First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has today unveil a £100 million winter fund for low income households - including a £100 direct payment for families of children in receipt of free school meals. The announcement was made as the First Minister addressed the SNP annual conference, warning that the COVID-19 crisis has laid down a challenge of... Continue Reading →
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Scotland Becomes First Country to Offer Free Provision of Period Products
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the passing into law of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill. The bill, which was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament, makes Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products in all public buildings. The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill enshrines the right to... Continue Reading →
New Equipment and Training to Help Families Get Online
Applications have opened to help thousands of disadvantaged young people to develop valuable digital skills through the Scottish Government’s Connecting Scotland Programme. The programme, launched by the Scottish Government in response to the coronavirus pandemic aims at helping to support people who are digitally excluded by providing equipment and training. More than 23,000 iPads and... Continue Reading →
Funeral Costs Support Received by Thousands
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 →
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 