According to Scottish Government statistics, almost 6,000 people received a Funeral Support Payment in the first year of the initiative. Since it started making payments last September, Social Security Scotland has paid out £8.7 million to people who have lost a loved one. Eligible applicants currently receive an average of £1,761 to help with the... Continue Reading →
Scottish National Investment Bank Opens for Business
SNP MSP Ruth Maguire, has said the new Scottish National Investment Bank will help encourage economic growth across North Ayrshire, after the bank officially opened for business this week. The SNP Government has committed at least £2 billion of investment to support the UK’s first mission-led development bank over the next ten years. The bank... Continue Reading →
£251 Million Ayrshire Growth Deal Signed
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed today’s announcement that the Ayrshire Growth Deal has been signed off, ratifying the arrangements for major financial investment into the region. The deal will bring a total of £251 million worth of investment into the area, with ambitions to secure private sector investment with the potential to create up to... Continue Reading →
Assurances Provided on Face Covering Exemptions for Public Transport
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed reassurances of support from the Scottish Government for people with disabilities which exempt them from wearing face coverings on public transport. Speaking today at Portfolio Questions, the SNP MSP for Cunninghame South highlighted that not every disability which gives people a valid exemption is visible and asked what support is... Continue Reading →
Evidence Led Routine Testing of Health and Social Care Staff is Essential
Ruth Maguire MSP has called for evidence led routine Covid testing for Scotland’s health and social care workers. The SNP MSP for Cunninghame South gave her backing for staff working in the healthcare sector to be given access to routine testing while speaking in the Scottish Parliament in a debate on the subject. It was... Continue Reading →
Questions Remain on Income Support for the Self Employed
Ruth Maguire MSP has called for the Scottish Government to continue to pressure the UK Treasury for improved coverage of income support for self employed people who have lost income due to the pandemic. Speaking at Portfolio Questions, Ruth Maguire addressed the gap in support being offered to people who recently became self employed prior... Continue Reading →
Assurances Given on Covid Travel Exemptions for Caring Responsibilities
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed reassurances given to local constituents from the First Minister that exemptions to travel restrictions apply to people who have caring responsibilities. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the clarification today in the Scottish Parliament following her update on changes to restrictions by local authority area. While the West of Scotland and... Continue Reading →
Equal Protection from Assault Act Comes Into Force
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the introduction of legislation that gives children the same legal protection from assault as adults. The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019, otherwise known as the ‘smacking ban’ came into effect on Saturday 7 November and removes the outdated defence of “reasonable chastisement” from the physical assault of... Continue Reading →
In Remembrance of Great Sacrifice and Hopes of Peace
This past weekend, Remembrance Sunday was markedly different from previous years with the public being urged to stay home in light of the coronavirus pandemic. In normal circumstances, I would have joined with the community at the Remembrance service at the war memorial in Kilwinning to lay a wreath to pay respects to those who... Continue Reading →
Scottish Government’s Young Persons’ Guarantee Must Reflect Diverse Backgrounds
Ruth Maguire MSP has asked the Scottish Government how its Young Persons' Guarantee will help remove structural barriers to employment for young people from all backgrounds. The initiative, backed by £60 million of funding from the Scottish Government, aims to tackle youth unemployment by offering every person aged 16-24 in Scotland the opportunity of a... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 