

Families across Banffshire and Buchan Coast have benefitted from £2.7 million paid through the Scottish Government’s new Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment scheme since it opened for applications.

Since December, Social Security Scotland has made payments to more than 7,000 low-income households. The support provided to families across Scotland, as of 31 January 2019, totals £2.7 million.

The Best Start Grant, which provides low-income families with financial support during the early years of a child’s life, sees eligible applicants receive £600 for their first child - £100 more than the UK government’s equivalent in England.

Best Start Grants replace and expand on the UK Government’s Sure Start Maternity Grant by providing eligible families with £600 on the birth of their first child, and £300 on the birth of any subsequent children.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“I am delighted that more Scottish families are receiving help from the Scottish Government’s new social security system, which puts dignity, respect and fairness at its heart.

“£2.7 million worth of payments - more than the DWP paid out in a full year under the previous system - will ensure that all Scottish children get the best possible start in life.

“It’s vital that the SNP government can provide help at a time when many families across Banffshire and Buchan Coast are seeing UK government social security support drastically reduced, and Universal Credit is causing hardship across Scotland.

“By reversing and mitigating Tory cuts that have been so damaging to families in the North-East, and ensuring that we support those on the lowest incomes, the SNP is building a social security system which provides a safety net for the most vulnerable in society.”

SNP Burns Night at Longhaven

Cruden Bay, Hatton & Longhaven Branch of the SNP held its annual Burns Supper at Longhaven Hall last Saturday which saw an attendance of over 70 guests.

In attendance and speaking were Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin, Stewart Stevenson MSP, who compered the event, and Robin Barclay who addressed the haggis and entertained the audience with his very physical rendition of Tam O’Shanter. Local singer and traditional music enthusiast Bill Gray entertained the company with some Burns songs to round off the evening.

Delivering the Immortal memory was SNP Health spokesperson at Westminster and MP for Central Ayrshire Dr Philippa Whitford.

Bill Gray; Gillian Martin MSP; Stewart Stevenson MSP;
Dr Philippa Whitford MP; Robin Barclay

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“It was a pleasure to be able to welcome Dr Philippa Whitford and Gillian Martin to Longhaven Hall. Philippa delivered an excellent Immortal Memory as befits someone who represents Ayrshire and Gillian gave food for thought with her Toast to Scotland.

“It’s fair to say Robin Barclay wowed the audience with his Tam O’Shanter and acted out the whole poem with help from props and some audience participation and we ended the evening in fine style with Bill Gray giving us some Burns songs.”

Gillian Martin MSP added:

“This was a very enjoyable event and I’m grateful to the local SNP branch for inviting me to give the Toast to Scotland.

“There was a good turnout of over 70 guests for the event and there was general consensus that the evening was a great success.”

UK Tory Government Says NO to Funding for North-East Broadband

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has condemned the UK Tory Government after it emerged that it had turned down a bid from Aberdeenshire Council to the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) for funding to improve digital connectivity in the North-east.

The funding bid from Aberdeenshire Council also included NHS Grampian and is believed to have been for a seven-figure sum.

In a letter to the SNP MSP, Conservative Minister Margot James said there were “stronger bids” and confirmed that the Aberdeenshire bid for UK Government funding had been refused.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:

“It is extremely disappointing that the UK Tory Government have refused this request for funding which came not only from Aberdeenshire Council but also from NHS Grampian.

“It exposes the hypocrisy of the Tory Party in Scotland who complain about the Scottish Government’s record on broadband roll-out when the reality is that this is a matter reserved to Westminster and the Scottish Government is having to step in to ensure the service is rolled-out precisely because of actions like this from Westminster.

“I am sure that officials in Aberdeenshire Council worked very hard on the bid and instead of complaining from the sidelines, the local Tory MP should have been lobbying the DCMS and his colleagues in the Tory Government and speaking up for Aberdeenshire.”