Peacock welcomes Uists Job news

16 September 2009

Commenting on the news that the UK Government rejected Quinetiq’s proposals to axe jobs in the Uists, Peter Peacock, Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands said: “The local task force and community are to be congratulated on their fantastic campaign and Jim Murphy and his Westminster colleagues deserve the utmost credit for doing a great job for the Islands.

“There have been huge efforts behind the scenes to get this result, with Labour in the Islands being active in private lobbying to support the local taskforce.

“Not least in this has been Councillor Donald John MacSween who has persistently championed the cause publicly and privately since the matter first came up for consultation.

“The taskforce had very little time to respond to the threat, despite the fact the local MP had been briefed on the impending problems some two years ago, but failed to tell anyone.”

Mr Peacock added: “The MPs role in this whole affair warrants close examination.

“Even before the consultation was formally announced, his strategy gave all the appearance of seeking to exploit the issue for purely party political advantage for himself by decrying the `decision’ he claimed Labour Ministers and Westminster had already made.

” Only this weekend he was proclaiming Labour was finished in the Islands because of a decision to close the base, well he has a mighty amount of humble pie to eat now.

“It is Westminster Labour Ministers listening to local people and strong arguments that makes this a good day for the Islands.”

Dingwall Regeneration Cash welcomed

07 August 2009

Peter Peacock, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP, has welcomed today’s cash boost for Dingwall from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Mr Peacock said: “Almost half a million pounds heading to Ross-shire is most welcome.

“The Scottish Government eventually accepted Labour’s arguments for a Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

“It’s opened up a huge range of opportunities with sixty million pounds to distribute across the country, which is even more important at this time of economic challenge.”

Mr Peacock added: “This is only the first round of announcements.

“I would still urge all eligible towns across the Highlands and Islands to submit their bids for the next round of awards.”

Argyll and Bute doing their part to improve bio-diversity

30 June 2009

 Peter Peacock, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP has welcomed Argyll and Bute Council’s positive moves to improve bio diversity in their area.

It comes after the MSP wrote to councils throughout the Highlands and Islands about their roadside verge trimming policy.

Mr Peacock said: “It great to hear that Argyll and Bute Council are actively looking at their policy on trimming roadside verges.

“My correspondence with Stewart Turner, Head of Roads and Amenities with the authority, has revealed that they have been looking at ways to improve biodiversity, while maintaining road safety since earlier this year.

“Failing destroys roadside wildlife environments and impacts on insects and birds.

“Intensive modern farming methods have also meant that roadside verges have become much more important as wildlife environments.“

Mr Peacock added: “Several councils in the UK have now introduced policies to improve biodiversity on their roadside verges.

“Argyll and Bute Council are now among them now, and should be congratulated in helping Honey Bees and other pollinators, which are currently under huge threat.”

Planned Defence job losses in the uists, Raasay and St Kilda

17 June 2009

Responding to the announcement of planned defence job losses in the Uists and on Raasay and St. Kilda, Peter Peacock, Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands said, “This is a very disappointing development and represents a real blow to the economy of the islands.

“It is not clear to me whether this is a move initiated by Qinetiq to maximise their convenience and profits within an existing contract framework, or is being driven by specific defence needs.

“It is hard to see how it is driven by defence needs as the Uists and Raasay are facilities which offers a unique combination of assets that it seems to me impossible to replicate elsewhere in quite the same way – that is why the facilities have been there for so many years.

“The sums of money involved represent very small cash savings for the MoD of around £2M per year and my colleagues and I will work with others to make as strong a case as possible for the retention of facilities and jobs within the consultation announced.

“I note that the MoD say they will consider workable alternatives and that is a task everyone must look at closely.

“I have already pledged my support to the Comraihle in any constructive representations they wish to make to the MOD and UK Government and will similarity work with Highland Council and HIE to see what can be done to effectively challenge the proposals.

Concern over islands’ missile test range

16 June 2009

Peter Peacock, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP, has voiced his concerns about the possible threats to a Ministry of Defence missile test range on the Uists.

An announcement on the future of the site will be made tomorrow.

Mr Peacock said: “Any reduction in the work force would be a big blow to the Uists. 

“No decisions have been announced yet, so it is premature to speculate on what might happen, but people are understandably apprehensive.

“If any action is taken, the Ministry of Defence must clearly set out the defence reasons for any change.

“The test range is in the islands for clear defence reasons and if there is to be a change in approach that needs to be clearly set out.”

Mr Peacock added: “I will be contacting Councillor Angus Campbell, leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, to offer my support to any representations the Council makes to the MOD on behalf of islanders at the missile test range and in the interests of securing jobs.”

Highland Council urged to take action to help Honey Bees

04 June 2009

Peter Peacock, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP has urged the Highland Council to do their part to help protect Bees.

Around this time of year, the local authority undertakes trimming of foliage of roadside verges using mechanical flails mounted on tractors.

Mr Peacock said: “In the past this practice has attracted adverse comment due to the effect on the environment.

“This is often done in the interests of road safety and it is important that this continues in appropriate locations.

“However, the practice is also happening on long stretches of single track road where the road safety argument cannot be applied so readily.

“The destruction of roadside wildlife environments by flailing, impacts on insects and birds and reduces biodiversity.

“Intensive modern farming methods have also meant that roadside verges have become much more important as wildlife environments.”

Mr Peacock added: “Several councils in the UK have now introduced policies to improve biodiversity on their roadside verges.

“I would urge the Highland Council to consider following suit and have another look at their roadside verge failing policy given the pressure Honey Bees and other pollinators are under, and the financial pressure the Council is under.”

End the Kessock Queues

29 May 2009

That was the plea from the North’s three Labour MSPs this week as they launch a campaign to persuade the Government to take action on the growing congestion on the Kessock Bridge.

Their campaign to ease congestion is underway, already with the backing of people in Ross-shire.

The MSPs will also seek meetings with Transport Scotland, the Highland Council, HITRANS as well as local businesses to push the issue up the political agenda.

Peter Peacock said: “The Kessock Bridge is a key transport route which links the north to Inverness and beyond.

“Over the last twenty years, travelling to and from East Ross, the Black Isle and further north has been revolutionised by its existence.

“We want to find a long term solution to the growing problem and get the issue up the political agenda and we need people to make their voices heard if the share our view.

“As every year goes past the frustration of drivers’ grows.

“The queues now regularly extend back from the Longman Road roundabout right across the bridge and, although moving slowly across, are reminiscent of the queues that used to form either side of the old Kessock ferry crossing.”

Rhoda Grant said: “Most commuters from Ross-shire who use the bridge daily to travel to and from work have found their travel time has increased, along with the volume of traffic.

“Waiting times of fifteen, twenty minutes to cross the bridge aren’t uncommon.

“The long term solution is likely mean some kind of grade separated junction at the south end of the bridge, as well as park and ride schemes and the like on the north side and further improvements to rail and bus services to help ease the traffic pressure.

“Any improvements won for the Inverness trunk link route will also help.”

David Stewart said: “Amazingly the Kessock Bridge where it meets the roundabout on the Longman Road was not even mentioned in the Strategic Transport Projects Review as being an issue.

“As matters stand nothing is even going to be considered before 2020, but the delays on the bridge, which is one of the main arteries to the North and South of Scotland, will only increase if the problem isn’t addressed.

“There will not be a quick fix to the problem.

” We know from responses we received to a small survey in the area just how fed up people are with the problem and we will be giving people the chance to show their support over the coming weeks.

The MSPs also urged people to give them their experiences of using the bridge.

“This can be done by visiting their website, http://www.handimsps.org.uk

and clicking on the ‘End the Kessock Queues’ link.

The petition can also be accessed via – http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/endthekessockqueues/index.html

Speech in the Scottish Parliament on Sheep (Electronic Identification)

27 May 2009

I am happy to support Liam McArthur’s motion and to add my voice on this important issue.
I am especially pleased that our expert, David Whitton, is with us tonight.
Members may mock, but his expertise on particular aspects of the sheep flock will be exposed fully in a few moments’ time, when he makes his contribution to the debate.
It is easy to understand that at one point some well-intentioned EU official was clear about the origins and intention of the proposals.
Of itself, traceability is not a bad thing—the NFUS brief makes it clear that it is important.
Disease control is also important.
It supports the guarantees that people get for stock that comes from markets that have traceability, which can improve the price in the marketplace.
I am sure that someone thought that electronic identification was the way in which to ensure traceability in the modern world, to save paperwork and to ease administration.
I can see how the proposal originated but, as Liam McArthur set out, it is utterly impractical in the Scottish context and adds cost to an already fragile industry that is suffering badly at present.
That is cost to the producer, which cannot easily be passed down the rest of the chain.
The proposals are impractical because of the terrain in which most of our people operate, especially in the Highlands and Islands.
Gatherings can never be complete in such terrain—when people lose stock there, they may never understand how they have lost it.
The technology is not yet fully proven.
Naturally, people are worried that, if they infringe, there will be cross-compliance issues that will affect their potential income.
For the reasons that I have set out, the UK Government has opposed the proposals for many years. Clearly, it believed—and still believes—that the costs outweigh the benefits.
It has questioned the proposals from the outset, with the support of the Scottish Government, and the issue has been raised in the Council of Ministers.
The responsible UK minister has met the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and urged a rethink; I am sure that Scottish ministers have done the same.
At recent council meetings, the UK Government has supported others in urging a rethink and has secured a delay in the proposals’ implementation, the phasing-in of certain recording requirements and agreement that sheep under one year of age will not be tagged for slaughter.
As Liam McArthur indicated, at the most recent council meeting, the Commission began to show signs of keeping open the door to greater flexibility on how the proposals would be implemented, if not on whether implementation would take place.
I understand that the UK Government is happy to keep raising the issue for as long as it takes to get a resolution.
As Liam McArthur indicated, the NFUS has developed the strategy that it will contribute to the debate. Rightly, it is trying to get the support of other farming unions across the EU, so that those unions can put pressure on their state Governments.
As long as the UK, with the support of the Scottish Government, has raised the issue in the European Union, it has done so with little support from other member states.
That is a key point.
Until we get support from other member states, the hard reality is that we will be stuck with the current situation. However, flexibility is now opening up—we need to walk through that door.
I know that the Scottish Government has been working closely with the UK Government on the issue.
I urge it to continue to do so until we find solutions.
I know that the UK Government has been active in trying to recruit more support from other member states, but some states have already implemented the proposals.
Others, as I am sure Jamie McGrigor will tell us, do not really worry about the issue, because they are below the thresholds at which the proposals apply.
The most worrying aspect is that, unless practical solutions are found, it will be yet another reason for people to leave sheep farming in the areas that we represent, on grounds of cost, practicality, worries about cross-compliance and the like.
That would impact on the many other services—including transport, veterinary services and feed supplies—that support the industry and rural communities, and would be another reason for the industry’s decline.
That is why we need to find an answer; I trust that the minister will indicate what further measures will be taken to secure one.

Assurance sought on Croft Funding Threat

22 May 2009

Peter Peacock, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP is seeking assurance from the Scottish Government over a threat to the future of crofters eligibility for the Less Favoured Areas support scheme.
Mr Peacock has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead expressing his concerns.
Mr Peacock said: “Crofters could be set to lose out because of potential changes in Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS), which is linked to the completion of Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) forms.
“‘Yes’ and ‘No’ tick-boxes have appeared on the IACS form this year asking if the responder’s common grazings shares are being used. There is no explanation as to why this question is being asked.
“If a crofter ticks the ‘No’ box and their in-bye is below 3ha they could have the potential to lose their LFASS payment, despite the fact that they may be keeping their grazing share in good order.
Mr Peacock added: “Crofters have not been told what the consequences may be of ticking either box.
“The Government must assure people they are not about to excise from croft size the `share’ of the common grazing that is an integral part of their holding and thus potentially take many below the 3 ha threshold and lead to the loss of LFAS.”

Speech in the Scottish Parliament on declining bee numbers

20 May 2009

I welcome the opportunity to have this debate and am grateful for the support of members from all parties that has enabled it to take place.
As this is biodiversity week, it is appropriate that we talk about a number of the species that play a vital part in ensuring that that biodiversity continues.
It is interesting to note that, tomorrow, the House of Lords will debate exactly the issue that we are about to debate.
As we workers sit here in this latter part of the evening—that is the last pun that I will use today—millions upon millions of honey-bees, bumble-bees and other pollinating insects are going about their work, of which we are a principal beneficiary.
Their work is vital.
They pollinate our flowers, our crops and our fruit.
Two out of every three mouthfuls of food that we eat are reckoned to come from plants that are pollinated by insects. Around 84 per cent of European Union crops are pollinated by insects and 80 per cent of wild flowers depend on insect pollination.
The sad truth is that, despite the fact that millions and millions of insects are currently doing their work, fewer of them are doing so than was previously the case.
The fact that their numbers continue to decline has profound implications.
The decline has gone largely unnoticed by most of us for many years, although many people have argued that we should place the issue higher up the political agenda—accordingly, I welcome the attention that the issue has been getting in recent years.
Although the source is disputed, it is said that Einstein said that if bees go, mankind will follow within four years. That statement focuses the mind wonderfully on the nature of the challenge that we face.
We know that there is a serious decline in bee numbers not just in Scotland, the United Kingdom and Europe but in many other parts of the world.
Honey-bees, bumble-bees and other species are in decline.
That is an issue for all species, as pollination is a complex matter—some insects pollinate some plants but not others, which means that species overlap.
We know that, with the decline in insect numbers, pollination becomes more limited.
If pollination is less complete, a vicious downward cycle will start up: fewer seeds will be produced, which will mean that there will be fewer flowers the following season, which, in turn, will mean that it will be harder for the insects to survive.
Insect-pollinated plants are declining at a faster rate than those that are pollinated by water or wind.
Twenty-seven bumble-bee species are in decline and three are already extinct.
Seven bumble-bee species have declined by more than 50 per cent in the past 25 years and two thirds of moth species and 71 per cent of butterfly species are in long-term decline.
Entire honey-bee hives have collapsed or are in serious decline, the great yellow bumble-bee is now unique to Scotland and the native Scottish black-bee now exists in very few places—one of which is Colonsay.
We do not understand all the reasons why the numbers are declining.
We know about the varroa mite, which is affecting honey-bee populations and has spread rapidly throughout the country. It is now regarded as being endemic, and although there is a treatment for it that is used by many amateur and commercial beehive managers, we know that the parasite is becoming resistant to that treatment.
We will have to consider new forms of treatment, which might mean using the new EU-licensed products that we know exist.
Habitat loss is a significant part of the issue.
I visited Struan apiaries in Conan Bridge last year.
The manager told me about habitat loss—significantly, he used to place his beehives in set-aside land or in field margins that were rich in flowers, but those are now decreasing because of set-aside changes, which has direct implications for his business and for us too, because of the effect it has on pollination.
Road verges are being cut more often at a particular time in the season, which may prevent the creation of, or destroy, nests of bumble-bees and the like.
There are fewer grass meadows than there used to be—indeed, we have fewer gardens than we used to have.
More people—for perfectly understandable reasons—are paving over their gardens or putting gravel down, and growing fewer flowers.
That has implications for the insect and bee populations that those gardens had previously supported.
We need flower-rich habitats in more places.
There is a debate about insecticides and the impact that they have on the insect population.
One dimension of that concerns not only whether insecticides directly kill insects and bees, but what happens at the sub-lethal level.
We do not fully understand the long-term effects of toxicity on those species.
We need to do more to find out about that.
Do we really understand the effects of climate change on invertebrates?
Are they an early indicator—a barometer—of something much more fundamental that is happening in our environment but which we do not yet understand?
Those issues, and the matters that I have just outlined, are some of the reasons why we need more research.
I am pleased that the Scottish Government has, with the UK Government, put more money into research and I hope that in the process of deciding where to focus that research the Government will consult the Bee Farmers Association and the Scottish Bee Association to try to get the priorities right.
I welcome the Government’s invertebrates strategy—it is good to see the Government standing up for invertebrates, if I can put it that way.
I look forward to welcoming the bee strategy in due course.
We need more incentives for farmers to farm, particularly in bee-friendly ways, and we need the Scottish rural development programme to help with that.
We need individuals to do more in their gardens and we need more diagnostic services to examine the bees that are dying and to test them earlier to find out why.
We need to do more to protect the last remnants of certain species in the few communities in Scotland where they still exist—and to protect communities of bees that are native to Scotland.
In Colonsay there is a bid to have a black-bee reserve because it is one of the very few places left in Scotland where the native black-bee exists.
I hope that the Minister for Environment will ensure that Scottish Natural Heritage and her department work closely and urgently to take that forward.
A bee keeper in Easter Ross e-mailed me—and other members, I am sure—to say that there is an army out there and that if we are ready we should take action to help.
The bee keeper said that they may need ammunition and leadership, information and support, and training to know what to do in some circumstances, but that there is a group of people who are willing to help.
I hope that the minister will offer some of that leadership.
I learned on Sunday, while reading a famous Scottish journal, that the acts that we pass in the Parliament are finally affixed with the great seal of Scotland, which I gather is made from beeswax.
I hope that that continues well into the future. I look forward to hearing the contributions of other members to this debate on a very important subject.