The
Maritime & Coastguard Agency has been developing a Revised Code of Practice
for Small Fishing Vessels which proposes new requirements for new and existing
vessels.
This
follows recommendations from the Marine Accident Investigation Board to improve
safety on small fishing vessels.
Commenting
Angus MacNeil MP said:
“I am pleased to see that the MCA is consulting on the
Revised Small Fishing Vessel Code and that they are looking for fishermen to
share their thoughts and provide input into this consultation.
“The MCA will be holding a roadshow in the Stornoway Town
Hall on Tuesday 1st October between 12 noon and 3pm and I would
encourage fishermen to attend.
“Safety at
sea must always be priority and improving
safety features on fishing boats is vital.
Scottish Islands
potentially failed by UK Government and Ofgem
Commenting on the outcome of the Contracts for Difference (CfD)
Allocation Round 3, Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil MP said:
“Whilst it is good news that two Lewis wind farms have been
successful in CfD Round 3 it is disappointing that Lewis Wind Power has not
achieved a CfD. The strike price of between £39 -£41 is exceedingly low and this
combined with the failure of Lewis Wind Power to make the list raises questions
about the viability of a Hebridean Interconnector.
“At just 240 MW the two successful applications, Tolsta and
Eishken, are well below the 369-400MW needed for the Interconnector to the mainland.
Orkney and Shetland fared no better with Orkney’s two successful applications
reaching only 37MW of the 135MW needed and Shetland seeing no successful
applications at all.
“Scottish Islands have the best wind resources in Europe and
this is a missed opportunity. This is not good news for the UK ‘s move from
carbon to cleaner energy. While young people campaign all over the country to
protect the climate the UK government fail again to make best use of our
natural resources It would appear that
far from working together Ofgem and the UK Government have no joined up
thinking and appear to have competing aims.
“I have already spoken to SSE this morning and I will also
be contacting Ofgem. At this stage it is unclear what impact this decision will
have on Island renewables but is undoubtedly disappointing for those
unsuccessful applicants. The UK Government and Ofgem have to get their act
together if decarbonisation is to successfully happen.”
Na
h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP, Angus B MacNeil has been notified by Ofgem that they
expect to publish its decision on the Final Needs Case for the Western Isles in
Autumn 2019.
In
March this year, Ofgem announced that they were minded to reject the proposal by SSEN to build a 600MW transmission link to the
Western Isles and favour instead a 450MW link and subsequently launched a
consultation seeking the views of stakeholders and the public.
Commenting Angus MacNeil MP said:
“When Ofgem announced in March that they were minded to favour
a 450MW transmission link instead of a 600MW link, I appealed to Ofgem to think
again and do what is best for the environment and the economy.
“Approval
of a 600MW link is crucial for development in our islands, which have the
strongest wind resource in Europe.
“The UK
Government have set an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to
almost zero by 2050, constructing an adequate link to the Hebrides will help
that aim. I have repeatedly raised this matter with Ofgem and the UK
Government and I hope Ofgem will listen and make the right decision this
Autumn.”
Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP, Angus B MacNeil has written to Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman MSP regarding the ongoing financial dispute between Bethesda Hospice and the Western Isles Integration Joint Board (IJB).
Mr MacNeil is backing the call made by Alasdair Allan MSP,
that the Scottish Government mediate between Bethesda Hospice and the
Integration Joint Board.
Commenting Angus MacNeil MP said:
“I recently met with management from the Bethesda Hospice
and I was able to hear detailed information about the financial
situation. It was also good to hear about the invaluable work being
undertaken by all staff, who were highly praised by Manager, Carol
Somerville. The level of care and commitment to their work is in no
doubt.
“Bethesda management tell me that the percentage of their
budget they receive from the Health Board is 32.36% for the year 2018/2019
compared to 49.45% over 10 years ago – this when the Health Board’s budget has
risen.
“They further point out that there is a double subsidy going
on around Bethesda – it is not just the community that subsidise the hospice by
fundraising but also the staff. I was also told that the 90 staff at
Bethesda work without many of the perks and benefits of other similar
workplaces.
“Hospices deserve a fairer slice of the pie and can’t be as
reliant as they have been on fundraising, which is ongoing to make up for the
inevitable gap, Indeed, I recall taking part in a sponsored cycle to Uig
to raise funds for Bethesda Hospice when I was a pupil in the Nicolson
Institute in the late 80s. Bethesda Hospice is an important asset to the
community and deserves all the support it can get.
“I have written to Jeane Freeman MSP to request that the
Scottish Government get involved and facilitate talks between Bethesda Hospice
management and the IJB to get a resolution to this funding problem. I
think that Manager, Carol Somerville, makes the case for Bethesda funding to
rise and the argument now is really about how much and how soon.”
The
Prime Minister’s decision to suspend Parliament is an affront to democracy says
Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil.
Commenting
on the suspension of the UK Parliament, Angus MacNeil MP said:
“It is
simply unbelievable that Parliament has been suspended during what is a UK
crisis.
“There
is no good Brexit. Leaving the EU will negatively impact all of us and
damage the economy of the islands.
“Membership
of the Single Market and Customs Union is crucial for industry in the islands
and the rest of Scotland, however this Tory Government continue to threaten a
no-deal Brexit.
“Scotland
did not vote for this. In 2014, Scotland was told to vote No to
Independence to guarantee our place in the European Union – another broken
promise from a broken UK Government.”
Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP has received confirmation from The Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) that they are interested in holding a workshop in the Outer Hebrides to ensure that seafood businesses are equipped to respond to the changes expected after the UK leaves the European Union on 31st October.
Seafish is a
Non-Departmental Public Body and supports the
seafood industry to work for a sustainable, profitable future. It offers
regulatory guidance and services to all parts of the seafood industry
Seafish
is currently holding events to help the fishing industry prepare for Brexit and
Mr MacNeil contacted Seafish to request that workshops are held in the Outer
Hebrides.
Commenting
Angus MacNeil MP said:
“I
am pleased to receive confirmation from Seafish that they are interested in
holding a workshop on the Outer Hebrides and that they will undertake some
preparatory work to scope out the particular issues facing the seafood sector
in the islands.
“There
remains a great deal of uncertainty surrounding Brexit and with potential delays
at borders, we must ensure that any delays are not caused due to lack of
knowledge or paperwork on our part.
Public
Body, Seafish are running workshops for seafood businesses to help in preparing
for Brexit.
The
workshops are due to be held in Plymouth, Newlyn, Grimsby, Scarborough, Fleetwood
and London and Isles MP Angus B MacNeil has asked that Seafish also come to the
Outer Hebrides to help the Scottish fishing industry prepare for Brexit.
The events will include presentations, face to face discussions,
Q&A sessions and practical demonstrations on topics including customs
procedures, food labelling requirements, Export Health certificates, catch
certificates and EU workers
Commenting Angus MacNeil MP said:
“I have
asked Seafish if they are coming to the Outer Hebrides and wonder whether the
plans will include any Scottish ports.
“It is important that our fishing sector is supported in preparing for
Brexit and I have contacted Seafish who have confirmed that they are working
with the Scottish Government and local authorities on ways to prepare the
Scottish Seafood sector for Brexit.
“There might be delays at borders and this will be particularly
problematic for perishable foods, people have to be aware, focussed and
prepared.
“One thing we must ensure is that any delays are not caused due to lack
of knowledge or paperwork on our part. Once we leave the EU, we must be
ready to trade into the large single market on our doorstep.
“Leaving the EU means that we will not be freely trading anymore, we
will be trading with a lot more bureaucracy, red tape and costs but that is
preferable to being unable to trade at all. Of course, the best option of
all is to remain in the European Union and not go down the daft route of a red
tape Brexit.”
Tories playing ‘fast and loose’ with economy of islands
Commenting on the announcement that Parliament will be suspended, Isles
MP Angus B MacNeil said:
“The steps taken by Prime Minister Boris Johnston today to suspend
Parliament is unbelievable and shocking. I have received calls from
people in other countries asking what is going on in the circus of UK politics.
From an islands perspective, it is very worrying that Boris Johnson is
lining up to have a hard Brexit. A hard Brexit means poor trading
relationships with our neighbours in Europe, who we rely on in the shellfish
and crofting sector to buy our products. As we have already heard this
week, Stornoway Plastics who sell into the European market are facing problems
with customers as close as Ireland.
“Scotland did not vote for this. Scotland voted in favour of
staying in the European Union by 62% – every single local authority area in
Scotland voted Remain.
“In 2014, Scotland was told to vote No to Independence to guarantee our
place in the European Union – that promise today is seen as being a hollow joke
as we find ourselves in the precarious situation of crashing out of the Single
Market.
“Independence would have given us political control in Scotland to avoid
Brexit and we really need that at the moment. However, now the UK is all
about walking away from a trade block and ripping up agreements to the
detriment of our economy, no other country has done this and only Somalia,
South Sudan and East Timor are out of regional trade blocks, according to the
House of Commons Library.
“I only hope that this can be stopped now. I have long advocated
the revocation of Article 50, I just hope that other MPs wake up to the
imperative need to do this – the stakes are high!
A local Island businessman is already getting letters from customers as regards his stock and the difficulties with the imposition of tariffs due to Brexit
Gordon Maclennan of Stornoway Plastics, who manufacture equipment for the fishing industry, has received a letter from a customer in the Republic of Ireland about what will happen to goods after 1st November in the event of a No Deal Brexit. Mr Maclennan has been told that Irish companies believe that a No Deal Brexit is the most likely outcome and that they anticipate the need for Customs paperwork and possibly Customs Duties will have to be paid before any imports will be accepted. Irish Companies have already been issued with a Customs reference number for use after Brexit.
Angus MacNeil MP commenting said
‘This is an example of what a hard Brexit will do.
‘This is the first business that has come to us and said they have difficulties from customers due to the change in the trading regime. No longer will we have open markets and easy trading after Brexit.
‘Stornoway Plastics are, probably unknown to many, in the forefront of innovation in fishing industry tools and apparatus so much so their work has even been copied in China, but a hard Brexit means selling their Stornoway manufactured products to nearby Donegal will be a problem and customers there are already concerned at higher costs.
‘After Brexit, when outside the Single Market and Customs Unions there are going to be problems for businesses and a hard Brexit is going to be the worst of all. This example from Stornoway Plastics is just the tip of the iceberg of what is yet to come.’
