Ruth Maguire MSP has today criticised the UK Government’s decision to abandon its Autumn budget which allows Scotland to set its own spending and taxation plans. The announcement was made in a statement by the UK Treasury which said: “Now is not the right time to outline long-term plans - people want to see us... Continue Reading →
Advance Loans Must Be Scrapped to Prevent Thousands Falling Into DWP Debt
Ruth Maguire MSP has added her voice to calls for the UK Government to convert Universal Credit advance payment loans into non-repayable grants. This comes after figures show 1.6 million people in receipt of the benefit suffered an average deduction of £60 in just one month at the height of lockdown. Two in five households... Continue Reading →
Expansion of Video GP Appointments Welcomed By Patients and Clinicians
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the positive feedback from patients and medical clinicians on the expansion of virtual medical and mental health appointments following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, according to a survey. Of 5,400 responses to the survey, 87 per cent of the public backed video consultations while 94 per cent of clinicians favoured a... Continue Reading →
Domestic Violence Support Highlighted as Covid Restrictions Reintroduced to Slow Spread of Virus
Ruth Maguire MSP today welcomed comments from the First Minister which highlighted available support to women experiencing or at risk of domestic violence. The comments came after the MSP for Cunninghame South asked a question in response to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s statement detailing new Covid restrictions which take effect across Scotland this week. Under... Continue Reading →
Opt Out System for Organ and Tissue Donation Takes Effect Next March
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed confirmation that legislation to introduce an opt out system of organ and tissue donation for deceased donors will come into effect on 26 March 2021. Work to implement the legislation was temporarily halted earlier in the year to allow the NHS to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A public... Continue Reading →
Consultation on Short Term Lets Regulation Opens
Ruth Maguire MSP has encouraged residents to take part in the Scottish Government’s consultation on proposed legislation for the regulation of short term lets. Proposals by the Scottish Government include a mandatory licensing scheme to ensure that all short-term lets are safe and to address issues faced by neighbours. If passed by the Scottish Parliament,... Continue Reading →
Scottish Government Has Not Ruled Any Action Out to Oppose Internal Market Bill
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed confirmation that the Scottish Government is weighing up its options to prevent the UK Internal Market Bill from passing into law. This confirmation came today in the Scottish Parliament as the MSP for Cunninghame South asked about the latest engagement between the UK and Scottish Governments on the proposed bill.... Continue Reading →
Almost 300,000 Scots Missing Out On £20 Weekly Increase in Universal Credit
Ruth Maguire MSP has called for the UK Government to extend the £20 per week uplift to the standard allowance of Universal Credit and basic element of Working Tax Credit to avoid an ‘unfair’ gap in support during the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. New figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) have revealed... Continue Reading →
Over 1,800 Households In Cunninghame South Missing Out On Pension Credits
Ruth Maguire MSP has added her voice to a campaign calling on the UK Government to put an action plan in place to increase the uptake of Pension Credit. Independent Age are calling on the Department of Work and Pensions to implement a plan over the next five years as part of their Credit Where... Continue Reading →
UK Internal Market Threatens to Undermine Efforts to Combat Climate Change
Ruth Maguire MSP has raised concerns that proposals for a post-Brexit UK Internal Market could undermine the Scottish Government’s efforts to tackle climate change. Speaking in the Scottish Parliament in response to a statement on the draft legislation, the SNP MSP highlighted comments by Scottish Environment LINK that it could force the Scottish Government to... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 