Sir Menzies Campbell has welcomed the news that the UK Government has renewed the pensions and benefits card account contract with the Post Office and hailed it as “an outbreak in common sense”.

Sir Menzies said:

“Thank goodness for an outbreak in common sense on the part of the Government.

“The Post Office network has taken too many blows in recent years and if the Card Account had gone elsewhere the consequences would have been dire.

“This decision is a tribute to the pressure exercised by the public who have made their feelings known at every level of Government and has strengthened the arm of MPs like myself. I have had more campaign postcards on this issue than any other in the 21 years since I became an MP.”

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Sir Menzies said:

“This is just a foretaste of things to come as the recession, now acknowledged by the Governor of the Bank of England, begins to bite.

“It is essential that Ministers at Holyrood and Westminster take urgent, practical action to stimulate the economy with tax cuts, which will help those who are struggling to meet their daily financial outgoings.

“I’m afraid to say that unemployment in North East Fife may get worse before it gets better.”

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The Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife highlighted the controversy that surrounds the Structure Plan and has called for a full opportunity for public comment to alleviate this.

Commenting Sir Menzies said, “The principles of disclosure and transparency need to be evident at all stages of the process in order for the outcome to have credibility.”

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The Text of the letter to John Swinney MSP

John Swinney MSP
Cabinet Secretary
Finance and Sustainable Growth
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

16th October 2008

Dear John

Recent newspaper reports suggest that proposed modifications to the Fife Structure Plan have been intimated to SNH, SEPA and Historic Scotland but not to Fife Council. It is also reported that the Scottish Executive has resolved not to hold an Examination in Public on the Plan. Can you confirm whether either of these reports are true?

If they are, can you explain why the Council should not be advised of the proposed modifications and how such a failure is consistent with the principles of disclosure and transparency which are central to the planning process. Have the proposed modifications been intimated to any of the parties such as objectors?

How could an informed decision be taken about whether an Examination in Public was necessary until the Structure Plan has passed through all stages short of Ministerial approval?

Your officials will be well aware of the controversy which surrounds the Fife Structure Plan. Would not that controversy be alleviated if there were a full opportunity for public comment in the course of a formal Examination in Public?

Yours sincerely

Menzies Campbell

Last month, the High Court ruled the Government’s current policy of excluding pre-1997 retired Gurkhas from settling in the UK is unlawful and must be replaced. Sir Menzies Campbell MP believes that all retired Gurkhas should be allowed to stay in Britain and has pledged to support the Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill.

Sir Menzies has shown his support for the campaign by signing the Gurkha pledge card.

Show your support at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk

Sir Menzies Campbell MP has condemned the proposals from Ofcom to increase the fees by 600% that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) pays for the use of radio channels.

The new fee, which would mean that the lifesaving charity would have to pay £260,000, has been branded by Sir Menzies as “a major drain”.

Commenting on the plan, Sir Menzies said, “Ofcom should reconsider its plans.

“I was deeply impressed by their professionalism and commitment of the Anstruther lifeboat crew who recently invited me to accompany them on one of their regular training exercises.

“I cannot understand why it is that a voluntary organisation, which does such difficult and dangerous work, should find itself having to pay more than six times the present charge to access vital radio frequencies.

“There is absolutely no doubt where public opinion and common sense lie on this issue. Ofcom needs to think again.”

The Government has announced that the maximum period of backdating for pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit will be reduced from one year to three months as part of a simplification of the system. But Sir Menzies supports the view that has been expressed by the Citizens Advice Bureau and others that the new rules will risk increasing financial hardship, particularly for those with rent arrears who are unaware of their entitlement to housing benefit, and for those who have literacy problems, disabilities or language barriers.

Sir Menzies is urging anyone who thinks they might be eligible for any of these benefits to apply before the end of September to ensure they will receive the maximum amount of backdating.

He said:

“I am strongly opposed to this change, as I am concerned about the impact it will have on low income families and pensioners in North East Fife. The Government has insisted that they need to reduce the backdating periods for these benefits in order to pay for a new system for pensioners to claim all of their benefits through one application. While I support the simplification of the benefits system, it should not be paid for by penalising a group of particularly vulnerable claimants.”

To apply for pension credit, constituents should call 0800 99 1234. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8.00am - 8.00pm. To make enquiries about housing benefit and council tax benefit, constituents should contact their local Council office or visit the Council’s website.

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Sir Menzies Campbell MP has welcomed the High Court ruling condemning the Government’s policy of deporting retired Gurkhas.

Speaking from the High Court after the announcement, Sir Menzies said:

“The Government must honour the spirit of this decision. Brave Gurkha soldiers should not be discriminated against.

“To risk your life for Great Britain surely gives you the right to live here.”

Commenting Menzies Campbell said “It is always great to see people getting involved in volunteering. Their contributions are really valuable to North East Fife and I would urge anyone who has the time to consider volunteering their services on 25th October. Participants between 2 and 105 years old take part in activities which range from baking cakes and knitting toys for a children’s hospice, to transforming waste land into a community garde, teaching IT skills or renovating a homeless shelter – anything which improves local communities”.

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Commenting Menzies Campbell said “The Equitable Life saga has drifted on for far too long making it even worse for its policyholders, many of which are in North East Fife. Liberal Democrats will continue to maintain pressure on the Government to accept the recommendations in the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report. The Ombudsman’s investigation has taken over four years and there is little doubt that government foot-dragging has made a substantial contribution to the repeated delays”.

Menzies Campbell continued “Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling must now accept the Ombudsman’s recommendation that ‘wrongs should be remedied’, admit fault and apologise to policyholders. It is essential that the Government set out a credible, transparent and independent process to enter into a dialogue with policy holders over compensation and ensure that the Ombudsman’s authority is not undermined”.
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Following the extensive flooding witnessed in North East Fife over the past few days, local MP Menzies Campbell and MSP Iain Smith have praised the emergency services and residents for their “swift action” and have called for a full review of North East Fife’s flood plan.

Sir Menzies Campbell MP said, “It was clear from my visit to affected areas in the constituency yesterday (Wednesday) that the amount of water and the damage that ensued had taken most people by surprise. The work of the emergency services and residents alike must be commended for their swift action and the following clear up.

“It is also apparent that there is a need for a full review of North East Fife’s flood plans. We must identify where flood prevention needs bolstering and how residents can be protected in the future.”

Iain Smith MSP said, “The priority is to ensure that all residents affected have any damage to their homes fixed as a mater of urgency. It is imperative that all agencies are doing everything they possibly can to help those affected.”

“By all accounts the emergency services did a very good job during this flooding but it is clear that a full review of flood plans needs to be carried out. Questions need to be asked such as: Is the current flood prevention needing updated? What future measures need to be put in place? Is emergency service cover adequate?

“The areas where flooding has occurred up and down the constituency needs to be identified and evaluated in order to ascertain what more can be done to minimise future disruption and damage.”

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