The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

February Column

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Newmachar business centre a great location

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I was delighted to open Enterprise North East Trust's latest Business Centre at Kingseat Newmachar. This is the sixth such centre across the Gordon Westminster seat and hundreds of businesses have been given the chance to get off the ground and grow because of these units.

Newmachar is a brilliant location offering a pleasant rural outlook only minutes from the airport and the neighbouring industrial estates. I am sure that the dozens who attended the enjoyable breakfast opening will have been favourably impressed.

No doubt in the present climate the take-up may be a little slower than usual but once people hear about it I believe it will be a success. After all businesses are being offered business advice and training as well as a reception and other facilities helping new and growing small business create a positive and professional front to the world.

The North East makes a huge positive contribution to the UK economy which is not fully appreciated by either the Scottish or UK Government. Distance form national and international markets and communications and infrastructure difficulties can be a challenge to our businesses.

Nevertheless there is a self reliant entrepreneurial spirit that characterises the North east and I hope in partnership with Enterprise North East these will still flourish through the difficult times ahead.

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Mealy mouthed Government betrays Equitable Life pensioners

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The Government gave the impression that, after eight years, it was, reluctantly giving a begrudging apology to Equitable Life policyholders who had lost out over the company's maladministration.

In reality the Government was rejecting most of the ombudsman's upheld complaints against it, saying that as a mutual society the policy holders were responsible for the company's shortcomings.

There will now be a further long drawn out process of assessing who may be compensated and by how much but the campaign group estimate that ninety percent will receive no compensation leaving 450 to 500 policy holders in Gordon more angry than ever.

Liberal Democrats have sustained the pressure on Government with a series of complaints and questions.

With more and more pension funds being closed or cutting benefits this will do nothing to encourage younger people to buy pensions and will surely create hardship for the future.

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BBC unconvincing over Gaza appeal

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The BBC (and Sky)'s refusal to broadcast the Gaza appeal by the long established British charity coalition DEC has been incoherent and unconvincing.

All conflicts are divisive and controversial and people may well have different views as to which side shares the greatest responsibility.

What is not a matter for debate is that huge destruction has been wrought, people have been injured and many are malnourished, wounded or ill.

All the charities and NGOs are asking is for people to consider sending aid to assist those in distress - as they have done in Darfur, DRC, Burma and elsewhere where the same issues quoted by the BBC could apply.

The BBC's refusal to broadcast may well highlight the appeal and lead to larger donations than would have otherwise been the case but to many including me, the BBC's decision seemed to politicise the dispute more than broadcasting the appeal would have done.

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China may lead on climate change

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I co-chaired and participated in an international dialogue on climate change in Westminster this week. Delegates included scientists, academics and politicians from all over the world including China, Japan Europe, Africa, Canada, Brazil and the USA.

The message was stark. The climate is changing faster than we anticipated and we have very little time to take the action required. It needs something organised like a Marshall plan or an international space mission to mobilise the world.

However, there was some belief that the recession might buy us time and some opportunity if we can 'green' the recovery packages and ensure that resources are directed to energy conservation and alternatives to fossil fuels.

There is some surprising encouragement in that China is mobilising considerable thinking power into devising the means of 'Harmonious development'. This means building in social not just economic indicators into the measurements of progress and finding more sustainable ways of doing things.

For China this is essential as to sustain their growth path of recent years requires three new Saudi Arabias and they patently don't exist.

It is easy to criticise China and grounds for doing so but there is also much we can learn.

The idea that we just have to tighten our belts for a year or two and then we can re-embark on the path of consumerist growth, we were told, is unrealistic. We have to change the way we do things and find new opportunities.

This could be a great opportunity for Scotland and especially the North East.

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Doing my bit for Commonwealth homecoming

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The 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns is the benchmark of Scotland's homecoming. I did my best to stimulate interest in visiting our beautiful country when I presented the Immortal Memory at the Royal Commonwealth Society.

There was a good sprinkling of expatriate Scots but also the Tanzanian and Bahamian High Commissioners and a mix from elsewhere.

Many had not attended a Burns supper before and were favourably impressed by the variety of Burns' works and the richness of the admittedly eccentric culture that characterises a Burns supper.

Some had visited Scotland and vowed to return. Others were motivated to make a date in the diary to head north.

They were surprised to hear a £2 coin has been minted to mark the event and that Burns is the first British poet to appear on a coin of the realm and is being commemorated on our stamps for the third time. Eat your heart out William Shakespeare.