Dave Thompson MSP

The current state of crofting on Shetland will be top of the agenda this week when Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson meets the Scottish Crofting Foundation while he is in Lerwick this week.

The SNP politician will meet with Norman Leask, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Scottish Crofting Foundation, at Mr Leask’s shop (Anderson & Co) at Market Cross on Saturday 3 April.

During his fact finding visit to Shetland this week, SNP MSP Dave Thompson plans to meet local tourism bosses to discuss the state of this important sector in the islands.

Mr Thompson, who represents the Highlands and Islands, will meet with Steve Mathieson, Visit Scotland’s new area manager for Shetland on Friday morning at the organisation’s offices on Market Cross, Lerwick.  Shortly after this, he will also meet with Andy Stephen, manager for Promote Shetland, at their offices at Shetland Museum and Archives on Hays Dock.

On his visit to Shetland this week, Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson (SNP) will hold an advice surgery for constituents at the Islesburgh Complex in Lerwick on Friday 2 April from 4 to 5 pm.

It will be an opportunity for residents to discuss problems they feel could be resolved with the advocacy and advice of a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Although he was pleased to hear that the number of police officers in the Highlands and Islands had risen by 12 per cent since the SNP came to power in Scotland MSP Dave Thompson fears the impact of this increase could be diminished because of the expected closure of a care centre for alcoholics.

The scale of the increase in the number of officers was revealed by Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill in response to a question from Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands, on Thursday during Question Time in the Scottish Parliament.

Dave Thompson, MSP for the Highlands and Islands (SNP) has today condemned Chancellor Alistair Darling’s decision to continue with the 3p tax increase in fuel duty.

In yesterday’s budget, Darling announced a 1% increase from 1st April, another 1% in October and a further 1% on 1st January 2011.  The fuel duty escalator means that in addition, fuel prices will increase by 1p above inflation between 2011 and 2014.

Highlands & Islands MSP Dave Thompson has lodged an amendment in Parliament correcting the public house building record in the Highlands & Islands and the support for it by the Scottish Government.

Correcting fellow North MSP Jamie Stone's motion alleging cuts of 45% by the Scottish Government to Highland & Island affordable housing next year, Mr Thompson's motion highlights the refusal of the Westminster Government to accelerate another round of capital funding for the 2010-2011 current financial year.

Hosted by their Highlands & Islands MSP Dave Thompson, Dingwall Academy last night  represented the North of Scotland in the Scotland Final of the Young Consumers Challenge.

For a second year in a row Mr Thompson played quiz master to four Scottish teams competing to go onto the UK Final, which will be held in Edinburgh this summer as part of the Trading Standards Institute's annual conference.

This Saturday at 8.30pm individuals, businesses and public authorities in Scotland and across the world will turn off their lights for one hour in a graphic show of support for decisive action on climate change.

Highlands & Islands SNP MSP Dave Thompson will be taking part from his home in Inverness and has publicly backed WWF's Earth Hour initiative (photo attached), saying: "Climate Change is one of the most serious threats facing this planet. Last year the Scottish Parliament passed the world's strongest climate change legislation and set the example at the global climate talks at Copenhagen.

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson (SNP) has welcomed support from a fellow North MSP for his campaign to install barriers on the country's open level crossings.

Mr Thompson has campaigned on the issue since his election in 2007 and last year conducted a major public consultation exercise to gauge the level of support for the measure.

Following the release to the media of an email branding as "hysterical and biased" his campaign for the introduction of barriers at level crossings throughout the Highlands, MSP Dave Thompson has voiced concern that a major transport company has embarked upon a campaign to discredit him.

Last week, as Network Rail launched a UK campaign to highlight the number of accidents caused by drivers failing to stop when instructed by barriers and signals at level crossings, the SNP politician issued a press release to remind the public that just two per cent of level crossings in Scotland are not protected by barriers yet these account for almost a third of all accidents at level crossings.