FMQs: JOHNSTONE DEMANDS SAFER WALKING AND CYCLING

Wed 22 May, 2019

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP has urged the First Minister to make Scotland’s streets safer after a new report showed that children from the most deprived areas are three times more likely to be killed or injured while walking and cycling than those from better off communities.

She called on the Government to back Mark Ruskell MSP’s bill to make 20mph the default speed limit in residential areas as a vital public health measure.

Alison Johnstone MSP said:

GREENS SAY WELFARE REFORMS MUST END AFTER DAMNING REPORT

Wed 22 May, 2019

Greens today called for a substantial re-investment in social security, after a major new report slammed UK Government welfare reforms for driving significantly increased poverty.

Phillip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty, has slammed cuts to the social security system, saying that the UK Government has “doubled down on [an] agenda to reduce benefits by every means available."

Alison Johnstone MSP, Scottish Greens Parliamentary co-leader, said:

Greens back new help to access council tax support

Fri 3 May, 2019

Scottish Greens are welcoming a new service from Citizens Advice Scotland to help people apply for assistance with paying their Council Tax bills.

The charity has this week launched a new online tool - https://www.checkmycounciltax.scot/- to help people check if they are entitled to reductions, deductions or exemptions.

The number of Scottish households receiving Council Tax Reduction has declined by 78,970 since 2013, prompting concerns that the scheme isn’t well known and that thousands of people could be missing out.

FMQs: Urgent action needed in face of emergency

Thu 2 May, 2019

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP has today (2 May) called on the Scottish Government to take urgent action in the face of the climate emergency.

Last year climate scientists warned that we have just a decade to deliver the change needed to avoid a climate catastrophe, and today new guidance was issued to the Scottish Government by the Committee on Climate Change, its statutory advisor.

Ms Johnstone asked the First Minister what action the Scottish Government plan to take in the next year given the urgent nature of the emergency.

Greens encourage families to apply for new grant

Mon 29 Apr, 2019

Greens are encouraging all eligible families to apply for a new payment available to some families with nursery-age children, opening for applications today.

Families claiming low-income benefits can apply for the new Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment. This provides a one-off payment of £250 to help families with the cost of children aged two to three-and-half attending early years education.

It is the first entirely new social security payment made by the new devolved social security system.

Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone MSP said:

SNP LOSE VOTE ON GP SHORTAGES

Wed 24 Apr, 2019

The Scottish Government has been defeated in a vote on GP shortages after opposition parties united behind a Scottish Greens motion brought by parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone MSP.

The debate highlighted local issues all over Scotland as a result of challenges recruiting and retaining GPs while demand for services is growing. The opposition parties backed calls from the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners for 11pc of the Health budget to go to GP services.

Alison Johnstone MSP said:

Greens welcome independence announcement

Wed 24 Apr, 2019

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP this afternoon welcomed the statement from the First Minister outlining plans for a future independence referendum.

Alison said:

“The Scottish Greens have always believed that Scotland’s future should be in Scotland’s hands, as an independent nation at the heart of Europe. The Brexit shambles has only confirmed our belief that we would be far better governing ourselves. So we welcome the First Minister’s statement today.

Greens bring vote on GP resources

Mon 22 Apr, 2019

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP will bring a vote to the Scottish Parliament this week calling for improved resources to tackle the GP retention and recruitment crisis.

The Lothian MSP will highlight that, despite the Scottish Government’s health and social care integration programme encouraging greater demand for services closer to home, GP surgeries are struggling to provide the necessary care our communities require due to a lack of resources.