Tragedy, Loss, Hope,
Help, Rescue and Survival
My title this week is
less about the fortunes of my
opponents and more about the
fantastic work undertaken by our
emergency services on our behalf.
I was more than happy
to mark the report by the Fire
Brigades Union called Tragedy, Loss,
Hope, Help, Rescue and Survival by
submitting a motion to Parliament.
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/business/motions/default.aspx
We all go about our
lives with little regard to the
sterling work done by our Emergency
services until we need them. It is
only when we need them that we
understand how important they are to
our wellbeing and sometimes our
lives.
The report detailed
below the amount of rescues that the
fire services have been involved in.
In
Scotland the figures are;
More
than
4,200
(
4,181)
people were rescued from dwelling
fires in the region in the
period 2001-2005, the most recent
five years for which data is
available. In 2005 alone
just over
700
(709)
people were rescued.
There are no available figures for
fires in other buildings.
And over
4,000
(4,280)
people involved in road
traffic collisions were
rescued by fire services in Scotland
in the five years to 2005/6, the
most recent year for which data is
available. Rescues increased in four
out of the five years, reaching a
record 905 in 2005/6.
The total number of people
rescued by the fire service will be
much larger, because some figures
such as those relating to fires in
other buildings, and flooding and
water, are excluded.
UK-wide, more than
80,000
(83,668)
people were rescued from
fires and vehicle crashes
between 2001 and 2005, and over
190,000
(190,629)
since records began in 1990
. The overall number of recorded
rescues in the UK is at record or
near record levels. You can read
the full press release at the
address below.
http://www.fbu.org.uk/newspress/pressrelease/2008/09_08_scotland.php
I
am extremely proud of our Scottish
Government because they understand
the very important role this service
plays. That is why we have
maintained control rooms at the
current level, given appropriate pay
increases and commutated their
pensions, which is a stark
difference to how Westminster Labour
treat our fire service.
May they continue to keep up the
great work and may you never need
their assistance but if you do you
can be assured that it will be the
best.
Another visit I had this week was
with the Ambulance Service. This
meeting briefed me on the
developments and improvements to the
service for the Lanarkshire area.
People are always worried when a
service such as this is facing some
changes but I was reassured that the
developments discussed will be of
great benefit to the people of
Lanarkshire. That with the Scottish
Governments commitment to save
Monklands A&E should be welcomed by
all in the Lanarkshire area.
Last week I told you about my work
in Malawi with the Westminster
Foundation for Democracy. One result
of that visit is that I am now in
communication with one of the
schools there and I will be working
with them to develop links between
Scotland and Malawi. Every child I
spoke to knew who David Livingstone
was and the work he did in Africa.
It is fair to say that the current
Education system in Malawi is a
direct result of the work undertaken
by the likes of Dr Livingstone and
other sons and daughters of
Scotland.
Below is a great picture taken by my
colleague Pete Wishart MP of some
kids with the catch of the day.
Well maybe I should be planning a
meeting with the police to ensure
they don’t feel left out by my
concentration on fire and ambulance
services.
But they did get their pension
situation sorted too so indirectly
they have been on the agenda.
Have a great weekend and hopefully
you will not need the support of our
great emergency services…………be
careful out there.
Bye bye.
