2005 Archive >>>

MSPs’ Welcome for Earnhill Pupils

The Chamber of the Scottish Parliament yesterday joined MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, in welcoming pupils from Greenock’s Earnhill Primary to Holyrood... (more)

SNP Have no Answers to Post Office Questions – McNeil

The SNP today couldn’t answer any of the questions about their plans for the Post Office, put to them by Labour’s Duncan McNeil.   They refused to rule out price rises, redundancies and Post Office closures in an independent Scotland... (more)

Keep an Eye Out for Your Neighbours this Winter – McNeil

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is urging his constituents to look out for their neighbours over the winter months and make sure they know who to contact if things go wrong... (more)

Drink Driving Crackdown Doesn’t take a Christmas Holiday

The Christmas drink driving campaign is still in full swing, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has warned motorists who fancy one for the road... (more)

Celebrate in Safety

Extra funding from the Scottish Executive will help the people of Greenock celebrate safely this Christmas, MSP Duncan McNeil has said... (more)

Mesothelioma Victims’ Compensation Dilemma to End Next Week

An amendment to the Rights of Relatives to Damages (Mesothelioma) (Scotland) Bill will free Mesothelioma victims from their “invidious compensation dilemma” next week, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has said... (more)

Saving of Inverclyde A&E, “early Christmas present” - McNeil

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, “Duncan McNeil” has welcomed today’s announcement from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that Accident and Emergency services at Inverclyde Royal Hospital are secure... (more)

Compensation for Residents Left in the Dark

Residents in and around Antigua Street and Regent Street who have been plagued by power-cuts are in line for compensation, says MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil... (more)

McNeil Welcomes Experts’ Call for Smoking Age Rise

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, whose amendment to the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 gave Scottish Ministers the power to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco, has welcomed today’s call from the Smoking Prevention Working Group to raise the age from 16 to 18... (more)

McNeil Warns on Workplace Acoustic Shock Risks

Speaking ahead of the forthcoming conference on acoustic shock risks in the workplace, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said... (more)

Put Children’s Rights First, McNeil Tells Lib Dems

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has condemned the Liberal Democrats at Holyrood for blocking plans to raise the age at which youngsters can purchase tobacco from 16 to 18... (more)

McNeil Backs Festive Holiday for Shopworkers

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is a yes vote in the Scottish Parliament on the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Bill... (more)

Don’t Scar Another Generation

A new campaign to challenge Scotland’s knife carrying culture has brought a hard-hitting message to Greenock – Let's Not Scar Another Generation... (more)

McNeil Officially Opens Sandyford Inverclyde at IRH

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is this morning launching a brand new centre for sexual, emotional and reproductive health in the grounds of Inverclyde royal Hospital. The new Sandyford Inverclyde is being officially opened by Greenock and Inverclyde MSP, Duncan McNeil... (more)

McNeil Launches 2006 Scottish Poppy Appeal Community Advertising Campaign

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, will officially launch the 2006 Scottish Poppy Appeal community advertising campaign in the west of Scotland at Greenock Central Library today (Monday 30th October)... (more) 

Call for Action on Unplanned Addict Pregnancies

Extension of a successful drug addict contraception scheme in the west of Scotland could save more babies from being born into the life-threatening chaos of drug addicted households, MSP Duncan McNeil, has told Health Minister, Andy Kerr... (more)

McNeil Backs Bid to Help Farepak Customers

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has welcomed the intervention of the Deputy Enterprise Minister, Allan Wilson, in the Farepak Food & Gifts (FFG) collapse, which has left thousands of customers without the Christmas hampers and presents for which they had saved... (more)

Addicts Must Show Determination to Come Clean - McNeil

Addicts who want to access treatment and other services must show they are determined to come off drugs, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has said... (more)

Trivialising Crime could see Lib Dems' Coalition Hopes Sent Down

The Liberal Democrats could find their hopes of joining another Labour coalition at Holyrood sent down for at least four years if they continue to trivialise crime and turn their backs on victims, Greenock and Inverclyde MSP, Duncan McNeil, has warned... (more)

The Best of Inverclyde in Focus at Holyrood

An exhibition of photographs charting Inverclyde’s current transformation could be heading to the Scottish Parliament.  Inverclyde Camera Club’s ranks of experienced photographers are being dispatched to capture the finer side of Inverclyde and produce a permanent record of the area’s regeneration... (more)

McNeil Welcomes Recycling Probe

Ross Finnie has agreed to investigate allegations that household waste sorted for recycling by Inverclyde householders is simply being thrown into landfill sites... (more)

Drug Dealers Don't Care

A highly successful campaign to get drug dealers off Scotland’s streets has entered its next phase.   The Drug Dealers Don’t Care (DDDC) campaign, which last year resulted in the arrest of 428 dealers and the seizure of more than £1.5m worth of drugs and cash, is now being re-launched... (more)

Mitchell’s Spin and U-turns Can’t Hide the Facts – McNeil

Responding to Cllr Jim Mitchell’s latest attempt to spin his way out of criticism over Inverclyde Council’s rejection of peace talks on the ongoing schools row, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said, "We’re all used to Jim Mitchell falling out with parents, school boards and the public at large.  But now he’s managed to fall out with himself... (more)

Manufacturing in Inverclyde

Commenting on the manufacturing figures released today by the GMB, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said, “The decline of manufacturing in the UK has been felt acutely in our community, as companies look to take advantage of cheap overseas labour.  Indeed, that is why the Scottish Executive has made the regeneration of Inverclyde a top priority... (more)

Council Snubs Schools Peace Talks 

Inverclyde Council’s embattled leadership has rejected out of hand peace talks over the schools fiasco, it has been revealed... (more)

McNeil Backs UNISON Campaign to Expose the Truth about Local Income Tax

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is backing a hard-hitting advertising campaign from UNISON Scotland which exposes major flaws in opposition parties’ plans to impose a local Income Tax on hardworking families... (more)

Hospital Cleanliness Figures

Commenting on the publication of the hospital cleanliness league tables, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said... (more)

Time for Action on Dangerous Attack Dogs – McNeil

It is time for Ministers to examine the case for adding vicious Japanese Akitas to the list of dogs banned in the UK, says MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil... (more)

West Station Bridge to Re-open

Welcoming on the news that the West Station Bridge is finally to re-open, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said... (more)

Outrage at Councils' "Death Sentence" on At-risk Children

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, says that local authorities who are sending children back to an abusive or neglectful household could be condemning them to a death sentence... (more)

Jack Hears the Word in the East End

First Minister, Jack McConnell, came to the east end of Greenock today to hear what more needs to be done in the fight against antisocial behaviour... (more)

Sports Minister Praises Up-to-par Practice Facilities

Sports Minister, Patricia Ferguson, today saw for herself the junior practice facilities on offer at Whinhill Golf Course and met some of the young golfers who are making good use of them... (more)

Minister to Report on Malawi and Fair Trade Nation Plan

Patricia Ferguson, the Scottish Executive’s Minister in charge of international development, will be in Greenock on Wednesday night, reporting back on her visit to Malawi and setting out how Scotland is to become a Fair Trade nation... (more)

Justice Minister Backs eBlade Campaign

Justice Minister, Cathy Jamieson, is backing Duncan McNeil’s campaign to stop eBay allowing users to trade in knives... (more)

Lady Alice Pupils Visit Holyrood

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, welcomed primary 7 pupils from Lady Alice Primary School to the Scottish Parliament last week. .. (more)

McNeil to Quiz Minister on Audiology Waits

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is set to quiz Ministers on the progress which is being made in reducing waiting times for digital hearing aids and other audiology services during Health Questions at Holyrood tomorrow... (more)

West Station Bridge: End in Sight

Greenock’s West Station bridge is on course to re-open to traffic in July... (more)

McNeil Backs Asbestos Compensation Bill

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde is backing a new Holyrood Bill aimed at ensuring asbestos victims are compensated before their death... (more)

Energy Debate Can’t Ignore Nuclear – McNeil

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, says the energy policy debate cannot ignore the possibility of building of new nuclear power stations... (more)

Hill Caught in a Spin as Minister Exposes CCTV Van Dodge

Cllr Maxie Hill’s attempts to spin his way out of the mothballed mobile CCTV van scandal have been shot down by Deputy Communities Minister, Johann Lamont... (more)

McNeil Shoots Down Drugs Gallery Call

Condemning today’s report from an independent panel which calls for so-called “shooting galleries” – special rooms where heroin users could legally inject the drug – to be trialled in the UK, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said... (more)

Dispersal Order Call over Cemetery Gang Misery

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is calling on Inverclyde Council and local police to use the dispersal powers the Scottish Parliament has given them to stop gangs making residents’ lives a misery in Greenock’s Forsyth Street and Denholm Gardens... (more)

McNeil to get Greenock Cut Restoration Update

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, will today see the progress which is being made with the £1 million project to restore the Greenock Cut... (more)

"Double Your Chances of Sight Loss - Smoke."

RNIB Scotland is screening its message on a giant video wall in the Oak Mall Shopping Centre as part of a Scotland-wide tour. The video highlights the damage caused to eye-sight by chemicals in tobacco... (more)

Gourock Transport Interchange: Minister Calls Crisis Talks

Transport Minister, Tavish Scott, is to hold a summit with Inverclyde Council and the company in charge of the Gourock waterfront development to try and break the deadlock which is threatening the entire project... (more)

Amec Jobs Boost 

More than 250 jobs are to be created in Inverclyde by Amec, the engineering firm which has won a Ministry of Defence contract to provide a new floating jetty and infrastructure provision, in support of the new Astute class submarine for HM Naval Base Clyde, at Faslane... (more)

See your Way Clear to a Free Eye Test

All Inverclyde residents now have access to a free and more comprehensive eye examination... (more)

New Protection for Vulnerable Witnesses

Vulnerable witnesses in Greenock and Inverclyde now have the right to give their evidence in safety, thanks to new laws which came into force this week... (more)

McNeil Backs Scottish Tourism Week

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, visited Wemyss Bay Holiday Park to show his support for Scottish Tourism Week and learn more about the contribution tourism makes to the Inverclyde economy... (more)

Action on all Fronts only Cure for Violence Culture

Only proper coordinated action on all fronts will cure Scotland’s culture of “recreational violence”, Head of the Strathclyde Police Violence Reduction Unit, Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, has told a meeting in Greenock... (more)

“How Could Seized Drug Money Benefit East End?”, Minister to Ask

Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, will visit Greenock today (Monday 27^th March) to see for himself how money seized from drug dealers and other serious criminals could benefit the east end of the town... (more)

McNeil Seeks Smoking Age Update

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is set to quiz Ministers over when they will decide on using their new powers to raise the smoking age... (more)

Safer Inverclyde Message from Top Cop

Head of the Strathclyde Police Violence Reduction Unit, Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, will spell out to local residents how his dedicated team is tackling violent crime in communities such as Inverclyde... (more)

Landlords Must Register or be Shown the Door

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has warned all private landlords in Inverclyde that they must register their properties before the 30th April deadline or be hit with a £5,000 fine... (more)

McNeil Welcomes Central Heating Programme Extension

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has welcomed the news that the free central heating and Warm Deal programmes for pensioners are to be continued and expanded... (more)

McNeil Welcomes Provost to Holyrood

Provost Ciano Rebecchi swapped the marble and stone of the municipal buildings for the glass and granite of Holyrood today, as he was welcomed to the Scottish Parliament by MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil... (more)

Council Under Fire for Turning off the Power

Local people are losing out because Inverclyde Council refuses to use the new powers given to it by the Scottish Parliament, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, told a meeting last night... (more)

McNeil Backs National Knife Amnesty

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, says plans for a national knife amnesty will step up the drive to tackle knife crime and violence in Inverclyde... (more)

Brighter Smiles at Holyrood

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has launched a bid to get fellow MSPs to back the Greenock Telegraph’s Brighter Smiles Campaign... (more)

Community Ownership Will Deliver £80m Investment – Minister

£83.8m of debt could be taken off the backs of Inverclyde residents if council tenants choose to move to a new social landlord, according to Deputy Communities Minister, Johann Lamont... (more)

McNeil Comments on Minister’s School Plan Verdict

Commenting on today’s announcement by Education Minister, Peter Peacock, on Inverclyde Council’s plans for secondary schools in the area, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said... (more)

McNeil Backs Telegraph Dental Registration Campaign

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is backing the Telegraph’s campaign to get local children registered with a dentist... (more)

Action on all Fronts Vital to Minimise Sanmina Damage, Minister Warned

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, told the Enterprise Minister that “action on all fronts” is needed to minimise the impact of Sanmina’s plans to close its Greenock PC Division during talks at Holyrood today... (more)