Our Man in Holyrood: 'We haven’t delivered on our A9 dualling promise'
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In the year ahead, I shall continue to press for more investment in our Highland roads, writes MSP Fergus Ewing.
Last year brought devastation to many families by deaths in road incidents – almost all of them on single-carriageway sections of the A9. Welcome short-term measures are to be taken to improve safety, but they will be no substitute for completing the dualling of the road.
We promised this and have not delivered, and that is not acceptable – most especially as it is a matter of life and death. So, this is a mission for me and unfinished business.
We are indeed all connected. As a society, we share an interest in helping those who most need that help – which need is painfully acute in the economic pressures faced during this recession.
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On that front, some measures taken in Scotland have helped. With the child payment; and more welfare provision; with help on energy costs, supplementing those from the UK government – but which in total are by no means sufficient for many.
Progressive taxation has been introduced to see those who earn more contribute more. Here locally, our churches and charities do so much to alleviate those who face real hardship and poverty.
This year I shall also press for more local provision of health services including by GPs rather than downgrading their role as appears to be a feature of the now outmoded centralised GP contract.
I shall also continue to campaign for the potential of solar power in Scotland to be recognised and put into practice – something that could bring real savings for people and public buildings by lowering bills.
Whether it is on tourism, deposit return, aggregates levy I shall campaign for new government regulations to be worked out with those in business whom they will most effect so they are not overly costly or cumbersome; and work with Humza Yousaf, our cabinet secretary for health, to secure progress in tackling waiting times in our NHS which does so much for so many without thanks or public recognition.
On the wider stage, I hope that real action will be taken to address the abuse of social media which causes so much misery – and worse – especially among young people. It is extraordinary what disgusting things people say when not showing their names: “None are so brave as the anonymous.”
This digital cowardice must be regulated to protect our children.
Finally, let us hope that the horrific war in Ukraine will come to an end, and the Russian leader responsible for it will be brought to justice in The Hague for war crimes.
