Dave Thompson MSP

Since writing my last article, Parliament is now in recess. I am back home in Inverness and have been able to get out and about, going to various Games round the Highlands at Lochcarron, Strathconon, Portree and Strathpeffer.

I also attended the Black Isle Show and what a great day that was. The weather was kind too for both humans and livestock and the highlight had to be the camel racing. I met lots of folk including the Scottish Crofting Foundation, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and NFUS. We talked about lots of issues including the new branding for crofting produce, the new tenants guide, rural housing and planning rules, nitrate vulnerable zones, LFASS payments, and the "What's on your plate" campaign.

The need to ensure a strong farming sector has been highlighted only this week in the dairy sector with a reported shortage of milk because of a growing demand in China and elsewhere. This is a wake up call, if it were needed, that we take our food production for granted at our peril.

Foot and Mouth has since cast a big dark shadow over agriculture and I sincerely hope that it has been contained so that we can get back to business as soon as possible. The easing of restrictions in Scotland, allowing animals to go to the abattoirs and movements within the Island groups is to be welcomed and it is to be hoped that the Minister, Richard Lochhead, will be able to announce further relaxations soon.

On a lighter note, the First Minister, Alex Salmond, officially opened my offices at Thorfin House in Dingwall on 23 July. I was delighted that Alex found time in his busy diary to come to the first SNP MSP's offices in Dingwall.

After the opening ceremony, many of us travelled north to Helmsdale where Alex unveiled the emigrants' statue. It is a most beautiful statue, 10 foot high made of bronze of a family group, commissioned by the Clearances Centre and created by Black Isle sculptor Gerald Laing. Although a very sad piece of our history we must  acknowledge the way these emigrants left Scotland and took their skills, their strength, their stories and their music across the seas and shared them around the world. Not only did they make a better life for themselves but for generations to come.

The apparent endless rain over the last few months does get you down but I trust that many of you will get away for a holiday and enjoy a rest and hopefully better weather. I have had a short break and am now getting down to visits around the Highlands, to individuals and events and trying to resolve many items of casework.

One subject, which keeps recurring in correspondence from both constituents and small businesses throughout the Highlands, is the lack of broadband, or broadband which is too slow for a busy and expanding business. I am in correspondence with both BT and the Minister and, hopefully, a successful outcome will be achieved for all. We most certainly do not wish this to be the reason for another type of clearances; the last thing I wish to see are businesses leave the Highlands because they feel they can no longer expand as quickly as they wish or not to invest in the Highlands at all.

While the lack of good affordable housing is a huge issue for the Highlands, good full time permanent jobs are just as important, particularly in the small more remote communities. If you are experiencing problems with broadband or simply cannot obtain broadband I would be very grateful if you would contact my office in Dingwall or e-mail me on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I would very much like to know the full extent of the problem and to establish the black spots wherever they are. I am sure the results will prove interesting.