​Today, Midlothian’s SNP MSPs Colin Beattie and Christie Grahame described Labour’s recent stance on private finance initiative (PFI) projects as ‘hypocritical’. This follows calls from Labour for the Scottish Government to set up a debt disposal department dedicated to raising funds to buy out the total outstanding PFI debt.
 
In Midlothian, schools developed under PPP1 and PPP2 PFI initiatives will cost Midlothian £10.4 million in one year alone.
 
Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North & Musselburgh, said:
 
‘I am flabbergasted at Labour’s hypocrisy. They are responsible for this mess and now they think the taxpayer should pick up the bill.
 
‘Labour-led Midlothian Council is having to make cutbacks across the board and yet the party’s own politicians think nothing of adding another burden to my constituents.
 
‘The short-sightedness of PFI schemes in the first place probably suggests Labour can’t see how hypocritical this idea is.’
 
Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, said:
 
‘Labour brought this whole policy in and now have burdened generations of Midlothian folk with payments which should have gone towards better local services.
 
‘I have written to Danielle Rowley MP asking her the cost of the Buy-out of these schemes and if, in the unlikely event of a Labour Government at Westminster, it will pick up the tab and where that money will come from or is it from that large Labour Money Tree Jeremy Corbyn has on his allotment.’

Which?’s Nuisance Calls campaign took to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 13 September, as it’s revealed that seven in ten Scots said that receiving cold calls discouraged them from picking up their phone when it rings.

• With new Which? research showing as many as eight in 10 (81%) Scots received a nuisance call on their landline in the last month, campaigners from the consumer champion spoke to MSPs about the issues with these calls that many are facing in their constituency.
• Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, attended the event on Wednesday 13 September giving his support to the Which? campaign.

• As part of the campaign, Which? has led a week of activity on nuisance calls. Alongside the event at Parliament, a public event was held at Glasgow Central station on Monday and a further awareness day will take place in Aberdeen on Friday to help people protect themselves against nuisance calls.
• At the event in Glasgow, Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, announced an action plan on the issue, with measures including a £50,000 fund to install call-blocking technology for those most at risk from nuisance calls.
• The consumer champion wants MSPs, Scottish businesses and regulators to now get behind the Scottish Government's action plan and ensure that it tackles the problem of nuisance calls in Scotland. It is also pressing the UK Government to swiftly deliver on its commitment to make senior executives more responsible for the actions of their company.
• The most common calls to landlines reported relate to: accident claims (38%), silent calls (48%) and PPI insurance claims (42%).
• The average number of nuisance calls was reported at 14 per month. Four in ten (41%) also said that they have felt intimidated by cold calls.
• Previous Which? research shows that Scotland’s cities have the highest rates of nuisance calls in the UK. Glasgow came top of a table ranking 18 UK cities according to the percentage of nuisance calls that people in those locations received. Edinburgh was second and Aberdeen fourth.
• Nearly 30,000 people in Scotland have signed Which?’s petition to stop nuisance calls.

Alex Neill, Which? Managing Director of Home Products and Services, said:
“We’re delighted that Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, attended our event and is backing our campaign to put an end to nuisance calls.
“Scots continue to receive more nuisance calls than the rest of the UK, and we hope that Mr Beattie will get behind the Scottish Government’s action plan and raise awareness of this everyday menace to the public.”
Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, said: 
‘Nuisance calls are called that for a reason. I doubt there are few of my constituents who have not been plagued by this annoyance.
‘These calls can also be stressful, coming at different times of day and night, and people can feel intimidated and pressured into agreeing to something they do not need or want.
‘I strongly welcome Which?’s campaign. I’m sure this action, alongside the Scottish Government’s pledge of £50,000 of funding to help the most vulnerable in our society, will see the menace of nuisance calls greatly reduced.’

Colin Beattie MSP is helping World’s Biggest Coffee Morning pass its £200m fundraising total – by putting the kettle on.
 
The Midlothian North and Musselburgh MSP is taking part in Macmillan Cancer Support's leading fundraising event this month, and he wants local people to get involved.
 
Mr Beattie said: “I know a considerable number of constituents have personal experiences of the problems a cancer diagnosis can bring to both patients and their families, and I know that Macmillan has been there to support many of those in need. 
 
“There are local coffee mornings being held and I would like to invite all of my constituents to drop in.
 
“However, I would also urge all of you to consider holding your own coffee morning. It's an easy and fun way to raise money for Macmillan, and every penny you raise will help people with cancer.”
 
Last year thousands of people across the UK took part in a Coffee Morning event, raising around £29.5m for Macmillan.
 
This year the total raised by Coffee Morning since it began in 1991 will pass the £200m mark.
 
The official day for World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Friday 29th September but you can hold your own event at a time to suit you.
 
It couldn’t be more simple to get involved - all you need to do is get together with family, friends or colleagues over coffee and cake. You can register now for your free fundraising pack via the website - www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee - or find a Coffee Morning near you to get involved in.