Bedroom Tax I am delighted that the SNP Government has conceded to Scottish Labour’s budget demands which will complete the package of funding that will fully mitigate the Bedroom Tax in Scotland.

There’s been a long-running battle between the two parties for many months now, with Labour heaping continuous pressure on the SNP Government – including Jackie Baillie’s Private Members Bill - to get them to use their powers to act to fully mitigate the effects of the bedroom tax on the Scottish people. The SNP has consistently denied that they had the powers to do this.

Recently at the launch of Better Together Clackmannanshire, when I stated my view that the Scottish Government were able to do this if they wished, SNP supporters disagreed with me.

However, in his evidence at a recent meeting of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP, confirmed that the Scottish Government have had the powers to lift the Bedroom Tax burden and could have used these at any time since the introduction of the Welfare Reforms, “but that the Scottish Government had never before last week, put any formal proposals to the UK Government to do so.” Following budget talks between the parties, the SNP finally agreed to provide the funds to mitigate the Bedroom Tax but insisted that the Coalition Government first lift the cap on the level of Discretionary Housing Payment they can give to local authorities and housing associations.

However, Labour’s successful amendment to the budget means that the funding can be given even if the DHP cap is not lifted, which effectively means an end to the Bedroom Tax in Scotland.

Scottish Labour has worked long and hard to get the SNP Government to listen to their calls asking them to fully mitigate the effects of this cruel and pernicious tax on the Scottish people. I am delighted that the SNP have conceded to Labour’s budget demands, which have forced this resolution.

The budget vote showed devolution at its best – effectively ridding Scotland of a burden on those least able to bear it. But why did it take so long when the solution was always there in the hands of the Scottish Government?

Police Counter Cuts I am saddened and deeply concerned that Tullibody Police Station is amongst the 61 in Scotland that has lost its public counter provision.

The public counter service at Alloa Police Station also faces change with a reduction in the hours that counter access is available to constituents. From March 4th, access to Alloa Police Station will only be available from 8am – 6pm.

Police Scotland had originally proposed these changes in October last year with a final decision postponed until a public consultation was held.

I fear that Clackmannanshire, and indeed many other areas in Scotland, will be victims of a gradual reduction in the services offered by Police Scotland.

It is unacceptable that Tullibody Police Station will effectively have a sign above the door saying no access to members of the public.

As I said before when Police Scotland first revealed their intentions last year, with massive pressure on the police budget, it is inevitable that the end result will be a service that is centrally controlled, with very little in the way of direct engagement with the communities they serve.

This is even more visible with decisions of a few days ago to radically overhaul service centres and control rooms which will remove much of the local knowledge currently available in a bid to save cash.

This is a matter of growing concern to both constituents and myself and I will be meeting with Police Scotland to express my worries.

Please remember, if you should need to contact me or if you would like to obtain details of my regular surgeries or would like to make a dry food donation, please contact; The Constituency Office 49-51 High Street, Alloa FK10 1JF. Tel 01259 721536.