October 2008

22.10.2008 14:27
CUSTOM HOUSE JOBS FIGHT REACHES MINISTERIAL LEVEL
Following on from his detailed submission to the Customs consultation, Inverclyde MP David Cairns kept up the pressure to save the Greenock Custom House during a meeting with the newly appointed Customs Minister, Stephen Timms MP. The encounter took place in Mr Timms’ office at HM Treasury in the heart of Whitehall. And during the hour long meeting, Mr Cairns made it clear that he believed that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) posts should stay in Inverclyde.  

15.10.2008 15:51
ST NINIAN’S PRIMARY WIN PRESTIGIOUS PARLIAMENTARY I.T. AWARD
Congratulations to St Ninian’s Primary School, Gourock, who have won the Scottish round of UK Parliament’s prestigious Make IT Happen competition. Gourock MP David Cairns wrote out to primary schools throughout Inverclyde inviting them to take part and, not only did St Ninian’s take up the challenge, their entry was so good they were crowned Scottish champions at a special awards ceremony in the House of Commons.   

13.10.2008 08:44
NATO CRACKDOWN ON AFGHAN DRUG LABS WILL MEAN LESS HEROIN ON OUR STREETS
News that NATO is to allow its troops in Afghanistan to attack opium factories has been given a warm welcome by local MP David Cairns. Up until now counter-narcotics operations have been carried out by the Afghan forces, while NATO soldiers concentrated exclusively on eradicating the poppy crop. NATO’s change of heart means that poppy production can be targeted from field through to factory, which will make life much more difficult for those engaged in the opium trade.  

2.10.2008 18:15
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE MEANS EXTRA CASH FOR INVERCLYDE WORKERS
The National Minimum Wage has gone up again and 90,000 workers in Scotland are set to benefit, some 2,000 of them in Inverclyde. The rate rose to £5.73 per hour for workers aged 22 and over, £4.77 for 18-21 year olds and £3.53 for those aged 16 and 17. The rises came into effect at the start of October, and employees should see the benefit in their salaries at the end of the month.  

2.10.2008 18:06
CONSUMERS GET MORE PROTECTION FROM UNSCRUPULOUS DOORSTEP SELLERS
New rules came into force this month giving consumers greater protection when buying from door-to-door salespeople. The UK legislation was brought in after consultations showed that people were being increasingly pressurised into signing up for things like driveways, conservatories and new double glazing.  

1.10.2008 12:41
JOHN WOOD STREET HERITAGE PROJECT WINS LOTTERY AWARD
Thanks to a grant from Heritage Lottery Scotland, young people in Inverclyde will get an opportunity to become involved in producing a heritage trail stretching along the riverside from Port Glasgow to Gourock. Project workers at The Trust’s 7 ½ John Wood Street have been awarded a Lottery grant of £23,800 to help youngsters produce a trail highlighting the impact of shipbuilding and related industries on communities and families in the area.