We are in desperate need of social and “truly affordable” housing for rental with 10,000 people on the Highland Council Housing Waiting List.
Those on local average earnings have little chance of accessing mortgages since the Banking crisis.
Most work locally and need housing in the areas where they work.  Spiralling petrol and diesel costs make it even more difficult for those on lower incomes who live in rural areas, hence my concern on this issue.

Members of the public have made clear their dismay over Labour Government’s failure to control immigration.
Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrat comments, recently broadcast, have incensed the electorate when stating Inverness and other areas need more migrants! Gordon Brown’s Labour “open borders” policy has been a complete failure. Massive increases in migration have resulted in overstretched Public Services. The increased cost of the Benefits System underpinning the policy could have major economic consequences.

If migrants are to be welcomed, we must ensure crucial infrastructure is in place, including jobs, education, health and housing and naturally the ability to cope with the diversity of languages involved which is particularly difficult in rural areas.

We need to develop Tourism further as it is a principal Highlands industry and vital for local economy creating crucial meaningful jobs and provide the necessary homes for these people.

We need a common sense approach to address Highlands problems.

Jim Ferguson
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Press Release 21^st April 2010

Lib Dem proposal increasing cost of new homes sheer madness

Home building industry body Homes for Scotland, whose membership provides 95% of all homes built for sale in Scotland as well as an increasingly significant proportion of affordable housing, today slammed Liberal Democrat proposals to add VAT to new build homes if elected to Government.

On the day that Tavish Scott launched the party’s manifesto in Scotland, the organisation’s Chief Executive Jonathan Fair said:

“Somehow, the Liberal Democrats seem to be unaware that Scotland, not to mention the UK as a whole, is facing its worst housing crisis since the Second World War.  Not only has our industry lost up to half its workforce, development is touching an all-time low and vital First Time Buyers are struggling to find deposits of up to 25%.  Any measure increasing the cost of new homes, whether in the public or private sector, is sheer madness and will simply exacerbate the problems we as a country already face.”

Ends

Enquiries to:

Jennifer Kennedy, Homes for Scotland – 0131 455 8350

Notes to Editors:

Homes for Scotland (www.homesforscotland.com) represents the country’s home building industry which, prior to the onset of the credit crunch,:

-  was the largest source of private investment in Scotland and the largest user of the planning system

- built 20,000 new homes, contributed £6bn to the economy and directly impacted the employment of 100,000 people (2007 figures)

Half the industry’s directly employed jobs have already been lost and Scottish new build housing output has plummeted, presenting far-reaching and long-term social and economic consequences.

Click here to read Homes for Scotland’s “building for their future” appeal to MPs as they prepare to enter the election season.

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Speaking at the launch of a fair fuel price campaign, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader says: 

“Labour and the SNP are both responsible for the high fuel prices. The Labour Government at Westminster has taxed so much that we have record fuel prices when oil is half the price it was two years ago.

“The SNP Government in Scotland has increased rates for local garage owners by up to 50% and is forcing many of them out of business. The new rates valuation brought in under the SNP penalises independent rural petrol stations because they are charged the same rates as supermarkets, but can’t get the same deals on fuel prices from wholesalers.

“The SNP may not be able to do anything at Westminster because they are irrelevant, but they are in Government in Scotland so can’t pass the buck on this issue.

“Conservatives want to ensure fairer fuel prices and increase the number of petrol stations eligible for rates relief to bring pump prices down.”

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Nick Clegg claimed a couple of days ago that the general election is not a two-horse race.

As the BBC reports, he said:

“This isn’t the old politics of a two-horse race between Labour and the Conservative Party.”

For anyone familiar with Liberal Democrat election literature in their target seats, this claim from their leader will come as something of a surprise.

Take, for example, the below leaflet the party has been distributing in Sheffield Hallam, where the Lib Dem candidate is “local campaigner” and incumbent MP, er, Nick Clegg:

Forgetting the disingenuously skewed graph for a moment, if it’s a two-horse race in Sheffield Hallam on account of the Labour Party starting in a distant third place on 19%, then what difference is there with the national battle at this election – where the Liberal Democrats start a distant third with a similar percentage of the vote and fewer than 10% of the seats?

People of Britain: it’s a two-horse race here – only the Conservatives can beat to win this general election and form a government. Voting Lib Dem only helps the Labour Party remain in office.

Jonathan Isaby

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I am disapointed to see that the Highland Council who now have to make £12 million pounds of savings are cutting front line services in areas such as care workers who are a lifeline to many families across this region.

The SNP, Labour and LibDems have all had an opportunity at running the Highland Council but have failed to achieve the outcomes that the people need. Their in-fighting and petty politics have caused inaction and a failure to properly provide for the elderly community which is growing at an incredible rate.

There really does have to be some common sense introduced so that we don’t end up with a situation where we simply dont have the resources to cope.

Add to this the fact that we have had huge numbers of Eastern Europeans migrating to the Highlands who have not being paying contributions to the country but who quickly claim all their entitlements and we see a recipe for disaster due to not having the care provision and infrastructure to cope. The Labour Government were warned that this would happen but neither they nor the LibDems were prepared to listen and simply used political correctness as a weapon to silence their critics.

The SNP are faring no better and despite thousands of Scottish jobs being lost on a weekly basis they still adopt an insane policy of trying to bring huge numbers of immigrants to Scotland when there is simply no jobs for them.

An already overburdoned NHS is now creaking at the seams and the recent case of having 54 beds at Raigmore hospital blocked is tragic. Almost an entire floor is now taken up with people who have no other place to go because the Highland Council did not make the proper provision when they had the opportunity to do so. The bed blocking situation at Raigmore hospital has seen a 50% increase in just one year and may increase further next year unless a soloution can be found.

Local people who require hospital treatment will likely find that waiting lists will grow and with cutbacks in funding this will conspire to bring greater pressure to bear on local people.

Our elderly deserve better and after a lifetime of paying contributions into the NHS and their taxes they should not be worrying about healthcare provision at a time of life when they should be able to relax and take life at a slower pace.

I hope that people across the Highlands quickly wake up to the failures of those we trusted to lead and prepare this region for the future.

Immediate action must now be taken before it really is too late.

Jim Ferguson

Thought you should see (if you have not already seen), the areas that Highland Council are looking to achieve budget cuts and reduce level of service delivery at front end.

Looks to me as if everything possible is being done to protect the non-performing layers of management earning salaries  in excess of £40,000 per annum.

One example detailed below demonstrates how management level salaries have got completely out of control:

“Schools General Reduce the number of Quality Improvement Officers by 2″ – Saving 0.140 = £140,000 simply staggering, given the average level of earnings across the Highlands of those employed outside of the Public Sector

The areas that appear to be under the knife are the very areas community leaders feel should be strengthened. particularly in relation to Education and Care of the Elderly!

Please click the link to download the Highland Council document concerned:

http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/FD04B6BA-B0E6-4CC5-B3D6-A10FCA5CE352/0/Item9HC4809.pdf

This is the document listing the potential cutbacks for the next two or three financial years within Highland Council and highlights the years of gross mis-management  of public finances by  successive political parties and elected councillors

Large sums of money have been wasted on flights of fancy, such as the Kessock Bridge fireworks display, with no thought as to how the mooey could have been better utilised for public benefit.

The huge external debt running into hundreds of £Millions, run up by successive administrations has never rung any alarm bells, whilst job protectionism has always been exhibited at the highest level of management – this simply cannot be allowed to continue.

Best wishes

Barrie Haycock
Chair Planning Watch UK

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Documentation extract (NOT Edited):

Highland Council Agenda

Item – 4 March 2010 Report

Budget Consultation
Report by Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance

Summary

Highland Council, on 11 February, noted that budget consultation proposals would be considered by the Council in March. This report sets out the proposed approach to the
budget consultation exercise.

1. Introduction

1.1 The revenue budget for 2010/11 was agreed by the Council on 11 February. While that report set out a range of savings now agreed for 2011/12 and 2012/13, it
highlighted a considerable budget gap remained across those two years, estimated at £36m.

1.2 Recent comments by the Accounts Commission on the 2009 Audit Overview Report, sets in context the challenges faced by Council’s in the wake of the
economic downturn.

“…the scale of the budget challenge they face means councils need to take urgent
action. It is essential that they continue to develop and implement plans to cope
with the tough times ahead, including thinking radically about service design and
delivery.”

1.3 Given the difficult financial prospects for local government over the next few years, and the level of savings the Council is likely to be faced with, the Council agreed to
consult on budget proposals for 2011/12 and 2012/13, prior to the proposals being considered by the Council in the Autumn of 2010.

1.4 This report sets out the proposed approach to the budget consultation exercise.

1.5 This report is produced in support of the Council’s corporate governance process, which in turn is designed to support/augment the Council’s overall/corporate
delivery of all of its obligations in terms of the Single Outcome Agreement.

2. Purpose of Consultation

2.1 The purpose of the budget consultation exercise will be to:-

? Seeks views from the public and other stakeholders, on a range of specific budget proposals the Council may be asked to consider in Autumn 2010.

? Seek views on the more strategic matters the Council is considering in relation to the budget, for example the education provision/school estate review and the
waste collection strategy.

? Ask the consultees for any areas where they feel budget savings could or should be made.

? Raise awareness of the financial challenges facing the Council and actions that may be necessary to address that.

3. Format of Consultation

3.1 A consultation document will be produced to support the exercise. This document will set out:-

? The financial context facing the Council, including the level of savings the Council thinks will have to be made over the next two years.

? Information on what the Council currently spends its budget on.

? The types of strategic review the Council is conducting or considering in major service areas e.g.

? Corporate Improvement Programme to improve efficiency and effectiveness (including procurement, asset management and business support along with other projects).

? Review of management costs.

? Reduction in travel and subsistence costs.

? Business case review for 5 new care homes.

? Review of education provision/school estate.

? Review of waste collection strategy.

? A range of specific saving proposals the Council may be asked to consider in Autumn 2010.

? Any other relevant supporting information.

? The format of response sought, including questions to be asked of consultees.

3.2 As a working draft, the enclosed annex 1 sets out a list of saving proposals that may feature in the consultation document. This list represents those savings identified by Services as part of the 2010/11 budget exercise, over and above those agreed by the Council to date. Some further refinement to proposals, and incorporate of further information where appropriate, will take place before finalised.

3.3 The consultation document will be hosted on the Council website, with consideration given to availability/distribution through other mediums where appropriate. It is not intended to print mass copies of the document, or utilise newspaper advertising or supplements, to minimise the costs of the consultation.

3.4 Consultees will be asked to provide comments via email, or in writing. Consideration will be given to a dedicated email address for responses. Ward
Forum meetings will also be used to discuss the consultation and receive feedback.

3.5 The Council has agreed that a Citizen Panel be established to support consultation on a range of matters, including the budget. Given the time necessary to recruit
and establish the panel, it will not be possible to use the panel for this initial budget consultation. It is expected that once up and running, the panel will be used for
future budget consultations.

4. Questions to be asked

4.1 While the Council could use a ‘blank sheet’ approach, i.e. leave the consultees to determine the format and content of their response, there are benefits in providing
a structure to the expected response, to aid analysis and collation.

4.2 A range of questions could be considered, to provide a structure to the response, while still leaving the consultee as much freedom as possible to give their views.
The questions could also provide a useful structure for discussion at Ward Forum meetings.

4.3 Some example questions that could be included are set out below.

(1) Are there any other areas of the Council, not reflected in the enclosed proposals, where you feel the Council could or should make savings? If so please provide details.

(2) Are there any comments you wish to make about the strategic reviews the Council is conducting.

4.4 The final structure of the document and questions will be prepared over the coming weeks, prior to formal launch of the consultation.

5. Next Steps and Timetable

5.1 Following the Council meeting, the consultation document will be prepared and incorporated on the Council website. The target date for this task is mid to end March.

5.2 The Council will then arrange for a press release, media coverage, posters in Service Points, etc as a means of promoting the consultation.

5.3 The first Ward Forum to be asked for views on the consultation will be the North West and Central Sutherland Ward Forum on 27th March.

5.4 Discussion at further Ward Forum meetings during April and May will also take place, with the consultation exercise estimated to conclude June 2010.

Recommendation

Members are asked to consider this report and agree the budget consultation approach and timetable.
Signature:
Designation: Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance
Date: 24 February 2010

Ref:

Background Papers
Author: Brian Porter, Finance Manager
Author’s Telephone No.: 01463 702424

Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1

Education, Culture & Sport

Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

1 & 3 Devolved budgets – schools Review Secondary timetabling methods, curriculum delivery methods and review teacher entitlement formulae 1.791

8 Schools General Review delivery of music tuition and region-wide music support 0.559

9 Schools General Reduce the number of Quality Improvement Officers by 2 – 0.140

12 Schools General Reduction in teaching absence cover funding 0.047

13 Schools General Discontinue the peripatetic janitorial function 0.287

14 Schools General Clothing Grant Allowance – Reduce level of award and change to “voucher” system 0.080

19 Additional Support Needs 20% reduction across Psychological Services, a 5% reduction across other specialist ASL budgets held centrally, at area level and in schools, including some reorganisation of management and administrative structures. 1.000

20 School Residences Income generation opportunities in School Residences 0.060

22 Grants to Voluntary Organisations

Further review of support for Voluntary Organisations 0.312

23 Youth Work Reduction in Youth Work 0.573

24 Community Learning Further reduction in Adult Education 0.050

25 Community Facilities,

Inverness and Nairn

Reduce number of Community Centres in Inverness 0.133

26 Archives Focus provision on new Highland Archive Centre 0.183

27 Culture Removal of the Out of Eden drama provision including the Highland wide Higher Drama course 0.195

29 Museums Reduce museum provision by two thirds through closures or alternative provision 0.400

30 Highland Culture Fund Removal of Highland Culture Fund and Lochaber Events budget 0.509

31 Integrated Library Service Reduction in library provision, including ceasing the Bookstart service 0.394

32 Integrated Library Service Library Support Unit – Reduce logistical support for libraries 0.100

33 Integrated Library Service Cease all development of the Am Baile gaelic heritage web resources, and seek alternative resources 0.172

34 Leisure, recreation and sports development

Reduce number of swimming pools 0.380

35 Sports Development and Play

Reduce support for sports development and play through review of Council and Partner provision 0.138

36 Floral Hall, Inverness Floral Hall – Close or find a social enterprise model to continue the operation 0.115

Total 7.618

ECS

Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1

JCCYP

Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

9 Review of Teacher input to nurseries

Reduce in line with service rationalisation 0.100

11 Workforce Qualification Standard

Reduction in expenditure to support early years staff qualification standard, as this will largely have been met. 0.050

Total 0.150

JCCYP

Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1

Social Work

Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

15 Establish Community Health & Social Care Partnerships with NHS Highland

Move towards integrated management of health and care 0.250

16 Community Care Learning

Disability Support Work provision

Review in – house support services for learning disabilities at Cradlehall, Inverness 0.035

18 Learning Disability Day Care Review of day care facility at Beachview, Brora. 0.069

19 Learning Disability Day Care Review learning disability day care service provision at Tigh na Drochaidh 0.020

20 Community Care Establishments

Review Raasay Day Centre 0.014

22 Care at Home Consider tender for all home care (public sector process involving comparator – phased approach) 1.000

23 Orchard Cease providing residential care at Orchard and downsize provision. Restrict the service to short breaks. 0.150

24 Top slice of fostering & adoption budget

Top slice of fostering & adoption budget 0.100

28 Children & Families Overnight provision in Children’s Units 0.100

31 Care Homes Review of all LA care home provision, to ensure best value tbc

35 Day Care Review Older People’s Day Care at Tigh na Drochaid, Portree 0.065

36 Childrens Services Review Staffin respite unit 0.130

Total 1.933

SW

Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1

TECS
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

16 Service Review of overall staffing structure 0.075

18 Service Review all income streams. 0.300

20 Roads & Community Works Review standards of cyclic road maintenance. 0.400

21 Roads & Community Works Review standards of grounds maintenance. 0.500

22 Roads & Community Works Use contractors to replace seasonal staff employed on grounds maintenance. 0.050

23 Roads & Community Works Bught Nursery – examine option to procure plant material from external providers. 0.100

24 Roads & Community Works Review standards of street cleaning. 0.500

25 Roads & Community Works Review provision (numbers) of public toilets. 0.200

26 Roads & Community Works Review Pest Control function 0.095

27 Roads & Community Works Remove budget for unadopted roads. 0.050

28 Roads & Community Works

Business Support

Review the burial administration function for Inverness,

Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Area. 0.020

32 Waste Management Review level of grant to Social Enterprise Groups. 0.050

33 Transport & Infrastructure Review level of service for street lighting. 0.500

34 Transport & Infrastructure Replace external contractors with internal staff (internal transfer from Roads and Community Works to Street Lighting). 0.050

35 Transport & Infrastructure Review levels of subsidies for public transport. 0.500

36 Transport & Infrastructure Review level of grants to Community Transport Schemes 0.050

37 Transport & Infrastructure Review long term arrangements for the Corran Ferry. 0.150

38 Transport & Infrastructure Review Materials Testing Laboratory. 0.050

39 Transport & Infrastructure Review airstrips. 0.026

40A Environmental Health Review staffing level for Environmental Health. 0.060

40B Trading Standards Review staffing level for Trading Standards. 0.060

42 Business Support Review provision of vehicle workshops including options for amalgamation. 0.050

43 Business Support Review provision of materials stores including options for external provision. 0.075

44 Business Support Review business processes. 0.040

TECS
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

45 Roads & Community Works Review temporary mortuary facilities at Glen Nevis, Fort William. 0.005

Total 3.956
TECS

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Mary Scanlon MSP

Mary Scanlon Conservative MSP spoke particularly well and also made the point that despite LibDem MP Danny Alexander calling the meeting she had on many previous occasions petitioned the LibDem/Labour coalition in Hollyrood when they were in Government, all to no avail. Dave Thompson SNP MSP also highlighted some good points and I felt he contributed in a positive way. The fact that the LibDems have effectively done nothing for Inverness was something that had caused a great deal of frustration on this particular issue.

I also pointed out that these were devolved issues and asked Mr Alexander why as a Westminster MP he was getting directly involved in issues that did not involve him. I also asked him why he was waiting until the eve of a General Election to start to campaign on the Inverness by-pass and why he had not at any other time tried to speak up for the issues at any other point during his term of office.

I suggested that Danny Alexander was in fact using the Inverness by-pass as part of his political campaign to try and win popular support for his own personal election campaign in an attempt to get re-elected.

I asked Mr Alexander to answer these charges but not unexpectedly he refused to do so.

While a by-pass is important to the future development of Inverness it must be well thought out and take into consideration all opinions and feelings of the community that it will affect. The fact that Danny  Alexander has attempted to hijack a sensitive local issue needs to be viewed with a high degree of suspicion.

Danny talks a lot but he has totally failed to deliver on this and many other issues and only now tries to save his political skin by appearing to take an interest. Once the General Election is over, Danny Alexander whether successful or not will no doubt disapear into the void only to appear again when another election approaches.

This region needs real leadership and effective planning and not politicians who simply use issues to further their own attemps to cling on to office. I have no doubt that the majority of people attending were of the same opinion as me.

The time for real action has come and lets hope that it does move forward in a positive way with a cross party consensus on what needs to be done but the political grandstanding needs to be left out.

Jim Ferguson

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Danny Alexander LibDem MP

MP’s and their expenses are under ever greater scrutiny than ever before and rightly so. Some are legitimate expenses and others are bordering on outright fraud.

I found it interesting to note from the article in the Press and Journal the amount of expenses claimed by a number of Scottish MP’s which were well into the top 50 as far as amounts actually claimed.

Danny Alexander is among the highest expense claims of MP’s at Westminster. It led me to wonder if all that money for these MP’s was money well spent. While the likes of Danny Alexander claim a large geographical area as the reason for such huge expenses claimed we cannot forget the fact that its not all fares.

Not so long ago he was approached as were all the local parties to make a contribution to the Blythwood food bank appeal that was trying desperately hard to assist the poor who had no food to eat here in the Highland capital of Inverness and the surrounding area.

I had raised close to £1000 of food aid which had also come from donations from Conservative Party members and I had thought that a cross party effort would have gone a long way to helping those in need.

Danny refused to help and stated that he thought it more important to talk about the situation than to donate anything to it.

Ofcourse at that time few of us knew that every piece of food that Danny put in his mouth was paid for by the taxpayer from expenses he claimed. All legitimate ofcourse. At least as far as the law was concerned.

I am wondering what actual worth some of these MP’s actually bring though. Sure they can appear in the newspapers and opine on this and that on a regular basis.

Danny talks a lot but in my opinion and many others actions speak louder than words.

Are MP’s like Danny Alexander worth the investment ? With a bit of luck we will find out soon enough once people here in the Highlands look at the real worth of those who claim to be working so hard on our behalf.

Jim Ferguson

North and north-east members in top 50

Chairman of Scottish affairs committee was most expensive in 2009-10

Published: 05/02/2010

NINE MPs representing seats in the north and north-east were revealed last night to be among the 50 most expensive at Westminster in the last financial year.

The MP with the highest expenses for 2009-10 was Glasgow East Labour MP and Scottish affairs committee chairman Mohammed Sarwar, who is retiring at the general election – expected in May.

He racked up £192,986 in second homes allowance claims, travel expenses, office costs, computer costs and staff pay.

But his example was closely followed by MPs north of the central belt.

Moray MP Angus Robertson, ranked third most costly, last night defended his £188,164 claim. He said it was partly caused by the extra expense resulting from opening a second constituency office at Keith, and partly high travel costs.

He said: “Given the unpredictability of parliamentary schedules, weekly commuting arrangements often have to be made at short notice, which sadly adds to the travel costs.

“Constituents rightly expect you to attend to issues and events locally as well as with matters at Westminster on a weekly basis.”

He added: “The biggest cost saving from Westminster will come when Scotland is independent and we don’t need to send MPs there at all. I am focused on making that happen as quickly as possible.

At just £539 a year lower, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Liberal Democrat MP Danny Alexander, also blamed travel costs, driving round one of the biggest constituencies in the UK and commuting back and forth between Inverness and London.

Linlithgow and Falkirk East Labour MP Michael Connarty and Falkirk Labour MP Eric Joyce, at fourth and fifth, were only a few pence less.

Mr Joyce — frequently at or near the top of the expenses league — also cited travel between his home in Falkirk and London as the reason his expenses remain high, pointing out that MPs have to fly on expensive open tickets because they do not know their arrangements very far ahead.

Aberdeen North MP Frank Doran came in at No 12 in the table, claiming £182,139.

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Lib Dem MP John Thurso, at No 22, claimed £178,689, Dundee West Labour MP Jim McGovern, 23, £178,597, and Gordon Lib Dem MP Malcolm Bruce, 24, £178,230.

Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart was 34th with £175,896.

The cheapest was First Minister Alex Salmond, also SNP MP for Banff and Buchan, 533rd, but he rarely appeared in Westminster, claiming £131,316, mainly in staff costs. Western Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil was 431st, claiming £141,583.

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In Scotland things are no better. With equal stupidity Kenny MacAskill the Justice minister is mired in scandal after scandal yet refuses to listen to people alarmed and disgusted at the SNP policies where the odds always seem to be in favour of the criminal.

I am confident that a Conservative Government will restore the balance and get common sense back into policy that will properly protect members of the public and put a stop to the mockery of the Justice system.

Jim Ferguson

Twenty killers on the run

Friday, January 29 2010

Dominic Grieve, the Shadow Justice Secretary, has responded to news that 754 offenders recalled to prison after breaching the terms of their licence are still at large or unaccounted for.

Amongst the missing offenders are seventeen murderers, and three people convicted of manslaughter.

They also include nine rapists, six paedophiles, ten other sex offenders, seventy burglars, and seventy-five people convicted of robbery.

Grieve said that people “will be understandably concerned to learn that so many murderers, rapists and sex offenders who should be in prison are still at large”.

“Labour’s policy of releasing prisoners early with inadequate supervision is putting the public at risk”, he added.

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Jim Ferguson

The Labour and Lib Dem MPs in Tory target seats who will avoid the electorate’s verdict at the general election

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Jim Ferguson

Backlash at Salmond after dentist invited to functions
First minister accused of wasting public money

Published: 11/11/2009

OPPOSITION parties last night accused Alex Salmond of wasting public cash after it emerged he invited his dentist to two official functions.

Murray Bremner and his wife Jane were among 19 guests at a dinner in Bute House, the first minister’s official residence in Edinburgh, in August 2007.

The dinner was held after a performance of the Edinburgh Tattoo and other guests included financier Sir Angus Grossart and his wife Lady Grossart, and the then Speaker of the Commons, Michael Martin and his wife.

The Bremners were also among the guests at a Runrig dinner held at Scone Palace in Perthshire on August 29 this year. Mr Bremner said he did not know why he had been invited. He said of Mr Salmond: “He’s an affable chap and we just get on reasonably well.”

And he added: “Maybe there’s a list he goes down and he gets to 96 and he invites me, I don’t know.”

But Labour leader Iain Gray said: “This misuse of funds shows the first minister’s disregard for public money. At the very least he should pay the money back.”

And Tory leader Annabel Goldie said: “I think it is absolutely disgraceful he feels he can treat his dentist to a night out courtesy of the public but I’m afraid this is all too typical of Alex Salmond.”

But a spokesman for Mr Salmond accused his critics of “silly party politicking” and said that, unlike previous administrations, the Scottish Government proactively published guest lists.

“It is normal practice under successive administrations for ministers to provide hospitality to invited guests at a range of events – even Christmas receptions for journalists.” He said Mr Salmond invited his dentist “because he was inviting a range of guests”.

The Scone supper took place before a concert to celebrate the arrival of a stone carving which formed part of the official Homecoming programme, and the concert was attended by 15,000 people.

The event also saw the launch by Mr Salmond of a not-for-profit charitable initiative, he said.

Press and Journal.

“All first ministers and before them secretaries of state had invited guest to a range of events. This has been totally normal, totally appropriate – the only difference is that we publish the information.”

Read more – Original article link

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