Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the announcement that an additional £50 million will be allocated every year for the next five years to improve and increase services for people affected by drug addiction. Talks have been taking place with people with lived experience, a range of organisations and the Drug Deaths Taskforce following the publication... 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 Publishes Winter Preparedness Plan
The Scottish Government have published an NHS Winter Preparedness Plan outlining steps to ensure a resilient and safe health care system. With coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continuing to rise, £1.1 billion has already been allocated to NHS Health Boards and Integration Authorities to meet the costs of responding to the pandemic. An additional £37 million has... Continue Reading →
New National Support Service to Support People with Autism Announced
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed a new national support service announced by the Scottish Government to help children and adults diagnosed with autism to understand and embrace their identity. Backed by £250,000 Scottish Government funding, the pilot National Post Diagnostic Support Programme will be led by Scottish Autism, in partnership with the National Autistic Society,... Continue Reading →
Mental Health Support Plan to Be Central to Covid Recovery
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s confirmation of a new plan will help ensure mental health and wellbeing remains at the heart of the response to coronavirus (COVID-19). The plan will focus efforts on key groups affected by the pandemic, among them are young people, those facing redundancy, and people with long-term physical... Continue Reading →
Updated Guidance for Parent and Baby Groups
The Scottish Government have announced updated guidance for parent and baby groups which increases the number of adults who are allowed to attend, subject to certain conditions. Following the publication of updated public health advice, groups will now allow up to ten adults to attend groups where all children are under 12 months old. The... Continue Reading →
£24 Billion Infrastructure Plan Aims to Boost Jobs
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s publication of its £24 billion Draft Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) which aims to support tens of thousands of jobs. Covering the five year period between 2021-22 to 2025-26, the Plan will help stimulate Scotland’s green economic recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It includes investment to decarbonise... 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 →
New Support to Help Young People in North Ayrshire into Work
Ruth Maguire MSP, has welcomed a new Scottish benefit introduced today that will help 16 to 24-year olds into work if they have been unemployed for over six months. The SNP Scottish Government’s Job Start Payment is a one-off grant of £250 to help with the costs of starting a new job. The upper age... Continue Reading →
National Debt Plan Must Be Introduced by UK Government
Ruth Maguire MSP has echoed a the Scottish Government’s call for Westminster to introduce vital new measures to support Scotland’s response to the current economic crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Following a formal request to the UK Treasury requesting temporary additional financial powers for Holyrood to tackle the crisis in Scotland, Finance Secretary... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 