bob Doris

It is a privilege to represent the Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn constituency as your local Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP).

I stay in Maryhill with my wife, together with my young son and daughter. Before I became an MSP, I was a secondary school teacher for ten years. Since first being elected as a Glasgow MSP in 2007 I have worked hard to deliver for local constituents.  As your constituency MSP, I will continue to help to protect the communities I know best and deliver to all people in Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn constituency.

New Winter Fuel Payment

Earlier this year, the new UK Labour government pulled the rug from under pensioners. They ended the universal Winter Fuel Payment.

When doing this, they gave the SNP Scottish Government almost no notice of the change. Nor did they give any notice of the 80% cut in funding. This meant that in Scotland, we had no option than to do the same.

Today the SNP Scottish Government announced a new winter fuel payment, to be paid from next year. All pensioners will get a minimum payment of £100. Those in receipt of qualifying benefits – such as Pension Credit – will get up to £300.

Read more: New Winter Fuel Payment

Improved Support for Unpaid Carers

Improved Support for Unpaid Carers -Making sure all those who qualify will benefit

Our SNP Government has improved the support for unpaid carers. I am urging unpaid carers across Maryhill and Springburn to check to see if they qualify. You can check your eligibility for financial support from Social Security Scotland at https://www.mygov.scot/carer-support-payment

Scotland's Carer Support Payment replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. Eligibility is now expanded those who are in full-time education, and introducing backdating for some applicants.
If you are eligible, it’s worth £81.90 a week.

In addition, here in Scotland people may also be able to apply for carer's allowance supplement. This uniquely Scottish benefit is worth £288.60 twice a year.

This joins a suite of support for carers only available in Scotland, like the Young Carer Grant and Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

I’m proud that the SNP Government developed Social Security Scotland with the principles of dignity, fairness and respect at its heart. This new payment lives up to those aims.
 
 

Making Votes Count

I have been campaigning to ensure that at elections, votes count. This has included working closely with Councillor Allan Gow and Councillor Jacqueline McLaren (SNP Councillors for Canal Ward) to take steps to reduce the number of votes cast in error. This is particularly important as in their Council Ward, Canal, there is the highest ballot paper rejection rate in Scotland at Council elections.

I have amended the Elections Bill to ensure there is a strategic effort to tackle such issues.

I have also worked with Councillor Alex Kerr (SNP Councillor for Baillieston Ward) to increase voter registration. Consequently, I have now amended the Elections Bill to pave the way for automatic voter registration pilots

Read more: Making Votes Count

In Parliament

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