Dave Thompson MSP

SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Dave Thompson, is today (Wednesday) welcoming a new report which highlights the positive impact the introduction of the Living Wage has had on health inequalities – and further finds that the current council tax freeze may also be helping to improve health.

The study by researchers at the Scottish Public Health Observatory (PHO) at NHS Health Scotland found that certain regulatory and tax policies could help tackle health inequalities. Dr Gerry McCartney, head of the PHO, said that in some cases “they will save lives”.

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye Lochaber and Badenoch has welcomed the launch of the Scottish Government consultation on land reform, which has the key issue of making sure that people know who owns land in Scotland at its heart.

The consultation was announced by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in her Programme for Government and was launched last week by Environment and Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod in a clear indication that the SNP want to press on as quickly as possible on the important issue.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has initiated and distributed a survey to around 13,000 households in his constituency to canvas their views on the unfair 2p electricity surcharge currently applied to residents in the Highlands and Islands and whether they think electricity production and supply should be brought back into public ownership.

Commenting on this, Mr Thompson said, “Those living in the Highlands and Islands are forced to pay more for their energy, despite much of the electricity being produced in the Highlands and Islands. This is grossly prejudicial, given the UK Government operates a single electricity market via the national grid. Therefore, it is not unreasonable that everyone should pay the same for their electricity”.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch is pleased to learn that Transport Scotland is to install Smart Signs on the A9 dual carriageway approach to the south side of the Tore roundabout. The purpose of the signs is to enhance pedestrian safety by warning fast approaching cars of the presence of pedestrians crossing the carriageway.

Smart Signs are a relatively new concept in traffic management. The smart signs flash and give a message that pedestrians are crossing when cars approach to encourage road users to slow down, thereby reducing the chance of accidents and fatalities.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch fully supports NHS Highland’s recommendation to develop a Community Hospital ‘Hub’ in Broadford and a “Spoke” facility in Portree.

This follows today’s (02/12/14) NHS Highland meeting which endorsed plans to develop the community hospital and resource centre in Broadford and a “spoke” facility in Portree.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch used a recent meeting of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee (RACCE) to press the case with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs (Richard Lochhead) for more money to be given to crofters and small farmers from the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS) when it changes to Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC).

Mr Thompson said, “The environmental value of crofts and small farms should not be underestimated when assessing payment levels under the ANC system, which will replace LFASS, which is why I think it is important to raise the issue of increased funding for crofters and small farmers with the Cabinet Secretary”.

SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Dave Thompson, is urging young people aged 16 and 17 across the constituency who voted in the Scottish Independence Referendum to respond to an online survey produced by the Scottish Parliament Committee tasked with examining the devolution of further powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Commenting on this, Mr Thompson said: “One of the fantastic things about the referendum was the level of engagement with young voters. I spoke at a number of debates arranged by Secondary Schools across Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and I found that 16 and 17 year-olds were very well engaged with the arguments and often asking both sides on panels the most difficult questions.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch was praised in the Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary, Kenny MacAskill for helping bring about the reduction in the drink driving limit, which was agreed yesterday (18/11/12) to be reduced from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg, which will come into effect in Scotland on December 5.

The Cabinet Secretary paid tribute to Mr Thompson as a “tireless campaigner for a lower drink-drive limit”, referring to Dave first raising the matter in the Parliament in 2007 and having campaigned for change ever since; including putting pressure on the UK Government to devolve the issue so the Parliament in Scotland could legislate on the matter, as it has done now.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch used a recent meeting of The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee (RACCE) to back the Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF), by proposing to seek more detail from the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, in relation to questions that require answering on The Wild Geese Petition.

The petition by Patrick Krause on behalf of the SCF, calls on the Scottish Government to address the problems created by increasing populations of wild geese in crofting areas as a matter of priority and to discuss how resources can be allocated to ensure this threat to the future of crofting is averted.

Crofters on the Isle of Skye have welcomed the submission of a wind farm application by Kilmac Construction for Glen Ullinish.

Kilmac Construction, who is working in close partnership with local crofters on the project, submitted their planning application for the 14 turbine wind farm to The Highland Council. If given the go-ahead, the proposed development between Ose and Struan at Allt Dughaill on the Isle of Skye will be able to generate 42MW, the equivalent of generating enough electricity to supply 23,000 homes per year.

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch recently welcomed Skye constituent and Skyeskyns General Manager, Dave Till to Business in Parliament.

Skyeskyns, based in Skye, offers beautiful sheepskin rugs, throws and a vast array of luxury clothing, including shoes and accessories for children and adults alike.