Responding to the Spring Budget today, Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has criticised the “skewed” priorities of the Conservatives in pushing major tax breaks for the wealthy and major businesses while refusing to expand energy bills support and hitting families and small businesses with further taxes.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on the government to reverse its “questionable” decision to exclude distillers from the successor energy bills discount scheme coming in next month, ahead of this week’s Budget. Writing in PoliticsHome today, Mr Carmichael highlighted the “linchpin” role many distillers play in providing quality jobs and tourism interest in communities in the Highlands and Islands, including in the Northern Isles. He further noted that beer brewers and winemakers are to be included in the provisional criteria, despite being far less energy-intensive industries than distilling.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has called for a better strategy from the government on brain tumour research funding in a debate in Parliament. Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Carmichael highlighted the progress made in recent years in delivering ringfenced funding for research, but warned that structural problems were still standing in the way. The MP also highlighted the wider need for more openness in talking about brain tumours amongst friends and family.
Orkney and Shetland MP and Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael, has today led the first ever parliamentary debate on genomics and national security. In the debate Mr Carmichael highlighted the enormous potential benefits and risks from genomic research, and warned that lack of interest and regulatory action could lead to a repeat of scandals such as those around data firm Cambridge Analytica caused by under-regulation of data.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has secured a commitment from ministers not to “claw back” any Alternative Fuel Payment funds wrongly delivered to households in the isles. The delayed rollout of the Alternative Fuel Payment has caused confusion for many families in the isles who either have not received the payment despite apparently being eligible, or have received it despite not expecting it. Those who believe that they have wrongly been excluded from the payment can now apply manually through https://www.gov.uk/apply-alternative-fuel-bill-support-if-not-automatic.
Orkney’s parliamentary representatives, Alistair Carmichael MP and Liam McArthur MSP have welcomed news today that Ofgem has launched a consultation on the £371m Orkney interconnector transmission link with provisional approval. The energy regulator has said it is minded to approve the proposals following recent developer progress in meeting Ofgem’s conditionality.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today challenges ministers over unanswered questions on the operation of the Alternative Fuel Payment to off-grid households. Mr Carmichael noted that following a call for responses in the Northern Isles, many constituents have found that they have not received the payment despite being eligible, while others may have received the payment despite not expecting it given the government’s criteria – prompting concerns that officials may later “claw back” payments. Mr Carmichael called for urgent clarity from ministers on the issue by Tuesday.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called for the Government to cancel plans to hike the average household energy bill by £500 in April, and bring in a tax on the “bonanza bonuses” of oil and gas bosses. The party is calling for cuts to people's bills instead, combined with a new energy support package for businesses and public enterprises.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, yesterday raised concerns about the lack of access to short-term family reunion visas for those affected by the earthquake and Syria earlier this month. Speaking in a debate on the disaster in Parliament, Mr Carmichael highlighted the scale of loss of life, and noted that while more people will want to stay in place, some with close family in the UK could be better off with a short-term visa until homes are rebuilt.
Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has written to Justice Secretary Angela Constance seeking an update on when jury trials will return to various rural and island courts, including Kirkwall Sheriff Court.
Commenting on news that the Scottish Government has offered in principle funding to OIC to develop the business case for replacement of ferries on Orkney’s inter isles routes, Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur said:
Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur spoke out today about the “crisis” in mental health across Scotland, despite the best efforts of those working in the sector, and called for more staff to support police and A&E teams who are bearing the brunt.
Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur today called on the First Minister to ensure young people travelling between the smaller isles and Orkney mainland are included in the forthcoming extension of the government’s concessionary travel scheme.
Full disclosure: as President of East United FC, I struggle to manage the torrent of messages flooding in on the club’s various WhatsApp group chats. As so often, technology that promises to save time and make life easier succeeds in doing neither.
Orkney’s parliamentarians, Liam McArthur MSP and Alistair Carmichael MP, today hosted the latest Orkney Digital Forum at the St Magnus Centre in Kirkwall.
Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland’s MSP, Beatrice Wishart asked what follow up actions the Scottish Government have taken in light of the ‘downright dangerous behaviour’ of the Antonio Maria.
Shetland’s MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat Beatrice Wishart MSP has commended the Lerwick RNLI lifeboat crew for rescuing the 17-metre Danish trawler, Westbank, and her three-man crew by lodging a parliamentary motion.
MSP for Orkney Liam McArthur, is supporting the ‘Wear It Pink’ campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign, organised by Breast Cancer Now, is encouraging fundraising by wearing pink on Friday 20th October.
