June 2010

Carers Weeks

This week is carers week. It's a time to highlight the amazing commitment shown by unpaid carers around the country. The theme of the week's event is "a life of my own". Not an easy thing to have when caring for a relative - whether it's a parent, partner or child the commitment can be so great that there is little time left for oneself. New research issued to coincide with carers week shows that more than three quarters of people looking after an ill, frail or disabled loved one don't have a life outside of their caring role. Carers can feel isolated and lonely and often give up their own interests. Many give up their work to care full time and are therefore worse off financially.

Scotland has 657,000 unpaid carers and 100,000 young carers. It is estimated that carers save the UK economy £87bn a year through easing pressure on health and social care services, yet despite this are undervalued and often ignored by society.

Young carers face particular problems. They can experience isolation, be bullied and constantly worry about the person for whom they care. Young carers also experience poorer outcomes as a result of their caring role - new research carried out by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the Children's Society shows that over two thirds of young carers are bullied at school, that more than half felt unsupported or misunderstood by their teachers and that 39% said that none of the teachers at their school was even aware of their caring role. I have signed 2 parliamentary motions calling for a new Young Carers Strategy that would allow young carers to be to be children and young people first and have the same hopes, dreams and aspirations as their peers.

Carers need a better deal - they need access to more support and information, a simpler system of financial support, funding for breaks, and a more flexible approach from employers.

Valuable support is currently available from Princess Royal Trust, VSA, and Macmillan Cancer Care.

Women in Science

I am hosting an event in Parliament this week to highlight the gender segregation that still occurs in the science, engineering and technology sector in Scotland. Half a million women in the UK are qualified in these subjects but less than one third work in the sector. Identifying the reasons why women do not remain in the sector is important. This is not a women's problem, it is a problem for us all. Britain's future depends on finding or creating far more professionals in these sectors and keeping them in work. The CBI has said that to maintain the UK as a competitor in the global economy, and to keep manufacturing companies in Britain, the number of graduates in science, engineering and technology will have to double by 2012. From where will these new recruits be found, if not through a far greater participation by women? I have invited the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology to lead an evening debate on this and am delighted that the Minister for Enterprise has agreed to speak at the event.

New Forth Crossing

Parliamentary approval was given at stage one to the Forth Crossing Bill last week. That means that Parliament has agreed to the general principles contained within the bill - relating to the provision of a new crossing and associated link roads.

The current bridge is compromised - corrosion of the cable strands has led to a loss of strength of around 10%. Further deterioration would lead to the bridge being closed to HGV traffic and that would have a serious impact on freight movements to and from the north east. Some have argued that the bridge could be repaired. While it would be technically feasible to replace the cables, at an estimated cost of around £122m, it couldn't be done without closing lanes on the bridge for around 7 - 9 years. That would cause massive disruption - the government has estimated that the notional cost to business of that travel delay would be around £650,000 per day. In addition repairs are needed to the bridge's expansion joints and an investigation required into the main cable's anchorage points. Given all that, I supported the proposal for a new bridge. However the cost is very significant - estimated at over £2bn and I hope that during the next stage of the bill there will be detailed scrutiny of the costs.

Climate change annual targets

When the Climate Change Act came into force last year it set ambitious carbon emission reduction targets for 2020 and 2050, but it did not specify the steps along the way. It did however require the government to set batches of annual targets for carbon emission reductions via secondary legislation. Last week, to meet that requirement, the Climate Change Minister laid before Parliament his plans for the next few years. Given the rhetoric from the government I was expecting these plans to demonstrate a steady commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Instead, what MSPs were asked to pass were reduction targets that were woefully inadequate. The Minister proposed 0% this year, 0.5% next year, 1% the following year. A stark contrast to the SNP's manifesto commitment of 3% reductions, year on year! That looks to me like "not in my term of office" type of targets. Putting off to tomorrow what could be done today. The Government was defeated and will now have to come back to Parliament with a new set of targets - let's hope that next time they are fit for purpose.

Food & Drink Festival

This weekend sees the hugely popular Taste of Grampian return to Thainstone. It is one of my favourite days out - and given the crowds, quite clearly many other people enjoy it too. I am always impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit in our region that drives the food and drink market - we are very lucky to have such a diverse range of good quality producers.

Finally, I wish all those involved at the 1st Inverurie Guides a very Happy Birthday on their 90th birthday.

(Note If you are a carer and would like support or advice you can contact: VSA on 01224 212021)