20 Most Recent News Stories

SMITH VOWS TO FIGHT AGAINST ANY POST OFFICE CLOSURES

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th May 2008

North East Fife's Liberal Democrat Parliamentarians Sir Menzies Campbell MP and Iain Smith MSP have vowed to fight against any Post Office closures in North East Fife.

Liberal Democrat MP's including Menzies Campbell campaigned to stop the government's Post Office closure programme when a motion was proposed recently in the House of Commons demanding the Government halt their plans to make 2500 branches shut up shop. But enough Labour MPs rallied around the Government's closure plans to reject the motion and ensure the closure programme can continue unhindered.

Commenting, Menzies Campbell said, "The loss of any local Post Offices will hit communities in North East Fife hard. Post Offices are vital assets for many local people and any closure will likely cause difficulties, particularly for older people and those with mobility problems. We will continue to fight against closures."

Iain Smith remarked, "Post Offices, rural or urban, have a very important role to play in peoples lives and more must be done to support them. The current system neither benefits consumers nor smaller businesses; it has effectively threatened the existence of the Post Office and Royal Mail.

"Fife Council must be congratulated on its efforts to help Fife's Post offices by transferring its bill paying facilities from Local Offices to Post Offices. This kind of innovative thinking has given a boost in the services."

Concluding Sir Menzies and Mr Smith said, "Post Offices are ideally placed to become local access centres for a variety of services such as the successful trial of Police services within rural Post Offices in the East Neuk."

ENDS

SNP MUST PUT SCOTLAND'S INTERESTS FIRST - SMITH

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th May 2008

Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson Iain Smith MSP will move an amendment to the Scottish Government's International Framework debate to ensure that the Scottish Government action and documents promote Scotland and not the narrow nationalist independence agenda.

Commenting ahead of the debate in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Smith said:

"The Scottish Government must put Scotland's national interests before the interests of the Scottish Nationalists.

"The key focus of the Government's International Framework should be promoting Scotland by developing our economic, education, tourism and cultural links and protecting Scotland's interests in Europe.

"This will all be undermined if time and resources are wasted promoting a minority agenda of an independent Scotland. This will only serve to confuse the international community about what Scotland is and what we have to offer.

"Whilst Nationalist politicians are free to waste their own time promoting their negative independence agenda abroad, it is not the role of the Scottish Government to do so. Their job is to stand up for all Scots and to work within the United Kingdom to promote and protect the interests of Scotland at home and abroad."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

The text of the amendment, moved by Mr Smith is below:

As an amendment to motion S3M-1838 in the name of Linda Fabiani: 'International Framework'

Insert at end:

but does not consider it in the best interests of Scotland for the Scottish Government to promote policies which do not command the support of this Parliament, and in particular does not believe that the International Framework or any of the related documents or actions of the Scottish Government should contain any reference to Scottish Independence, for which the minority Scottish Government has no mandate nor any authority from this Parliament to promote.

SMITH ASKS GOVERNMENT TO HELP SMALL PETROL RETAILERS

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Apr 2008

Liberal Democrat MSP for North East Fife Iain Smith has written to the Finance Minister, John Swinney asking what the Scottish Government is doing to secure fuel supplies for the smaller independent fuel retailers who are amongst the hardest hit during this fuel crisis.

The move comes amid reports that the distribution of fuel supplies are hugely benefiting larger outlets such as supermarkets and fuel company franchises whilst small businesses are either being heavily rationed or indeed unable to obtain unleaded petrol.

Mr Smith also criticised the Scottish Government's handling of the fuel crisis by accusing them of "dithering worse than Gordon Brown" over their delayed call for calm and release of information from the outset.

Text of letter to the Scottish Government

John Swinney MSP

Cabinet Secretary Finance & Sustainable Growth

St Andrew's House,

Regent Road,

Edinburgh, EH1 3DG

Dear Mr Swinney

I am writing to determine what actions, if any, the Scottish Government is undertaking to secure fuel supplies for smaller independent fuel retailers who will be amongst the hardest hit during this time of fuel instability.

I have been contacted by such businesses in my constituency who have expressed concerns at their own inability to secure supplies and as a result will be forced to trade at a far reduced level, which will adversely affect their business. I join them in these concerns and I hope that you do to.

Yours sincerely

Iain Smith MSP

Scottish Liberal Democrat, North East Fife

ENDS

IAIN SMITH BACKS LEVEN RAIL LINK

5.41.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Apr 2008

North East Fife MSP Iain Smith has given his backing to proposals to reopen the Leven - Thornton railline to passenger trains.

Supporting the proposal in a debate in the Scottish Parliament, Iain Smith said:

"A Leven Station though not in my constituency, would also open up the most isolated part of Fife, the East Neuk, which is in my Constituency. Provided the new station at Leven came with park and ride and good integrated bus links, it will provide a real alternative for my constituents seeking to access the rail network.

"This will provide a significant boost for the economy of the East Neuk, providing better access to employment and education markets and opening up the East Neuk for tourists who do not have their own car.

"Of course there are other enhancements to the rail network in Fife that I would also like to see.

"A rail halt at Newburgh on the Perth to Edinburgh line; a park and ride halt at Wormit.

"And we should not forget the desire to see the re-establishment of a rail link to St Andrews to serve in particular the student population and tourists.

However, Iain Smith questioned whether these rail enhancements could be delivered without investments to increase the capacity of the rail network, particularly the Edinburgh Airport Rail link, scrapped by the SNP Government.

"EARL would have created more capacity. No Earl means no more capacity. Extra stops at an extra station required by the Government's alternative proposals will cut capacity on an already congested line." Iain Smith concluded.

SMITH: HISTORIC SCOTLAND MUST ENGAGE WITH FIFERS

5.18.22pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Apr 2008

Speaking during a debate in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, North East Fife MSP, Iain Smith called for Historic Scotland to engage more effectively with local communities.

Mr Smith cited the listing of Madras College's Kilrymont Road Building and the scheduling of Crail Airfield as examples of situations where Historic Scotland had placed restrictions on the development of sites without taking proper account of the needs of local people.

Commenting, Mr Smith said:

"At present, the process by which Historic Scotland chooses to designate a building to be listed or monument to be scheduled is shrouded in mystery.

"Although Historic Scotland is required to consult with local authorities before making a designation, there is no requirement to consult with the communities affected. This means that although Historic Scotland does a great deal of excellent work, there are also cases where designations course problems.

"This happened with Madras College when the 1960's Kilrymont Road building, which many people think is ghastly, was listed making it more difficult to resolve the School's accommodation problems. The scheduling of the whole of Crail Airfield has meant that rather than being developed in a way that serves the local community, it is being used for purposes such as trash and drag racing which cause considerable inconvenience.

"I believe that the role of Historic Scotland would be greatly enhanced if it was to engage more effectively with local communities."

LIB DEMS LAUNCH ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN FOR NE FIFE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Apr 2008

North East Fife Parliamentarians, Iain Smith MSP and Sir Menzies Campbell MP have today launched a new campaign to cut accidents or our roads in North East Fife. The Liberal Democrat campaign, which focuses on the rural nature of North East Fife's roads aims to ensure that safety for all users is increased by tackling dangerous driving, speeding, the use of seat belts and using mobile phones whilst driving.

The Liberal Democrat campaign "Be Calm, Be Considerate and Be Correct" focuses on four key points:

1- Combating Speeding

2- Increased use of seat belts

3- No to Mobiles whilst driving

4- Greater consideration for all road users

Commenting on the campaign, North East Fife Liberal Democrat MP Sir Menzies Campbell said, "We have seen too many people killed or seriously injured on our roads in recent years. Our rural roads and the variety of road users from tractors and buses to bicycles and horses that use them, mean that drivers have to take particular care."

Iain Smith MSP commented, "Speeding though our rural villages such as Ceres is of major concern and I have written to the Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary and the Head of Fife Council Transportation Services at ascertain what measures are in place to combat this. I have also written again to BEAR Scotland asking for an update on their Road Accident Reduction Plan with regard to the safety of the A92 through North East Fife".

Mr Smith remarked on an official study showing that 1 in 10 motorists is failing to wear a seat belt and less than a quarter of Scots see driving at 80 mph in a 70mph zone as a serious offence by calling these statistics "extremely disappointing".

"The message is simple: You are more likely to be involved in an accident if speeding or using a mobile phone, and more likely to be killed or seriously injured if not wearing a seat belt." Iain Smith concluded.

ENDS

IAIN SMITH MSP WELCOMES QUAKER OATS ECO COMMITMENT

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Apr 2008

North East Fife MSP Iain Smith recently visited the Quaker Oats plant in Cupar for an update on their plans for a combined heat and power biomass boiler. The CHP boiler would burn their oat husk by-product on site and result in the plant becoming self sufficient for their heat and power needs.

Commenting on the visit Mr Smith said, "The dedication of the team at Quaker Oats and Pepsico International, to substantially reducing their carbon footprint is very welcome indeed. I learned of a whole host of initiatives being undertaken to dramatically reduce their impact on the environment such as the CHP boiler, which would not only result in their self sufficiency for heat and power but would ultimately lead to 1000 less lorry journeys a year from the site."

ENDS

MSP LENDS SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Apr 2008

North East Fife MSP, Iain Smith has given his backing to a new web based community initiative for the Howe of Fife. Smart Community Fife is a small, independent charity based in Strathmiglo which aims to provide a community driven website for residents in the Howe of Fife.

Mr Smith recently met with Peter Winterborn and Jillian Donnachie from Smart Community Fife and was given a "guided tour" of the site before its official launch on April 10th. Commenting, Mr Smith said, "This site will be a great resource for residents in the Howe. Information such as news and events relevant to the area will be at people's fingertips.

Smart Community Fife's Project Co-ordinator, Jillian Donnachie added, "The portal is really taking shape now. With over 690 local organisations and businesses listed in our directory, 70+ pages of community, recreation, tourism, education and historical info, a busy events calendar, plus regularly updated news items, it really is a one stop shop for everyone living, working and playing in the Howe of Fife."

Peter Winterborn, the Chairperson of Smart Community Fife noted, "The Steering Group of Smart Community Fife are really looking forward to the official launch of the web-portal on April 10th. Not only is it an opportunity for us to publicise the site, it's a chance to formally thank members of the community who helped us build the resource, and celebrate what's been achieved so far."

ENDS

HMIe REPORT MAKES MADRAS THE PRIORITY - IAIN SMITH MSP

12.01.00am GMT Tue 25th Mar 2008

Following the publication of the HMIe follow up report on Madras College in St Andrews, North East Fife MSP, Iain Smith has re-iterated that the replacement of Madras College in St Andrews must be the top priority for Fife Council.

The report which states that "The fabric of buildings and the quality of furnishings, toilets and security arrangements provided a poor and deteriorating environment for learning and required major upgrading", sends a strong message that this need to be addressed as a matter of priority.

Commenting, Iain Smith said, "This quite clearly indicates that the replacement of Madras must be the educational priority for North East Fife. The HMIe report is damming in this regard.

"This deplorable situation is a direct consequence of the decades of neglect inflicted by the previous Labour Administration. It is clear that the Liberal Democrats want to reverse this failure and ensure that future generations of schoolchildren in North east Fife are not let down the way they were by Labour."

ENDS

SMITH CONGRATULATES QUAKER OATS BIOMASS INVESTMENT

12.00.00am GMT Thu 13th Mar 2008

North East Fife MSP, Iain Smith has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament today congratulating Quaker Oats on their decision to invest £6 million in a combined heat and power biomass boiler at Uthrogle Mills in Cupar, Fife.

The text of the motion:

Scott's Porage Oats Green Energy

That the Parliament congratulates the decision of Quaker to invest £6m in a combined heat and power biomass boiler at Uthrogle Mills, Cupar, home of the world famous Scott's Porage Oats; notes that the boiler will use oat husks, a waste product of processing of the oats at the Mill, making it carbon neutral, reducing direct carbon emissions by 9000 tonnes and reducing transport of waste oat husks by 170,000 miles a year, equivalent to a further 600 tonnes of carbon emissions; and urges other businesses throughout Scotland to follow the lead of Quaker by examining how to cut waste and carbon emissions in their processes.

ENDS

SMITH LODGES BOUNDARY PROPOSAL OBJECTION

12.00.00am GMT Wed 12th Mar 2008

North East Fife MSP, Iain Smith had lodged his objections with the Boundary Commission over their proposed changes to the Scottish Parliament North East Fife constituency.

In a letter to the Boundary Commission, Mr Smith pointed out that the survey conducted by himself, Sir Menzies Campbell MP and Liberal Democrat local councillor Marilyn Whitehead, in the Lundin Links and Largo area resulted in an overwhelming objection to the proposals.

Further to this, Mr Smith pointed out that, "on a wider review of your proposals I have noted that the suggested East Highland constituency would have an electorate greater than the current North East Fife Constituency, and therefore as it stands must be within the Commission's acceptable range from parity."

ENDS

The full text of the letter to the Boundary Commission for Scotland:

Boundary Commission for Scotland

3 Drumsheugh Gardens

EDINBURGH

EH3 7QL

12th March 2008

Dear Sir or Madam,

PROPOSED BOUNDARY CHANGE TO NORTH EAST FIFE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT CONSTITUENCY

I am writing to submit my personal objections to the proposed changes of the Scottish Parliament constituency for North East Fife and to support the submission by North East and Central Fife Liberal Democrats, which I enclose for your immediate attention.

Largo and Lundin Links are historically part of the East Neuk of Fife, and as such naturally and traditionally identify with the coastal and rural communities of North East Fife, rather than the urban community of Glenrothes.

Since your proposals were published I have received many representations from constituents who reside in the Lundin Links and Largo area of North East Fife, objecting to the proposition of being moved into a Mid Fife and Glenrothes Scottish Parliament constituency. I have also, together with Sir Menzies Campbell MP and Councillor Marilyn Whitehead, conducted my own survey in the area on this proposal effect and have concluded there is overwhelming objection to this proposal. I am very sure that you will have received direct representations from these communities echoing this sentiment.

Furthermore, I wish to point out that on a wider review of your proposals I have noted that the suggested East Highland constituency would have an electorate greater than the current North East Fife Constituency, and therefore as it stands must be within the Commission's acceptable range from parity.

Finally, I wish to take issue with the proposed constituency name change to North and East Fife. I feel that the superfluous "and" should be removed resulting in the retention of the current, traditional name which identifies a clear and understood geographic area and a community.

Yours Sincerely,

Iain Smith MSP

Scottish Liberal Democrat, North East Fife

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO BOUNDARY SURVEY

12.00.00am GMT Mon 10th Mar 2008

North East Fife MSP, Iain Smith has been inundated with responses to his recent survey from residents in Lundin Links and Largo about the proposed boundary changes. The proposal, which would remove the area from the North East Fife Scottish Parliament constituency and instead place it in Mid Fife and Glenrothes, has been met with huge opposition from local residents.

Commenting Iain Smith said, " This is what I expected when I conducted the survey. My post-bag is overflowing with responses in opposition to the proposal. The local community are quite clearly opposed to this and I hope the Boundary Commission take account of these views."

"Replacement for Madras the Priority" - Iain Smith MSP

12.00.00am GMT Tue 4th Mar 2008

Liberal Democrat MSP for North East Fife Iain Smith has called on Fife Council to make the replacement of the "inadequate buildings" of the split site Madras College its top priority for new school building.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Fife Council East Area Committee which will consider a report on the projected number of secondary school pupils in North East Fife in 2025, Iain Smith said the pupils had been let down by the failure of the former Labour Council to take action on Madras, and welcomed the progress to date by the Liberal Democrats in the new coalition.

"I welcome the report to the East Area Committee which gives the Council's latest estimates of future school children numbers in North East Fife.

"It is essential that accurate and up to date figures are available to Councillors and the public so that informed decisions can be made on the options for replacing Madras, including the case for a new school in the Tay Bridgehead.

"However, I am concerned that the new estimates are significantly different from those published by Fife Council just 2 years ago, and I feel that in order to be confident that the current estimates are robust and reliable the methodology used should be independently verified by an external expert.

"These estimates must have a margin of error, and it is vital that we know the possible range of pupil number by 2025, and whether the 1300 figure quoted for the Madras area is on the low end, the high end or the middle of that range.

"I hope that my colleagues on the East Area Committee will seek the answers to these questions, but the priority remains making speedy progress towards replacing the current Madras College buildings in the way that provides the best possible education for the children of North East Fife."

Ends

SMITH WELCOMES PASSING OF GRADUATE ENDOWMENT BILL

6.27.00pm GMT Thu 28th Feb 2008

Iain Smith, MSP for North East Fife, has welcomed the passing of the Graduate Endowment (Scotland) Bill but has criticised Conservative members for voting against it.

Speaking after the vote in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Smith said: "This is an important step to widening access and removing barriers to poorer students entering higher education.

"The hypocrisy of the Conservative Party on this issue is hard to believe. They have criticised the Graduate Endowment ever since it was introduced but given the option to scrap it they voted to keep it"

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANT WORK OF DAPL

12.00.00am GMT Fri 8th Feb 2008

Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Fife has congratulated DAPL (Drugs & Alcohol Project Levenmouth) on its recent pilot programme, which offers an early intervention service to young people who have issues with drugs and alcohol. The service which includes therapeutic counselling, support, advice and information to youngsters within the first 72 hours of a reported related incident has been heralded as a great success by the police, politicians and the local communities it serves.

The service has widened its catchment area to cover North East Fife and has the benefit of both a young persons and Adult service which means that they are able to offer holistic support to families affected and furthermore with their family support groups running in Leven, Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy they can provide group support for parents or family rather than one-to-one where preferred.

Commenting on the programme, Iain Smith said, "This is a very important and pioneering service being provided by DAPL which offers first class support to youngsters and families affected by drug and alcohol problems.

"I congratulate the staff and all who are associated with the project for their continued excellent work. I really hope that this project which runs in partnership with Fife Constabulary will be able to extend throughout Fife to help tackle the problems caused by drug and alcohol abuse."

Further funding for DAPL will be sought in August 2008 in order to continue its work.

ENDS

'BRAVO, BALMERINO,' SAYS SMITH

1.52.00pm GMT Wed 6th Feb 2008

Iain Smith MSP has congratulated Balmerino Primary School upon its recent

HMIe Report. He said, 'I was particularly impressed by the attainment of

pupils in mathematics and also that the pupils were able to undertake

outdoor activities such as the observation of worms. The rating of the

partnership with parents and the community and the standard of pupils'

behaviour is also very encouraging.' Mr Smith went on to remark that he

was pleased to see that one of the activities cited as enhancing the

pupils' learning was a visit to the Scottish Parliament.

ENDS

SMITH TELLS GOVERNMENT, 'SORT OUT CENTRAL HEATING PROGRAMME.'

1.33.00pm GMT Wed 6th Feb 2008

Iain Smith MSP has told the Scottish Government to sort out the unacceptably long delays to the installation of central heating in the homes of elderly people. Writing to the Minister for Communities & Sport, Mr Smith revealed that since May he had received an increasing number of complaints from constituents about long delays in the assessment and installation of their new central heating systems under the government scheme. He said, 'An all-too familiar scenario is when an inspector comes along to look at the existing system, condemns it as unsafe and disconnects it, but there is then a delay of several months before the new system is installed.' He explained that, as many had not been able to arrange adequate alternative heating to tide them over, the result was that several vulnerable pensioners had had to manage with neither heating nor hot water during the coldest time of the year.

Mr Smith continued, 'It is completely unacceptable that elderly people have to sit for months in inadequately heated homes until their new heating can be installed. It is one thing to disconnect a system because it is unsafe and could pose a danger to the occupants but what about the increased risk of hypothermia in the interim? I want to know what measures the Scottish Government proposes to take to rectify this situation so that the time that customers are without a working heating system is minimised.'

ENDS

SMITH CALLS FOR 'FARE' DEAL FOR BUS PASSENGERS

1.07.00pm GMT Wed 6th Feb 2008

Iain Smith MSP has called upon Stagecoach to reward their loyal passengers

by cutting the fares of journeys across the Forth and Tay Road Bridges when

the tolls are lifted on Monday.

Writing to the Managing Director of Stagecoach Scotland, Mr Smith said,

'Stagecoach will save a lot of money once bridge tolls are removed but, as

things stand, bus passengers who have loyally travelled by your services

will gain nothing and indeed might be tempted to switch to using a car

post-tolls. A cut in the bus fares would not only reward the thousands of

bus passengers, both regular commuters and occasional users, for sticking

with the bus and using public transport, but might also attract new

passengers out of their cars. The dedicated bus lane on the Forth Road

Bridge will also enable you to cut journey times.

I'm sure you will agree that it would hardly be fair if only private

motorists felt an immediate benefit from the lifting of tolls but bus

passengers got nothing.'

SMITH WELCOMES NEW NHS DENTAL PRACTICE IN NORTH EAST FIFE

12.00.00am GMT Tue 5th Feb 2008

North East Fife MSP, Iain Smith has welcomed the news that a new NHS dentist is to open its doors in Auchtermuchty shortly. The practice, which is looking to register 6000 patients on the NHS, should be opening its doors in the next few weeks and is currently accepting registrations.

Commenting on the news, Mr Smith said, "This new dentist practice in Auchtermuchty is great news for North East Fife. There is a real lack of NHS Dentistry, not just in North East Fife but all over Scotland which the Scottish government really must address.

"The previous Lib Dem/Labour Scottish Executive implemented initiatives to tackle the NHS dentist shortages which the current government have acknowledged as effective and are not proposing anything further. Whilst these initiatives will help, more must be done to ensure everyone has access to an NHS Dentist."

ENDS

SMITH WELCOMES "COMMON SENSE" DECISION ON SHIP TO SHIP

12.00.00am GMT Fri 1st Feb 2008

Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Fife Iain Smith has warmly welcomed the "common sense" decision today from Forth Ports Authority to scrap its proposals for Ship to ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.

The proposal which would have seen 7.8 million tonnes of Russian crude oil pumped between tankers in the Forth had been criticised by Iain Smith MSP and Sir Menzies Campbell MP for posing a huge risk to the environment and to everyone living around the coast in North East Fife.

Commenting Iain Smith said: "The decision by Forth ports Authority to ditch its proposals for ship to ship oil transfers is great news. The threat this proposal posed to the environment was huge and we must continue to call on the government for strict regulations on this practice so any future risk is removed."

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