Campaigns

SNP MP urges more action on measuring food insecurity

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, has today called on the UK Government to do more to measure the extent of food insecurity across the country, to fully illustrate the root causes of this growing problem.

Thewliss, who has campaigned on the issue of food banks and food insecurity, spoke following the introduction of a ten minute rule motion by Emma Lewell-Buck, Labour MP for South Shields, asking the Government to better report on food security through the use of official statistics.

Commenting, Ms Thewliss said:

“I was disappointed – but far from surprised – to see The Trussell Trust report earlier this month that outlined that food bank use in Scotland has risen by 20% in the last year. Not only that, the research indicated that problems processing benefit claims represented the biggest cause for referrals to food banks in Scotland, making up around 42% of cases. This is completely unacceptable, and the UK Government should be ashamed that its actions are driving people further into food poverty.

“I fully support Emma Lowell-Buck’s Bill – measuring the scale of this problem is a necessity, and is a move supported by organisations including the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Oxfam and the UK Food Poverty Alliance, amongst many others. The UK Government continues to deny there is a problem, and seem unwilling to act on the testimony of charities and those having to visit food banks. I am hopeful that a formal measurement will force them to take notice.

“They would do well to follow the steps taken by the Scottish Government who last year set up an independent working group on food poverty, and whose findings are now being built on by the ‘Menu for Change’ partnership – an alliance of charities who have come together to evolve the response to food poverty in Scotland.

“The local response in Glasgow to the issue of hunger has been admirable – for example, Dalmarnock Primary School hosted a summer club where parents and children could eat a hot meal together during the summer holidays, offering key support for many families struggling to make ends meet.

“It is a scandal that the UK Government is forcing people into desperate situations, I will continue to challenge their failure to acknowledge the root causes of food poverty.”

Budget 2017: A missed opportunity to scrap rape clause

Alison Thewliss MP joins supporters at the launch of her campaign to scrap the rape clause

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, has voiced her exasperation following the Chancellor’s budget statement today, which once again failed to address the shortcomings of the mediaeval two child policy and rape clause. The Glasgow MP noted that the omission only served to further illustrate the Government’s reluctance to do the right thing by women and families.

The two child cap restricts tax credit payments to the first two children per family. At the same time, it forces women who want to claim an exemption for a third child – for example as a result of rape – to do so by submitting evidence and navigating a laborious administrative process.

Commenting following the Chancellor’s budget speech, Ms Thewliss said:

“I am sorely disappointed and exasperated that the Chancellor has missed yet another opportunity to do the right thing and scrap the UK Government’s pernicious two child policy and rape clause, which will push 200,000 children into poverty.

“I have been pursuing the UK Government on this abhorrent policy for over two years now, and its sickening impact on women and families across the country is becoming clearer by the day.

“On top of this, the Government is continuing to fail women in Northern Ireland who – along with third party referrers – could face prosecution under existing laws in Northern Ireland if they apply for an exemption, as I highlighted recently in parliament. The fact that these women are being forced to choose between struggling to put food on the table or going through the criminal justice system is unthinkable.

“Clearly the Chancellor does not think the plight of women and families is an important enough issue to receive the attention it deserves. I, and my colleagues in the SNP, could not disagree more, and I will continue to urge the Government to reconsider their approach.”

Northern Ireland Secretary passes buck on rape clause

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, has highlighted that Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has sidestepped serious concerns raised about the operation of the two child policy and rape clause in Northern Ireland.

On Wednesday, the campaigning MP challenged the Northern Ireland Office on the interaction between Section 5 of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 and referrals under the rape clause, as existing law in Northern Ireland results in automatic disclosure of rape allegations directly to the police.

The following day, the Northern Ireland Office issued a written statement which passed responsibility to the devolved Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, despite there being no Minister for that department since the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January 2017.

Speaking after the written statement was issued, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“The Northern Ireland Secretary clearly wasn’t listening carefully to the criticisms of the rape clause from groups such as the Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation, doctors, nurses, social workers and midwives, that I highlighted to him in Parliament on Wednesday.

“It is beyond farcical that the UK Government has passed the buck to a non-existent Northern Ireland Assembly; the reality remains that women and third party professionals risk criminalisation if they do not disclose rape to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Women in Northern Ireland should not be forced to choose between struggling to put food on the table or going through the full process of the criminal justice system.

“Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office cannot hide behind devolution – the only way to remove the risk of criminalisation is to ask their colleagues in the DWP to scrap the pernicious and mediaeval two child policy and rape clause once and for all.”

Northern Ireland Secretary must act to scrap rape clause

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, today challenged Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire to use his influence in the UK Government to protect vulnerable women in Northern Ireland and scrap the two child policy and rape clause.

The campaigning MP asked the Northern Ireland Secretary to highlight the impact that Section 5 of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 has on referrals under the rape clause, as it results in automatic disclosure of rape allegations directly to the police. Concerns have been raised by women’s organisations, including the Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation, who Ms Thewliss met with in September following her attendance at an anti-rape clause rally in Belfast.

Third party professionals, such as doctors, midwives, social workers and support workers, can face a prison sentence of up to 10 years if they fail to disclose that a woman has been raped when completing the rape clause form – even if doing so means that women are placed in further danger of violence and sexual assault from their abusive partners.

Speaking after Northern Ireland Questions, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“I have been pursuing the UK Government on this abhorrent policy for over two years now, and it’s evident that the rape clause’s sickening impact on women in Northern Ireland is becoming clearer by the day. In addition to the repugnant position that vulnerable women are being placed in by having to disclose one of the worst experiences of their lives to make a claim for a benefit, they, and the third party professionals that support them, could face criminalisation under existing law in Northern Ireland.

“The Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation is the latest in a long line of women’s aid organisations, charities and trades unions to join the campaign against the two child policy and rape clause. The stakes are so high for thousands of doctors, nurses, women’s aid workers and support workers who face potential criminalisation under the rape clause.

“The Northern Ireland Secretary must now stand up for vulnerable women in Northern Ireland and ask his colleagues in the DWP to scrap the pernicious, mediaeval and unworkable two child policy and rape clause once and for all.”

Alison Thewliss MP races against service personnel in support of The Royal British Legion’s Annual Poppy Appeal

On Wednesday 01 November the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, the Director General of The Royal British Legion, and over 90 Members of Parliament raced alongside serving members of The Armed Forces on an exercise bike to raise money for The Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal.

The 12 hour bike ride was held from 08:00 to 20:00 in Portcullis House, Parliament and aimed to raise money for the Legion’s national Poppy Appeal. Alison Thewliss MP represented her constituency of Glasgow Central by cycling as far as she could in 5 minutes, with the hope of topping the leaderboard, beating their fellow colleagues. Alison managed to cycle 2.99 miles in 5 minutes.

The bike ride was organised by the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) and The Royal British Legion following on from the successful bike ride held in 2016 (where 77 MPs and Peers cycled a total of 128.8 miles in 12 hours). This year’s race emphasised that The Royal British Legion will once again be asking the nation to ‘Rethink Remembrance’ and consider the meaning of the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance and hope.

MPs were encouraged to donate as they take part, with all of the money raised on the day going to help The Royal British Legion provide lifelong support for the Armed Forces community. The Central Parliament Poppy Appeal is the only charity that can fundraise in Parliament.

Commenting on the event, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“I would like to thank the Industry and Parliament Trust and The Royal British Legion for arranging this event. The Royal British Legion provides invaluable support to The Armed Forces community; I am pleased to have been able to support such a worthy cause.”

Nick Maher, CEO of the IPT, said:

“The work of The Royal British Legion is essential to the lives of the whole Armed Forces community across the UK and I am delighted that MPs and Peers are supporting us in our efforts to raise money for such a worthwhile cause. The support and enthusiasm from parliamentarians and service men and women has been fantastic”.

Alison Thewliss MP supports National Autism Project campaign

Alison Thewliss MP supported the National Autism Project at the launch of their Autism Agenda at a recent event in Westminster.

There are an estimated 700,000 autistic people living in the UK. The Autism Agenda showcases the National Autism Project’s recommendations to highlight barriers that autistic people face and how these can be addressed. These include timely identification and diagnosis, removing barriers to accessing social care and fighting stigma and discrimination.

Supporting the National Autism Project on the day were major national charities – the National Autistic Society, Autistica and the Autism Alliance as well as the Westminster Commission on Autism.

Paradise Papers: failure to act risks deregulated Britain

A failure by the Prime Minister – in the wake of the Paradise Papers – to fully investigate and pursue rigorous regulation risks a deregulated tax haven Britain, the SNP has said today in a letter to the Prime Minister.

In the letter, SNP MP Alison Thewliss warned that as the UK approaches a “period of long-term uncertainty” in the face of a Tory Brexit, the UK government must use the leak of 13.4 million documents as an opportunity to “create a tax system that works for everyone.”

The SNP has campaigned tirelessly for action to tackle the UK’s role in tax criminality and injustice – including through campaigning to expose and address the links between Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLPs) and criminality.

The leaks shed a light on the world’s most wealthiest and influential people and companies who have been found to be using offshore structures to protect their money from paying higher tax – the list includes one of the Tory party’s biggest donors, Lord Ashcroft, who has given more than £10m to the Tory party.

Alison Thewliss MP said:

“Theresa May pledged on taking office in 2016 that, ‘When it comes to taxes, we’ll prioritise not the wealthy, but you.’ If the Prime Minister is genuinely committed to this, she must turn hollow rhetoric and inaction into action with rigorous regulation that holds to account the wealthiest from exploiting offshore tax havens.

“In order to promote transparency and accountability, we need the beneficial ownership of companies and trusts to be made public immediately, and measures brought forward to improve the transparency of tax paid by major international companies – as was highlighted by the sweetheart deal offered to Google.

“Taxpayers in the UK have faced seven years of callous, ideologically driven austerity, as this Tory government removes the safety net from those who need it most. The government cannot sit on its hands, as the UK heads for the biggest increase in inequality since the Thatcher years.”

SNP MP calls for an end to maternity discrimination

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, has called on the UK Government to end maternity discrimination, and joined the ‘March of the Mummies’ demonstration in London on Tuesday 31 October, an event organised by campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed to bring about positive change for working mothers across the UK. Marches also took place at five other locations across the country.

A UK Government-commissioned survey published in 2015 concluded that around 11% of women, having left their job as a result of giving birth, had reported being a victim of workplace discrimination. According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, if these results were replicated across the country, the cumulative effect would be around 54,000 women being forced out of work each year.

The ‘March of the Mummies’ campaign is lobbying the UK Government to increase the time limit for raising a tribunal claim from three months to at least six, and reports that there has been a sharp decline in women employees bringing tribunal claims against their employers since fees for doing so were increased substantially in 2013.

Alison Thewliss MP said:

“I pay credit to all who joined in today’s ‘March of the Mummies’ campaign, and to the wider work of the group, Pregnant Then Screwed.

“Every year thousands of women face the prospect of losing their jobs as a result of pregnancy. This is bad enough, but the fact that the same women then face a serious struggle in accessing justice is simply unacceptable.

“Some of the stories that I have heard first-hand from women have been truly shocking, and have ranged from women having their work-patterns changed without their knowledge, to those finding out at short-notice that there is simply no job for them to return to once their maternity has ended.

“It’s encouraging to see the Scottish Government taking steps to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the workplace, and opening up a formal dialogue with women through the establishment of a working group. However, employment law still resides at Westminster and much more must be done by the UK Government to protect women’s rights. If they won’t, these powers must be devolved to Holyrood.”

SNP MP urges UK Government to reverse ESOL funding cuts

Alison Thewliss MP sitting at her desk in Parliament

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, has called on the UK Government to reverse damaging funding cuts to English language courses for refugees and asylum seekers and give asylum seekers the opportunity to work whilst they wait for their claims to be heard by the Home Office.

According to research from the charity Refugee Action, UK government funding for ESOL classes in England and Wales has shrunk by more than £110 million in six years, leaving many applicants waiting up to three years to begin their learning. Combined with restrictions which prevent asylum seekers from working whilst in the UK, many asylum seekers and refugees face an uphill struggle to integrate into their new communities.

In Scotland, additional funding of over £1.4 million has been provided for ESOL classes as part of the Scottish Government’s New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, which has created over 10,000 English language learning opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.

Commenting, following a Westminster Hall debate on English language teaching for refugees, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“It is great to see the Scottish Government doing all it can to support refugees and asylum seekers integrate into Scottish society. The landmark New Scots refugee integration strategy, backed by £1.4 million of funding for ESOL classes, has improved the prospects of thousands of refugees across Scotland to access work and education opportunities.

“There are a number of organisations in my wonderfully diverse constituency offering first class English language teaching classes, at various locations across Glasgow. One such organisation is Nan McKay Community Hall, who have been providing English language support for at least fourteen years now, and the service continues to be very much in demand. Many of those who have enrolled at Nan McKay Community Hall have become part of the life of the community; they go on trips together, enjoy cookery and art, these brand new Glaswegians from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Poland, Greece, Sudan, and more besides.

“Despite considerable efforts in Scotland to improve refugee integration, it remains deeply concerning that the UK Government continues to place undue restrictions on asylum seekers who wish to contribute to society whilst their claims are being processed by the Home Office. Even modest participation in the labour market by a quarter of all asylum seekers in the UK would save the UK Government money whilst boosting economic growth and improving social cohesion.

“Supporting vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers is not just the right thing to do, it brings tangible economic benefits to society as a whole. The UK Government can start today by reversing the damaging cuts to ESOL and stop alienating refugees and asylum seekers from the communities that seek to welcome their contribution.”

Alison Thewliss MP urges households to ‘Keep a Step Ahead of Winter’

New research from Scottish Gas has highlighted that having no heating or hot water would be the number one disaster for households in Scotland this winter. Even so, many people in Glasgow have not taken action to ensure their homes are winter-ready.

Despite the autumn chill, a national survey* shows that more than a third of households (35%) in Scotland have not checked that their central heating is working and nearly four in ten have not prepared their home for winter by getting their boiler serviced. Having an annual boiler service carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer is crucial as it detects problems with the boiler and controls, including whether it is leaking poisonous carbon monoxide.

Keeping homes safe is an important part of winter preparation, yet only four in ten households in Scotland have checked that their carbon monoxide alarm is working. Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’, because the gas has no odour or taste, and is invisible. Fitting an audible alarm is the second line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning.

Being energy efficient is particularly important during the winter months, and technology can help with this. Whilst more than half of households in Scotland (51%) acknowledge that technology could help their home to run more smoothly during winter, less than a third (32%) have smart meters.

Having smart meters installed can help keep household energy in check, as they automatically send readings to the energy supplier. Smart meters also come with a display that shows you how much energy is being used, in pounds and pence, in near real-time, and identify where savings can be made.

Alison Thewliss MP said: “It’s really important to keep a step ahead of winter. I want everyone in Glasgow to understand what help is available for them, and for their family and friends. Being energy efficient and keeping bills under control is really important, so I’d encourage people to get in touch with their energy supplier to find out what support is on offer.”

Scottish Gas engineer Stephen Cosgrove, who fixes and repairs boilers, said: “Winter can be a challenging time for households, but there are some practical steps that you can take, with our help, to make sure that you are prepared:

Get the best deal

We have been working hard to ensure buying energy is simple, transparent and fair for customers – for every customer on a standard variable tariff they will get an Annual Energy Health Check to make sure they’re on the right tariff. This will highlight other ways we can help our customers save money like replacing old and inefficient boilers or insulating their homes for free.

Get smart meters

Your energy supplier will be able to install smart meters, which mean an end to estimated bills. A smart energy monitor shows how much energy you are using, and what you are spending. Scottish Gas customers are provided with online tools to help them manage their energy usage. Find out more by visiting www.britishgas.co.uk/smartmeters

The Scottish Gas Energy Trust

This independent trust gives face-to-face advice, financial support and grants to help clear energy and household debts. The average grant is around £600 and you don’t have to be a Scottish Gas customer. Find out more by visiting: www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk.

Bleed your radiators: to make sure they are working properly. If your radiators have cold spots at the top, this means you have air in the system, so you will need to bleed them to get them working efficiently.

a. To do this, turn the system off and when cool turn the radiator key until the air stops and water runs consistently. Once you have turned the system back on, the problem should be solved.
b. Cold spots in the bottom or centre of the radiator may be an indication of sludge build up and the need for system flushing.
c. Bleeding your radiator may result in pressure dropping. If you have a pressure gauge, make sure the boiler is at the right pressure and top up as necessary.

Block the breeze: Make sure all of your windows and doors seal properly to stop warm air escaping. For those that don’t, fitting draught excluders, which you can buy from most DIY stores, is a quick and cheap way to cut down on your energy bills.

Stay safe: It’s vital to have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted and that you test it regularly.

Love your boiler: Check to make sure that your boiler is working properly before winter sets in. The older your boiler, the more inefficient it will be. If you have a pressure gauge, make sure the boiler is at the right pressure and top up as necessary.

Insulate your pipes: Burst pipes are a huge issue during winter months. To help prevent burst pipes, ensure all pipes are properly insulated by using lagging, which can be bought cheaply from most DIY shops.

Maintain your drains: If you’re trying to keep your drains outside well maintained, it’s a good idea to make sure they are clear of debris at the point at which they enter the ground. This involves checking your gullies for autumnal leaves and twigs in order to ensure that they don’t restrict water flow at any point.

Control your heating remotely with Hive Active Heating: Using Hive Active Heating means you can control your heating and hot water remotely from your smartphone with the Hive app, so you can ensure your home is warm when you need it to be. Find out more: www.britishgas.co.uk/hive

Peace of mind: Scottish Gas has a range of HomeCare products to help keep your home a step ahead of winter with protection for your boiler, heating, electrics and plumbing. With HomeCare you can have your boiler serviced every year for less than 40p a day. Find out more: www.britishgas.co.uk/homecare”