North-East MSPs Welcome Funding for Care Experienced Young People

North-east MSPs have welcomed a number of Scottish Government funded projects designed to help raise the attainment of care experienced young people.

Funding of £11.6million will be provided across the country and local authorities will work with Chief Social Workers and Directors of Education to decide how this year’s allocation will be used.

Last year, projects as diverse as mentoring programmes and outdoor and play-based education were supported through the Care Experience and Young People fund.

And during COVID-19 children have been provided with laptops to support their home learning during the pandemic.

The Scottish Government has also said local authorities will have the flexibility to redirect some of the funding from existing plans to best support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families.

The North-East will get a total of £901,200 split across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

Aberdeen City will receive £409,200, Aberdeenshire will be awarded £324,000 and Moray will be allocated £168,000.

Commenting, Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin said:

“It is really important we ensure care experienced young people are given the best chance in life.

“Enhancing their opportunities through mentor schemes and other educational programmes is a positive step in the right direction as we look to break down some of the barriers they face.

“I am especially pleased a focus has been made on how to help them through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Commenting, Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson said:

“I am delighted care experienced young people in the north-east will be able to benefit from further funding this year.

“Investment helps to remove obstacles while also allowing local authorities to provide targeted help for those most disadvantaged.

“Improving the education and life chances of all our children and young people is the defining mission of this Scottish Government.”

Scottish Tory Claims National Farmers' Union of Scotland "Wrong, Wrong, Wrong" on Internal Market Fears

North-east Regional MSP Peter Chapman has accused Scotland’s leading farming organisation of being “wrong, wrong, wrong” on concerns over plans for the UK’s internal market.

Mr Chapman stunned fellow MSPs in the Scottish Parliament chamber as he made clear he disagreed with the views of the NFUS (National Farmers Union of Scotland).

Earlier this week, NFUS President Andrew McCornick warned the proposals "limit the devolved administrations" ability to act if any standards were lowered and give the UK Government a final say in areas of devolved policy, such as agriculture, the environment or animal health and welfare."

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson said the outburst was “a glimpse into how little respect Tories have for Scottish farmers.”

When questioned over whether he agreed with the views of the NFUS, Peter Chapman MSP said:

“I do disagree with the NFUS and I normally respect their views but they’ve got it wrong, wrong, wrong on this occasion. So I’m sorry they have.”

The former Rural Economy spokesperson for the Scottish Tories – who was forced to quit in disgrace after a lobbying row – had served as NFUS Vice President from 1998-2000.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“The comments made in the chamber by Peter Chapman are not at all a surprise.

“Once again, they offer a glimpse into how little respect Tories have for Scottish farmers.

“The NFUS is rightly concerned about what UK Government internal market policy is going to do to devolution because their plans are simply wide off the mark.

“The Tories’ plans will significantly reduce Scotland’s world-class food standards and trample over the hard-won powers of devolution.

“Peter Chapman has shown he is not committed to doing the best for farmers in the area he represents or for Scotland more widely.

“He would rather do Boris Johnson’s bidding than stand-up for farmers.”

Stevenson Welcomes Voucher Scheme for Superfast Broadband

A voucher scheme will be launched next month to help both residential and business premises ensure they can access superfast broadband of at least 30 Megabits per second (Mbps).

The move has been launched by the Scottish Government to help support areas where there are no plans to bring superfast broadband to addresses by the end of 2021.

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the move and is encouraging businesses and residential premises to apply for the scheme.

Businesses with addresses that are either not in scope for a signed R100 contract or for planned commercial investment prior to the 2021 deadline will be eligible for the main voucher.

It will provide up to £5,000 per premise - including those in the North of Scotland where roll-out plans are still to be firmed up.

Meanwhile, residential premises - where superfast broadband plans are known but not likely to be deployed until after 2021 - will be able to access support up to £400.

Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, said:

“We will also ensure that those in the most difficult-to-reach locations can secure vital connectivity by providing an additional subsidy of £250.

“This will not prevent the deployment of the planned R100 intervention for those premises, for example where fibre to the premises is ultimately scheduled under the R100 programme but will allow customers to access an interim superfast service using alternative technologies while the build on the longer-term solution is undertaken.”

Vouchers can be used to cover the cost of installation association with securing a service across a range of superfast-capable technologies including fibre, fixed wireless, mobile broadband and satellite.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“I am pleased the Scottish Government has set out its plans to help support business and residential premises where superfast broadband roll-out will not be accessible before December 31st 2021.

“It is important we continue to provide the best access we can – particularly in rural areas – as the roll-out continues.

“This voucher scheme is of a level exceeding any other in the UK for broadband and I would encourage anyone who may be eligible to apply.

“This is an interim step which will allow for alternative technologies while the Scottish Government continues its work on the longer-term solutions.”