Constituency

Thewliss visits Princess Royal Maternity wards

Glasgow Central MP, Alison Thewliss, today (Friday) visited the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital to meet with staff and learn more about their efforts to tackle Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

The city MP’s visit coincided with the launch of a poster campaign to make people aware of the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Children with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome often have problems with neurological development, abnormal growth, and have characteristic facial features that result from their foetal exposure to alcohol.

Commenting after her visit, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“It was lovely to be back at the Princess Royal Maternity again where my own two wee ones were born. I am really grateful to the busy staff at the Princess Royal Maternity for their time today.

“We discussed some of the increasing challenges to the NHS that arise as a result of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Unfortunately the rates of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome are still too high and the poster campaign launched today is clear – it’s best to stay alcohol free during pregnancy.”

Glasgow MP encourages community groups to apply for charity funding

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, today called on community groups across Glasgow to apply for funding from the “Chosen by you, given by us” programme run by the Asda Foundation.

The programme, which awards grants to community groups located close to major Asda stores, gives Asda customers the chance to nominate local groups and vote for their favourite groups to receive funding. In the latest round of funding, St Fillan’s Primary School was awarded £500 and Camglen Road and Hollybrook Academy were awarded £200 each.

With more and more supermarkets and businesses using the funds raised from the Scottish Government’s 5p bag charge to support good causes, Ms Thewliss is encouraging groups across Glasgow and beyond to make the most of the funding available for local projects.

Commenting, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“It’s great to see many different schools, community groups and non-profit organisations across Glasgow benefit from this excellent initiative by Asda, which provides vital support for organisations which are working at the heart of the community.

“I’m also pleased to see that more and more businesses are using the funds raised from the Scottish Government’s 5p bag charge, which has raised over £1 million for charity in the last year alone. This initiative is one of many funding programmes that are available for community groups across Glasgow.

“I hope many more charities and community groups in Glasgow will take the opportunity to apply for the funds offered from programmes funded by the 5p bag charge and I am always happy to help point groups in the right direction for funding which matches their needs.”

MP praises Step Change debt charity

SNP MP Alison Thewliss has praised a national debt advice charity based in her Glasgow Central constituency. The Westminster MP was visiting Step Change as part of her summer recess visits.

Step Change, which is headquartered in Leeds but has over 40 staff in its Glasgow base, assisted almost 7,000 clients in Scotland within the last year. Figures show that the average debt per Step Change client in Scotland is approximately £12,500. Now the SNP MP is calling for anyone worried about debt to get in touch with Step Change by calling on 0800 138 1111.

Commenting after her visit, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“I really appreciated the opportunity to visit Step Change’s Glasgow base and to learn more about the invaluable service they provide to those with concerns around debt and personal finance.

“People can fall into debt for a whole variety of reasons – a change in employment, reduced income or benefits, lack of budgeting or a relationship breakdown.

“Step Change is there to help people get back on their feet with practical help like putting a budget together, negotiating reduced payments with creditors or even just being a listening ear over the phone.

“I would recommend that anyone who feels they cannot cope financially gets in touch with Step Change by calling their free advice line on 0800 138 1111.”

Thewliss condemns “anti-foreigner” rhetoric from the UK Government

Alison Thewliss MP at Buchanan Street Steps

SNP MP Alison Thewliss has condemned the UK Government for what she says is yet more “anti-foreigner rhetoric emanating from Downing Street”.

With newspapers recently covering a story that the Government is to launch an initiative to crackdown on student migrants, Ms Thewliss says that moves to do so would be deeply damaging to the city of Glasgow.

As well as being home to many college campuses, the Glasgow Central constituency includes Glasgow School of Art, the University of Strathclyde, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University – all of which have thousands of international students studying in the city.

The Glasgow Central MP has written to Prime Minister, Theresa May, urging her to abandon any proposals to deter international students.

Commenting, Ms Thewliss said:

“This continued anti-foreigner rhetoric emanating from Downing Street is deeply damaging for the city of Glasgow.

“Glasgow is enormously enriched by the thousands of talented international students who come to learn in our world class education establishments.

“Our universities work incredibly hard to attract students to the UK, who bring their skills as well as funding. Universities are already facing challenges in attracting international students due to the removal of the post-study work visa, and students are choosing to go instead to countries which make them make them more welcome.

“UK Government moves to further restrict international students will only serve to undermine the efforts of universities. This comes as yet a further blow to universities which are already set to lose crucial Horizon 2020 funding.

“The UK’s decision to leave the European Union in June – despite Scotland voting overwhelmingly to remain – has already caused concern for EU nationals currently studying in Scotland. Theresa May’s Government should be focussing on making people feel welcome – not digging a deeper moat, pulling up the drawbridge and adopting a little Britain attitude.”

Back to School Bank

Supplies donated to the office of Alison Thewliss MP by volunteers from the Back to School Bank.

Many thanks to the volunteers at Back to School Bank for providing my constituents with essential school supplies for their children. It is a shame that this service is needed in 21st century Scotland, however I am pleased that they were able to help out in a difficult situation. They are on the lookout for volunteers so like their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter to find out more about your local school uniform bank and how you can help them out.

Glasgow MP joins recruitment drive for Children’s Panel members

Alison Thewliss MP at Buchanan Street Steps

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, today (Wednesday) joined forces with Children’s Hearings Scotland to launch their campaign to recruit new members of the Children’s Panel.

Children’s Panel members are lay tribunal members who play a vital role in the care and protection of vulnerable children across Scotland. Panel members sit in on children’s hearings, which operate on a rota basis, and make decisions about improving children’s lives.

The Children’s Hearings System was set up in 1971 to deal with children who had committed criminal offences or were in need of care and protection. Since its establishment the Children’s Panel has played an important role in upholding children’s rights and it now focuses on ensuring the protection of children who have experienced abuse and neglect or who are at serious risk of harm.

Commenting on the campaign, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“I’m delighted to give my support to the Children’s Hearings Scotland annual recruitment drive for Children’s Panel members.

“Children’s Panel members are trained volunteers who come from a wide range of backgrounds and sit on hearings in the local communities in which they live or work. Their dedication to securing positive results for children who are at risk of harm or exploitation is truly inspiring.

“Being a Children’s Panel member is a great opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable children in Glasgow. Children’s Hearings Scotland also provide valuable opportunities for training and personal development, including support towards a recognised qualification which is highly valued by employers.

“I encourage constituents across Glasgow Central to take advantage of this worthwhile experience and apply to join the Children’s Panel today.”

Alison Thewliss MP helps constituents get smart with energy

Alison Thewliss MP meeting representatives from British Gas in Parliament.

Alison Thewliss MP is encouraging constituents in Glasgow Central to take advantage of smart meters to help save energy at home.

This week, Ms Thewliss attended a British Gas event at Portcullis House in Westminster, to see how constituents can save money on their bills thanks to innovative energy saving technology.

British Gas’ Smart Energy Experts, who install smart meters in homes, were on hand to showcase the technology and to talk about the benefits to customers, as well as explain the company’s new FreeTime plan, which offers customers free electricity on Saturdays or Sundays between 9am-5pm’.

In Glasgow Central, more than 2100 smart meters have been installed in homes by British Gas.

Ms Thewliss said: “Meeting British Gas’ Smart Energy Experts was a great way to learn how my constituents could benefit from smart meters and the new energy saving plan. I’d urge anyone to find out more about this fantastic technology. Homes can save energy and money on bills.”

British Gas Smart Energy Expert, Nicola Bush, said: “I’m proud to be part of the smart meter roll-out. Smart meters mean an end to estimated bills and the need to give meter readings. Customers can see how much energy they’re using in pounds and pence. It’s a really simple way for our customers to save energy.”

* British Gas smart meters replace standard meters and come with a smart energy monitor which helps people to better understand their energy usage, resulting in potential savings on bills.

* British Gas smart meter customers also benefit from an end to estimated bills, because the meters automatically send accurate readings to the supplier.

* British Gas customers with smart meters can benefit from ground-breaking new plan offering free electricity between 9am and 5pm on Saturday or Sunday.

For further information, visit www.britishgas.co.uk/smart

Energy-saving tips from British Gas Smart Energy Expert, Nicola Bush:

1. “Turn the lights out. If you leave a room, or don’t need the lights on, flick the switch and turn them off.

2. “Putting hot food in the fridge wastes energy and is bad for your appliance. So let it cool naturally first.

3. “Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need. There’s no point boiling a full kettle if you’re only making tea for yourself.

4. “If you can, do the week’s washing in one go and put a full load into the machine. And if you’ve got an eco-function, put that on too.”

Stop Trident

Alison Thewliss MP campaigning against the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons

It was a pleasure to attend the Stop Trident CND lobby in Parliament yesterday. Next week there will be a vote in the House of Commons on the renewal of Trident and I look forward to joining my SNP colleagues next week in voting against an obscene, immoral and wasteful nuclear weapons system.

Alison Thewliss MP shows her support for ending violence against women and girls

Alison Thewliss MP calls on the UK Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention and end violence against women

Yesterday (Tuesday 12th July) Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, joined other MPs in showing support for The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (known as the Istanbul Convention). This legislation requires the UK to take measures to prevent violence against women, protect women experiencing violence, and prosecute perpetrators.

The Istanbul Convention Parliamentary lobby was an event run by the IC Change campaign, a campaign for ratification of the Istanbul Convention, which raised awareness about the Convention’s importance and where MPs heard from survivors. The campaign aims to secure the ratification of the Istanbul Convention (IC) in the UK.

Research states that on average, two women in England and Wales are killed every week by a current or former male partner. In Scotland in 2014/15, 1,797 rapes and 104 attempted rapes and 59,882 incidents of domestic abuse were recorded by the police. In Northern Ireland in 2014-15 there were 2,734 sexual offences recorded, including 737 offences of rape, and 13,426 domestic abuse crimes were reported (approximately 13% of the overall crime in Northern Ireland).

Alison Thewliss MP said:

“I am passionate about women’s and girls’ rights and, whilst we are making good progress on tackling violence against women and girls in Scotland, far too many women and girls experience unacceptable violence and intimidation in their day-to-day lives. The SNP has long called for the UK Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention and I urge them to do so without delay.”

Rebecca Bunce, co-director of the IC change campaign, said “This law is about women’s lives. It is easy to forget when talking about legal technicalities, but ratification is really about women being able to live free from violence and free from the fear of violence.”

She continued “With the promise of the Istanbul Convention, we have already seen progress from the UK government with legislation on forced marriage, psychological violence and female genital mutilation (FGM). We can’t stop now. With uncertain times ahead it is all the more vital that there is a clear legal framework to help end violence against women. We urge the UK government to finish what they started and ratify the Istanbul Convention.”

Jenn Selby, a journalist, campaigner and survivor who attended the lobby, reflected:

“When I think of all the brave women I’ve met on my way through the system, how many years we’d all been waiting for court cases that didn’t happen, all the while deprived of our human right to adequate mental support, I wonder how many of them made it.

“The legal framework did more to see our perpetrators walk free than to keep us alive. This is not justice. Ratifying the Istanbul Convention would end this.

“Not only would the Istanbul Convention mean a government commitment to the adequate funding of women’s services and a stronger survivor-led prosecution service, but also commitment to prevention programmes – so the violence doesn’t happen in the first place.

“This is a life or death situation. The Istanbul Convention is the best legislation currently in existence and it will increase our chances of survival significantly.”