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(Scotland) Act 2019, otherwise known as the ‘smacking ban’ came into effect on Saturday 7 November and removes the outdated defence of “reasonable chastisement” from the physical assault of...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 →
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 →
Tighter Restrictions of Fireworks to be Considered
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the recommendations of the Firework Review Group established by the Scottish Government which has called for tighter restrictions on the availability of fireworks to tackle anti social behaviour. The independent group have called for the introduction of no firework zones and have also made recommendations to restrict the days and... Continue Reading →
Scottish Child Payment to Open Early for Applications
The new Scottish Child Payment - which has been described as a “game-changer” in the fight to tackle child poverty - will open early for applications this month. Ruth Maguire MSP has encouraged parents and carers in North Ayrshire who are eligible to apply now so that the Scottish Government can process and start making payments... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire Encourages Applications for Scotland Loves Local Fund
SNP MSP Ruth Maguire has encouraged projects in North Ayrshire to apply for a new £1 million fund, which has been launched by the SNP government to help promote town centres and online businesses and encourage people to spend locally. Grants of between £500 and £5000 will be given out as part of the Scotland... 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 →
Council Tax Reduction Scheme Supports Over 17,000 Local Households
New figures released this week reveal that 17,450 households across North Ayrshire were supported by the SNP Government’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme in June 2020. Across Scotland, almost 500,000 Scots received the support in June, with the number of local households in receipt of the Council Tax Reduction support rising by 630 since April 2020.... Continue Reading →
Transitional Support Fund Opens to Help Childcare Providers
Ruth Maguire MSP has today encouraged childcare providers to apply to a new fund now open to assist childcare providers meet the extra costs of complying with public health guidance. The Transitional Support Fund, part of £11.2 million support announced for the childcare sector, will help pay for things like increased cleaning, new or additional... Continue Reading →
Youth Guarantee to Help Young People in North Ayrshire Succeed
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed a new £60 million Youth Guarantee announced in the Programme for Government, which guarantees everyone in North Ayrshire aged 16-24, a job, a place in education or a place in training. The new partnership between the Scottish Government and Scotland’s employers is backed by £60 million of government investment, which... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire 