At First Minister's Questions this week, I had the opportunity to ask how the Scottish Government were marking this year's Mental Health Awareness Week. As a follow-up question, I asked the First Minister about a campaign which is calling on internet providers and search engines to do more to take down websites which offer instructions on how to self-harm.
Scottish Government business minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP yesterday (18th May) attended Rutherglen Town Hall for a roundtable discussion regarding the closure of the 2 Sisters factory in Cambuslang. The meeting was secured by Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey who has been in close contact with the Scottish Government since the company announced it was considering shutting down its South Lanarkshire site earlier in the year.
It was a pleasure to hold a debate today (17th May) on the Maternal Mental Health Alliance’s Everyone’s Business campaign on perinatal mental health care. Perinatal mental health problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child – and include illnesses like antenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety, psychosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has started a campaign urging tourism authorities to do more to promote places of interest from within her Rutherglen constituency. During a question session at the Scottish Parliament, the SNP MSP criticised VisitLanarkshire and VisitScotland saying they “poorly serve” Rutherglen and surrounding communities. Clare Haughey says local tourist spots are often misaddressed as being in Glasgow, whilst other landmarks aren’t publicised at all.
Many of the refugees who come to Scotland are doctors and dentists. The SNP Scottish Government have introduced a great scheme which allows them to re-enter the medical profession. I asked the Cabinet Secretary about this today (16th May).
New figures show that the Scottish Government’s business rate relief scheme saved businesses in South Lanarkshire £210 million between 2009-10 and 2016-17. Across Scotland, this scheme has saved taxpayers around £4.5 billion between 2009-10 and 2015-16 by reducing their rates liability and taking many firms out of business rates altogether.
Last week (9th May), I took part in a debate looking into the tragedies of male suicides within the NHS Tayside boundary. One suicide is one too many, and I welcome the inquiry into NHS Tayside to see whether there have been particular failings by the health board.
Clare took part in a debate on the transport of nuclear weapons - highlighting studies which have found that Trident warheads were transported through her Rutherglen constituency on the M74.
99.7% and 99.4% of trains scheduled to stop at Cambuslang and Rutherglen station during this period did so. Stop-skipping may be infrequent but it is highly inconvenient for those passengers affected.
Over the last 18 months, I have been working closely with Friends of the Calder, and in particular with the group's chair Susan Lindner Kelly, regarding dogs in Blantyre parks. I therefore took part in a debate looking at the figures of dog attacks in Scotland.
Clare Haughey MSP 