mid-July Column

Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 14th Jul 2008

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PM challenged on food and energy prices

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Twice a year the Prime Minister appears for two and a half hours of questioning by members of the House of Commons Liaison Committee comprised of the Chairman of the Select Committees.

I have had an opportunity to question both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown at these sessions and the contrast is predictable.

With Tony Blair it was entertainment - a bravura performance although you were often left with the feeling that he had said nothing but said it very well.

Two and a half hours of Gordon Brown cannot be described as entertaining but on the second occasion last week there was probably more solid information about the Government's approach to a wide variety of subjects.

I led the section on soaring food and energy prices which threaten to plunge the world into recession, create hardship for families everywhere and plunge more than 100 million of the world's poorest people back below the absolute poverty line.

With the world's population heading for 9 billion people with rising aspirations

it is complacent to assume that we can produce enough food or find enough oil and gas to sustain us.

I also had an opportunity to press the Prime Minister on maximising long term production from the UK Continental Shelf - more under his control than persuading the King of Saudi Arabia to increase production or invest in the UK.

He showed some appreciation that his recent meeting with oil and gas leaders in Aberdeenshire had deepened his understanding of the complexities of the North Sea and West of Shetland as mature oil and gas provinces which require incentives to explore and produced not constant adverse tax changes.

At current high prices oil companies do make massive profits but this is shared with the exchequer. The balance needs to be re-invested and the Government needs to ensure as much of that as possible is invested here.

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Why don't SNP back rail?

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I have been astonished and disappointed at the acrimonious and ill informed outburst over the future of commuter rail services in our area by Transport Minister Stuart Stevenson and SNP councillors.

The Minister seems totally ignorant of the campaign for commuter services between Inverurie and Aberdeen and for a new station at Kintore.

The upgrading on the Aberdeen Inverness railway line was until fairly recently the responsibility of the Department of Transport. However during the last Scottish Parliament term, while responsibility for tracks remains with Network Rail funding responsibility was transferred to the Scottish Executive.

In that situation I know that Nestrans, I and others made representations to ensure the North East line was prioritised.

I wrote to Stuart Stevenson shortly after he was appointed Transport Minister asking for his support and raised it informally with Alex Salmond. For the Minister to say he had received no representation is frankly preposterous. The trouble is it appears neither he nor his office actually read their correspondence but pass it straight to Transport Scotland.

The recent 1000 signature petition is simply the latest part of the process demonstrating support for the project which would improve the quality of lives of people in the fast growing Inverurie - Kintore corridor, ease congestion, especially as SNP ministers have delayed the Western Peripheral Route by two to three years, and benefit the environment.

What is more unedifying is that local SNP councillors seem to be more interested in making ill-informed gibes against what they see as a Liberal Democrat rather than community campaign. (It has the support of the Conservatives too).

The real question is why are the SNP so opposed to improving our railways? Why didn't they tell us their priority was road improvements in the central belt?

Ministers appear to be committed to a new Forth crossing which, whatever its merits, could cost upwards of £4 billion.

The estimated cost of the Aberdeen Inverness upgrade and establishment of a commuter service is put in the region of £60 to £80 million. Isn't that a good place to start?

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Remote business case made for local post offices

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The end of the month will provide the decision on the future of our local post offices threatened with hours' reductions under the Government's post office closure programme.

Across the constituency four full time post offices face reductions to a total of just a few hours a week altogether among them.

A well attended public meeting in Rhynie made very clear to Royal Mail representatives the strength of feeling in the community and I believe made a very cogent case for the post office to think again.

The distinctive point to make is that the area served by Rhynie, Lumsden and Kennethmont is a very wide stretch of country which unlike, a comparable part of the Highlands has people living in most of it. Many people have to travel considerable distances to reach any post office. If they have to go to Alford or Huntly it could be a major trip.

For those without a car the problems are multiplied. But there are also businesses in the area dependent on the post office for cash and postal services.

Put together it does appear that the proposed hours will not meet the need, could be disrupted by weather and with some additional main office services being offered (car tax, passports etc) may not provide enough time to transact essential business.

While Kennethmont accept the reduced hours, Rhynie would like to retain a full time office within the shop and Lumsden want at least 12 hours spread over four or five days a week.

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Good wishes to sign language Evelyn

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I read that Dame Evelyn Glennie, Methlick-born world renowned percussionist has said she is to learn sign language. I am delighted to learn this. She will find it hard as I have, only mastering the basics.

Evelyn was not born deaf and has therefore made her way in the hearing world through clear speech and lip-reading. However, for someone who is born deaf and never heard clear speech sign language can be indispensable.

Evelyn has achieved her fame and fortune through dedication and a prestigious talent. However, as a role model for many deaf people it will be a great boost that she has recognised the importance of sign language.

At the same time, my colleague, Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay is promoting the case for a text 999 service which could be a huge help to deaf people in an emergency. I believe he should succeed.

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Africa needs to act to reform Zimbabwe

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As the situation deteriorates in Zimbabwe the calls for action become louder. The UK chair of the Security Council failed to deter China and Russia from using their veto against sanctions.

However, the key to the future for Zimbabwe's people lies with its neighbours reinforced and encouraged by the international community.

The UK and other donors are committed to providing billions of dollars of aid and development funding for southern Africa. This will be of little value as long as Zimbabwe continues to drag down the whole region. This must be made forcibly clear to political leaders.

A reformed Zimbabwe would be an engine if growth that could stimulate development across the region and help aid money be effective. At the moment the opposite is the case.

ENDS