Latest News

EAST END MP WELCOMES RETREAT ON ROYAL MAIL PRIVATISATION PLAN

The SNP MP for the East End, John Mason, today (Tuesday) described Lord Mandelson’s admission that the UK Government will not progress legislation to part-privatise Royal Mail as a ‘humiliating climb down’ but sounded a warning that, if similar plans are introduced in the next Parliament, they would be disastrous for the postal service. The local MP has been vocal in his defence of Royal Mail and postal services and has received numerous letters and comments from concerned constituents on the issue. Scottish National Party MPs have led opposition to the proposals at Westminster and kept up pressure on the London Labour Government to justify the proposals. Commenting on the Government’s decision to postpone their proposals, Glasgow East MP John Mason said: “The Labour Government is quite simply wrong on this issue. The proposals to privatise bits of Royal Mail are both unworkable and unpopular. This is plain for all to see with the massive opposition it has stirred up. “This climb down will be welcomed by both Royal Mail employees and the many service users all across the City of Glasgow.”

30/06/09 More >

Mason welcomes Scottish Government prompt payment plan

***DECISION GOOD NEWS FOR GLASGOW FIRMS - MASON*** The SNP MP for Glasgow East, John Mason, has welcomed the news from the Scottish Government that a new clause is to be used in its contracts to require payment within 30 days to all businesses in the supply chain, particularly small businesses. The East End MP has met with a number of locally-based small businesses since his election to Parliament in July 2008, and one of the issues that is most often highlighted is the problem caused when larger corporate clients delaying paying their bills. While the Scottish Government is itself paying 92 per cent of its bills within 10 days - well within its target payment time - the new contract arrangements will mean that, where the Government contracts out work, the contractor will now be obliged to pay any sub-contractors quickly. Commenting on the new contract clause, John Mason said: " There are many different Government contracts that involve goods and services supplied by Glasgow firms, both here in the East End and across the City. They can include things from major road and rail contracts to office refurbishment projects. " It is important that, when the Scottish Government issues these contracts, there is build-in protection for suppliers to the companies taking on government projects."

29/06/09 More >

GLASGOW EAST MP WARNS OF CALMAN THREAT TO CHARITY SECTOR

‘Transfer of lottery funding power to Scotland would be better plan’ East End MP John Mason has criticised proposals in the Calman report to unify charity regulations across Scotland and the rest of the UK, proposals which have also been heavily criticised by the volntary and charity sector. Unfortunately, Labour representatives have given their backing to the Calman report despite this damaging recommendation to return powers to the hands of Westminster. Commenting on the Calman proposals, Glasgow East MP, John Mason, said: “It is extremely worrying that Calman has proposed changing Scottish charity legislation and regulation. I don’t believe that returning charity oversight powers to Westminster is a good move, and it is unlikely to benefit charity and voluntary organisations in the East End of Glasgow. It is essential that, given the separate legal system, charities in Scotland are regulated in Scotland.”

23/06/09 More >

MP welcomes ‘surge’ in police numbers

***Strathclyde force numbers rise by 585 over last year*** The SNP MP for the East End, John Mason, has welcomed the latest figures on police officer numbers, which show that the Strathclyde force has enjoyed a surge in police numbers over the past 12 months. The new official statistics show that the number of officers working in the Strathclyde Police area has gone up from 7,619 in the quarter ending in March ’08 to 8,204 for the three months to March ‘09 – an increase of 585 officers. Mr Mason, who represents all of the communities between Barrowfield and Baillieston and from Carmyle to Craigend, said: "People in all of the communities that I represent will be delighted to hear that Strathclyde Police now has 585 more policemen and women on the streets than it did one year ago. “Everyone knows that there are serious problems with crime and disorder in a number of the communities of the East End. But a visible police presence is important in terms of reducing crime and providing reassurance to the public."

10/06/09 More >