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
****************************

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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Earlier in the week the Liberal Democrats launched a poster, warning of a VAT bombshell if the Conservatives won. Cross-examined by BBC1′s Politics Show today the Liberal Democrats’ Treasury spokesman admitted that the idea of a £389 bombshell was conjecture and conceded that he couldn’t rule out a hike in VAT. Transcript below.

JON SOPEL: I mean let’s leave aside whether or whether not there is a black hole in the Tories’ finances. Leave that to one side. You don’t know factually, that they are going to raise VAT. That is your conjecture.

VINCE CABLE: It is a conjecture and it’s a reasonable assumption and I wouldn’t claim anymore than that.

JON SOPEL: And that £389 is a rough figure plucked –

VINCE CABLE: It’s a ball park estimate of what it would require in order to fill that gap, and it seems a reasonable way of expressing that argument.”

…

JON SOPEL: Would you rule out raising VAT?

VINCE CABLE: No, I don’t. It’s something –
JON SOPEL: So therefore your position is no different to them.”

Well done Mr Sopel. Vince Cable is a serial flip-flopper.

Tim Montgomerie

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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 proud to say that my local Conservative members have donated £250. I went into Tesco today and told them that If they were prepared to match or exceed the amount donated I would also donate £250 from my own company The Castle Group.

We will see if they are big hearted enough to assist us.

Meanwhile Danny Alexander MP for Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey of the Lib Dems was quoted as saying “It is my impression and evidence from my own constituency contacts that things have got worse for benefit claimants in the Highlands since the system was centralised to a call centre in Clydebank,” he maintained.

“I have no doubt that in some cases the food bank is a lifesaver.”
Wow…..inspiring stuff Danny. You have no doubt eh ! So what exactly have you been doing since you were elected in 2005 ?

What did you do that would have highlighted or solved this problem before it could have become so bad. ? …….  Not a lot.

Its time to put our money up front – despite all the talk of some politicians, actions speak louder than words. Lets see if our sitting MP Mr Alexander can match our initiative.

what about the S.N.P and Labour members ?

What will you do now that I have thrown this your way Mr Alexander ?
Donate some money to these poor and needy folk ? I won’t hold my breath.

Full article:

Stocks low at Highland food bank

By Val Sweeney – Inverness Courier

Published: 04 March, 2008

IN the space of an hour, six people call at the Highland Food Bank in Inverness to collect emergency supplies. They include a single mother-of-three accompanied by a teenage girl whose mother recently died.

“There was no one else to care for her — she is the daughter of my best friend,” she explained. “I felt so sad for her. So, I decided to take her in to help her out until we can get things sorted.”

But finance is tight and a social worker has referred them to the food bank which operates four days a week out of the Free North Church hall in Madras Street, Merkinch.

A few minutes later, the pair depart clutching a couple of carrier bags filled with an assortment of ingredients while they debate who will be cooking the evening meal.

Like many people, the mother was previously unaware of the centre’s presence. “I think it is a fantastic idea,” she said. “I am not too proud to take help when I need it.”

The steady trickle of callers also include an elderly man, who chats to a member of staff over a cup of tea and a biscuit before leaving with his groceries, and a middle-aged man who has to hurry away for a job interview. Two young Polish men who speak limited English are the next to arrive.

“We are looking for jobs,” one explained. “We have been in Inverness for one month and cannot find jobs. We have been looking every day.” The pair now appear to be homeless and down to their last £20. “It is a very difficult situation for us,” he reflected.

It is about two-and-a-half years since the food bank opened its doors to needy families and individuals. Operated by the Christian relief agency, Blythswood Care, it is the only one of its type in Scotland and demand is rising. Last year the food centre helped more than 1700 people in crisis, a 70 per cent rise from the previous year, while in the first two months of this year about 340 people have been given boxes of food.

Co-ordinator Lorna Dempster acknowledged it was “a huge rise” and speculated over the reasons. “Obviously, I think awareness has grown in that a lot more people are being referred to us,” she said. Mrs Dempster had mixed feelings about the increasing use of the service. “It is a concern there is such a great need in Inverness in 2008 but to be able to do something is good — it is good we are able to step in and meet that need,” she said.

The reasons why people are referred are varied. By far, the biggest group are those whose benefit payment has been delayed — 37 per cent so far this year compared with 36 per cent for all of last year. Other reasons include debt (13 per cent), homelessness (12 per cent), low income (11 per cent), refused crisis loan (8 per cent), benefit cuts (4 per cent), domestic violence (2 per cent) and unemployment (1 per cent). The remaining 9 per cent are down to “other reasons” which could include theft of someone’s money, Mrs Dempster explained.

“It could even be things like someone whose fridge has broken down so that the items in the fridge are damaged and not usable,” she said. “It could be a case of getting the fridge repaired, or buying food. They might be told to get the fridge repaired and we would provide the food for a few days.”

Mrs Dempster stressed clients were from a broad range of backgrounds. “Need is no respecter of persons,” she said. “It could happen to anyone. The first guy who came in today used to have a good job but because of circumstances and problems in his life, he found himself in a difficult situation.”

Clients using the food bank have to hand in vouchers distributed by such agencies as GPs, social workers, community nurses, housing associations and citizens’ advice bureaux. In return, they are given a three-day supply of non-perishable foodstuffs.

The arrangements mean assessments are carried out by another organisation other than Blythswood and also ensure clients do not become reliant on the food boxes.

“People can have three vouchers in a given period of time,” Mrs Dempster explained. “That can be extended, if the people distributing the voucher think another couple of vouchers would help the person get back on their feet again.”

The packs, which contain a menu guide on how the food can be used to provide three meals per day, include such items as cereal, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruit, soup, corned beef, ham, tea and coffee.

The food bank recognised, however, there could be difficulties for some clients depending on their domestic arrangements. “If people are in bed and breakfast accommodation they might have a microwave or kettle so we try to give items that they are able to use,” she said. “For cup-a-soups and things like that, people can usually get by with just a kettle.”

Highland Food Bank co-ordinator Lorna Dempster. Gary Anthony

A couple of tables with chairs are also set out so anyone calling in can also stop for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat with the volunteers.

But not everyone lives near enough to collect supplies from the Madras Street centre so boxes of food are available for delivery by care professionals to clients.

Food supplies are donated largely by the public. In 2007 three tonnes of food were donated through harvest thanksgiving services at churches in Inverness and Easter Ross.

The first food bank schools appeal in the spring of 2006 attracted responses from 17 schools in the Inverness area while last year pupils from 26 primary schools in Inverness and Easter Ross participated.

“We are planning an appeal through schools in May but we need donations from the general public.” Mrs Dempster said.

Certainly, awareness of the project is spreading. At Christmas time, for the last two years, the Richard Fraser Charitable Trust donated money to buy festive foods such as Christmas puddings or selection boxes for the food parcels. Supermarkets such as Tesco Metro store in Tomnahurich Street, Inverness, have organised collections for customers to donate.

One former client, grateful to the food bank, is James Boyd, now a volunteer. Mr Boyd (39) of Huntly Place, Inverness, was referred to the project by staff at Caley House in Millburn Road which helps people with alcohol and drug problems.

“Things were not going too well and they gave me a voucher,” he said. “I went along to the food bank and they sat me down with a coffee. They were very nice people. It came along just at the right time.”

Subsequently, Mr Boyd turned his life around and as well as helping to distribute food parcels, he also puts together packs of toiletries with items donated by the Destiny Church which meets at the Columba Hotel in Inverness on Sunday mornings and of which he is a member.

Mr Boyd, a volunteer at the food bank for about nine months, said it was a way of saying “thank you”. “I know what it feels like when you have nothing,” he said.

Danny Alexander, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, praised the work of the food bank but was also concerned about the proportion of clients being referred due to delays in benefit claims. “It is my impression and evidence from my own constituency contacts that things have got worse for benefit claimants in the Highlands since the system was centralised to a call centre in Clydebank,” he maintained.

“I have no doubt that in some cases the food bank is a lifesaver.”

Tinned meat, tinned potatoes, UHT whole milk, dried fruit and packets of rice are the top five items required most urgently by the food bank.

Other items on the list include breakfast cereal, dried pasta, oatcakes and crackers, tinned vegetables, tinned tomatoes, tinned fruit, tinned fish, tinned soup and Cup-a-soup, tinned custard and rice pudding, tea bags, coffee and sugar. Donations can be left at any Blythswood shop, or collection can be arranged by phoning 0845 456 9460.

v.sweeney@inverness-courier.co.uk

As discussed earlier, I along with our Conservative Party members with the Help of Tescos raised between us £837 worth of food. I can confirm that the food has all now been delivered to the Food bank at Blythswood.

If you remember, I had laid down a challenge to the other political parties to get involved and ask their respective members to donate seeing as this was a crisis and local people who had not received their benefits were in desperate need.

I have to say I was very disappointed that not one of the other parties were prepared to help. They made some lame comments about already donating to local charities etc etc but the worst of all was Liberal Democrat MP Danny Alexander for Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey who despite claiming some of the largest expenses couldn’t be bothered to give anything at all. Instead he said politicians should be doing something so that the situation should not have arisen in the first place.

I’m sure that really made these local hungry people feel much better!

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