Since my last Political Notebook in early August I have been busy around the constituency, holding surgeries, attending openings, dealing with constituents and attending meetings, games and shows.
The biggest show, of course, was the Black Isle Show which had mixed weather but was, nevertheless, very successful. I escorted Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, round the show and it was heartening to witness the positive response from all those we met. Our rural communities have, for the first time in many a year, a government who appreciate them and a Cabinet Secretary who knows and understands the issues and it was clear from the welcome we got that this is appreciated.
Last week, the First Minister outlined our Scottish Government’s legislative programme for the next session of Parliament. Alex Salmond pledged to press the case for more powers for the Parliament in changes to the legislation on devolution currently going through Westminster but he went further, saying voters did not fear the SNP's key aim of independence and said:
"The first objective on the constitution is, as we set out in our election campaign, to deliver the much-needed new job-creating powers for this Parliament. Those voters who put their trust in us also understand that the SNP believe in independence. They understand that and they do not fear it. We have won their trust and we will not abuse it.
We know that they are listening, keen to hear the positive story we have to tell about the future - their future as parents, students, workers, pensioners, carers, entrepreneurs and professionals. They share our excitement about the project at hand - to build a better nation.
Independence will improve the future for all these people: the independence generation. It is the opposite of dependence, of limited ambition, of negativity, caution and pessimism. It means rejecting those who tell us we are too lazy and too poor."
The legislative programme includes a second attempt to pass alcohol minimum pricing, which will be adopted this time because the SNP has a majority in parliament and some of the opposition are seeing sense and changing their position to back us.
Of particular interest to Ross-shire will be the Agricultural Holdings Bill which will help breathe new life into farming and the changes to council tax on empty homes which will help bring 25,000 currently empty properties back into use.
I am sure the proposals to merge the Police and Fire services to cover the whole country will also be of interest and I must admit I was disappointed that my proposal for four Police forces, with Northern being expanded to encompass Moray and Argyle was not accepted. I have, however, always kept an open mind on the issue and am pleased that the Scottish Government has responded to the concerns raised during the consultation.
Assurances have been given that the number of officers will be maintained in every community, right across Scotland and that the 1,000 extra Police we have delivered since 2007 will remain. Other benefits will be the improved delivery of local services while giving all parts of Scotland access to national expertise and assets whenever and wherever they are needed. There will also be a clear separation from Ministers to ensure the continued operational independence of the service.
There is also an opportunity to gain new high value jobs in the Highlands and, last week, I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Justice whether he was planning to base some of the back-room services like Finance, IT, Personnel and Legal in the Highlands and Islands.
I was very heartened by his positive response that it was in the best interests of Scotland and the services for some jobs to be spread around the country and that he will ensure that jobs in the police and fire and rescue service are not centralised in one place but are shared across the country.
I will do my utmost to hold him to this promise and ask Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to get on board and make the case for as many jobs as possible to come to the North.
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