Former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dunfermline
27/06/2012
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has restated his calls for Scotland to have its own voice in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) negotiations in Europe, after a highly respected agricultural expert put forward the case at last weekend’s Royal Highland Show.
Brian Pack, former Senior Agricultural Economist with the North of Scotland College of Agriculture, had argued during Farmer’s Question Time that: Read more of this post
26/06/2012
MSP for Dunfermline Bill Walker has welcomed an announcement made this afternoon that Tory Chancellor George Osborne has dropped his unpopular plans for a three-pence fuel increase. The price hike was due to hit consumers in August.
Mr Walker said: “This latest U-turn will be a relief for already hard-pressed motorists and for businesses struggling with the current sky-high fuel prices. Read more of this post
26/06/2012
A ground-breaking survey by Dunfermline-based Carnegie UK Trust into students’ attitudes to enterprise has been welcomed by Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker.
1,600 further education students aged 16-21 were quizzed, and the findings published in a study titled Enterprising Minds. Read more of this post
26/06/2012
That the Parliament extends its warmest congratulations to the Scotland rugby team on completing its South Pacific tour with successive victories over Australia, Fiji and Samoa; understands that Scotland was the only European team to maintain a 100% record in recent games in the southern hemisphere and that these victories were all achieved in thoroughly adverse weather conditions; compliments the team on what it understands are the positive contacts it makes with schools and communities wherever it has played, and extends its best wishes to the players in preparing for the next season’s Six Nations Championship.
Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, Maureen Watt, Richard Lyle, Kenneth Gibson, Dave Thompson, Colin Keir, Stuart McMillan
Date Lodged: 25/06/2012
26/06/2012
That the Parliament congratulates the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on what it sees as his popular pastoral visit to Scotland and extends to him its best wishes in spreading his message of human harmony, freedom and peace throughout the world.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Kenneth Gibson, Kevin Stewart, Colin Keir, Stuart McMillan
Date Lodged: 25/06/2012
25/06/2012
That the Parliament congratulates Dunfermline, the home of the world’s first Carnegie public library, on figures compiled by the online retailer Amazon that put it at the top of a list of Scotland’s most well-read towns and cities; understands that Amazon, which is a major employer in the Dunfermline area, came to this conclusion after analysing its sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle formats since June 2011; notes that Amazon has placed Dunfermline in the top five UK towns and cities with the highest number of book downloads per head, and believes that future competition for this title from other areas of Scotland would help raise standards of literacy throughout the country.
Supported by: Stuart McMillan, Colin Beattie, Richard Lyle, Kenneth Gibson, Maureen Watt
Date Lodged: 20/06/2012
19/06/2012
That the Parliament congratulates the Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on finally being able to collect her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, an award that was made 21 years ago; considers that modest steps have been taken in Burma toward political reform through her personal sacrifices, and supports Dr Suu Kyi and the people of Burma in striving for freedom and fully democratic structures in their country.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Hanzala Malik, John Mason, Fiona McLeod, Colin Beattie, Kenneth Gibson, Humza Yousaf, Kevin Stewart, Christine Grahame, Chic Brodie, Angus MacDonald, Paul Wheelhouse, Margaret Burgess, Mike MacKenzie, Maureen Watt, Stuart McMillan, Colin Keir
Date Lodged: 18/06/2012
19/06/2012
That the Parliament congratulates The Robertson Trust on publishing its 50th anniversary report, 50 Years of Giving 1961-2011; understands that this independent grant-making trust donates to a wide range of charitable projects across Scotland, with priority areas including care, health, education and training, and community art and sport; welcomes confirmation that The Robertson Trust has, to date, awarded approximately £125 million to charities across Scotland; further welcomes confirmation that in 2011-12 the Trust awarded £14.6 million, including £173,675 in Fife, and wishes The Robertson Trust many more years of charitable giving.
Supported by: Colin Beattie, Fiona McLeod, Richard Lyle, Graham Dey, Mike MacKenzie
Date Lodged: 15/06/2012
18/06/2012
That the Parliament wishes the participants and organisers of Dunfermline Children’s Gala a happy gala day on 23 June 2012; understands that the Dunfermline Children’s Gala, which organisers say is the largest and oldest in Scotland, first took place in 1902 and can draw crowds of around 15,000 people to watch over 3,000 primary school children parade through the city centre from East Port to Pittencrieff Park; notes that the entertainment over the years has included Chinese dragons, juggling unicyclists, a giant caterpillar, stilt-walkers, acrobats and pirates and that this year the gala will have an Olympics theme, billed as the Galympics, and believes that the organisers of Dunfermline Children’s Gala should be praised for their dedication in ensuring that this annual event remains a vibrant celebration and a vital part of Dunfermline’s heritage.
Supported by: Colin Beattie, Stuart McMillan, Richard Lyle, Kenneth Gibson, Mike MacKenzie
Date Lodged: 14/06/2012
15/06/2012
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has welcomed the publication of The Robertson Trust’s 50th anniversary report, along with confirmation that the Trust has donated almost £45,000 to projects in Dunfermline over the last 12 months.
The independent grant-making Trust funds a wide range of charitable projects across Scotland, with priority areas including care, health, education and training, and community art and sport. Read more of this post
14/06/2012
Following my expulsion pending appeal from the SNP in April 2012, my appeal has not yet been heard.
In light of events, I have agreed with the SNP Appeals Committee that the process of my appeal should be put on hold until the conclusion of any possible court proceedings.
As matters are now in the hands of the judicial system, I can make no further comment at this stage
14/06/2012
Following recent press publicity concerning my former marriages, I was pleased to be interviewed by police on Wednesday and cooperated fully with their enquiries. Contrary to some media reports (not the Dunfermline Press), I was not arrested at home but attended Glenrothes Police Station for an interview.
For the past few months I have been subjected to a campaign of gossip, innuendo and salacious allegations, and therefore welcome the opportunity I might now have to state my side of the case in possible Court proceedings, which I am confident will clear me of any wrongdoing. Read more of this post
14/06/2012
A new website called Yes Scotland has launched, which is filled with information about how an independent Scotland would work.
The site — a collaboration between a variety of pro-Independence groups — also contains insights from people across Scottish society, including the business community, about why they believe Independence is the path to a better, fairer and more prosperous Scotland. Read more of this post
14/06/2012
A bid will be made for the Forth Bridge to gain UNESCO World Heritage Site status, after the Bridge topped a Tentative List of 11 UK nominations. If the bid is successful, the rail bridge will become Scotland’s sixth World Heritage Site — a great boost for Fife in terms of prestige and tourism.
I believe this recognition has been a long time coming. The Forth Bridge is famous around the world as an icon of Scotland and of pioneering Scottish engineering. We should never forget that it was designed and built without the benefit of computer-aided design and manufacturing, or so many of the methods we now take for granted. Read more of this post
13/06/2012
Scotland’s “largest and oldest” gala takes place on Saturday, 23rd June. The annual Dunfermline Children’s Gala, which began in 1902, can be expected to draw crowds of around 15,000 people to watch over 3,000 primary school children parade through the city centre.
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker said: “Over the years, the Dunfermline Gala has grown in popularity and is once again flourishing, thanks to the huge efforts of organisers, volunteers and sponsors. Read more of this post
13/06/2012
Ambitious student Lauren Mason, from Dunfermline, is no stranger to taking the initiative. After spending the last 12 months volunteering as an intern for MSP Bill Walker, the self-motivated 17-year old is now opting to spend her summer holidays taking a Social Sciences course in Aberdeen—in preparation for a degree in Politics and International Relations. Read more of this post
08/06/2012
Following recent press publicity against me, I was pleased to be interviewed by police on Wednesday and cooperated fully with their enquiries.
For the past few months I have been subjected to a campaign of gossip, innuendo and salacious allegations, and therefore welcome the opportunity I might now have to state my side of the case in possible court proceedings, which I am confident will clear me of any wrongdoing.
There are serious questions to be put to those accusing me, but this will be done in the proper legal forum. I look forward to facing my accusers in Court. Obviously, as these matters are now in the hands of the judicial system, there will be no further comment by me.
In the interim, I shall continue to serve the interests of my constituents as MSP for Dunfermline.
07/06/2012
That the Parliament congratulates Charlie Allan of Kincardine on Charlie’s Army, a programme airing on STV, which documents many of the events in what it sees as Charlie’s fascinating life; understands that Charlie founded Clanranald, of which he is clan chief, that he is a member of the internationally successful heavy metal bagpipe band, Saor Patrol, and that he has acted in the Hollywood blockbusters, Gladiator and Robin Hood, alongside his friend, the actor, Russell Crowe, and wishes Charlie every success with Duncarron, the medieval fortified village outside Stirling that he is building as an educational facility for schools and as a social enterprise venture for volunteers and unemployed people.
Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, Richard Lyle, Kevin Stewart
Date Lodged: 31/05/2012
31/05/2012
That the Parliament notes that the Forth Bridge has been selected as the first of only two UK sites to be submitted for UNESCO World Heritage Site status after the iconic bridge topped the recent UK tentative list of 11 proposed sites; considers that the Forth Bridge is recognised around the world as an emblem of Scotland and of pioneering Scottish engineering and thus richly deserves World Heritage Site status; notes that the Forth Bridge was designed and built generations before the advent of computer-aided design and manufacturing; believes that World Heritage Site status would be a tribute to everyone who has worked on the Forth Bridge over its 130-year history, particularly to the 73 men who died building it, and eagerly anticipates the announcement expected in 2015 as to whether World Heritage Site status will be granted.
Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, Kevin Stewart, Fiona McLeod, Liz Smith, Richard Lyle, David Torrance, John Mason, Stuart McMillan
Date Lodged: 30/05/2012
30/05/2012
That the Parliament congratulates Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline on receiving a grant of £5,940 from the Big Lottery Fund to develop its extracurricular sports programme; understands that the school will use this award to purchase and install rugby posts, basketball stands and basketball markings; considers after-school programmes to be of great benefit to pupils and parents; believes that young people should be encouraged wherever possible to take part in healthy exercise, and encourages local groups and organisations to be aware of funding, such as Big Lottery grants, that might be available to them for their community projects.
Supported by: Colin Beattie, Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Kevin Stewart, Margaret Burgess
Date Lodged: 29/05/2012
30/05/2012
As an amendment to motion S4M-02988 in the name of John Park (Celebrating Fife’s Outdoor Education Centre), insert at end “praises the way in which Fife Council recently worked constructively in partnership with the Ardroy Ambassadors group to secure Ardroy’s future in spite of what it considers the neglect of the centre over decades by previous Labour administrations, and considers that this neglect necessitated the previous SNP-led administration to seek alternative ways of delivering the desired outcome without allowing the renewal campaign to become a burden on the public purse.”
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Kevin Stewart, Kenneth Gibson
Date Lodged: 26/05/2012
29/05/2012
The Forth (Rail) Bridge is the first of only two UK sites being submitted for UNESCO World Heritage status, after the iconic Bridge topped the Tentative List of 11 UK nominations, followed by the Gorham’s Cave Complex in Gibraltar.
MSP Bill Walker, whose Dunfermline constituency is just a short distance from the Bridge, said he was hopeful it would be recognised by UNESCO. Read more of this post
28/05/2012
Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline has received a grant of nearly £6,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to develop their extra-curricular sports programme, which is open to all pupils. The school will purchase and install rugby posts, basket ball stands and basketball markings. Read more of this post
28/05/2012
The cross-party, Scotland-wide Independence campaign has officially launched — and Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has pledged his support by signing the declaration on the new Yes Scotland website.
The declaration, which has already attracted well over 10,000 signatures, begins: “I believe that it is fundamentally better for us all, if decisions about Scotland’s future are taken by the people who care most about Scotland, that is, by the people of Scotland.” Read more of this post
28/05/2012
That the Parliament congratulates St Leonards Primary School in Dunfermline on securing a grant of £8,231 from the Big Lottery Fund to redevelop its playground; understands that the grant will be used to purchase artificial grass, pencil weaver posts, an I-spy trail, a bench, a pergola, a music panel and wall games; welcomes such attempts to encourage children to enjoy outdoor activities, and wishes the children many hours of quality playtime in their new and improved playground.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Kevin Stewart, Colin Beattie
Date Lodged: 25/05/2012
Bill Walker 