Dave Thompson MSP

I am pleased to celebrate the 21st anniversary of West Word and I am delighted to learn that the publication was named Lochaber Small Business of the Year at the recent Lochaber Chamber of Commerce Ideas week Awards.

Over the years, I have been impressed by the quality of the reporting, the friendliness and passion of Ann, the editor, and of course, the accomplishments of the publication itself, which is read across the world.

I and Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye, and Lochaber, have jointly submitted to the Consultation on Provisions for a Future Islands Bill and have called for a New Council and Constituency for Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber.

As I have mentioned previously, Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber is an Islands and Mountainous Coastal Region, suffering from all the problems of connectivity that the three main island groups do. Therefore, I believe there is a strong case for Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber to have its own Council and Scottish Parliamentary Constituency, with the same status as the three main Island groups, of Orkney, Shetland, and Na h-Eileanan an lar. I will keep you informed of any progress.

I intend to speak with my colleagues and the Scottish Government, to see if there is any mileage in the proposal, if not for this term, then as a consideration going forward, as part of a wider Scotland-wide review into council and constituency boundaries.

Caledonian Macbrayne’s proposed new increased frequency of sailings in the region is to be welcomed. However, I am concerned that there is an Oban/Mull problem being solved at the expense of the Mallaig/Armadale service.

Part of the proposals include re-deploying the MV Coruisk to the Oban/Craignure route to meet the expected significant increase in demand as a result of RET, however the same significant increase in demand applies equally to the Mallaig/Armadale route. Therefore, the MV Coruisk should stay where it is, supplemented by the Lord of the Isles and a separate, alternative solution, must be found for the Oban/Mull service.

I recently ordered an eco-friendly electric car in an effort to do my bit, however small, for the environment and I am looking forward to collecting it in the coming weeks. There are a number of “fast” (22kw) and “rapid” (50kw) charge points in the Highlands but we need more, particularly “rapid” ones as “fast” charge points take several hours to charge a car when a “rapid” takes half an hour to an hour.

So it was apt timing that I was able to utilise a Rural Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment (RACCE) Committee to highlight that if transport emissions are to be significantly reduced then crucial transport issues must be addressed.

I asked the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Aileen McLeod, to consider installing more rapid charge points in rural areas as in the Highlands, in particular, there are not enough. I am grateful to the Minister for agreeing to write to the Minister for Transport and the Islands, Derek Mackay, to relay my thoughts on the matter, including my view that there should be better coordination and mapping of where the charge points actually are. I am grateful to the Minister for agreeing to write to the Minister for Transport and the Islands, Derek Mackay, to relay my thoughts on the matter, including my view that there should be better coordination and mapping of where the charge points actually are.

The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee, of which I am a member, has received all its evidence at Stage 1 of the Land Reform Bill and is preparing its report. Following the report's publication in December, the Bill will be debated in Parliament and I look forward to taking part in that debate.

The most recent poll for next May’s Scottish Elections shows the SNP is still significantly ahead in folk’s voting intentions for the Scottish Elections in 2016 and that the Conservatives have gained ground. The SNP polled 50% in the Constituency vote, 20% for labour, with the support for the Conservatives up six points to 18%. The Scottish Liberal Democrats stand at 7%.

This is excellent polling for the SNP, but we must never be complacent, especially when the conservatives are on the ascendancy, which is why I will be fighting hard for every vote in the lead up to the Scottish Elections in 2016 and why the SNP will always stand up for Scotland.