November 2004

30.11.2004 13:52
LIB DEM THREAT TO AIRCRAFT CARRIER ORDERS AND WORK FOR BRITISH SHIPYARDS
Inverclyde MP David Cairns has urged the Government to reject advice from Liberal Democrat Peer, Lord Garden to buy two new aircraft carriers from America rather than build them in British shipyards. Speaking during Defence Questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday 29/11, David drew attention to remarks made by Lord Garden who advises the Lib Dem leadership on Defence matters and sits on the Lib Dem benches in the House of Lords.   

30.11.2004 09:31
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER PAYS FIRST VISIT TO INVERCLYDE
Gareth Thomas MP, Minister at the Department for International Development, will be speaking at a public meeting in St. Mary’s Church Hall, Houston Street, Greenock on Wednesday 8th December 2004 at 7.30pm. All welcome.  

28.11.2004 16:51
David Cairns MP presents trophy to Inverclyde Festival
Many people have given cups and trophies to the Inverclyde Festival since it first took to the stage of the Greenock Town Hall in 1914 but now, for the fist time, they will be presenting a trophy donated by a local Member of Parliament. The Festival has been a regular event since the early 1900s, only broken by two World Wars and next year is their 80th anniversary. Entries are up on last year and 2005 looks like it will be the biggest and best one yet.   

26.11.2004 08:52
CAIRNS BLASTS “ONGOING SCANDAL” OF AFGHAN POPPY TRADE
Inverclyde MP David Cairns has launched a blistering attack on the failure of western governments to stamp out the flow of heroin from Afghanistan’s poppy trade in a speech to the House of Commons. Speaking during the debate on the Queen’s Speech, David outlined how the trade has grown over the past two years and now employs well over 2 million people in Afghanistan – almost ten percent of the entire adult population of the country. In what Foreign Office Minister Douglas Alexander MP described as “an impassioned and informed speech”, David outlined the steps that must be taken urgently to staunch the flow of cheaper and cheaper drugs into the UK.  

18.11.2004 13:13
Inverclyde MP welcomes £5.5 million Lottery grant for young people
Inverclyde MP David Cairns today welcomed the Big Lottery Fund announcement that they are to spend £5.5 million in Scotland over the next three years to persuading young people to participate in sport. The new fund, called Active Futures, is aimed specifically at encouraging 17-24 year olds to take part in sport and physical activity. The fund wants to target those least likely to exercise, particularly young women, the disabled and people from ethnic minority communities.   

16.11.2004 09:33
PROFESSOR DAVID KERR UPDATES CAIRNS ON HOSPITAL PLANS
Inverclyde MP David Cairns has held further talks with Professor David Kerr, the Oxford University expert appointed by the Scottish Executive to look at the provision of hospital services across Scotland. The two men spoke about Professor Kerr’s visit to Inverclyde and the progress that his working group was making. David Kerr spoke highly of the passion and dedication of the people of Inverclyde and their dedication to their local hospital. He was also full of praise for the campaign run by the Greenock Telegraph and its readers.  

15.11.2004 08:37
Statement on Argyll and Clyde’s plans for health in Inverclyde
I am obviously delighted that the Health Board has withdrawn its plans to remove many vital services from Inverclyde Royal Hospital. While I have reservations about the decision to close Ravenscraig, I am pleased by the assurances that have now been given that this will not happen until alternative provision has been put in place. This is a situation that I will monitor carefully.  

12.11.2004 11:27
Gordon Brown optimistic about future of Inverclyde Economy
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown MP has expressed confidence in the future of the economy in Inverclyde. Speaking in the House of Commons during Treasury Question Time he told Inverclyde MP David Cairns about the importance of investing in a skilled work-force to ensure that people could take advantage of job opportunities throughout their working lives. He also paid tribute to David Cairns efforts to attract new jobs to the area.  

4.11.2004 09:52
CAIRNS IN KEY TALKS ON FUTURE OF REGIONAL AID IN SCOTLAND
Greenock and Inverclyde MP David Cairns has held crunch talks about the future of government help for areas like Inverclyde. David met in the House of Commons with representatives from the West of Scotland European Consortium, (a body made up of councils from the old Strathclyde Region), and other west of Scotland MPs to agree on a strategy for ensuring that we do not lose out when the rules governing funding change in 2 years time.  

2.11.2004 13:05
Cairns urges greater help for older and poorer people to prepare for new digital television