Category Archives: Fife News

Hat-trick of missed targets Embarrassing for Government.

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Responding to the release of the latest climate change emissions that shows Scotland has missed its yearly target for a third year in a row, Scottish Labour’s Environment spokesperson Claire Baker MSP said:

“The news that Ministers have delivered a hat-trick of missed climate change targets is deeply embarrassing for a Scottish Government that continually heralds them as world leading.

“The latest statistics are worse than what was expected with emissions actually rising in the past year. The Minister must now fully explain why, under his watch, emissions have risen in the past year and the SNP Government have failed to make the step-change needed.

“It is 5 years since the Climate Change Act was passed by the Parliament but so far the Government’s lack of action has led to a significant lack of progress on a number of environmental targets. Continue reading →

Claire celebrates the Scottish Spud

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MSPs gather to celebrate 10 years of the Grow Your Own Potatoes programme in Scotland 

MSPs joined representatives from the Scottish potato industry on Thursday, 5 June 2014 at a lunch event in the Scottish Parliament to celebrate 10 years of the Grow Your Own Potatoes (GYOP) programme in Scotland’s schools.

In the past decade the GYOP programme has inspired o

ver two million children to grow their own food and taught them about the health benefits and sustainability of home grown foods like potatoes. Today the programme is run in over 800 schools across Scotland involving 20,000 children each year.

The event was sponsored by Claire Baker MSP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment,

Claire meets local Kinship Care Group

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Recently I met with a local kinship care group to hear first-hand the challenges they face as kinship carers in Fife. The meeting, which took place in Fair Isle Nursery school, also offered the carers the opportunity to quiz me on care issues within the Parliament.

It was great to meet local kinship carers at Fair Isle nursery and hear about the children they care for.  They are providing grandchildren, nieces and nephews with stable loving homes when their parents, for whatever reason, aren’t able to do so.

The group, who meet regularly, are open to new members from within the Kirkcaldy and surrounding areas. Their support group is a great idea and is open and welcoming to other kinship carers in the area. They meet every Tuesday and I would urge other kinship carers to head along for a cup of tea and a chat along with support for the important role they are doing. Bringing up children is hard work, and we should do all we can to support kinship carers.

Continue reading →

Claire calls for promotion of the living wage

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I have urged for active promotion of the living wage in Fife after a YouGov poll found that 90% of Scots believe companies should be paying the wage to their workers. Figures estimated that there are over 23,000 workers in Fife who are paid less than the living wage, the 3rd highest total across local authority areas in Scotland. The wage, currently set at £7.65 an hour, would see a rise of £2,600 per year for a full time worker currently earning the minimum wage.

I have called for the living wage to be actively promoted amongst the private sector and has urged the Scottish Government to back a tax rebate for firms who pay it, along with establishing a National Living Wage Strategy.

I met with workers outside the Parliament as the Procurement Reform Bill was passed by Parliament. During the passage of the bill proposals from Scottish Labour to deliver the living wage to workers on public contracts were defeated by the SNP and Conservatives. Continue reading →

Levenmouth Rail Link raised in Parliament

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Recently I raised the campaign for the reintroduction of the Levenmouth rail link during General Questions in the Scottish Parliament. As a supporter of this campaign since I was first elected in 2007, I believe that if there is any chance of the rail link being reintroduced we need to see a firm commitment from the Scottish Government.

I was able to question the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure,  Nicola Sturgeon MSP, asking where the rail link ranks among the Scottish Government’s transport proprieties. In my question I highlighted that such a project will not be able to go forward ”without financial backing from the Scottish Government.” Continue reading →

Fife Neonatal Unit going from strength to strength

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Recently I visited Fife’s Neonatal Services for a tour of the facilities at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. The service, which relocated to the Victoria Hospital two years ago, looks after over 400 babies a year on average, and which has in that time included 8 sets of triplets.

I was delighted to be invited by the staff, particularly Jeana Arnott, at the Neonatal Service for a tour around their facilities and I want to thank them for the opportunity to see first-hand the department in action.

The work that the staff undertakes is a credit to the NHS in Fife and they should be proud of all that they have achieved as the service continues to go from strength to strength. Since the move to the new department at the Victoria there has been changes which aim to improve the service and these have been positively received by both the staff and patients. Continue reading →

Raptor deaths

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Following the shocking and unacceptable deaths of the raptors in Ross-shire I have written to the Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse. The raptor deaths are the latest in a long line of attacks on our iconic wildlife.

The Scottish Government are consulting on greater powers for SSPCA officers which Scottish Labour support however we believe the Government should be going further. I am calling on the Scottish Government to review wildlife crime legislation in Scotland and vicarious liability.

A copy of my letter to the Minister can be found below. Continue reading →

Fife flying into playoffs

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Today in Parliament I celebrated Fife Flyers success in securing a playoff spot in the Elite Ice Hockey League, following their dramatic double header victories over rivals the Braehead Clan.

I am delighted that two fantastic results at the weekend have secured the Flyers place in the playoffs and I hope they can now go on and beat Dundee and win a playoff weekend spot in Nottingham.

I congratulated the team by lodging a motion, which can be found below, in the Scottish Parliament following Flyers 5-4 shootout victory in Braehead on Saturday and 4-1 win on Sunday at the Fife Ice Arena. Continue reading →

Claire and Greener Kirkcaldy Shine on Fife for Earth Hour

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On Thursday I held my members debate on local organisation Greener Kirkcaldy, following the debate we both teamed up to lend our support to WWF’s Earth Hour which takes place on Saturday 29 March.

The members’ debate followed my motion submitted following Greener Kirkcaldy’s annual gathering. The community based charity helps locals take action to ensure environmental issues are being tackled both at home and in the wider community.

It was great to get the opportunity to support and debate the hard work of Greener Kirkcaldy in the Scottish Parliament and promote their work to other MSPs and the Scottish Government.

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Claire to debate Greener Kirkcaldy in Parliament

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Local organisation Greener Kirkcaldy will this week be debated in the Scottish Parliament as Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker secured an opportunity to discuss the Fife based charity.

The charity helps locals take action to ensure environmental issues are being tackled both at home and in the wider community.

The organisation has ran initiatives such as Shine on Fife and Cosy Kirkcaldy with a consultation on plans for a community food hub currently running.

Continue reading →