Paisley Daily Express Column - 14 July 2010

QUESTION FOR THE GOVERNMENT AT QUESTION TIME FROM EDINBURGH 

Last week I travelled to Edinburgh to take part in Thursday's edition of the BBC's Question Time. I was joined on the panel by the former Tory Secretary of State Michael Forsyth, the new Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, Nicola Sturgeon, and the comedian Ed Byrne.

The feelings of the audience towards the news Conservative/Liberal Government were revealed when both Michael Forsyth and Michael Moore were booed when they walked on to the stage. Nicola - who I challenged about the teacher cuts here in Renfrewshire - also got a heard time.

Yet the most memorable moment of the programme came when an audience member explained that she was out of work, and yet the new Government are set to cut the Housing Benefit on which she relies. It was an exchange that revealed the human story behind the headlines. It confirmed to me the damage that will be done by a budget that was soft on the banks, hard on the poor and threatening to growth.

THINK GREEN AND SAVE CASH TOO!

I was really interested to find out that drivers in Scotland could save almost £400 a year on average if they knew more about environmental issues and the new legislation that has just been launched concerning C02 emissions. 

Statistics show that most people who are buying a new car are more interested in the style and the price of the vehicle they are going to buy rather than how environmentally friendly it is.

In fact, 3 out of every 4 drivers in Scotland do not know the CO2 rating of their car.

This means that they are not making the savings that they could be by purchasing a greener vehicle.

The average motorist could save £375 a year in fuel costs by opting for the greenest car in its class, compared to buying a top of the range vehicle.

As a local MP I am very aware of the large numbers of people here in Renfrewshire who are very concerned with green issues and with making environmentally sound purchases.

The environment is everyone’s responsibility and I would encourage all local people to think about how green their new car is before making the purchase.

NOISY NEIGHBOURS

In the last few weeks I have been contacted by several constituents who are worried about noise problems or disputes with neighbours.

This has made me think about the problem of anti-social neighbours.  I know that this issue can cause real distress to those who are affected by it.

These can often be difficult issues for all concerned and sometimes a third party, not directly involved in the dispute, can make a real difference.

I am happy to help in such situations if I can, but sometimes my mediation is not enough to resolves matters.

So if you’re having problems such as anti-social behaviour, noise problems or disputes with neighbours and wish to speak to someone in confidence, I suggest you call the Renfrewshire nuisance Helpline.  Their telephone number is 0800 169 1283.

They may be able to help stop a dispute before it develops into a long term problem.