​There was an announcement this week that the Bank of Scotland branch in Loanhead is set to shut. This closure will come on the 4th of May 2020 and will be one of 14 branch closures across Scotland.
 
Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh commented:
 
‘We are seeing far too many branch closures locally and it is simply unacceptable. Having a local bank is vital to communities and the Loanhead branch is an indispensable service for many local people.
 
Alternatives need to be sought instead of simply closing bank branches without thorough consideration or consultation. We should not simply be offered ineffective substitutes, such as post offices. We need to have a face-to-face banking branch that adequately addresses the needs of the community.
 
I would call on the UK Government to act and work harder to protect our local businesses and communities from careless decisions like this. I would urgently ask the Bank of Scotland to rethink the reckless decision to shut local services, as this only puts their customers at a disadvantage. I am determined to continue fighting for a better deal for my community with local businesses.’
 
Owen Thompson MP for Midlothian stated:
 
‘I am shocked to learn that Bank of Scotland are proposing the closure of their Loanhead Branch this May.  This is the only bank in Loanhead and this decision is clearly short-sighted given the significant population increase in the local area. It is not good enough that constituents and local businesses will have to make longer journeys to have access to essential services that they should have locally. The Bank of Scotland need to reconsider this decision immediately.’
 
'In light of this announcement I have spoken to Bank of Scotland to call for an urgent meeting which is due to take place in the coming days. I also highlighted this issue to local Councillor, Kelly Parry and to Pat Kenny, Chair of Loanhead's Community Council, who share my concerns that this closure will bring loss to the local community'
 
Kelly Parry Councillor for Midlothian West said:
 
“The Community in Loanhead will be hugely disadvantaged by this decision, which will have an impact on the most vulnerable of residents, as well as the Loanhead business community. I would urge the Bank of Scotland to reconsider this shocking move and protect this vital face to face service for Loanhead.”  

​Midlothian North and Musselburgh MSP Colin Beattie has welcomed a Holyrood vote backing the right for Scotland to hold an independence referendum.
A majority of MSPs endorsed the right of the people of Scotland to have a say over their future.
Most Scots believe that the Scottish Parliament, rather than Westminster, should decide whether there should be an independence referendum.
A Survation poll published this month found that 61% of Scots believed the matter should be for Holyrood, with only 39% believing Westminster should decide.
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
“This week Scotland is being dragged out of the EU against our will.
“In 2014 we were promised that voting No meant staying in the EU, and many people in Midlothian and East Lothian voted on that basis.
“In a democracy, when the facts change people have the right to change their mind.
“I was elected on a manifesto commitment to hold an independence referendum in the exact circumstances we now face.
“The Scottish Parliament has backed the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine their own future – and most people believe it should be for Holyrood to decide, not Boris Johnson.”

​SNP MSP Colin Beattie has welcomed new figures showing a 6% fall in homelessness applications in East Lothian between September 2018 and September 2019.
The Scottish Government has invested £32.5 million into Rapid Rehousing and Housing First to prioritise permanent, settled accommodation, as the first response to minimise the length of time people spend in temporary accommodation.
The government also changed the Unsuitable Accommodation Order in 2014 so that families with children and pregnant women only stay in accommodation, such as B&Bs, for a maximum of seven days.
Commenting, Colin Beattie said:
“Everyone should have a home of their own, and any level of homelessness is too high.
“While we must not become complacent, it is very welcome that the number of applications in East Lothian has fallen.
“The SNP in government is determined to tackle homelessness and good progress is being made on our £50 million Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan.
“It’s now vital that we do all we can to prevent homelessness in the first place, and ensure that when it does happen support is available to move into settled accommodation quickly.”

​TORY CUTS UNDERLINE NEED FOR FULL POWERS OVER WELFARE
 
The Scottish Welfare Fund made 1,285 payments to people in Midlothian and 1,305 to people in East Lothian in the last financial quarter – to help pay for essentials such as food, heating costs, and household necessities. 
A total of 220 Community Care Grants and 1065 Crisis Grants were awarded in Midlothian, and 340 Community Care Grants and 970 Crisis Grants were awarded in East Lothian between July and September 2019  - an increase of 2% in Midlothian and 23% in East Lothian compared to the same period last year.
 
The stats come just days after a new report revealed that the most vulnerable will be hit hardest by the UK decision to leave the EU, and Brexit will lead to increased job losses, the cost of living and food prices pushed up, and reductions in public spending.
Since its launch in April 2013, the Scottish Welfare Fund has paid out almost £220 million to over 357,000 households across the country – with 28,390 households in Midlothian and 24,455 households in East Lothian receiving help from the Scottish Government fund. 
In total a third of households receiving awards were families with children. 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“The Scottish Welfare Fund is a vital lifeline for many people facing poverty or crisis.
 
“But the fact that so many households in Midlothian and East Lothian have been forced to turn to the fund for emergency financial help is extremely concerning.
 
“The Scottish Government spends millions every year shielding Scots from UK Government welfare cuts.  That our devolved Government should have to protect its citizens from the cruelty of the UK state is unacceptable and unsustainable.  
 
“And with the threat of Brexit still alive – the risk is real that tens of thousands more people could be pushed into poverty in Scotland, and left at the mercy of this heartless Tory government.
 
“Only with full powers over social security can we begin to make Scotland an equal country with a dignified and fair welfare system. Until then, the SNP will continue to do everything in our power to tackle poverty and support low income families.”

​TORY IMMIGRATION PLANS WILL HARM BUSINESSES AND PUBLIC SERVICES IN MIDLOTHIAN AND EAST LOTHIAN
 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie has backed proposals for a new Scottish Visa to address depopulation and cut skills gaps in Midlothian and East Lothian set to be made worse by Brexit.
 
Under plans announced by the First Minister, migrants who want to live in Scotland could choose to apply for a Scottish Visa, or one of the existing immigration routes offered by the UK Government.
 
All of Scotland's population growth for the next 25 years is projected to come from migration. However, new UK Government immigration controls and the end of free movement after Brexit are expected to exacerbate the risk of skills gaps and labour shortages in Scotland.
 
Without migration, Midlothian and East Lothian could face a demographic crisis that could hammer public services like the NHS – with an ageing population leaving Scotland with fewer working-age taxpayers.
 
A cross-party report by Holyrood’s Finance Committee found that, without additional powers for the Scottish Parliament, Scottish public spending may be put at risk by demographic changes.
 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“Brexit, and the end of freedom of movement, poses a huge risk to our economy and public services in Midlothian and East Lothian.
 
“It is vital for Midlothian and East Lothian’s future prosperity that we continue to attract people to live and work here. Migrants make hugely valuable contributions to our economy, public services, and communities – and that must continue.
 
“The one-size-fits-all approach by the UK government ignores Scotland’s needs and could put our ability to fund public services like the NHS at risk.
 
“UK government proposals to end freedom of movement and put in place inappropriate salary and skills requirements for all migrants would be disastrous for our economy and society and would risk acute labour shortages.
 
“These sensible Scottish Government proposals, in line with other regional migration systems such as in Canada and Australia, would give us the ability to create a system which secures the future prosperity of Midlothian and East Lothian.
 
“If the UK government refuse to deliver that plan it will yet again underline the urgent need for Scotland to take these decisions for ourselves.”

LEAVING THE EU COULD PUSH MORE PEOPLE INTO POVERTY
 
A new report has warned that Brexit will hit the most vulnerable people in Midlothian and East Lothian – highlighting negative consequences such as the loss of legal rights, employment protections and healthcare rights.
 
The report, commissioned by the Scottish Government, identified 137 potential impacts on those already facing inequality, discrimination, or social exclusion in society.
 
It warns that a “hard” Brexit, along the lines of the deal which is being proposed by Boris Johnson, could lead to a slowdown in the economy with job losses increased, the cost of living and food prices pushed up and reductions in public spending.
 
“The Social and Equality Impacts of Brexit” also warned that Brexit could negatively affect the supply and access to food, fuel and medicines.
 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“Any form of Brexit will be bad for Scotland – and will hit jobs and household incomes in Midlothian and East Lothian.
 
“With just days until the UK is due to leave the EU, people and businesses in Midlothian and East Lothian will be understandably concerned with the complete lack of clarity coming from Boris Johnson’s government.
 
“Far from delivering extra cash for the NHS, as was infamously promised by the Leave campaign bus - those on low-incomes face losing access to public services, the ability to buy daily essentials in the case of price rises, and access to affordable housing.  
 
“Midlothian and East Lothian voted to remain in the EU – just like every local authority in Scotland – and yet we’ve been entirely side-lined and ignored by the Tory government ever since. 
 
“It is clearer than ever that the best future for Scotland is one as an equal, independent European nation.”

​Colin Beattie MSP is supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to tackle the myths and stigma around the common virus HPV and get the facts out.

This year, Scotland’s cervical screening programme is moving to test for HPV[1] first, a far more sensitive test that will save lives but also means many more women will be told they have HPV. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is running its #SmearForSmear campaign during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (20-26 January) to tackle the misconceptions about the virus. 

In the majority of cases, HPV infection goes away without doing the body any harm. However, sometimes it causes cells to change which, if not treated, could develop into cervical cancer. Testing for HPV is a far more accurate test estimated to prevent almost 500 diagnoses of cervical cancer every year in the UK.
​
Colin Beattie MSP and the UK’s cervical cancer charity want as many people as possible to understand the importance of cervical screening and to feel informed and comfortable when they get their results.
New research[3] conducted by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has found a third of women consider HPV a taboo topic and would not want anyone to know if they had it. A quarter haven’t heard of HPV and one in five would feel embarrassed if they were told they had the virus. Calls to the charity’s Helpline about HPV have already risen 50% over the past year. It is expecting this to significantly rise as more women are tested for HPV and is calling on health professionals to be prepared for increases in questions from patients and encouraging open conversation.

Robert Music, Chief Executive, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “HPV can be confusing but it is nothing to be ashamed of. 80% of us will get at least one type of HPV in our lives and in most cases the immune system will get rid of the infection without it causing any harm. We need to get the facts out about HPV and get rid of harmful myths and stigma around this really common virus.” 

HOLYROOD PASSES PLAN TO TRANSFORM LOTHIAN’S ECONOMY
 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie has said the new Scottish National Investment bank will help encourage economic growth across the Lothian region, after the bill to introduce the body was formally agreed to in Holyrood today.
 
MSPs from all parties gave their backing to the Scottish Government’s blueprint for the investment bank that will begin investing in businesses and communities later this year – committing to invest at least £2 billion in its first ten years.
 
The bank will have an important role in helping Scotland meet its ambitious climate change targets - forming part of the SNP’s Green New Deal to kick-start investment and build the momentum needed to reduce emissions and create high quality jobs in the process.  
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“The Scottish National Investment Bank will help us reach our world-leading climate change targets while transforming communities here in Midlothian and East Lothian.
 
“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, that’s why the bank will invest in firms and community projects that are looking to play their part in tackling the global climate emergency.
 
“Individuals, and small local businesses, the length and breadth of Scotland are set to benefit from this historic move as we move towards a low carbon economy fit for the future. I look forward to seeing the bank’s impact in the Lothian region.”
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