June 2018

Stranraer's waterfront sails into a new era 

It was good to meet recently with Jan Falconer, Dumfries and Galloway Council's head of economic development, to discuss progress on the ambitious, although complex, plans to transform Stranraer Waterfront.

The public and privately-funded project will help take the Loch Ryan port forword from its long history as a ferry port into an attractive and sustainable destination for marine leisure craft.

Jan briefed me on progress so far and some of the options which will be presented to Dumfries and Galloway councillors in due course.

Like many people living in the region, I hope that combined with other regeneration work in Stranraer, the end result will contribute to a vibrant economy for the town far into the future.

It may be a challenging task but Stranraer has a lot of potential and if it can become better known as an attractive place to visit -- and stay -- it will not only help the town but boost tourism more widely in our beautiful region.

The views of Stranraer residents must remain paramount, as the regeneration is vitally important in creating new jobs and bringing in additional tourists.

There is much can be achieved through the Marina development and I will continue to monitor progress closely.

 

Region adjusts to new-look benefits system

There has been much discussion about the UK benefits system since the roll-out of Universal Credit started.

I was pleased, therefore, to have the opportunity to meet Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff based in Dumfries and Galloway to find more about the new system's roll-out across our region.

Universal Credit replaces benefits including Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Working Tax Credit.

It is being introduced in stages across the UK with staff in branches of Jobscentre Plus in Stranraer, Dumfries and Annan trained and familiar with the new system and ready to assist with enquiries.

From my conversations at the Dumfries offices, I learned that there had been positive feedback not only from DWP staff themselves but also from some clients.

One advantage of Universal Credit over the old system, it appears, is that it focuses less on the process and more about the specific needs of the person requiring help.

Such a major change can prove unsettling but it appears from the Dumfries and Galloway experience so far that Universal Credit has been beneficial to many people, for example some of those working part-time hours.

JobCentre Plus report helping customers from a wider range of circumstances than in the past while also maintaining an excellent working relationship with stakeholders, including Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Loreburn Housing Association and the local authority.

 

Tenants have say in work of housing agency

There are few more important issues than housing and I was pleased to recently have an introductive meeting with the team at the region's largest social landlord Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership (DGHP).

They have invested more than £200 million in improving and maintaining tenants' homes since being launched in 2003 and currently own and look after around 10,300 homes plus garages and shops.

The Partnership has also built many hundreds of homes and are particularly proud to have had tenant representatives within their district management committee structure.

I was interested to learn that they directly employ 200 people in the region, plus a further 370 who are involved through contractors in repairs and investment work.

I found our meeting very informative covering a wide range of housing issues, upcoming developments and local initiatives.

 

Forces veterans deserve protection from spurious allegations

I would like to thank constituents who have backed my local campaign for greater protection from prosecution for veterans who have served their country in frontline conflict zones.

Along with parliamentary colleagues I want more safeguards for former British military personnel against spurious and vexatious historic allegations and repeat prosecutions.

I'm backing calls for legislation at Westminster to introduce a Statute of Limitations.

This would prevent British forces' veterans of conflicts such as in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and other operations being threatened with clearly unjustified prosecutions later in life.

Some veterans from across the UK are being detained, questioned and later facing court proceedings over allegations sometimes dating from decades before.

This is despite there being no new evidence, them previously being cleared and, in some cases, given letters indicating they had immunity from future criminal charges.

Ex-service personnel, including some in the south of Scotland, have been approached with requests for information and interviews over past incidents.

That's why I highlighted the case at Westminster of an ex-soldier in his late 70s from England who faces gruelling criminal court proceedings despite suffering life-limiting kidney failure and heart disease.

Anyone wishing to back the campaign can do so by completing an online petition at my website  www.alisterjack.co.uk/veteranspetition

Ex-servicemen and women who have served their country well should not have to live under the shadow of this worry for the rest of their lives.