Former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dunfermline
25/05/2012
Local MSP Bill Walker has welcomed the progress of four super-efficient affordable houses being built in Dunfermline’s Inchkeith Drive.
The houses, constructed by Beattie Passive for Fife Housing Association, are said to require 90% less heating and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 100%. Read more of this post
24/05/2012
International Study Programmes (ISP), a well-established training company from Cheltenham, has made Dunfermline its official Scottish learning centre for training European teachers of English. Read more of this post
24/05/2012
In Parliament, I recently lodged successful motions to recognise the professional impact of two famous locals on the world of snooker.
Dunfermline resident Michaela Tabb has now refereed for her second time at the recent World Snooker Championship final.
Ms Tabb, also known as ‘Lady Ref’, has achieved several ground-breaking milestones in the sport — as the first woman to referee at a professional-ranking snooker tournament, at a world-ranking snooker final and at the World Snooker Championship final itself. Read more of this post
24/05/2012
Congratulations to all the recently elected Fife Councillors. I look forward to working with them as Dunfermline MSP.
Our councillors have a vital duty towards the people of Fife to provide the best possible standards of service. Their decisions affect all of us, whether our concerns are with housing, roads, social work, recycling, education or the wide range of other services Fife Council provides. Read more of this post
24/05/2012
MSP Bill Walker has welcomed news that a Dunfermline Primary School has received a grant to redevelop its playground.
St Leonards Primary School has secured £8231 from the Big Lottery Fund, through Awards for All. Among other things, the school will buy artificial grass, a pergola, a bench, a music panel and wall games. Read more of this post
24/05/2012
That the Parliament congratulates Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir Community Council on receiving a grant of £9,895 from the Big Lottery Fund for a floral displays scheme; understands that the community council hopes to encourage more local people to become involved in community gardening so as to help beautify the villages and enhance civic pride, and believes that such projects enhance the enjoyment that residents take in their environment as well as creating a positive image for visitors.
Supported by: Dennis Robertson, Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Stuart McMillan, Kevin Stewart
Date Lodged: 23/05/2012
23/05/2012
Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir Community Council has received a grant of almost £10,000 to run a floral displays scheme. The Council hopes to encourage locals to become involved in community gardening, so as to help beautify the villages and enhance civic pride.
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker welcomed the news: Read more of this post
23/05/2012
That the Parliament extends its best wishes to proprietors Neil and Fiona Beattie on the launch of the Green Room restaurant in Dunfermline, which is situated next to the Alhambra Theatre; believes that the new restaurant will enhance Dunfermline by providing another attractive facility for discerning diners and theatre-goers, and recognises that new businesses such as the Green Room play a vital role in stimulating the economy during challenging times.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie
Date Lodged: 21/05/2012
14/05/2012
That the Parliament considers the forthcoming Building Technologies Showcase 2012 to be a positive step in promoting energy-efficient and sustainable construction; understands that the event, which is due to be held on 30 May at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Conference Centre, will cover such themes as renewables, the importance of well-insulated and well-ventilated buildings and legislative and regulatory changes, and hopes that the hosts, Fife Construction Forum and Edinburgh Napier University’s Low Carbon Building Technologies Gateway, build on the success of the first showcase, which was held last year.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Kevin Stewart, Kenneth Gibson, Fiona McLeod, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Dave Thompson
Date Lodged: 11/05/2012
11/05/2012
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has voiced support for an MP’s calls for Westminster to debate the future of Scotland’s regiments, following reports that the names of the Black Watch and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders are to be merged.
Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP, Pete Wishart, has demanded the UK Government abandons any plans that would further compromise the identity of the battalions, which he says would be a bid to mask cuts to the army. Read more of this post
10/05/2012
A showcase event exploring the commercial possibilities of new building technologies takes place on the 30th May at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline.
Building Technologies Showcase 2012 will be hosted by the Fife Construction Forum and Napier University’s Low Carbon Building Technologies Gateway, who hope to draw on the success of last year’s first-ever Showcase. Read more of this post
10/05/2012
That the Parliament congratulates Samantha Barber from Dunfermline on her appointment as chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of Scottish Power’s parent company, Iberdrola; understands that Ms Barber’s previous roles have included director of Business for Scotland and chief executive of Scottish Business in the Community; notes that she serves as an advisory board member for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and sits on the 2020 Group on Climate Change, and wishes Ms Barber success in her new appointment, where, it understands, she will seek to improve social policies and community relations.
Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Richard Lyle, Margaret Burgess, Kevin Stewart, Maureen Watt
Date Lodged: 09/05/2012
10/05/2012
An acclaimed training organisation for overseas English language teachers has confirmed Dunfermline as their Scottish learning centre.
International Study Programmes (ISP) specialises in courses for English teachers whose first language is not English, as well as holiday language courses and tailor-made educational visits to Britain. Read more of this post
09/05/2012
Samantha Barber, of Dunfermline, has been appointed chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of Scottish Power’s parent company, Iberdrola — which is responsible for improving social policies and community relations.
Ms Barber, who was appointed to Scottish Power’s Advisory Board in 2007, has previously served as a Policy Advisor at the European Parliament in Brussels, as Director of Business for Scotland and as Chief Executive of Scottish Business in the Community. Read more of this post
09/05/2012
That the Parliament congratulates Dunfermline-based Michaela Tabb on refereeing the World Snooker Championship final for the second time; considers that Ms Tabb has made a significant contribution to the sport as the first woman to referee at a professional-ranking snooker tournament, at a world-ranking snooker final and at the World Snooker Championship final, and wishes Ms Tabb many more successes in her career.
Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Richard Lyle, Colin Keir
Date Lodged: 08/05/2012
09/05/2012
That the Parliament sends its best wishes to the Fife-raised snooker player Stephen Hendry MBE on his retirement from tournament snooker; recognises Stephen’s achievements as seven-times winner of the World Championship, which he won for the first time as the youngest ever world champion, at the age of 21; recognises that Stephen is the holder of 36 world-ranking titles, which is more than any other player, and wishes him well for the future.
Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Nanette Milne, Mike MacKenzie, John Mason, Colin Beattie, Colin Keir, Maureen Watt, Stuart McMillan, Richard Lyle
Date Lodged: 08/05/2012
08/05/2012
That the Parliament welcomes confirmation that Dunfermline Delivers has secured funding from Fife Council and EventScotland for the 2012 Bruce Festival; believes that the festival, which celebrates the history of Dunfermline and Scotland, is an important cultural event that delivers a significant economic boost to local businesses, and wishes Dunfermline Delivers every success in its attempt to achieve the record target of 20,000 visitors to the Bruce Festival 2012.
Supported by: Margaret Burgess, Mike MacKenzie, Richard Lyle, Colin Beattie
Date Lodged: 04/05/2012
04/05/2012
A medieval village recreated in Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park will be the busy hub of this year’s Bruce Festival, taking place on the 25th and 26th of August.
The 2012 celebration aims to be the best Bruce Festival to date, after last year’s event drew a record 18,000 visitors to watch jousting and re-enactments, as well as browse arts and crafts and sample the wares of the food village. Read more of this post
02/05/2012
That the Parliament welcomes confirmation of the establishment of Dunfermline as the Scottish centre of learning for International Study Programmes (ISP); understands that ISP is an established leader in language courses and cultural awareness for English language teachers currently working in schools across Europe, and considers ISP’s decision to be a recognition of Dunfermline as a centre for teaching and cultural awareness.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Kenneth Gibson, Dennis Robertson, Margaret Burgess, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie
Date Lodged: 01/05/2012
26/04/2012
Small businesses in Fife have benefitted from more than £26m in rates relief since the launch of the Scottish Government’s Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) in 2008 — more than any of the 33 Scottish local authority areas outside Glasgow, Highland and the City of Edinburgh.
Moreover, in the latest figures for 2011-12, Fife scooped nearly double the assistance as it did in 2008-9. Read more of this post
26/04/2012
The Local Council Elections are almost upon us. On 3rd May we will each vote for a total of three or four councillors, in order of preference, to serve on Fife Council.
When elected Dunfermline MSP, I announced my decision to stand down as Councillor for West Fife and Coastal Villages. I now wish the best of luck to Kate Stewart and Len Woods, who are standing for election in my current Villages ward. Read more of this post
26/04/2012
Last week in Parliament I was pleased to vote for the Scotland Bill, which passed unanimously.
This Bill will allow the Scottish Government to raise £5 to £6 billion of Scotland’s budget. Scottish ministers will also be able to borrow around £2.7 billion, which can be used to fund projects to boost Scotland’s economic recovery. Read more of this post
26/04/2012
Having considered my options and consulted with family, friends and supporters regarding my recent expulsion (pending appeal) from the SNP, I am now advising SNP Headquarters how I wish to proceed with an appeal to the Party. I will not be issuing any further comments on this SNP matter, or on allegations made against me, beyond my update for Dunfermline constituents, dated 18th April 2012, published on my website at http://www.billwalkermsp.com, and any further information carried in my regular column in the Dunfermline Press. Any questions regarding an appeal should be put to the SNP.
The above was originally written for Bill’s Dunfermline Press column. This version may vary slightly.
25/04/2012
MSP for Dunfermline, Bill Walker, has welcomed news that projects assisting ex-servicemen and women back into civilian life are set to receive an £80,000 funding boost.
Scottish Government Veterans Minister, Keith Brown, has earmarked allocations from the Scottish Veterans Fund for eleven projects across Scotland, including Veterans Scotland and Officers Association Scotland. Read more of this post
23/04/2012
Following months of consultation, Carnegie College has confirmed it will seek the creation of a Regional College for Fife before a Tertiary Education Institute with Edinburgh’s Napier University.
The College has consulted extensively with students, staff, the community and industry stakeholders, as well as holding intensive discussions with Adam Smith College, Elmwood College and Edinburgh’s Napier University. Read more of this post
Bill Walker 