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Dear Constituent

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

The main issue at First Minister’s Question Time this week was the concern around Clostridium Difficile (C Difficile) and 18 deaths at the Vale of Leven hospital. Iain Gray, Labour’s leader in the Scottish Parliament called for a public inquiry immediately as there are widespread concerns that a longer and deeper scrutiny of how C Difficile is dealt with in all our hospitals is required.

Whilst in opposition, the SNP called for public enquiries on a regular basis but now refuse to implement a Scottish parliament decision, taken in September, to have a public enquiry on this issue. The health secretary says she has not ruled this out but there are no signs that a Public Inquiry will be called.

Annabel Goldie rightly called for an analysis, hospital by hospital or even ward by ward to prevent further deaths.

Earlier in the week, the group chaired by Professor Anton Muscatelli submitted its report to the Calman Commission. I appeared on Newsnight Scotland to discuss the report, which is an important contribution to the Commission’s evidence gathering process

In Glasgow Kelvin:

I did my volunteering last week at Barnardos in Wilson Street as part of volunteering week. I wasn't the only volunteer as others do it on a regular basis. Many of the charity shops think there may be more use of Charity shops due to the credit crunch.

I took part in the Parliamentary Debate on Gaelic Medium Education and like everyone else said a few words in Gaelic. Four Labour MSPs took part in the debate and I paid tribute to Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Gaelic School, which is in the Constituency and is the first stand-alone Gaelic-medium primary school in Glasgow. Established in 1999, with a roll of 105 pupils, the Gaelic school now has 287 primary pupils, 104 secondary pupils and 60 nursery children. It is virtually full, proving to be a great success and it is now a permanent feature of education in Glasgow.

I also had the opportunity to present The Best Bar None awards at the City Chambers, which were set up in 2005 to encourage licensees to help make pubs and clubs safer. I have supported the Best Bar None Awards since the very beginning and I believe that they have contributed to improving standards in the industry.


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 23 November 2008

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