Bill Wilson MSP

SNP MSP Dr. Bill Wilson has welcomed the announcement today (Wednesday) from global technology firm Hewlett Packard (HP) which plans to create 700 new jobs at its base in Erskine, Renfrewshire.

Dr. Wilson has called the plans a ‘fantastic boost’ for the area and says that it removes any fears that the company’s manufacturing operations would be moved from Scotland to the Czech Republic, as previously announced in 2009.

Commenting, West of Scotland MSP Dr. Wilson said: “This is a fantastic boost not just for Renfrewshire but for the whole of Scotland.

“The plans by Hewlett Packard to create these 700 new jobs underline Scotland’s reputation in IT and customer services, firmly endorsing the Scottish Government’s hard work to attract new jobs to Scotland.

Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, has reacted to the Scottish Government’s announcement of 5,000 new modern apprenticeships coupled with an investment of £9.1 million by urging Renfrewshire businesses to take full advantage of the opportunity it provides.

He said, “This is another example of what the SNP government is doing to help people as we come out of the recession. Skills Development Scotland is developing the commissioning process for contracting the 5,000 apprenticeship placements, which have the potential to provide support to over 500 employers across Scotland.

GPE Services, a Renfrewshire-based heating and property service company, has recently opened a new training facility with the help of local MSP, Bill Wilson.

After delivering a short speech, Dr Wilson commented, “I have been struck by the distress that shoddy work causes to my constituents, so it’s hard for me to overstate the value of quality workmanship.  This training centre will have a significant impact on employment and training in Renfrewshire, delivering a highly skilled workforce operating to the highest of standards.

Scotland intends to prevent companies convicted of criminal offences from presenting their own version of their finances, so avoiding significant fines by claiming poverty.

This morning’s decision by the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee to accept an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill proposed by Dr Bill Wilson MSP (West of Scotland, SNP) virtually guarantees that Scottish courts will soon be empowered to order background inquiry reports into convicted companies’ finances.

Dr Wilson commented, “I trust the Bill will become law and my amendment with it.  This is long overdue.  My research showed that companies found criminally responsible for killing people in Scotland were being fined £12,500 or less in 50% of cases.  A significant contributing factor to this is the fact that courts have no power to order independent inquiries into companies’ finances.

“As I said to the Justice Committee this morning, it strikes me as ridiculous that we rely on convicted companies to provide the reports which will influence the level of fine.  It is the equivalent of a judge sternly wagging his finger at a convicted housebreaker and saying, ‘You are a terribly naughty fellow.  Now please tell me how much of a fine you can afford to pay?’“