Category Archives: Fife News

Claire Baker asks for Abiraterone update

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Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has today written to NHS Fife for an update on the availability of abiraterone after it was approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in August.

It is reported that abiraterone can extend the lives of men with incurable prostate cancer but was previously available only in England and Wales.

Yet after lobbying by groups such as Prostate Cancer UK and MSPs including Claire Baker the drug, having previously been rejected, was finally approved for use in Scotland.

The drug will be available only to men with advanced prostate cancer who are no longer responding to docetaxel or hormone therapies.

Claire Baker commented:

“The first step has been taken with the approval of abiraterone by the SMC but now we need to make sure that the drug is being offered by local NHS boards for those that qualify.

“That is why I have today written to NHS Fife to ask for an update in the process of making abiraterone available. It is important that doctors have the full range of treatments at their disposal when dealing with a patient.

“Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer and it was a black dot on our National Health Service that this treatment was available in England and Wales but not Scotland. Thankfully that has since been rectified and this will hopefully lead to sufferers of prostate cancer living a better quality of life.”

Unpaid Fines Unacceptable Says Claire Baker MSP

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As figures released from the Scottish Courts Service show that more than 46,000 fines have been classed as ‘No Payment Received’ Claire Baker MSP has voiced her concerns that people are getting away ‘scot-free.’

Nationally one third of fines imposed by the police or courts are not being paid with arrears for court fines totalling £6.5 million over the 12 month period between July 2011 and July 2012.

Locally of the fines imposed by the Sheriff Court in Kirkcaldy 12% have made no payment at all, putting Kirkcaldy 3rd in the region behind Dunfermline (13%) and Alloa (18%). All three regions come in over the average for Tayside Central and Fife which stands at 11% for non-payments. 26% are in arrears with their payments, which is again above the regions average of 23% and second only to Stirling (28%).

With regards to justice of the peace payments Kirkcaldy is second in the region for both payments in arrears (15%) and non-payments (13%) against a region average of 11% and 10% respectively.

Commenting on the figures Scottish Labour MSP Claire Baker said:

“These figures are simply unacceptable; nobody should be able to get away scot-free from fines imposed by Scottish courts.

“Payment schemes are available for those who are struggling to pay, but it is unacceptable that there are those who are not paying a single penny towards their fines and this money is being lost from the public purse. Non-payment of fines is unfair on the law abiding people of Kirkcaldy who are working hard and fairly to ensure that they don’t fall behind with their own bills.

“What these figures show is that there is an unacceptable percentage of people ignoring court fines in Fife the SNP Government must ensure that any fines imposed by any court are fully enforceable and collectable.”

FOOD MANIFESTO TO BE DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT

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Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker met this week with Fife Diet to discuss their food manifesto ahead of a debate in the Scottish Parliament. On-going plans from Fife Diet were also discussed at the meeting in Ms Baker’s Kirkcaldy office.

The debate, which will take place on Thursday 13th of September, was called for at the request of Ms Baker who wishes to discuss the Fife Diet food manifesto’s proposals in a national setting.

After the meeting Ms Baker and Fife Diet visited Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy to look over plans under consultation for a community food and wildlife garden.

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COME DINE WITH MSP

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Local MSP Claire Baker this week visited the Dalgairn Centre in Cupar to take part in their ‘Come Dine With Me’ project for service members.

Service members serve up lunch for each other, Ms Baker and staff in the centre as members learn how to prepare meals independently.

The centre in Bank Street aims to enable people with a learning disability to live an independent, self-fulfilling life. It aims to link members to the local community along with providing personal support and information.

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THE GREAT WEST WEMYSS BAKE OFF WITH WALK INN

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Claire Baker MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife today joined local councillor Tom Adams in visiting West Wemyss Walk Inn to take part in a baking class to celebrate their first anniversary.

Walk Inn is a community owned and operated organisation which specialises in fresh and seasonal local produce. With the help of lottery funding locals were able to regenerate a disused pub into a strong community business.

Walk Inn offers a fully licensed bistro, a café, a village shop which sells locally grown produce, and holiday accommodation.

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CLAIRE GOES NUTS FOR RED SQUIRREL FUN DAY

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Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker attended the Red Squirrel Fun day in Tentsmuir Forrest organised by Fife Red Squirrel Group. The event, which was arranged in conjunction with the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage, was organised to raise awareness of the threats faced by the red squirrel.

The main event took place in the picnic area by Tentsmuir car park and included stalls with games and information, face painting, quizzes, storytelling and ranger-led squirrel walks. Tentsmuir Forrest is an important habitat for wildlife and is home to many red squirrels and roe deer, it is also possible to see seals on the sandbars from Tentsmuir point. The forest has many waymarked trails throughout that allow you to explore either by foot or on bike.

Red squirrels are a protected species as they are under threat nationally largely due to the introduction of grey squirrels to mainland Britain. The North American grey squirrel was introduced to Fife in 1919 and is widespread in central and southern Scotland.

Around 121,000 red squirrels remain in Scotland, which is around 75% of the UK population, in contrast it is thought that the number of grey squirrels in the UK is over 3 million. The main threats facing red squirrels in Scotland are the spread of grey squirrels, habitat loss and fragmentation and squirrelpox virus.

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CLAIRE ADDS VOICE TO CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO LOMOND QUARRY

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Local MSP Claire Baker has today added her voice to calls from the leader of Fife Council, Alex Rowley, for an independent review into blasts at Lomond Quarry. The quarry, owned by Skene Group, uses explosives to extract hard volcanic rock dolerite. However there are reports that the blasts are being felt by local Leslie residents.

Mrs Baker has been working with local residents, including Lomond Quarry action group, in trying to find a solution for some time and feels an independent review is now the ‘next logical step’.

The Lomond Quarry action group has been regularly monitoring the blasts since March of this year by measuring the seismic blast activity at Paterson Park. [1] The limit set in regulations for Lomond Quarry is 6mm however the group has twice measured the blasts at 7.37mm and 12.7mm in the past two months.

Issues raised by locals resulting from these blasts have included cracks appearing in the walls of homes, buildings shaking and an impact on the valuation of houses in the area. There have also been claims that lorries are travelling through the area, to and from the quarry, at 6am in direct violation of planning permission.

Claire Baker MSP said:

“I have been following concerns on Lomond Quarry blasts for some time and have raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament. I was dissatisfied with replies from the Scottish Government as I have been with the response of Fife Council. I am pleased that the new Labour administration are prepared to ask some serious questions about how decisions were made and the impact these are having on residents.

“An independent review is the next logical step in trying to reach a solution. Questions have to be answered such as why are blasts being measured over the regulated limit and over issues such as the operating times of and the disruption this causes for residents.

“For too long residents feel that Fife Council have not been addressing their concerns and it is important that the views of local residents along with Skene Group are heard. I have written to Fife Council’s Chief Executive Ronnie Hinds supporting calls for an investigation as it seems now that only an independent review can help ensure an amicable and satisfactory conclusion.”

CLAIRE KEEPS WELL WITH NHS FIFE

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Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker MSP joined NHS Scotland in helping to promote their Keep Well initiative by undertaking a health check on the Revolution Bus at the local Asda store in Kirkcaldy.

Keep Well is a Scotland wide programme of targeted health checks that offers a systematic cardiovascular risk assessment for people aged between 40-64 years, without existing cardiovascular disease (CVD), but are at greatest risk of preventable ill health because of their life circumstances.

Cardiovascular disease affects the heart and blood vessels and can include coronary heart disease. The Keep Well programme also targets those aged 35-64 years who have a higher than average risk of developing CVD, such as Gypsy Travellers, South Asian and Black Afro Caribbean populations, those who are homeless, those suffering from substance misuse and offender populations.

The focus is on early detection and risk reduction; assessment consists of weight, height, body mass index (BMI) waist measurement and cholesterol and glucose testing (via a simple finger-prick). Keep Well also explore lifestyle, such as smoking, exercise and diet, and can offer free referral to a variety of other services that will help modify any risk present.

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LOCAL MSP RAISES CONCERNS OVER BLUE BADGE REFUSAL

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Local MSP Claire Baker has raised concerns with Fife Council regarding changes to the Blue Badge Scheme which has resulted in people with genuine disabilities being refused their badge.

The Blue Badge Scheme allows pass holders to park in spaces designated for disabled badge holders to ensure that those suffering from severely restricted mobility have access to parking close to their destination.

Changes to the system were brought into effect to ensure that the scheme was not being abused and only those entitled to a Blue Badge received one.

The framework of the scheme falls under the responsibility of Transport Scotland, with Local Authorities charged with administrating the scheme and issuing badges.

However it has come to the attention of Mrs Baker that people with genuine disabilities are being refused the badge due to the complexity of the new application forms.

Speaking from her office in Kirkcaldy, Claire Baker MSP said:

“It is right that attempts are made to ensure that the Blue Badge Scheme is not being abused however this should not be at the cost of genuine applicants being refused.

“Changes made have resulted in an application form that is causing confusion due to its complexity and this is resulting in those that rely on their Blue Badge having their applications rejected.

“Blue Badges are vital for those with genuine disabilities to ensure that they still have the independence to carry out everyday tasks such as going to the shops. Without this badge many will be forced to remain prisoners in their own home.

“I have written to Fife Council asking if there has been a significant increase in Blue Badge Scheme refusals and if they are confident that any refusals are not based on the complexity of the form.

“I have also asked if any training has been given to council staff to ensure that forms are filled out accurately as members of the public are being directed to the Local Service Offices for any help in completing the forms.

“I look forward to hearing back from the council and ensuring that genuine applicants for the Blue Badge Scheme are having their application rightly approved.”