Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson is urging high-risk groups of society to take up the free flu jabs offered on the NHS, and ensure they are protected for a year. This week marks this start of the Scottish Government’s annual flu and pneumcoccal immunisation campaign running over the winter months, but the SNP MSP is greatly concerned that many people are unaware that they are eligible for a free jab.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“Last year only around 40% of eligible people under the age of 65 came forward for their jab. This is mainly because they do not know that they qualify.
“It’s a common misconception that only older people are eligible. In actual fact, many others are considered ‘at risk’ – including healthcare workers and carers, and people with certain conditions. If these people do not get vaccinated, they are leaving themselves vulnerable to the effects of the virus.
“It only takes a minute to get a jab, but it will keep you protected for 12 months, and could potentially save your life. I would urge all eligible people throughout Banff & Buchan to make an appointment with their GP for their free vaccination.”
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
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29 September 2008
26 September 2008
STEVENSON WELCOMES SUMMIT TO TACKLE DISCARDED FISH
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the fishing discards summit hosted in Edinburgh by the Scottish Government to try and tackle the problem of perfectly good fish being caught and discarded to comply with European fishing regulations.
Every year, around 100, 000 tonnes of fish are dumped back at sea when they could have made around £40 million if they had been sold instead. The summit marks the beginning of a campaign by the Scottish Government to bring about changes to European fishing rules so that this hideous waste is brought to an end.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“Discarding so many perfectly good fish is not something that either the fishing industry or the decision makers in Brussels wants to happen. The current rules are responsible for causing this terrible practice, so clearly the rules have to be rewritten to find a better way for the fishing fleet to operate.
“Skippers in Banff & Buchan don’t want to waste perfectly good fish by being forced to throw them back overboard. The practice runs completely counter to the aim of conserving fish stocks and making the industry sustainable.
“The Scottish Government is calling for new European rules whereby the fleet catches less fish overall but is able to land the marketable fish it is currently having to discard. In this way, fishing stocks will be preserved while at the same time the wasteful practice of discards will become unnecessary.
“Obviously there is a lot of negotiating to do if we are to have any chance of successfully changing European rules, but I am confident that every effort will be put into bringing these needed changes about”.
Every year, around 100, 000 tonnes of fish are dumped back at sea when they could have made around £40 million if they had been sold instead. The summit marks the beginning of a campaign by the Scottish Government to bring about changes to European fishing rules so that this hideous waste is brought to an end.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“Discarding so many perfectly good fish is not something that either the fishing industry or the decision makers in Brussels wants to happen. The current rules are responsible for causing this terrible practice, so clearly the rules have to be rewritten to find a better way for the fishing fleet to operate.
“Skippers in Banff & Buchan don’t want to waste perfectly good fish by being forced to throw them back overboard. The practice runs completely counter to the aim of conserving fish stocks and making the industry sustainable.
“The Scottish Government is calling for new European rules whereby the fleet catches less fish overall but is able to land the marketable fish it is currently having to discard. In this way, fishing stocks will be preserved while at the same time the wasteful practice of discards will become unnecessary.
“Obviously there is a lot of negotiating to do if we are to have any chance of successfully changing European rules, but I am confident that every effort will be put into bringing these needed changes about”.
23 September 2008
Major boost for Midlothian communities as Dalkeith bypass opens
Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson visited Midlothian today to mark the opening of the multi-million pound Dalkeith Northern Bypass which will ease congestion and bring real benefits to local communities along the route.
The £30 million bypass, delivered by infrastructure services company Morgan Est on Transport Scotland’s behalf, involved the design and construction of a 3.5 mile (5.4 kilometre) single carriageway road.
The road combines a new junction on the A720 Edinburgh City bypass east of Sheriffhall with the A68 to the south of Dalkeith.
Mr Stevenson said:
"This vital bypass will ease congestion for residents in the heart of Dalkeith. I’m delighted to also be able to announce today the next stage for improvements on the A68 with the publication of the Road Orders for the Soutra – Oxton road widening scheme later this week.
"Combined with our third project along this route, Pathhead to Tynehead, we are investing £40 million in the A68 to bring economic and safety benefits to Midlothian communities."
With around 1.35 million vehicles and 180,000 heavy goods vehicles currently travelling through the centre of Dalkeith each year, the new bypass is crucial to the community of Dalkeith - cutting the heavy traffic through the town by more than half.
Preparations for the bypass also involved the recently completed £2.2 million package of improvements to the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout while environmental mitigation measures to minimise the impact of the road has included the planting of 20,000 trees and shrubs as well as careful landscaping.
Jag Paddam, Morgan Est managing director of Infrastructure Projects said:
"It’s fantastic to see the bypass open today and we’ve enjoyed working with Transport Scotland on such an important project for local people. The bypass will benefit those living and working in Dalkeith hugely by not only dramatically reducing congestion in the town but also improving travel links to and from Dalkeith.
"This contract builds on our expertise in the construction, management and delivery of infrastructure schemes in Scotland."
The Soutra to Oxton scheme involves providing almost two miles of road widening to improve overtaking opportunities along this section of the A68.
The consultation period for this scheme starts on 25 September, finishing on 17 October for the Compulsory Purchase orders and 7 November for the draft road order. Subject to there being no objections, the statutory process is expected to be complete by January 2009 with construction starting Winter 2009/2010
For further information on these projects see links below:
The £30 million bypass, delivered by infrastructure services company Morgan Est on Transport Scotland’s behalf, involved the design and construction of a 3.5 mile (5.4 kilometre) single carriageway road.
The road combines a new junction on the A720 Edinburgh City bypass east of Sheriffhall with the A68 to the south of Dalkeith.
Mr Stevenson said:
"This vital bypass will ease congestion for residents in the heart of Dalkeith. I’m delighted to also be able to announce today the next stage for improvements on the A68 with the publication of the Road Orders for the Soutra – Oxton road widening scheme later this week.
"Combined with our third project along this route, Pathhead to Tynehead, we are investing £40 million in the A68 to bring economic and safety benefits to Midlothian communities."
With around 1.35 million vehicles and 180,000 heavy goods vehicles currently travelling through the centre of Dalkeith each year, the new bypass is crucial to the community of Dalkeith - cutting the heavy traffic through the town by more than half.
Preparations for the bypass also involved the recently completed £2.2 million package of improvements to the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout while environmental mitigation measures to minimise the impact of the road has included the planting of 20,000 trees and shrubs as well as careful landscaping.
Jag Paddam, Morgan Est managing director of Infrastructure Projects said:
"It’s fantastic to see the bypass open today and we’ve enjoyed working with Transport Scotland on such an important project for local people. The bypass will benefit those living and working in Dalkeith hugely by not only dramatically reducing congestion in the town but also improving travel links to and from Dalkeith.
"This contract builds on our expertise in the construction, management and delivery of infrastructure schemes in Scotland."
The Soutra to Oxton scheme involves providing almost two miles of road widening to improve overtaking opportunities along this section of the A68.
The consultation period for this scheme starts on 25 September, finishing on 17 October for the Compulsory Purchase orders and 7 November for the draft road order. Subject to there being no objections, the statutory process is expected to be complete by January 2009 with construction starting Winter 2009/2010
For further information on these projects see links below:
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