Mid-July Column

Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Wed 18th Jul 2007

****************************************************************************************************

Loss of energy institute a hammer blow

****************************************************************************************************

The decision to award the leadership of Scotland's bid to host the UK Energy Technology Institute to Strathclyde instead of Aberdeen is not just disappointing. It fails to recognise Aberdeen's role as a global centre for energy technologies. It is a hammer blow to Aberdeen's reputation as Energy Capital of Europe and is likely to weaken the chances of the institute coming to Scotland at all.

I had a briefing up-date on progress on Aberdeen's bid last week and it seemed clear to me that we were able to offer an iconic building at Aberdeen beach and more than 800 companies who could be both beneficiaries and contributors to 21st century energy research.

The outcome seems to be another example of the central belt pulling weight in much the same way as happened in the early days of oil development when the British National Oil Corporation and the Offshore Supplies Office were set up illogically and inefficiently in Glasgow.

The Scottish bid now has to go head to head with four English bidders led respectively by Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield Universities. Division and resentment within Scotland may compromise our chances but there would still be benefits to Aberdeen in winning some research contracts - especially if the private sector partners can see the benefit.

I accept that the evaluation of how the Scottish bid should be structured was carried out by a committee of civil servants and academics but the fact that that would inevitably favour the central belt was predictable and presumably why the final decision required ministerial confirmation.

I would have thought that Alex Salmond, having seen the rug pulled from BP's carbon capture project at Peterhead might have been minded to intervene to give Aberdeen a deserved opportunity to secure the ETI. It appears ministers passed on the committee's representations without comment.

****************************************************************************************************

North East losing out on commuter rail services

****************************************************************************************************

Once again the North East did not feature in the High Level Output Statement of the Strategic Transport Review of railway upgrades planned for the next five years. Substantial pressure has been brought to bear to develop a commuter service between Inverurie and Aberdeen with new stations at Kintore and Kittybrewster.

Finance Secretary, John Swinney, said of the proposals announced last week, "Easing the commute between Scotland's cities and towns is a key objective of this new government" Yet all the projects announced are in the south of Scotland.

I have called on Transport Secretary, Stuart Stevenson, to add the necessary upgrades of the Aberdeen-Inverness line to the programme, reminding him that the development of the commuter service was an integral part of the package which includes the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route to ensure this was not just a new road but included a significant public transport option.

I had a meeting last week with Network Rail to clarify what is required to deliver the improved service. Basically if everything was put in place to enable faster and more frequent services along the Aberdeen to Inverness line with commuter options at both ends, we would need five new passing loops at a total cost of between £60 and £70 million.

This is a small sum compared with the total capital allocation of £3.6 billion. The North East deserves no less.

****************************************************************************************************

Why Olympic pool should be affordable

****************************************************************************************************

I have written a few times in this column about the North East champion swimmers and the enormous dedication they show. It is on their behalf and the many other who swim competitively that I have called for a fifty metre pool for the North East.

I was delighted when Aberdeen City set aside £6.5 million for the project and indicated that they could work in partnership with Aberdeen University. Labour and Liberal Democrats Ministers also offered backing in principle.

I was therefore astonished that the new sports minister, Stuart Maxwell said that the Aberdeen proposal was unaffordable claiming that Sport Scotland did not have the funding. That is clearly true but that only emphasises the case that public funding for sports development in Scotland is totally inadequate.

What incenses me is that Glasgow could be getting two pools and Edinburgh is getting £4 million towards upgrading the Commonwealth Pool at Meadowbank. Yet we have world class swimmers such as David Carry and Hannah Miley and a rising group of dedicated young swimmers who have to make round trips of two to three hundred miles to get access to a 50 metre pool.

Gordon Brown claims that Britain could be a world leader in sport. Well that is idle chatter if we not deliver the investment - and that doesn't mean just Olympic facilities but pools, gymnastics halls, playing fields and all weather facilities for every community.

By definition, only the elite will compete in the Olympics but they are the apex of a pyramid of dedicated, fit youngsters. Let's fight to get the right investment.

****************************************************************************************************

North East deserves priority for schools upgrade

****************************************************************************************************

Yet again the North East appeared in a bad light on a national list of school conditions. We have more than our fair share of poor condition schools. Anyone who visits local schools regularly as I do will be aware of the backlog of repairs and upgrades needed.

They will also be aware that the fabric of the school does not determine its character and its quality and that most of them deliver a good education and exude a positive atmosphere.

Of course, the capital programme has not stagnated. We have a new secondary school at Oldmeldrum where the primary has also been extended. We have new primary schools at Rothienorman, Kintore and Strathburn, Inverurie.

Much more needs to be done and Aberdeenshire Council has, I understand a programme of replacements and improvements it wants to implement.

The outgoing executive was expected to allocate more funds or at least borrowing consents for the school building programme. It must not be long before the new executive announces something similar.

On the evidence published of school conditions across Scotland, it is clear that Aberdeenshire needs to be top of the list with the city not far behind.

****************************************************************************************************

Keep planning gain local

****************************************************************************************************

In his foretaste of the Queen's Speech (is there any point in her turning up?) Gordon Brown announced plans for consolidating planning gain.

This is a murky area where developers in exchange for planning permission undertake to contribute to funding community projects. It is not a very transparent process and not everyone can see where the benefit is being provided.

Legislating to make the process more open might be a good idea but not if it means diverting the money away from the local authorities to the national exchequer.

That would leave fast growing areas like ours having to find more resources in their overstretched budget to meet essential community needs.

Whatever else happens planning gain must remain local. Anything else is just a central government grab.

****************************************************************************************************

Airport security measures to be made permanent

****************************************************************************************************

The recent attempted terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport highlighted the issues of airport security and led to emergency measures at Aberdeen Airport.

As the MP for the Airport and a regular passenger through it I am naturally concerned to ensure that we have the maximum level of security compatible with the effective working of the airport.

The two visible measures where the appearance of unsightly and in the long term unsuitable concrete blocks and the diversion of pick up and set down traffic away from the forecourt and through the car park.

I am advised that this new arrangement along with a number of other security measures will soon be made permanent.

The concrete blocks will be replaced by more suitable crash barriers and the pick up set down arrangements for the car park will be made permanent. Extra car parking capacity will also be provide with the addition of a top deck. We all hope that these measures will provide the necessary security with the least disruption.

Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

brucem@parliament.uk

Tel. 0207 2196233