SNP and Plaid Cymru Hold Blair To Account

Only 25 votes from disaster for Prime Minister Blair.

After a wide ranging debate SNP & Plaid MPs nearly pulled it off.

But the real test will be the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2007.

GRAMPIAN BUCKS NATIONAL TREND TO SEE BIG RISE IN SEAT-BELT OFFENCES - Press & Journal

by PAUL GALLAGHER, Press & Journal

Drivers and passengers who fail to belt up were labelled selfish yesterday, after sharp rises in seat-belt offences in the north and north-east over the past decade were revealed.

Both Grampian Police and Northern Constabulary have seen rises in the past 10 years.

The Grampian region had 105 fines imposed for breaking the seat-belt laws in 2004-05, nearly a fourfold rise compared with the 27 penalties in 1995-96.

The northern force area had an even steeper jump over the same period, from 17 to 81.

Most other forces saw a fall in seat-belt fines over the decade, including drops from 184 to 79 in Tayside, 795 to 411 in Strathclyde and 495 to 136 in Lothian and Borders.

Central Scotland Police was the only other force to have a rise over the 10 years, from 118 to 185, and the national total declined by 34%, from 1,779 to 1,158.

The figures were given in answer to a parliamentary question from Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson, who said not only drivers were at risk when they left their seat belts off.

Seat belts have been compulsory since 1983 but Leslie Harrold, road safety manager with Grampian Police, said advances in motoring in recent years seemed to have made belting up less important to some people.

He said: "Grampian Police officers, as part of their normal daily duties, do look out for drivers, passengers and children who are unrestrained in vehicles.

"These people are stopped and given a fixed penalty notice, or then can be reported directly to court.

"Part of the reason for the increase in the number of people being caught is that the occupants have become more complacent since vehicle technology has improved.

"People mistakenly believe that they are totally safe with the airbags and side-impact bars in their vehicle."

Although these features have improved safety within vehicles, wearing a seat belt is the safest thing an occupant of a vehicle can do."

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: "We have had quite a number of enforcement days over the past few years which are dedicated to officers going out and making sure people are observing the law.

"Any activity like this, of course, has to go some way to explaining this figure."The first thing people should be doing in any vehicle is putting on their seat belt. It's an essential part of driving and we would encourage everyone getting into any vehicle to belt up."

Mr Stevenson said the increases in fines showed police were taking the matter seriously but added: "It also highlights that drivers are taking dangerous risks by not insisting that they and their passengers wear their seat belts.

"We have to reinforce the message that failure to wear a seatbelt is unsafe, selfish and illegal. We must remember that it is not just themselves that they are endangering, it is also the innocent pedestrians and other drivers they put at risk."

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Stevenson Backs Rural Post Offices In Parliament

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has given his backing to a Parliamentary Motion supporting Scotland’s rural Post Offices.

The Motion, which was tabled by SNP MSP John Swinney highlights the threat to the rural Post Office Network in Scotland and calls on the Scottish Government to challenge the UK Government on its policy in this area.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“I am very concerned for the future of the rural Post Office network and note that the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provides financial assistance to the rural post office network in Scotland and that this is scheduled to be removed in 18 months’ time.

“Whilst the DTI provides this financial support, other UK Government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Transport and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are taking decisions that diminish the volume and value of business that helps to support Post Office branches. This, in turn, is detrimental to the viability of these Post Offices.

“It has to be identified that if the rural Post Office network is not supported, there will be severe economic loss and loss of amenity in numerous communities in rural Scotland. Surely, it is time for the Scottish Executive to make representations to the UK Government to provide a steady level of support that guarantees the viability of the rural Post Office network.”
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