Dear Constituent,
At the 2003 Scottish Parliament elections, only 35% of eligible 18-24 year olds voted, and the overall turnout was 49% - 10% down on 1999.
Voting in the elections next year is a major opportunity to have your say on the things that matter to you and your family, but you can't vote unless you are registered - so make sure your name is on the electoral register. You can find out if you are registered by calling my office, and if you are not I will send you a form to get your name added.
The Scottish Executive and the Electoral Commission have launched
a campaign to inform people about next May's elections.
The VoteScotland campaign is targeted at all eligible voters, particularly
those who are less likely to register or vote, such as young people, some
ethnic minority communities, and people who have moved house over the
past few years.
A new website has been set up to encourage people to register and vote at next year's elections. It also explains the new single transferable vote (STV) system that will be used for local elections, where voters put candidates in order of preference, marking them 1, 2, 3 (etc) on the ballot paper. The website can be accessed at www.votescotland.com
Note that the Scottish Parliament will continue to use the Additional Member System, with one vote for your constituency MSP, and another by party for regional list members.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about registration or voting systems - or any other issue!
Best wishes,
Cathy
Forth Valley shows the way ...
Recognising the excellence of the local Hope Project and the Forth Valley Signpost Initiative, Scottish Ministers chose Bo'ness to launch the first set of national quality standards for substance misuse services in Scotland.
... all the way to Holyrood
And as an alternative to the Minister visiting you, why not go to see the Minister?
Cathy has organised numerous meetings in the Scottish Parliament for local and national campaigns, helping them to get their message across to MSPs.
Recent examples include Bo'ness Means Business and the Friends of Kinneil going to Holyrood to discuss the importance of the varied and extensive heritage of Bo'ness; and helping foster carers to explain their needs and give MSPs the benefit of their experiences.
Setting
up an exhibition in Holyrood's Garden Lobby is a good way of getting to
speak to politicians - they have to walk past your stall when going to
and from their offices! Braveheart, whose Falkirk members are talking
to Andy Kerr (right) and the Bo'ness based Vine Trust have both taken
up Cathy's offer to sponsor an exhibition.
Cathy has also extended her helping hand to many national organisations, such as Carers Scotland, and at the beginning of December, to the STUC Trade Union Week events in the parliament.
Transport
Good
news on freight transport: Grangemouth is helping to expand environmentally
friendly rail and sea transport.
And on public transport, where we now have the Scotland wide concessionary bus travel scheme that Cathy argued for in the Scottish Parliament.
But many transport issues remain. For road users there are safety concerns. Cathy has called on the local council to review its speed limits in the light of new guidance, prioritising accident black spots and other roads that the public has identified as accidents waiting to happen.
"I've also been campaigning to protect and improve commuter services to Edinburgh, for better evening services in rural areas, against the withdrawal of rail concessions, and against the discriminatory prices inflicted on local rail users," said Cathy.
"It's not all the bus and rail companies' fault. Some responsibilities lie with Falkirk Council. There needs to be more consultation with local communities about their transport needs, and less trying to shift blame onto others."
Disability Inquiry
The Equal Opportunities Committee has now finished
a wide ranging and in depth inquiry into the barriers to participation
facing disabled people. The Inquiry has concentrated on work, further
and higher education, and leisure activities.
"We spoke to people throughout Scotland," said Cathy, who is the Convener of the committee, "and on the basis of our very comprehensive investigation, we are making many recommendations for measures that could make a big difference to the lives of disabled people."
Scottish Culture & Media
Cathy is also Convener of the Cross Party Group on Culture and Media. Following a successful meeting as part of the Festival of Politics, the group recently turned its attention to the move to all-digital television.
"When analogue TV is switched off, there could be new Scottish and local TV stations," said Cathy, "but we need to ensure options are kept open. Broadcasting may be reserved, but the impact on our culture and our economy are not. MSPs need to make their voices heard on this issue."