Dave Thompson MSP

Natural Retreats UK has been confirmed as the CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre’s new operator, appointed to run the facilities on a 25 year lease.  The appointment was confirmed by owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Commenting on this Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said: “The CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre is an important feature for locals and visitors alike and is especially significant to local businesses in the tourism sector, particularly in Strathspey.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch attended a Parliamentary Event for Patient Opinion last week. The event was sponsored by Alex Neil (MSP), Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-Being.

Patient Opinion is a non-profit social enterprise whose aim is to use the resources of the internet to make it quick, easy, and safe for patients and carers to give feedback regarding the health service and for providers to respond to and make use of this information for service improvement.

Commenting on the result of today’s mock referendum which was held at Kinlochleven High School, Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said:

“I would like to thank Mr John McGilp, the teachers and pupils of Kinlochleven High School for allowing me to be a part of today’s mock referendum.  It was very good to get the young people of Kinlochleven High School involved in the democratic process in the run up to the Referendum.

“I would particularly like to give my thanks to senior pupils Owen Smith and Rowena MacIntosh for their part in the debate process in supporting the Yes vote.

“A lot of pupils voted Yes to Scotland’s Independence, and although today’s result went in favour of the Better Together campaign, I believe that the final result is all to play for and that on September 18th, the people of Scotland will vote Yes and once again, Scotland will be an independent nation.”

Dear Sir

Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs)

I refer to the article by Mike Russell and the editorial concerning the new Skye hospitals, WHFP 21st March, in which it was reported that an NHS official stated that they would be funded through Private Finance Initiatives.  However, such initiatives have been replaced in Scotland by the new Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) model, which despite its name, caps profits to the private sector.

WHFP

Dear Sir

I refer to the article by Mike Russell and the editorial concerning the new Skye hospitals, WHFP 21st March, in which it was reported that an NHS official stated that they would be funded through Private Finance Initiatives. However, such initiatives have been replaced in Scotland by the new Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) model, which despite its name, caps profits to the private sector.

The scheme is administered by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT). This was established in 2008 and introduced as an alternative to the grossly expensive Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and Public Private Partnerships (PPP) which were introduced by the Conservatives and continued by Labour and are still in use in the rest of the UK.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has today unequivocally condemned the poisoning of 13 and possibly more raptors around Conon Bridge and Muir of Ord.

Dave said. “This is appalling news, these are beautiful creatures.

"A while back I visited the Tollie Red Kite Centre on the Brahan Estate and I feel for the folk there that possibly birds that they know and love are now victim’s of this senseless crime.

Attempts to steal the limelight 'a bitter pill to swallow'

Attempts by Danny Alexander to take credit for additional flights between Inverness and Gatwick have been branded a “bitter pill to swallow” after the Chief Secretary to the Treasury’s continued support for deeply damaging Air Passenger Duty.

In 2013 Flybe announced it was ending its routes from Inverness to London Gatwick, blaming the cost of Westminster’s Air Passenger Duty as a key factor and sparking fears that the vital transport link for the Highlands would be lost.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has today (Monday 24th March) welcomed the result from the whole-school referendum that was held by Plockton High School

Mr Thompson attended the school on Monday 17th March for a Referendum Debate, speaking in favour of Scottish Independence, while Labour MSP Rhoda Grant gave the case for a “No” vote.

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch welcomed Down’s Syndrome Scotland yesterday (Thursday 20th March) at the Scottish Parliament. The charity, which supports people with Down’s syndrome, their families and professionals, held an information session for MSPs to highlight Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week (17th to 23rd March 2014) and the United Nations World Down’s Syndrome Day (Friday 21st March).

Mr Thompson welcomed the chance to learn more about Down’s syndrome to better support constituents living in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch. The event provided an opportunity for MSPs to discuss with Down’s Syndrome Scotland the interests and concerns of people with Down’s syndrome. Kim Scott, who has Down’s syndrome and is a speaker for Down’s Syndrome Scotland, talked about her work with the charity.

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has added his voice to the Scottish Crofting Federation to respond to the CAP consultation by the extended deadline of 28th March.

Dave said, “I have made a number of interventions urging the Government to tailor the new CAP scheme so that the crofting way of life is further supported. However, the best response is for as many crofters as possible to put their thoughts in to the consultation.

Dave Thompson MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch issues his mould breaking  referendum survey result and signals his hope to represent Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch in the first Independent Scottish Parliament in 309 years.

Dave Thompson sought permission from the Scottish Parliament to issue impartial questionnaires to his constituents.

His office distributed approximately 1300 of these randomly across the constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch in early January 2014.