Christina spoke in the Stage 1 debate on 7 January:

“At first sight, the bill might appear drab, understated, perhaps even a teeny bit boring, but it is actually fairly exciting and sizzling with energy. [Laughter.] I just thought that I would cheer the place up a bit. At the heart of the bill is a bonfire of the quangos—another promise that is being kept by the Scottish Government—a proper ordering of the public landscape, a revitalisation of civic Scotland and another step in the right direction.

“The bill contains provisions to allow ministers to tighten further the public landscape to make savings and efficiencies and to make the public purse work harder for the public weal…

“The bill is a wide-ranging, necessary and welcome piece of legislation that is in Scotland’s best interests, and I look forward to its being passed in its entirety…Part 4 and, to some degree, part 5 create health care improvement Scotland from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the care commission, and social care and social work improvement Scotland from the Social Work Inspection Agency and the functions of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education relating to children’s services and the care commission. As we have discussed a lot today, SCSWIS is maybe not a good acronym, but it seems to be being used out there now, and it may be a problem if we replace it with something else

“SCSWIS will reduce duplication and bureaucracy in the inspection of care services. At present, there is a joint inspection process for children’s services, which has been in place for a number of years. In the past few years, that has enabled there to be an holistic inspection regime for any child or young person who is accessing the services that they require, which has not only proved beneficial to the person accessing the services, but enabled any parent, carer or professional to ensure that a co-ordinated approach has been taken to a child’s care package. That has ensured quality in care and delivery. The new inspection regime, which is detailed in part 4, will come into its own by placing on adult services the same responsibility for joint inspection. That means that for a parent or carer of a young person with, for instance, a learning disability who is moving from children’s services to adult services, the transition will be much more seamless. That will be beneficial for everybody who is involved in that process.”

Read the full text of Christina’s speech here.

Christina McKelvie MSP has welcomed a “significant improvement” in ambulance response rates in Lanarkshire, which show that the Scottish Ambulance Service is now exceeding national targets in the area.

By March 2009, 76.7% of category A or life threatening case calls to ambulance services in Lanarkshire were responded to within eight minutes, an increase of over 10% on the previous year. There was also an improvement recorded in responses to category B (serious but not life threatening) incidents, 97% of which were met within target times.

SNP MSP for Central Scotland Ms McKelvie said:

“This significant improvement in response rates, particularly for life threatening incidents, is very encouraging news for Lanarkshire patients.

“I pay tribute to the efforts of local ambulance staff in achieving this progress, which has seen the service in Lanarkshire move in the space of a year from a position of falling well short of the national target to exceeding that same target. I look forward to seeing evidence of further progress in the coming months.

“This improvement is also testament to the SNP government’s determination to focus on improving the frontline health services that matter most to people. Better ambulance response times are another example of the real results that the SNP is delivering for people in Lanarkshire.”

Christina McKelvie MSP has urged householders across Lanarkshire to take advantage of the Scottish Government’s Energy Assistance Package to help them get through the current unprecedented period of snow and low temperatures.

Over 3,000 households in Lanarkshire have already benefited from the scheme, which aims to combat fuel poverty by providing a range of advice and assistance from energy efficiency tips to help with insulation.

Central Scotland MSP Christina said:

“It’s vital for all of us to keep ourselves and our homes warm during this stretch of incredibly cold weather that we’ve been having, but that can be easier said that done, especially for people on low incomes.

“The Energy Assistance Package is a free service for everyone in Scotland who wants help with reducing their fuel bills and improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

“Anyone who phones the free helpline will receive expert energy advice. If you are an older person, on a low income or are otherwise struggling to afford to adequately heat your home, there is a range of help available, from advice on benefits, tax credits and low-tariff energy supply options to financial help to improve the insulation in your home.

“Lots of people in Lanarkshire have accessed the Energy Assistance Package in the past few months, but many more could benefit.

“Don’t suffer in the cold when there is help available. Call the helpline on 0800 512 012 today.”

Christina McKelvie MSP has welcomed the award of over £10,000 for projects for young people in the Hamilton and Blantyre areas.

The money comes from the Scottish Government’s Cashback for Communities Scheme, which redistributes assets seized from organised crime to youth projects across Scotland.

Among the beneficiaries of the latest round of funding are Blantyre Youth Development Team, Hamilton Information Project for Youth and Hamilton-based Hyzone.

Welcoming the news, Central Scotland MSP Christina said:

“Congratulations to the organisations who made successful bids for Cashback for Communities funding.

“The scheme ensures that something good can come out of the damage that is done to communities by the activities of serious criminals, by giving cash seized from those same criminals back to community-based clubs and organisations for young people.

“The Hamilton and Blantyre projects which will benefit this time round will give our young people the chance to get involved in activities they might not otherwise have had the chance to try or to access crucial information and training to help them in life.

“Whether it’s Hyzone’s movie discussion nights, Hamilton Youth Project’s informal personal development sessions or Blantyre Youth Development Team’s outdoor activities, these imaginative projects offer genuine alternatives to young people who might otherwise have been at risk of becoming involved in crime themselves.

“That benefits the whole community, as well as the young folk themselves.”

Using funds recovered from the proceeds of crime, the Scottish Government has committed to investing over £13 million in a range of CashBack projects for young people.