Constituency

Alison Thewliss MP asks the people of Glasgow “are you feeling breathless?”

Alison Thewliss MP supporting the British Lung Foundation

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, is supporting the British Lung Foundation’s upcoming lung health awareness campaign, taking part in an online ‘breath test’ in the Houses of Parliament on 5th July, and encouraging others to do the same.

During a week-long exhibition at Westminster, the charity will showcase their upcoming Listen to your lungs campaign, due to start in Mid-July. The UK-wide campaign will aim to raise awareness that feeling out of breath doing everyday tasks could be a sign of lung disease.

Public Health Minister, Jane Ellison MP launched the exhibition and ‘breath test’ on 4th July.

The exhibition gives MPs, Peers and visitors to parliament a chance find out more about lung disease in the UK and to test their lung health using an online ‘breath test’, displayed on an interactive display donated by technology company MultiTaction.

The test allows people to check their lung health through a 10 simple questions, based around the Medical Research Council breathlessness scale. The aim is to reassure people who don’t have a problem and guide those with significant breathlessness to make an appointment with their GP.

Alison Thewliss MP said:

“Completing the BLF’s online ‘breath test’ is a really easy way of checking your lung health. I’d encourage everyone to try it. It’ll either give you peace of mind or start you on a path to helping you manage your breathlessness.

“If you’re even slightly worried a loved one has been feeling increasingly short of breath – please, make sure they take the test.”

Irene Johnstone, Head of the British Lung Foundation in Scotland said:

“This parliamentary exhibition gives us a chance to heighten awareness amongst Scottish MPs about the respiratory health challenges affecting many of their constituents in Scotland. BLF Scotland is pushing for change and has asked for a National Lung Improvement Plan for Scotland to halt the increase of lung disease and to see a long term, sustainable improvement in Scotland’s lung health.

“There are nearly 900,000 people in Scotland living with lung disease; the most prevalent conditions are COPD and Lung Cancer. This is a key health issue for the nation impacting on health services and life expectancy.”

The British Lung Foundation wants at least 100,000 people to take the test and share it with their friends and family. To take the test visit: www.blf.org.uk/breathtest

“Shameless” Prime Minister condemned by SNP MP

Alison Thewliss MP sitting at her desk in Parliament

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, today branded the Prime Minister shameless for shrugging off repeated international condemnation for his welfare policies.

Ms Thewliss was questioning Prime Minister David Cameron in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 6th July) about recent United Nations condemnation for UK welfare cuts.

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has published a damning new report on the UK’s implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. The Glasgow MP asked the Prime Minister how much more international condemnation was needed before he scrapped his regressive welfare policies, including plans to limit tax credits to two children and a rape clause mechanism.

Ms Thewliss commented:

“Yet again the Prime Minister has behaved in the most utterly shameless way possible by brushing off my calls to respect UN concerns about economic, social and cultural rights, which are clearly impeded by these regressive welfare policies.

“I’m appalled that the Prime Minister can casually dismiss major concerns from highly respected institutions such as the United Nations.

“The rape clause and two child policy, as well as many other welfare changes, take us down a deeply damaging path to social engineering and it will heap further misery on already vulnerable people.

“The Prime Minister needs to put his pride aside and scrap these cruel policies.”

Thewliss presses PM for assurances on EIB loan terms

Alison Thewliss MP speaking in the House of Commons

SNP MP Alison Thewliss this week questioned the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, and lambasted his “hopelessly inadequate” reassurances for Glasgow following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

Questioning David Cameron in Parliament, Ms Thewliss asked the Prime Minister what reassurances could be provided for businesses and organisations in Glasgow who have benefited from EU Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants and European Investment Bank (EIB) finance.

Ms Thewliss said the Prime Minister bumbled his way through the answer and couldn’t give any guarantees to Glasgow.

Commenting from the House of Commons, Ms Thewliss said:

“The Prime Minister’s answer was hopelessly inadequate and will offer no comfort or reassurance whatsoever to companies and organisations in Glasgow worried about their future.

“Hundreds of millions of pounds from the European Investment Bank have led to major investment in Glasgow yet we still don’t know what Brexit will mean for the terms of those loans.

“It beggars belief that Downing Street had no plans in place in the event of Brexit. Contrast this, for example, to the Scottish Government’s weighty white paper which was in place long before the Scottish independence referendum.

“Leaving the EU was always, sadly, a possible outcome when the UK Government legislated for a referendum. The Prime Minister is only now, belatedly and hurriedly, setting up a new department in Whitehall to plan for Brexit. That’s just not good enough; a degree of certainty is crucial for all organisations to plan for the months and years ahead.

“The Prime Minister must make it a top priority to get around the country, visit the businesses and organisations who’ll be affected by Brexit, and obtain answers about what this dreadful decision will mean for them”.

A transcript of the exchange:

Alison Thewliss MP: The Prime Minister said that we are entitled to all the benefits of EU membership up until the point at which we leave. Can I clarify if there has been any discussions about access to EU funding, such as Regional Selective Assistance which has created and safeguarded 10,000 jobs and been worth £83 million to Glasgow since 2010 and the terms and conditions of loans issued by the European Investment Bank, which also provided significant amounts of money and require some clarity for local authorities involved in the loans.

Prime Minister: What I can say is that any contract entered into before Britain leaves the EU should be honoured in full in terms of EU funding for research or for regions of our country. The status we have with respect to the European Investment Bank will have to be determined as part of the negotiations and that is the sort of technical issue that the [dedicated] Whitehall unit can look at now and see what the options are so that we can discuss them in this House.

7 Arches and Gorbals Art project

Alison Thewliss meeting Liz Peden, Director of the 7 Arches Art project.

It was a great pleasure to be invited to the launch of the 7 Arches network and the Gorbals Art Project. These artworks are a fantastic permanent tribute to the rich history of the Gorbals and the Gorbals Art Project do fantastic work in community-led regeneration. I’d like to congratulate the artist Liz Peden and all involved in the project. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14579966.Gorbals_legends_feature_in_new_artwork_at_underpass/

City MP demands reassurance on financial service industry jobs

Alison Thewliss MP sitting at her desk in Parliament

SNP MP, Alison Thewliss, has written to UK Chancellor, George Osborne, demanding urgent reassurance and support for jobs in Glasgow’s key international financial services district.

Following yesterday’s decision for Britain to leave the European Union – despite all of Scotland voting overwhelmingly to remain – there are now major concerns as to what this decision will mean for jobs in the financial services sector.

On Friday, Morgan Stanley announced that it was moving 2,000 jobs from London to Dublin and Frankfurt.

Commenting, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“Thousands of high value jobs in Glasgow City Centre are dependent on the financial services industry. Such is the strength of the industry that a large part of the city centre is actually designated as the international financial services district, which was built with EU cash.

“Since polls closed and pointed to a leave vote, we have seen the pound plummet and UK economy stall. At least one company in London has already announced that it is moving jobs out of the UK and into another EU member state. I am deeply concerned about the consequences of yesterday’s vote for our city and the local economy.

“The Chancellor needs to step in immediately and give support and urgent reassurance to Glasgow – his party has caused this mess. It needs cleaned up without delay.”

MP hails 40 years of “inspirational” work of Rape Crisis Centre

Alison Thewliss MP with Mhairi Black MP and representatives of Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, has hailed forty years of “inspirational” work from the Rape Crisis Centre in Glasgow.

This week, along with Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Mhairi Black, the SNP duo visited Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre to hear about their work and the challenges they face. 2016 marks the charity’s fortieth year since being established in Scotland’s largest city.

Commenting after visiting the organisation which is based in her constituency, Ms Thewliss said:

“For the last forty years, Rape Crisis has been doing inspirational work to support women survivors of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse. So much of this work goes totally unrecognised and happens under the radar, but it is vital in supporting vulnerable women in Glasgow from all kinds of backgrounds.

“Getting the opportunity to spend some time with the staff at the centre this week was hugely valuable in terms of getting an insight into the complex challenges they face in supporting women through unimaginably horrific situations.

“It’s a bittersweet moment to celebrate forty years of an organisation that shouldn’t have to exist in this day and age. However, the figures show that too many rapes still go unreported and the conviction rate is still far, far too low. We need to remember that, although the majority – 97% – of rape cases don’t result in conviction, it’s still absolutely imperative the survivors of rape and sexual abuse are given sensitive and confidential support as they try to rebuild their lives.

“The work that Rape Crisis staff and volunteers do from their Support to Report project right down to their first response helpline is absolutely vital, and I very much look forward to taking forward a number of issues they raised with me to day which I, in turn, will be taking up with the Scottish and UK Governments.”

MP Thewliss backs Carers Week

Alison Thewliss MP supporting Carers Week 2016

Alison Thewliss MP today pledged her support to carers across Glasgow Central as part of the national Carers Week 2016 awareness campaign, which runs from 6-12th June. There are 6.5 million people in the UK who care for a partner, relative or friend, of which 6324 carers are in Glasgow Central.

The seven charities driving Carers Week 2016 are calling on individuals, organisations and services throughout the country to improve the lives of carers by building ‘Carer Friendly Communities’ – encouraging all parts of the community to think about carers and do things differently to support them.

The call comes after research for Carers Week revealed that a combination of inadequate support from local services and a lack of understanding about caring from wider society is having a negative impact on carers’ health, wellbeing, relationships and finances.

Glasgow Central MP Alison Thewliss said:

“Carers make a huge contribution to our society, providing vital and often hidden support to friends and family members. That is why I am supporting Carers Week 2016 and encouraging services across Glasgow Central to think about what more they can do to help meet the needs of carers and make our communities more Carer Friendly.”

Emily Holzhausen, who leads the Carers Week partnership, said:

“With an ever increasing number of families taking on caring roles for older, ill or disabled loved ones, it is great to see MPs showing their support for carers.

While carers have told us that it makes a huge difference when they are recognised and supported by their local services and communities, too many carers tell us they struggling to balance caring with other areas of their lives. By working together during Carers Week we have a huge opportunity to make our communities more Carer Friendly and make a difference to those who contribute so much”.

Carers Week is made possible by Carers UK joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Motor Neurone Disease Association and MS Society.

Thousands of events are taking place across the country this week, and thousands of people have already pledged their support for carers online. To find out more about events in Glasgow visit www.carersweek.org

Dying Matters Awareness Week

Alison Thewliss MP pledging her support to the Dying Matters campaign

Last week was Dying Matters Awareness Week, which provided an important opportunity to think about dying, death and bereavement and to raise public awareness of the impact of death on households across the UK. In particular, there are big, important conversations to be had about how to manage a deceased loved one’s affairs and how to prepare for the end of life.

I met with representatives of SunLife to talk about planning for death and they presented some shocking figures to me from their Cost of Dying 2015 report:

  • 41% of those surveyed had not made adequate financial arrangements to cover the costs of a funeral.
  • 31% of those surveyed did not know if their loved ones would prefer burial or cremation.
  • One in six of those surveyed had not made funeral plans solely because they felt uncomfortable discussing death.

Failing to prepare for death can put people in serious financial difficulty at an emotionally challenging time and I urge my constituents to use resources available to them to start conversations with their loved ones about death and make adequate arrangements which reflect their loved ones’ wishes. One resource that is available is My Perfect Send Off, produced by SunLife, which asks some simple questions about funeral preferences. The tool offers people the opportunity to record and share their final wishes with loved ones in a sensitive way, either by securely recording your wishes in a document which you can either discuss with loved ones or keep locked away in preparation for the future.

I hope that this tool can be used to start the difficult conversations that people need to have about death so that they can be fully prepared for when the time comes.

Vote for your favourite charities!

Yesterday I cast the first vote in the Yorkshire Building Society Charity Choices campaign in Glasgow.

The Yorkshire Building Society branch in Glasgow has £1000 to distribute between three excellent charities (Clyde Cash for Kids, Kilbryde Hospice and Glasgow City Mission). How much each charity gets is up to you!

Voting takes place from now until Saturday 21st May in the Glasgow branch (54-58 Gordon Street). ‪#‎YBSCharityChoices