MSP Congratulates Youngsters for Drawing Attention to Using Water Wisely

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP, Stewart Stevenson has congratulated two local students on their Scarf School Calendar Competition award.

Mr Stevenson hosted the awards ceremony in the Scottish Parliament which event recognised winners from across the North East of the Scarf School Calendar Competition.

Among the winners were local students James Tait from Inverallochy School and Katie Leith from Crossroads Primary who won for their artistic submissions demonstrating how to be energy efficient and tackle fuel poverty.

The event was attended by winners from schools across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City and Moray Council local authority areas and their parents. The 2020 calendar attracted hundreds of fantastic entries from primary schools throughout the region. A total of 13 pupils were selected for the calendar.

Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“I am very proud of my young constituents and for all those who took part in the calendar competition. They’ve created beautiful pictures that reflect creative solutions to saving energy and protecting our communities from climate change. As the former minister for environment and climate change, I’m highly impressed by their work and participation.

“Both James and Katie managed to create interesting, thought-provoking art. They’ve clearly put a lot of work into their submissions and the calendar is lucky to have them. I would also like to congratulate all the young people who took part – their creativity, work ethic and awareness are the foundation for combating climate change and creating a world that’s more energy efficient.

“Well done to Scarf for hosting another great competition. They really are playing a key role in creating an energy-aware culture among our young people. I’m glad they continue to inspire our young people and I wish them the best of luck for next year’s competition.”

MSP Calls for Action as Emergency Food Parcel Provision in Scotland Soars

Stewart Stevenson MSP has called for urgent action from the UK Government as foodbank use reaches crisis point across the North-east.

It was revealed today (9th January) that almost 600,000 food parcels were handed out in Scotland over 18 months seeing a 22% rise.

Charities have slammed Westminster cuts, with data revealing that between April 2018 and September 2019, 278,258 emergency food parcels were distributed by independent foodbanks in Scotland – with a further 318,214 parcels distributed by the Trussell Trust.

A group of front-line organisations, including Oxfam Scotland and the Child Poverty Action Group, is now calling on the UK government to remove the unfair two-child limit and benefit cap, increase the National Living Wage, uprate all benefits in line with inflation, and ban zero-hours contracts.

In stark contrast to Westminster austerity, the Scottish Government has been working to develop a social security system with dignity and fairness at its heart – introducing a raft of benefits to provide much needed financial support to low-income families, including a brand new benefit which will provide eligible families with £10 a week for every child under 16 by 2022.

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP, Stewart Stevenson, said:

“It’s a sign of the times that people are dependent on food donations in a rich country – and an indictment on welfare reform which has left people with no other choices.

“While food banks such as the ones in Peterhead and Macduff do an excellent job of providing support for those who need it, the fact that they even exist is a damning result of UK Government policies which are actively driving people into desperate situations.

“The UK government needs to wake up to the cost of this crisis and stop shunning responsibility before more families and children are pushed into poverty.”

MSP Condemns Tory Power Grab on Holyrood

Stewart Stevenson MSP has condemned the UK Tory government for plans to grant themselves the powers to overrule MSPs on devolved areas, according to an independent report.

Analysis by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) warns that the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill will “allow UK Ministers, acting alone, to make provision in devolved policy areas."

The SNP has challenged the Scottish Tory leadership candidates to stand against this deeply undemocratic attack on the Scottish Parliament, labelling it an “early test” of their willingness to stand up to Boris Johnson.

The Tory government has consistently used Brexit as a smokescreen for a power grab on devolved matters – with the Tory manifesto also pledging to “look at the broader aspects of our constitution” after Brexit.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

"I am appalled that Westminster has ploughed ahead with an undemocratic power grab - threatening Holyrood’s powers under the guise of Brexit.

“Far from taking powers back to Westminster, the clear view of the Scottish electorate is that more decisions should be made at Holyrood to create a fairer, more prosperous country.

"While the Tories think they can do what they want to Scotland, we must be clear that is not the case. This will be an early test in the Scottish Tory leadership battle – the candidates should stand up to their Westminster bosses, and tell Boris Johnson to keep his hands off the powers Holyrood has held for two decades.

“The SNP will seek to amend the Bill to stop this power grab, and all parties at Holyrood must stand firmly against any attempts to erode the hard-won powers of our Scottish Parliament.”