The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

December Column (I)

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

High Speed rail a must for development

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

The Government is currently taking advice on proposals for a high speed rail link from London to what is referred to in metropolitan circles as "The North". At the moment this appears to stop at Manchester. However, I have recently had an opportunity to brief consultants advising the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, and make the case for a high speed line to Scotland.

I can think of no investment that would do more to reduce regional disparities and encourage more balanced development across the UK. In reality Manchester already has a fast rail link so it is only by building a completely new line up the spine of Britain that we can have the capacity and development potential that could transform our economy.

The distance from Paris to Marseille is roughly equivalent to the distance between London and Aberdeen yet the journey time in France is just over three hours compared with seven and a half hours at best for the London- Aberdeen route.

Such a development does not come cheaply but in reality I believe we cannot afford to deny it. If we are going to switch more freight from road to rail and more passengers form air to rail then we will need more capacity than the current network provides and we need it to be high speed.

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

Inept administration failing North East

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

The new financial settlement for Scottish Councils is clear proof that the Scottish administration has mishandled Scotland's finances. Finding themselves unexpectedly running a minority administration the SNP launched a series of populist initiatives including abolishing bridge tolls, freezing the council tax, pledging free school meals, smaller class sizes and free prescriptions for all.

This has proved unsustainable. Promises such as abolishing student debt were abandoned as never deliverable but other commitments are running into the long grass.

Times are difficult and blaming London won't wash, not least because sadly the UK Government has had to find billions to bail out Scotland's biggest banks.

The world has changed and ministers will have to change too. Instead of imposing the delivery of one party's unaffordable manifesto promises ministers should allow local authorities to answer to their own electorates and set the priorities within straightened circumstances that best meet the needs of their own communities.

Beware too the trick of top slicing local government funding and then handing out targeted largesse for political benefit. Local Government needs access to its own tax base to reduce its dependence on centrally controlled grants that are not allocated fairly to councils in the North East.

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

Independence obsession has no mandate

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

The constrained economic times in which we are living make the SNP's obsession with an independence referendum a waste of time and money for which the party has no mandate and has no doubt been the main contributor to the collapse in its support.

The SNP are of course entitled to campaign for independence - that is the sole reason for their existence. However, it is not entitled to impose its minority views against the wishes of the majority.

But what, in my mind undermines the SNP's pretence to be a serious political party is its refusal to engage with others on reforming the constitution in ways which give Scotland more autonomy within the United Kingdom but are then happy to bank the reforms when they emerge.

The SNP boycotted the Scottish Convention and have done the same with the Calman Commission. They were happy then to support the devolution settlement and now they are happy to accept the transfer of further powers over laws and taxes.

I believe the Scottish Parliament should have access to a share of taxes raised in Scotland. This gives the Parliament a stake in growing the tax base - and punishes failure to do so.

But I see no reason why we should be forced to have a costly and distracting referendum on independence when the clear majority of voters have voted for parties that believe that Scotland's future lies within the United Kingdom.

The only rider to this is the position of the Conservatives which looks like a throwback in time. Vote Conservative and they will offer a better reform. We've heard that before and we know what happened, which makes you wonder why the Government won't bring forward the legislation it says it wants.

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

Climate change deal needed at home and abroad

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

World leaders start gathering next week in Copenhagen to see if they can hammer out a deal to tackle climate change. There have been some encouraging noises in recent weeks - notably from China and the United States two of the most key players.

Nevertheless as everyone - large and small countries alike - have to agree it seems more likely that Copenhagen will set out the principles rather than deliver a legally binding agreement in one go.

Developed and emerging economies are the biggest contributors to climate changing emissions yet the biggest victims are the poorest countries who are likely to be opposed to an agreement that doesn't provide them with substantial new funding for adaptation measures and allow them to grow using green technology where possible but without the constraints legitimately put on the main polluting countries.

Floods in the United Kingdom, in Cumbria on an unprecedented scale but also here in Aberdeenshire are clear signs of climate change. The floods followed record rainfall.

This makes the case for a domestic UK climate change fund as, clearly, more resources will be need to deal with flood damage to roads, bridges and property and for new flood prevention measures.

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

North East must keep up with digital age

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

As we move further into the digital age the North East faces in the coming months the need to prepare to switch-over to digital television.

Many of us have already done so, for example, through Sky, Freeview, Freesat and other similar digital providers.

Those who haven't will need to do so before the analogue signal is switched off in 2010.

The reassuring fact is that any TV can receive digital and no special aerial is required although it may need adjusting or in some cases replacing.

Parts of Scotland have already gone digital and it seems to have gone quite smoothly.

For some people a help package is available and more information can be obtained by phoning 08456 505050.