A message from Marion:
The cost of living crisis is a national emergency. Ofgem, the energy regulator, has announced the energy price cap will rise an average of 80% on 1st October. This will take typical bills from £1,971/year to £3,549/year — a further rise is planned for January. This news, although expected, is still terrifying. If the UK Government doesn’t take action quickly, people may die this winter and business which have barely survived the Covid pandemic will close.
It is imperative that action is taken immediately to ensure that the energy cap is frozen by UK government. The UK government is missing in action. We have a caretaker PM who is taking care of nothing and is happy to wait until the incoming Prime Minister – likely to be Liz Truss – takes office. The only permanent solution to Scotland gets the Governments we vote for is independence.
As you may know, MPs are in recess over the summer. Parliament in Westminster does not sit and I am able to spend more time here meeting with local people and organisations. I have showcased many of these visits in this newsletter.
Cost of Living Events
Marion and Clare Adamson MSP are hosting cost of living events with a whole host of local and national organisations who can help you tackle the effects of the cost of living crisis.
Some orgs coming include: Motherwell & Wishaw CAB, LAMH, Christians Against Poverty, Remploy, Routes to Work, Home Energy Scotland, Lanarkshire Carers, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Motherwell & Wishaw Credit Unions, and more.
9th Sept 10:30am–2pm
LAMH, Kirk Road, Wishaw ML2 7BL
30th Sept 10:30am–2pm
Dalziel Building, Scott Street, Motherwell ML1 1PN
For more information, call: 01698 337 191 or 01698 337 540
St. Thomas’ Primary School
Marion was delighted to attend St. Thomas’ Primary School last week with Clare Adamson MSP and the Scottish Government’s Minister for Public Health, Maree Todd MSP, & NHS Lanarkshire staff.
The pupils showcased their knowledge about their rights and health & well-being, including giving a demonstration of their tooth-brushing skills.
Glasgow Airport Special Assistance
Recent media reports have highlighted issues experienced by these Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM) at UK airports. Disabled people are regularly being left on planes to stew for prolonged periods. Marion attended a meeting at Glasgow Airport in her role as SNP Disabilities Spokesperson. She wanted to see how the airport operates the Special Assistance for PRM.
She witnessed the first-class service on offer here and the dedication of the team responsible for ensuring the service is constantly no less than a first-class experience for their passengers. Each client request, she observed, was met with precision, speed, and ease for the client. Following the most recent media reports on these services at airports, she was delighted to witness how Glasgow airport’s team assisted passengers who needed their help.
She was astounded to learn that when things have gone wrong for PRM, this has been a failure by airlines to provide the required information in time to the airport team. This is not reported by the media and needs to made clear to the public.
She will be following up on this with the new Minister for Transport when the Westminster Parliament returns on 5th September. Airlines failing to ensure all necessary information is passed onto the airport’s team must face penalties.
Marion was moved by the Terminal Compliance Manager Paul Scott’s commitment to ensure that the experience of autistic passengers at GLA was the very best it could be. His team offers introduction tours for autistic passengers to familiarise them with the whole airport from arrival to airside.
He also spoke of other planned initiatives to expand on their existing support for autistic passengers. As an advocate for autism friendly spaces, Marion is delighted at the efforts being made by this team and is excited to see them take forward their exciting ideas.
Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health
Marion really enjoyed knitting with the Stitch and Share group at LAMH in July along with Clare Adamson MSP. They also made it along to their Indoor Street Party later in the month to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the Wishaw Well-being hub and Cafe. It was great to see residents from across the constituency enjoying the stalls and activities.
Call 01698 687 282 if you would like to get involved with any of their other activities.
Wishaw Foodbank Collection
Marion met with volunteer Judith & staff at the Tesco Wishaw foodbank collection point last month. Donations here are distributed by The Trussell Trust locally, including to Wishaw Foodbank.
People’s generosity makes such a difference in the face of rising costs of living.
Volunteers like Judith are standing at the collection point to let customers know which items are needed most.
Tesco are topping up donations by 20% of their cash value. Please donate, if you can, to help those in our community who are struggling.
South Wishaw Parish Church
Marion once again visited South Wishaw Parish Church, New Life Recovery Hub (Street Connect) & Wishaw Community Foodbank.
She also met the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, while there.
The church is doing invaluable work for the people of Wishaw & the wider area.
YAMS
Marion had an excellent morning at the You Are My Sunshine (YAMS) Welcome Back event with Clare Adamson MSP and Councillor Anne Thomas.
YAMS are a mental health charity based at Newarthill Library offering counselling, therapies, training & advice. A massive thanks to them for their invitation to come along!
Iceland Vouchers
Iceland Foods, the Rothesay Foundation & Age UK have teamed up for their “Summer Cheer” campaign to give away shopping vouchers to pensioners (either living independently or with a carer) to help with the cost-of-living crisis.
If you are pension-aged and rely on state pension or benefits as your sole income, you can get one of 40,000 £30 vouchers by calling 0800 098 7877 by 16th September
These vouchers are only available in the areas with the highest levels of pension poverty, this should include ML1, ML2 and ML4 but my constituents were originally being denied these vouchers. Working with Iceland and the Rothesay Foundation, I was able to ensure that you will be able to get these by calling the phoneline above.
Anyone who has been informed that vouchers were not available in Motherwell and Wishaw should now call the phone number above as the situation has now been corrected.