Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch recently visited Drimsallie Hatchery, near Glenfinnan, which was set up 20 years ago to address the decline of wild salmon and sea trout in Lochaber.

It is run by the River Lochy Association (the owning syndicate on the River Lochy) on a not for profit basis and currently attracts contributions from a wide range of stakeholders. The hatchery is managed by full time Fisheries Restoration Manager, Jon Gibb, who Dave was delighted to meet (as pictured) on his recent visit.

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has sought an update from the Scottish Government on the impact on ferry users of the current CalMac strikes.

He said, “It is disappointing that the unwarranted “privatisation” scare mongering about the upcoming retender process for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry service has resulted in this strike action. I am grateful to the Minister for his update and it is good news that most services will be available today (Wednesday) and Thursday. But it is sad news that there will be little in the way of services on Friday.

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has sought an update from the Scottish Government on the shock decision by the UK Government to end onshore wind farm subsidies a year early in 2016. He asked the Minister on Tuesday (23rd June) if the decision could indeed threaten the consented project at Glen Ullinish on Skye.

He said, “This is appalling news and frankly bad Government by Westminster. A wind farm proposal, five years in the making, at Glen Ullinish on Skye, which has massive local support, is fully consented, is now seriously threatened if anything unexpected happen in the development over the next few months. Should any of the remaining modest hurdles turn out to be more intractable than expected the project could fail.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has welcomed the news that the Crofting Commission will select its new Convener in a secret ballot from the current pool of remaining Commissioners and hailed it as a victory for democracy.

The secret ballot will be overseen by the Crofting Commission’s Chief Executive with the successful candidate taking up the post until 31 March 2017, which will cover the remainder of the period of tenure for the current Board.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Vice President of the CTSI hosted (16/06/15) the Scottish launch of the Chartered Institute as part of a Chartered Status Celebration by The Trading Standards Institute in the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish launch of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute was designed to raise awareness of the role of the Institute amongst MSP's and key partners, including MSP's, The Scottish Government, Partner Groups and Trading Standards Professionals.

Mr Thompson said, “As a former Vice President of the CTSI, it was a great privilege to host the Scottish launch of the Chartered Institute as part of a Chartered Status Celebration by The Trading Standards Institute in the Scottish Parliament.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch recently (17/06/15) used Question Time in the Parliament to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Keith Brown, if he knew whether the UK Government would honour the commitments and promises that it made before the general election on city deals for Aberdeen and Inverness.

The Cabinet Secretary went onto confirm that meetings between the UK and Scottish Governments had a positive tenor, and the expectation is that the UK Government will follow through on its previous commitments to a city deal for Inverness.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch is deeply concerned that the scope of new restrictions contained within recently announced Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management Measures will adversely impact on crucial fishing communities.

Mr Thompson said, “I am deeply concerned at the major shift away from the original consultation and I will be working with fisherman to hopefully find a way of ameliorating the proposals via the Marine Conservation Order process, which will be put before the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee in September”.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has hailed the recently completed works on the A82 at Glen Gloy as a “major improvement”, as he reports from his travels on the road from last Friday (12/06/15).

The one-million pound improvement contract, which involved straightening and improving the road to Transport Scotland’s current trunk road design parameters has been carried out as part of Transport Scotland’s on-going trunk maintenance programme, after a landslip caused serious damage to the river gorge, which reduced the road to one lane.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch will host (16/06/15) the Scottish launch of the Chartered Institute as part of a Chartered Status Celebration by The Trading Standards Institute in the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish launch of the Chartered Institute is designed to raise awareness of the role of the Institute amongst MSP's and key partners, including MSP's, The Scottish Government, Partner Groups and Trading Standards Professionals.

Mr Thompson said, “It is a great privilege to host the Scottish launch of the Chartered Institute as part of a Chartered Status Celebration by The Trading Standards Institute in the Scottish Parliament.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch recently (10/06/15) used Question Time in the Parliament to ask the Scottish Government what it is doing in the Highlands to ensure that NHS infrastructure is fit for the 21st century.

Mr Thompson questioned and the Cabinet Secretary who confirmed that the significant investment planned for the next decade in Raigmore, including a potential new build would not be at the expense of state of the art new hospitals in Fort William, Badenoch and Strathspey and on Skye.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch used a debate in the Parliament (09/06/10) to thank those who diligently promote Gaelic and to urge the Government to strengthen Scotland’s oldest language as the Chamber celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.

Mr Thompson said, “I was delighted to deliver my speech to the Parliament in Gaelic as the Chamber celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.