Dave Thompson MSP

It was an honour and privilege to attend memorial services in Dingwall and Inverness on the 11th of November. My family have served in the military over the centuries, including during the Boer War, First World War and Second World War. Remembrance Day reminds us of the huge sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women, not only those that have paid the ultimate price but also those who have survived and continue to suffer with the physical and mental scars from the conflict.

Remembrance Day is one of the rare occasions where we as a country put our hectic schedules on pause, and spend just a few moments thinking of the service men and women, and indeed their families, and pay our respects. It also serves as a fitting reminder that the true casualties of war are the ordinary men and women and, I hope, helps us understand the true costs of war.

I recently attended a charity auction organised by Highland Hospice at the Dingwall Auction Mart. There were over 300 items available on the day raising money for a fantastic cause. Highland Hospice relies on local volunteers and fundraising, and I was glad to see the auction so well attended and so many items sold. I was able to pick up a rabbit headed walking stick myself, which I hope won’t be needed for many years!

In the last few weeks I have been writing to road hauliers, professional organisations and Scottish Government Ministers to highlight what I feel is a major safety concern on the A9. In the UK lorries are restricted to 40mph on single carriage roads, and this is an issue on the A9. As it is the main artery between the North and South of the country a significant volume of freight travels this route.

These slow moving lorries are driving inefficiently, using more fuel than necessary, but also present a safety risk for all road users as impatient drivers take risks to pass them. I have raised the issue of the possibility of increasing the speed limit for lorries on these roads, to 50mph, and hope to arrange a meeting with all interested bodies in the near future.

Last week I spoke in Neil Findlay’s debate on Tax Justice. Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty are running a campaign to highlight the damage that tax avoidance does both in Scotland and internationally. Multinational corporations use imaginative accounting techniques to avoid paying $160 billion in corporation tax in developing countries annually. This is three times the global aid budget. While so many around the world suffer in the most awful poverty, it is disgraceful that Governments are being deprived of this tax that could help provide basic needs like sanitation and education to the millions who are without.

In the UK, the gap between the amount of tax due and tax collected was £32 billion last year. Imagine what we could do with all that dodged tax, especially in an economic climate where so many families are struggling. The charities are calling for a more transparent financial system, and for companies to report their profits for every country they operate in. This would be a step in the right direction to help combat tax evasion both at home and internationally, and I hope the Scottish and UK Governments respond to this campaign and bring tax justice to all.

There have been concerns raised in some quarters over the implementation of the Crofting Reform Act, and in particular some are worried that this will require crofters to spy on their neighbours. I raised these concerns with Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Environment, and by the time you read this the Crofting Commission will have discussed the issue at a conference in Inverness. Reporting on the use of crofting lands is important to ensure that funds are not being misused, but it is essential that we do not damage the integrity that is vitally important within crofting communities. I am confident the new democratically elected Crofting Commission will ensure that the new Act is interpreted and applied sensitively as that is, after all, what they were elected to do.