The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

March Column

Fair Trade town status for Ellon

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Last week's well attended launch of the campaign to make Ellon a Fair Trade town was both enjoyable and informative. There is no doubt that a first hand account of how fair trade helped beekeepers in Chile gave a direct appeal to the process.

Celia Gonzalez & Chino Henriques were great ambassadors for their country and advocates of the power of co-operatives which made hundreds of small beekeepers into a significant honey producer called Apico-op able to bring honey to the tables of Ellon and, perhaps more significantly as a major ingredient in Traidcraft's Geobars.

This is not charity but a partnership that gives small producers in developing countries access to our markets at fair and stable prices. They are also given advice on quality control and marketing which boosts their income and their self-confidence.

In turn it enables individuals here in the UK who want to provide constructive help to alleviating poverty to do so by seeking out these quality products. This is not charity. It is commercial business.

Nevertheless, having just returned from Africa I have come from communities which are too poor to produce any products that can reach our markets. These people need a variety of measures, including an end to unfair subsidies by the EU and the USA, improved infrastructure lower internal tariffs and help with quality and irrigation.

Ending poverty is a long term project, which requires a variety of measures by the international community, the developing countries themselves and individuals. It will not be achieved overnight but fair trade campaigns do make a small but worthwhile contribution and I applaud those in Ellon who are bringing fair trade products to the town and encourage people to look out for them and buy them.

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Celebrating Aberdeenshire's Commonwealth success

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The Commonwealth games have been a dominant feature of the Bruce household in the past couple of weeks with my young brood delighted to cheer on Scotland's team and celebrate the medal winners.

To be fair, where there are no Scots in the finals they are happy to support England and after that anyone who takes their fancy.

Special congratulations to shooting gold medallist, Sheena Sharp of Huntly and well done Hannah Miley from Inverurie who narrowly missed out on a medal in the individual medley swimming.

It is partly recognition of her commitment that makes me support the campaign for a 50-metre pool in the North East which would enable our talented swimmers to train properly and avoid so many long distance trips to use an Olympic sized pool. I have no doubt that Hannah will go from strength to strength and may be in contention for medals at Beijng.

Well done also Peter Nicol who won squash gold for England. SportScotland may not have backed him but he was given the freedom of Aberdeenshire. I don't blame him for switching allegiance after the English sports authorities backed him when ours were given the chance to do so and wouldn't.

And well done David Carry for two Scots gold medals in the pool that should earn him the freedom of Aberdeen.

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A close call in the House of Commons

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Voting in the House of Commons is getting evermore bizarre. Having suffered recent defeats the Government has sought to avoid further embarrassment. Last week it did so by relying on the Conservatives to get the Education Bill through its Second Reading.

This they may both come to regret. The Tories are likely to prove unreliable bedfellows and could cause embarrassment as the bill passes. To the extent that education in England is an issue at the next election both parties may get the blame.

Knowing that the bill would get a whopping majority it was easy for Scotland's sole Tory to stay out of the lobbies. Things might be different if the votes become closer.

The SNP abstained on the Second Reading knowing their votes were irrelevant and then voted against the programme motion because they thought it would be close. Not a consistent principle. In the event the Government's motion was carried by 10 compared with 343 for the Bill.

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Sad news of Margaret Ewing

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I was saddened to learn of the death of Margaret Ewing who has been a major figure in Scottish politics for more than thirty years. She first entered the House of Commons as Margaret Bain in 1974 for the predecessor Dunbartonshire constituency now held by Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson.

Having lost that seat she subsequently re-entered the House for Moray (previously held by her mother in law, Winnie Ewing). Naturally, she transferred to the Scottish Parliament but I can say that both in Westminster as neighbours with shared interests and subsequently when we shared representation of Moray when Keith and Strathisla were included in Gordon, she was always courteous, good humoured and thinking of the interests of her constituents first.

I realise that she has endured a long illness with courage and dignity and I extend my sympathies to her family who will miss her greatly.

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Archaeolink

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Visiting Oyne last week I made a visit to Archaeolink, which my daughter visited with her school a few months ago. Despite adverse publicity which does affect visitor numbers, it is clear that the centre has an increasing educational role. It is popular with schools from far and wide and also attracts academic interest.

To those who are critical but have never visited I urge you to go and make your own judgment - especially as new projectors mean that the film will be on view again.

It is true that the promise of the centre as a tourist attraction has not been fulfilled but that was poured over and endorsed by Scottish Enterprise and the European Commission. It has been a success in bringing history to life for thousands of children and may still be an important part of the attractions that bring people to the North East and keep them here.

I was particularly impressed by the ambitious plans for the next door attraction Touched by Scotland that has in two short years created a commercial showcase for Aberdeenshire and Scottish crafts.

They are preparing to build a much larger gallery, restaurant and workshops that will have the world beating a path to their door anxious to share in the wonderful variety of magnificent works on show.

There is scope for real synergy between these two different projects if only the right working arrangements could be devised

I hope that the trustees of Archaeolink and Aberdeenshire Council as they consider the future can find a solution that will work.