North East MSP Alison McInnes today highlighted the importance of Citizen Advice's campaign aimed at helping people cut their fuel bills.

This week consumer organisations, energy suppliers, switching sites and Government agencies are working together to let consumers who are struggling with rising energy bills know about all the help that is available.

Last year when the Scottish Government announced its initial consultation on reforming Scotland's police services, ministers did so with the claim that they were going into the debate with an open mind.

A clear majority of respondents to that consultation were not in favour of the proposed single national police force. Even so, in September Alex Salmond announced that "after detailed consideration . . . persuaded that a single national police service is the right option."

Commenting on the rise in the number of C Difficile infections in the last quarter, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said: "Hospital borne infections can cause devastating and life threatening consequences, especially in the elderly and vulnerable."

The North East MSP added: "Controlling these infections still clearly presents a challenge to health care professionals. However given the impact these infections can have, we need swift and effective action to deal with them. There is no room for complacency - constant vigilance is required.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP is urging the Scottish Government to redouble its efforts to ensure there are adequate resources in place to help drug offenders turn their lives around.　

In answers to Parliamentary Questions submitted by Mrs McInnes, it was revealed that 70% of prisoners serving time for drug related offences have previously been in prison for a similar offence during the past 10 years.　

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP today expressed concern about the amount of people over the age of 65 who are being readmitted to hospital as an emergency within 28 days of being discharged from a medical specialty.　　

In answers to Parliamentary Questions submitted by Mrs McInnes, it was revealed that more than one in 10 elderly patients, who have been discharged after a stay in hospital, are readmitted within the month.　

North East MSP Alison McInnes today welcomed the announcement that Dyce Station is to receive funding to improve access for all passengers.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP last month appealed to the Scottish Government to improve access for disabled passengers at Dyce Station, urging the Transport Minister to give Dyce a share of £41 million of funding that has been set aside to improve access at stations for disabled passengers.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP has raised concerns about significant increases in waiting times for Powers of Attorney to be processed by the Office of the Public Guardian.

A large increase in the numbers of Powers of Attorney submitted has coincided with a 12% reduction in staff numbers which means that the Office's target to process Powers of Attorney within 30 days has been blown out of the water and people are having to wait up to 14 weeks.

Local parliamentarians Alison McInnes MSP and Malcolm Bruce MP are seeking clarification as to how the Inveramsay Bridge upgrade might be affected by proposals to dual the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness.

As part of a £60 billion strategy to improve infrastructure, the Scottish Government has claimed that it will dual the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness over the next two decades, starting with the section between Inverness and Nairn.

Commenting on the news that Scottish Enterprise has awarded GlaxoSmithKline in Montrose a £1.46 million research and development grant, North East Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes said: "This grant is great news for Montrose. GlaxoSmithKline is a major local employer, and this grant could lead to another 25 jobs being created on site.

Commenting on figures released today which reveal that 16% of adults in Scotland have experienced some form of domestic abuse, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said: "It is shocking that domestic abuse still happens so frequently in Scotland.

The North East MSP added: "We need to remember that every one of these statistics relates to a family or individual afflicted by this abuse.