my regular blog from

Click here to link to The Scottish Parliament website

Dear Constituent

Welcome to my website and the regular update on my work.

The main issue at First Minister’s Question Time was the SNP’s decision to extend the Scotrail Franchise. As Iain Gray pointed out, Audit Scotland’s recent report made it clear that Transport Scotland did not provide a fully documented business case in support of the extension. Furthermore, there was no consultation and there was the resignation of a senior Transport Scotland official over a conflict of interest. This contract involves £2.5 billion of taxpayers’ money and 215,000 daily rail passengers who have just seen their fares increase by 6%. Iain Gray also called on Alex Salmond, the First Minister to appear before the Parliament’s Audit Committee when it considers the Audit Scotland report.


Also at First Minister’s Question Time, I raised the issue of the redundancies announced by the Herald and Times group which is based in my constituency. I have lodged a motion in Parliament on this issue as the Herald and its sister papers have an important status in Scottish life. A dramatic cut in jobs, especially through such a practice as inviting people to reapply for their jobs would be universally unwelcome.


The issue of job losses at BBC Scotland was also raised during the debate on Broadcasting in which I opened and closed the debate for Labour. It is important that we look at all available options in order to maintain plurality and quality in the provision of our public service broadcasting and programming.


I had the opportunity at Health & Wellbeing Question Time to ask the Minister for Communities a question on the issue of assiting women who are escaping domestic abuse having no recourse to Public Funds. This question was asked that same day that Scottish Women's Aid and Amnesty International representatives visited the Parliament.


I also attended the launch of the Calman Commission’s interim report on Devolution, as well as having the opportunity to take part in a seminar discussion on the future of Devolution at the University of Edinburgh, hosted by Professor Charlie Jeffrey.


An extremely busy week at the Parliament concluded with a special meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Palestine, of which I am convenor. This allowed myself and the other MSPs on the recent trip to Gaza on the ship DIGNITY to give a first-hand report to the group.


In Glasgow Kelvin, I attended the Willow Tea Rooms to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of Anne Mulhern starting there, while I also attended Hanover House’s coffee morning in Apsley Street.


Over recent weeks I have also joined students at Glasgow University in campaigning against the SNP government's plan to ban 18-21 year olds for off-sales. I have raised this with the First Minister at Question Time, calling on his Government to drop these unpopular plans.

Campaigning against the government's planned alcohol ban

Signing up to Glasgow Labour Club's petition against the SNP's off-sales ban with Ann McKechin MP and Glasgow University student, Patrick McGlinchey.

Thanks for stopping by.


Pauline McNeill MSP
for Glasgow Kelvin

Updated 5 December 2008

Click here for the blog archive