Welcome to the web site of Ross Finnie MSP

This site is designed to give news and information about the issues that I am involved in as a Liberal Democrat MSP for the West of Scotland. My electoral region of the West of Scotland covers the constituencies of Clydebank and Milnigavie, Cunningham North, Dumbarton, Eastwood, Greenock and Inverclyde, Paisley North, Paisley South, Strathkelvin and Bearsden and West Renfrewshire.

I have taken up a large number of Issues since I was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999; I was a Cabinet Minister for the first two terms (1999-2007) principally as Minister for Environment and Rural Development. I am currently the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary for Health in the Scottish Parliament and deputy Convenor of the Parliament's Health and Sports Committee. This means that Environment, Health and Rural matters are amongst my key interests, alongside the wide range of issues which constituents raise with me as Regional List MSP. Some of the current issues include:-

• Tackling alcohol abuse in the West of Scotland by implementing a Liberal Democrat action plan including: a sustained government education/advertising campaign to challenge cultural norms, A crackdown on rogue retailers who continue to sell alcohol to minors, A supermarket summit to agree a strategy to curb the availability of cheap drink, An end to the deep discounting and cheap promotions of alcohol products in all off sales premises utilising the provisions of the licensing act, Compulsory labelling requirements for alcohol products instead of the current voluntary agreement with the drinks industry and a reduction on the drink driving limit to 50mg and random breath testing.

• Continuing to campaign against the Governments misguided proposal to stigmatise all young people between 18 and 21 year olds buying from off sale premises.

• Preventing healthcare associated infections by supporting improved hygiene levels in Scotland's hospitals, so that outbreaks of MRSA, C Diff and other types of hospital acquired infection are a thing of the past. To prevent outbreaks, such as the devastating outbreaks at the Vale of Leven and the Royal Alexandra hospital ever happening again.

• Backing calls for a full public inquiry into the devastating C Diff outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

• Supporting James Watt College and its new management team in their efforts to restore James Watt to one of the best colleges of further education in Scotland.

• Supporting calls for the further investment in Inverclyde Royal and Vale of Leven hospitals so that they can effectively serve their local communities, the obsession with centralising services at the Royal Alexandra hospital Paisley must end.

• Supporting calls for a "vision zero" policy to be introduced across Scotland to reduce drastically the number of children killed in road accidents.

• Calling for fuel parity across the West of Scotland, as it is unfair that some parts of the West of Scotland pay up to 5p more a litre than other constituencies.

• Working with the Scottish Ambulance service to ensure that both emergency and non-emergency services meet the required targets throughout the West of Scotland.

If you wish to contact me on any issue, please email ross.finnie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk or contact me at my constituency office on 01475805020

Best Wishes

Ross Finnie MSP

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