February 2005

28.2.2005 07:58
WOULD YOU CREDIT IT? DAVID BACKS NEW CONSUMER CREDIT BILL
Representatives from organisations throughout Inverclyde recently met John McFall, Chairman of the powerful Treasury Select Committee, to hear how the new Consumer Credit Bill will help local people with debt problems. Greenock and Inverclyde MP David Cairns invited John to come along and talk to local groups specialising in debt management, so they could have an opportunity to shape the legislation and let him know what they would like to see in the Bill.  

25.2.2005 14:13
SENIOR GOVERNMENT MINISTER BACKS INVERCLYDE CAMPAIGN FOR FAIRTRADE STATUS
Leader of the House of Commons Rt. Hon. Peter Hain MP has thrown his weight behind moves to have Fairtrade status awarded to Inverclyde. In a reply to a question asked in the House of Commons by local MP David Cairns, Mr Hain said he was “delighted” that Inverclyde people were taking up this cause. Fairtrade status is awarded to areas that pledge to support goods from Africa to help poor and struggling farmers there. They can be bought in most supermarkets and include fair-trade coffee, tea, chocolate and biscuits. David recently launched the campaign by sending out over 1000 petitions and the response to far has been overwhelming. Fairtarde Fortnight runs from 1 – 14 March and David will be holding a series of events to highlight this campaign.  

18.2.2005 16:04
DAVID LAUNCHES PETITION TO MAKE INVERCLYDE A FAIRTRADE AREA
Global poverty is such a big problem that it is difficult to understand how people in Inverclyde can help. In response to this challenge Greenock and Inverclyde MP David Cairns has launched a campaign to make Inverclyde a Fairtrade Area. Fairtrade is about making sure that workers and farmers in the developing world are paid a decent price for what they produce, and making certain that they have equal access to the world’s markets. Fairtrade products can be bought in shops throughout Inverclyde. 77 towns and cities throughout the UK have already achieved Fairtrade status. David has sent out almost 1,000 copies of a petition calling for Inverclyde to seek Fairtrade status and is urging as many people as possible to sign up.   

17.2.2005 14:16
THANKING THE GOOD SAMARITANS
Greenock and Inverclyde MP David Cairns paid a visit to the Samaritans’ Cathcart Street office this week to find out more about how they are helping local people with problems. The Greenock branch first opened their doors in 1993 and the office’s twenty volunteers now take calls from all over Scotland seven nights a week. Everyone who works on the Samaritan’s helpline is a volunteer and the organisation is always looking for more helpers. If you think you could spend an evening helping others call 01475 721212 and find out more about how you can lend a hand.  

15.2.2005 07:43
CAIRNS OUTLINES VISION FOR PORT GLASGOW
David Cairns MP has set out his vision of an exciting and dynamic future for Port Glasgow at the Annual General Meeting of the Port Glasgow Labour Party, held on Sunday 13th February in the Oronsay Community Hall. David was invited by Port Glasgow members to deliver the key-note address after they unanimously backed his selection as Labour’s candidate to fight the unified Inverclyde seat at the next General Election. David also paid tribute to the town’s current MP Jim Sheridan who will be fighting the new Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat, and expressed his intention to work closely with local MSP Trish Godman.  

10.2.2005 17:03
MP INVITES CHAIR OF TREASURY COMMITTEE TO GREENOCK
John McFall MP, chairman of the powerful Treasury Select Committee, will be in Inverclyde next week after accepting an invitation from David Cairns MP to come and talk about the new Consumer Credit Bill currently going through Parliament. John will be meeting a variety of workers from local organisations involved in advising people with financial problems. And he will hear at first hand how they would like to see the law changed to protect vulnerable consumers.  

10.2.2005 10:41
MP BATTLES TO KEEP INVERKIP AND WEMYSS BAY IN THE PICTURE
David Cairns MP is continuing his battle to get better television reception for people who live in Inverkip and Wemyss Bay. Many residents in the two villages are unable to get normal analogue or digital television reception and have to invest in a satellite dish just to get BBC and ITV. David has met with the BBC about this several times in the last few years, and this week he again took up the cudgels on behalf of his constituents and quizzed the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport on the floor of the House of Commons.   

9.2.2005 10:03
CONCERN OVER LIB DEM PLANS TO LOWER DRINKING AGE TO 16
Greenock and Inverclyde MP David Cairns has expressed “grave concerns” over proposals by the Liberal Democrats to lower the legal age for buying alcohol to 16. The policy was confirmed by Lib Dem MP Don Foster during an exchange in the House of Commons.  

7.2.2005 12:07
DAVID CAIRNS MP JOINS FIGHT TO SAVE MOUNT ZION CHURCH
Campaigners fighting to save the historic Mount Zion Church in Quarriers Village have broadened out their campaign and contacted neighbouring MP for Greenock and Inverclyde, David Cairns. The committee, set up to save Mount Zion Church from being converted into flats, invited David along to see the building and listen to their plans for alternative uses for the celebrated “Children’s Cathedral”.  

7.2.2005 08:31
NEW CHILD TRUST FUND WORTH £250 TO INVERCLYDE KIDS - MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR MONEY URGES DAVID
Vouchers for £250 to open Child Trust Funds are already beginning to drop through the doors of over 2,000 parents in Inverclyde, thanks to a new government child-friendly policy. The vouchers are going out between now and the end of May to parents of children born after 1st September 2002, and they can use them to open an account at their local bank or building society. And poorer families with a household income of less than £13,000 will get as much as £500 to ensure that junior gets off to a good start in life.  

1.2.2005 11:38
DAVID CAIRNS MP CALLS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT CHARITIES IN INVERCLYDE
David Cairns MP is calling on local businesses across Inverclyde to support charities by signing up to Payroll Giving - a tax-effective donation scheme for employees. The new UK wide initiative - the Payroll Giving Grants programme – gives small and medium sized enterprises with less than 500 employees up to £500, provided they set up their Payroll Giving scheme before the end of 2006. Companies who are interested can call 0845 602 6786 or visit www.payrollgivinggrants.org.uk to find our more.