“I don’t hold out much hope of real positive actions by this UK Government.  If their refusal to care about the north continues, then it makes it ever clearer that independence for Scotland is necessary to tackle energy inequality.” SNP MSP Emma Roddick today questioned the Scottish Government on energy grid charges, which she says [...]

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday [31ST MARCH], Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick backed the call by a cross-party group of MSPs on the UK Government’s Department of Work and Pensions to share anonymised data on benefits sanctions with a team of University of Glasgow-based researchers. Roddick, who herself has experience of living [...]

Emma Roddick MSP for the Highlands and Islands has welcomed the news from that social security payments issued by the Scottish Government will increase by 6% on April 1st. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Job Start Payment, Young Carer’s Grant, Funeral Support, Best Start Grant and Carer’s Allowance Supplement will increase by 6%. Families in [...]

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has criticised the UK Government’s spend on Discretionary Housing Payments, highlighting that the total spend in England and Wales is only slightly more than what is spent in Scotland, where it is estimated over £71 million is being spent annually to mitigate the Tories’ Bedroom Tax. The SNP MSP [...]

SNP MSP for the Highlands & Islands, Emma Roddick, has urged the UK Conservative Chancellor to introduce an emergency budget to support families in the face of the rising cost of living. The MSP argued that an emergency budget should include the delivery of a Real Living Wage, a reversal to the Universal Credit cut [...]

SNP MSP Emma Roddick has called for the views of local organisations as part of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee's inquiry into debt in Scotland.  A member of the committee herself, she is keen to make sure that Highland voices are heard to give a "complete view" of the issues so that good [...]

Emma Roddick MSP SNP MSP Emma Roddick has welcomed new figures showing that low income households in the Highlands and Islands have been supported by £9,415,350 in financial support from the Scottish Government. Households in the Highlands and Islands have received £4,455,980 from Low Income Pandemic Payments and £4,959,370 from Bridging Payments that support families [...]