Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, former SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch last week (22/03/16) spent his evening as the sponsor for the Scottish Young Consumer of the Year Final Quiz for 2016. This was his last event sponsorship at the Scottish Parliament prior to his standing down and it was opportune that this was to welcome socially-conscientious youth to partake in this prestigious competition.

Mr. Thompson said, “In this culture of consumerism, it is important to encourage knowledge of individual rights and responsibilities in our youth. This competition aims to help them learn their rights, and empowers them to stand up when these rights are compromised. I am proud to sponsor this event, my last at the Parliament, and encourage this critical thinking in future generations.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch recently (23/03/16) showed his support for Epilepsy Scotland by wearing a purple ribbon on the last day of session.

Mr. Thompson said, “Epilepsy Scotland’s efforts at improving the lives of those living with epilepsy are efforts I can proudly stand behind. There are 55,000 people throughout Scotland, and over 50 million people worldwide, who are living with this condition and need our support.

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has welcomed the £100k investment by Skyeskyns Ltd, which has been supported by HIE.

He said, “Great news that this quality business is expanding. The knock on effects to suppliers and the tourist trade cannot be overestimated.

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch welcomed the agreement by the UK and Scottish Governments with Highland Council to inject £315 Million into the City and Highland Region over the next ten years.

However, Mr Thompson is concerned that there is no mention of projects in the west that will benefit.

Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch recently (19/03/16) met with Members of Raasay Community Council, including Elizabeth Simpson, Jill Westgarth and Anne Gillies.

Dave was accompanied by Councillor Ian Renwick and Kate Forbes.

A range of options were discussed, but it was agreed that the best option would be a rota of nurses (up to 6) who will share the duty of covering Raasay 24/7 and on the need to ensure that 999 calls from Raasay are red flagged so they are treated as a high priority.

Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch has submitted to the Draft Provisions for a Wild Fisheries (Scotland) Bill/Draft Wild Fisheries Strategy.

The MSP took the opportunity to suggest modifications to the proposals to make trout fishing a criminal offence if permission is not granted.

Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch recently (18/03/16) attended Skye hospital’s “successful” open day in Portree Community Centre along with a range of exhibitors, including NHS Management, NHS Estates, Community Pharmacy, SAS, NHS Rural Support Team, Skye and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations, Transport and Access Panel, Alzheimer Scotland, TEC Handy, and other interested parties.

Mr Thompson said, “The Skye hospital open day was a successful one, as it brought together interested parties and organisations to discuss and promote ideas and provided a pressure free chance for members of the public to drop in at a time of their leisure, which is great for community engagement.

“I thank members of the public, exhibitors, and of course, all those involved in bringing a really good open day event together”.

Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch has welcomed the recent news that electricity generation has begun at Cia Aig Hydro Scheme which has started delivering power to the National Grid.

Approved by the Scottish Government in June 2010, construction of the 2 MW run-of-river scheme got underway in April 2014 and Civil contractor I & H Brown are now nearing completion of works on the Cia Aig site, located at the eastern end of Loch Arkaig, approximately 15km to the north of Fort William.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Member of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee spoke up in support of ranching at the River Lochy at a meeting of the Committee on Wednesday the 9th of March.

This was as part of a discussion on salmon conservation via the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016 and the Tweed Regulation (Salmon Conservation) Order 2016, which is Government-led legislation to protect and conserve iconic species.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch attended an NFUS rally outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday the 10th of March to highlight the importance of the rural economy to the Scottish Government, which follows recent delays in CAP funding for farmers and crofters.

Mr Thompson said, “I attended the NFUS rally outside the Scottish Parliament alongside Jim Whiteford and Ian Wilson of NFUS Highland and others, in order to highlight the importance of the rural economy to Scotland.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch recently (10/03/16) joined StepChange Debt Charity at their Scotland in the Red publication release and charity event.

Scotland in the Red is an annual publication released by StepChange Debt Charity and reports on the problem of personal debt in Scotland based on their analysis of the many thousands of clients they offer their services to.