Bill Wilson MSP

Dr Bill Wilson MSP (SNP) has welcomed the comments of one of the world’s leading economists, Professor Joseph Stiglitz, on BBC Newsnight Scotland.

Dr Wilson said, “Professor Stiglitz in his recent interview supported longstanding SNP policy with regard to North Sea oil:  let’s not squander the wealth it brings, but put it into an oil fund.

“Norway, a close neighbour of Scotland with roughly the same population, has been putting its surplus oil wealth into a government pension fund for decades, and has this fund to fall back on in case of any national emergency.

“Scotland, on the other hand, has had its oil wealth squandered by a Westminster government. Professor Stiglitz said it is ‘imperative’ we start an oil fund of our own before it’s too late.

Dr Bill Wilson MSP (SNP) has joined criticism of the BBC for not giving Scotland enough news coverage.

Dr Wilson said, “Over the past three years the BBC has begun to rectify its under-reporting of Scottish issues. However, its lead news programme, the Six O’clock News, has continued largely to ignore Scottish issues.

“Four stories were covered in June relating to Scottish affairs.  That is eleven hours of programming containing a mere four stories relating to Scotland.  This parallels the BBC’s lack of coverage or programming relating to the Scots language, an issue I have raised with them more than once.

“As the BBC is answerable to the people who pay their licence fees, and is subject to impartial review by a board of trustees who should be raising these issues, why is it continuing to short-change the people of Scotland in general and, in particular, those who speak Scots?  By contrast, the Scottish Government has shown its support for the Scots language and is backing its resurgence.

A new report has suggested that Scotland could benefit from over 40,000 new wind power-related jobs in the next decade, and Dr Bill Wilson MSP (SNP) has urged Scottish educational institutions to provide the skills needed to make this a reality.

Dr Wilson, a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, said, “The report, commissioned by Scottish Renewables and Scottish Enterprise, suggests that Scotland’s wind power industry has the potential to be as big as our oil industry. Our oil industry employed 41,900 people in 2008 and was worth £5.5 billion in 2007.

“This new sector could directly employ 28,000 people within ten years, with an additional 20,000 employed in related industries. For us to make the most of our offshore wind potential we shall need new ports to deal with additional offshore traffic, and new infrastructure will have to be created to take this energy to the national grid.  All of this means jobs!

Dr Bill Wilson MSP (West of Scotland, SNP) has urged the people of Renfrewshire to make sure they are registered to vote.

Dr Wilson said, “With the forthcoming Holyrood election rapidly approaching, it is imperative that anyone entitled to vote is registered. While I would obviously like everyone to vote SNP, because I believe we are the only party that truly has the long-term interests of Scotland's people at heart, the most important thing is that people use their democratic right to vote.

“What makes this country a democracy is that everyone over the age of 18 has the constitutional right to have their say as to who represents them at Westminster, Holyrood and the European Parliament. Voter apathy has plagued recent elections.  If you don't like what those in government do then I urge you to use your vote to change things.  Not voting helps no one!

“Making the need to register to vote even more urgent is the proposed move by the Tories to change the Westminster boundaries. While the next UK election is over four years away, the boundaries will be changed much sooner than that.

“A determining factor in this redrawing of boundaries will be how many people are registered to vote in each area. With the Tories wanting to cut the number of MPs in Scotland, names on the voters' register will help ensure that Scotland does not lose seats at Westminster.”

Register to Vote at:

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/