Latest News –  Martin Whitfield MSP

A new campaign led by the energy sector Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) Taskforce and overseen by Ofgem has been launched to highlight the urgent need for RTS customers to book the installation of a new meter as soon as their energy supplier contacts them. The campaign explains what the RTS service is and how households and businesses can identify if they have an RTS meter. It also outlines the potential consequences of not upgrading, including possible disruption to heating and hot water, and higher energy bills. If you have not yet heard about the RTS switch-off, Ofgem has a short [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP is encouraging primary schools across South Scotland and beyond to participate in VoiceBox 2025 – a national joke-telling competition for primary schools. Mr Whitfield attended the launch of this year's competition which took place at Cockenzie Primary School, home of last year’s winner, Gordon Moodie. On the first day of joke-telling, competitions will take place across Scotland as schools select their entries to be put forward for this year’s final, organised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). VoiceBox is a celebration of the critical role communication plays in children’s development. It showcases the [...]

This Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (20-26 January), The Eve Appeal is sharing advice and tips on you can ask for during cervical screening tests. The charity's YouGov survey found that one in two women were not aware they could ask the nurse or doctor to stop at any point during their screening. One in four were not aware they could ask for a smaller speculum, and one in 10 were not aware they could book a double appointment or could ask for a different position. The Eve Appeal is sharing tips like these on our social channels throughout the week. [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP is calling on local grassroots organisations to consider applying for new grant funding opportunities from Asda’s charity, the Asda Foundation. The Asda Foundation has announced up to £500,000 of funding to help transform and improve community spaces across the UK. Grants awarded will be worth between £500 and £3,000 and are aimed at helping grassroots groups improve or transform their local outdoor community spaces. Funding can be used to transform an outdoor area, create or enhance community growing projects, and enable community clean ups. Martin Whitfield MSP said: “The Asda Foundation has been supporting people in local communities [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has warned the Scottish Government is presiding over “a decade of decline” of childminding in Scotland as new figures show numbers halving. The number of childminders in Scotland has plummeted by 49 per cent between 2012 and 2023 – a drop of more than 3,000. This figure has fallen for seven consecutive years, dropping by 8 per cent between 2022 and 2023 alone. Mr Whitfield warned that this decline risks doing lasting damage to childcare services in Scotland.   Overall the capacity in Scottish early learning and childcare fell between 2022 and 2023. Martin Whitfield MSP said: “The [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has warned that people in East Lothian and other parts of South Scotland are being “priced out” of the housing market as one in four Scots say they cannot afford to move. The most recent Scottish Household Survey has revealed a sharp rise in the proportion of Scots unable to move to their accommodation of choice because they cannot afford the rent or mortgage. In 2019, just 13 per cent of respondents said being unable to afford the rent or mortgage was a barrier to moving, but by 2023 this figure had jumped to 24 per cent. [...]