MORE CASH FOR LOCAL SERVICES THANKS TO PROGRESSIVE REFORMS North Ayrshire Council is set to receive a significant funding boost as a result of this year’s SNP Scottish Government budget – with local services in North Ayrshire benefiting from an extra £6.285 million. The SNP’s progressive reforms – which will see 55% of taxpayers pay less... Continue Reading →

PAY RISE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS AND LOWER TAXES FOR 70% OF SCOTS The Scottish Government’s budget protects low and middle income earners and delivers for public services and public sector workers, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, has said as Stage 3 of the Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill is laid before the Scottish... Continue Reading →

SNP Minister for Social Security Jeane Freeman has today secured backing for an independent scrutiny body to support Scotland’s new social security system - ensuring it delivers on the important principles of dignity and respect. The new Scottish Commission on Social Security was approved by a Holyrood Committee during Stage 2 of the Social Security... Continue Reading →

On Tuesday 6th February, MSPs debated the important issue of encouraging cyber resilience amongst young people. As reported in the Irvine Times this week, so-called ‘sexting’ has led to a substantial rise in the recorded number of sexual assaults across North Ayrshire. And shocking recent figures from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service of Scotland... Continue Reading →

On Tuesday 6th February, MSPs held a debate to mark the centenary of women’s suffrage in the UK. In 1918, the Representation of the People Act was passed, granting the right to vote to women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification. In the same year, the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act... Continue Reading →

CUNNINGHAME SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO BE REMOVED FROM STRANGER SNAPCHAT SEARCH FOLLOWING SNP PRESSURE SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, has joined the campaign to boost internet safety for young people – after pressure from SNP MSP colleagues, Kevin Stewart and Gillian Martin, led to Snapchat removing primary schools from their search function. Marking... Continue Reading →

Holyrood’s Social Security Committee has this morning (1st February) voted at Stage 2 to enshrine a commitment to inclusive communication in the Social Security (Scotland) Bill. Inclusive communication means communicating in a way which is inclusive of the largest number of people in the population. People have a range of different communication needs due to... Continue Reading →

North Ayrshire Council will receive an extra £4.278 million pounds of funding under the revised budget proposals unveiled by Finance Secretary Derek Mackay. The budget boost comes as the Scottish Government confirmed that local government will receive an above inflation increase in resource funding. The SNP budget will give Scots the best deal in the... Continue Reading →

OVER 275,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN SCOTLAND ACCESS SCOTTISH WELFARE FUND SINCE 2013  Over £148 million has been granted to hard-up households since 2013 through the Scottish Welfare Fund, according to latest Scottish Government figures – including over £5 million in North Ayrshire.  The latest stats show that 275,000 households have benefited from the Scottish Welfare Fund... Continue Reading →

INVESTMENT AIMED AT CLOSING THE POVERTY-RELATED ATTAINMENT GAP A Scottish Government fund aimed at boosting the attainment levels of the most deprived pupils is set to pay out £4,413,960 to schools across North Ayrshire next year. More than 2,300 schools across Scotland are set to benefit from the funding – including 60 in North Ayrshire.... Continue Reading →