SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan has welcomed new action from the Scottish Government to support older people and protect Scotland’s NHS, with specialist frailty services now in place at NHS Western Isles to improve care and ease hospital pressures.

Backed by £200 million of Scottish Government investment nationally, the investment will be focused on ensuring that older patients experience fewer waits and get more effective services.

Allan commented:

“These specialist frailty teams are helping our elderly patients get the right care, in the right place and at the right time.

“As we approach winter, I am encouraged that these teams will help lead to patients experiencing shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times.

“This support and investment from the Scottish Government is in stark contrast with the Labour UK Government whose policies have had such a negative impact on the elderly.

“Despite having to rely on decisions made about our public services at a Westminster budget, the Scottish Government, by contrast has increased GP numbers, cut waiting times and now has specialist frailty teams in place.

SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has jointly signed a letter to the UK Labour Government urging them to rethink their unfair allocation to fund Scotland’s vital fishing industry.

The current settlement will see Scotland receiving just 7.78% from the UK fishing fund—an 83% drop from the £166 million requested from the Scottish Government. Meanwhile England’s smaller fishing industry is set to gain over £300 million.

Allan commented:

“Once again, I find myself angered but not surprised that this UK Labour Government has treated Scotland and our important fishing industries as an afterthought.

“We’re starting to see a worrying pattern emerge from Number 10. First, we saw a deal for Scunthorpe whilst abandoning Grangemouth and now we’re seeing growth in England’s fishing sector whilst slashing the budget for Scotland’s fisherman.

“Labour has undermined all credibility by significantly short-changing Scottish fishermen and coastal communities from our share of this replacement for EU funding.

“This decision goes against the wishes of the Scottish Government who understand the importance fishing has both to the Scottish economy and our costal communities.

“The only way we can prevent similar decisions being made in the future is to become an independent nation, where the Scottish Parliament can give Scottish fisherman the deal and funding they rightly deserve.”

SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has welcomed Scottish Government funding which allows for extra sailings early and late in the day across the Sound of Barra between Eriskay and Barra.

The additional funding will allow CalMac to recruit a second crew for MV Loch Alainn. The ferry operator expects to implement the additional sailings with a new timetable as soon as possible for at least the next 18 months.

Following the announcement, Allan commented:

“I am delighted that Transport Scotland have been able to source further funding for an additional crew and additional sailings across the Sound of Barra.

“As we approach winter, I believe these additional sailings will provide additional resilience for Barra and Vatersay in particular, but they will also help make the whole island chain more effectively interconnected.

“These sailings, combined with the new vessels being completed in Turkey and fresh orders for new inter-island ferries all help in improving island connectivity. I am pleased to see the Scottish Government take this latest welcome step for the Sound of Barra service.”

SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has joined party colleagues in calling on the UK Labour Government to ‘step in’ and take action to actually reduce household energy bills.

This comes as Ofgem launches yet another consultation on standing charges, but its proposals fail to guarantee any significant reduction in bills. Campaigners responded that Ofgem has ‘picked an easy route to appease suppliers’ concerns that doesn’t help the most vulnerable’. Meanwhile, prominent cost of living campaigner Martin Lewis has described energy standing charges as a ‘poll tax’, with people currently paying more than £300 a year just for the facility of having gas & electricity, and has called the overnight Ofgem announcement ‘disappointing’.

Before the election, the Labour Party promised to cut energy bills by £300, but the next price cap hike in October will mean average bills are instead now £187 higher than they were last summer.

A new OECD report forecast published yesterday estimated that the UK will face the highest level of inflation of any major economy this year, with the annual rate of inflation soaring to 3.5% by the end of the year, up from 2.5% last year.

Commenting, Alasdair Allan MSP said:

“This latest Ofgem announcement on standing charges is too little, too late and still far too unfair. There is no guarantee this change will reduce anyone’s bills, as those who opt for the lower standing charge will be forced to pay a higher cost per unit of energy so suppliers can recoup costs.

“If the UK Government fails to step in with radical action to tackle soaring energy bills, they will be actively choosing to break another one of their election promises. The Western Isles has the highest fuel poverty rates in the UK, but the UK Government has still not taken any kind of step towards a long-overdue overhaul of the energy system.

“Scotland produces far more electricity than it consumes, effectively exporting energy to the rest of the UK – but despite this, Scots pay among the highest energy bills anywhere in Europe and are particularly penalised by unfair standing charges. The SNP is clear that the only way to stop this blatant unfairness is for Scotland’s energy to be in Scotland’s hands. The Scottish Government cannot currently legislate on energy policy, as this is reserved to Westminster.

“Scotland needs a fresh start with independence, putting ourselves in charge of our own energy resources, rather than Westminster.”

Martin Lewis statement on Ofgem announcement:
https://x.com/MartinSLewis/status/1970745129070665898

Households to be offered energy bill changes, but unlikely to lead to savings:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx20dwzgq51o