The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

New Year message

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2008 - My Jubilee Year

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2008 is my jubilee year marking the 25th anniversary of my election as MP for Gordon. The first 'jubilee' event is speaking to Huntly Rotary Club.

For longer than anyone can remember it has been the tradition for the local MP to address the club in the first meeting of the New Year and I have fulfilled that role without fail since 1984 the year after I was elected in June 1983.

This year I will inevitably highlight some of the highlights and lowlights of the last 25 years as well as the prospects for next year.

As this year's dinner is being held at the Huntly Mart agriculture will be appropriately highlighted including the campaign to ensure that Huntly continued to have its own mart after ANM decided to close the previous one.

The low point of the past 25 years was clearly the impact of BSE and the ban on beef exports, the imposition of the 30 month rule and cattle movement restrictions. More than 1000 people were laid off across Gordon in a matter of days and farmers were left with animals eating their heads off with no market for them.

It took years to recover from BSE and replace export markets.

Yet farmers have been faced with further costly restrictions as a result of foot and mouth outbreaks this year with insult added to injury with a Government research centre being responsible.

During this time we saw the final demise of the Spence mill after several attempts to revive its fortunes. Now this iconic building is the home of the prestigious Douglas Forrest architectural practice and Huntly Business Centre.

Dean's Shortbread has grown from a small family business to one of the town's major employers and a real attraction with the opening of the new visitors' centre.

RB Farquhar has relocated its manufacturing base to the Czech Republic although it still retains its business headquarters in the town and is seeking to redevelop the site.

The closure of a number of traditional shops - notably Boyds - has been a disappointment to many. Town centres are always changing. The opening of not one but two supermarkets has been controversial.

Nevertheless this and further house building demonstrate Huntly is an expanding market and residential town drawing business from and servicing markets from Aberdeen to Inverness and beyond. This is probably its future destiny.

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Seasonal transport blues

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It seems that transport issues are always to the fore around Christmas and New Year. People are travelling to family reunions yet travel is often disrupted or limited.

This year Heathrow was fogbound (again); there was a limited rail service between Aberdeen and Inverness (even though Thursday and Friday were working days) leaving people abandoned on the platform and unable to get to work.

BAA workers are threatening strikes which could close or disrupt six airports including Aberdeen. Here in the North East such disruption is particularly problematic as the alternatives are so inadequate - the best part of eight hours by train and more than 10 hours by road to reach London and the south east of England.

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Christmas in hospital for our boy

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Christmas in our household took an emergency turn this year as our little boy woke up screaming with a stomach pain. After a call to G-DOCS and two visits to Aboyne hospital he was referred to the children's hospital in Aberdeen where he received very personal attention.

He was clearly in pain and distressed, with his stomach knotted hard and naturally we were all thinking he may have appendicitis. He was given painkillers and after a sleep he relaxed and it was concluded that he had some viral infection which he had tensed himself against hence the pain.

So after a few hours and close attention (including an extra visit from Santa) he was allowed home in the evening. He and his mum missed Christmas dinner but of course we were all pleased that the worst fears did not materialise.

Thanks to the diligence and attention of the doctors and staff at Aboyne and the Children's Hospital, he seems fully recovered now.

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Scotland plays major role in delivery of UK aid

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As the UK moves towards its commitment of giving 0.7 per cent of our GDP to overseas aid and development, Scotland is playing an increasingly important role. This year's aid budget is well over £5billion and it will rise to over £8billion in the next three years.

Not many people realise that around 580 people, almost half of the UK staff of the Department for International Development, are based in Scotland at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride.

There are also many Scots around the world working in country programmes in about 65 countries where the Department for International Development operates.

It is absolutely clear that this is an area where the UK is a world leader. Britain is the third largest bilateral donor in the world after Japan and the USA and is the biggest donor to the World Bank's International Development Agenda.

The UK's priority is to reduce poverty rather than advance the UK's commercial or political interests - an example that relatively few other countries follow.

This is one area where Scotland can clearly be proud to be British and be involved in delivering aid and development through one of the most effective agencies in the world.

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New Year chance to visit family - and for fireworks!

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Having spent Christmas at home we spent New Year down south as we wanted to visit my eldest son and his wife who are expecting twins any day soon.

Although they are very much looking for a chance to move back to Scotland they are currently living near Cambridge and because of the impending birth we have not seen them for a couple of months.

They have been told the babies are both boys but not identical. Meanwhile they are planning good Scots names for them.

While we are all in the south, it is also an opportunity for the children to watch the New Year firework display over the Thames which take place just outside my office window.

It's a long way to go and normally we would prefer to stay at home, but this year it is clearly easier for us to travel.

I hope you and yours have a happy and prosperous New Year.