10-Mar-2010 - HIGHLAND MPS CALL FOR FAIR FUEL BILLS

Highland MPs Danny Alexander and Charles Kennedy have this evening presented to the House of Commons the Public petition of hundreds of concerned energy users in the Highlands & Islands.

The Petition calls on the Government to target emergency financial help at those without access to the gas main to match the support currently provided to those on the mains gas that is provided through the six biggest gas and electricity providers.

5-Mar-2010 - Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference Speech; Danny Alexander MP on the manifesto

The winter Olympics have just finished.

While Vancouver complained of a lack of snow, I couldn't get out of my Aviemore front door for 2 or 3 feet of the stuff.

3-Mar-2010 - Alexander presses Minister for fair fuel deal for Highlands

Local MP Danny Alexander today joined other Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs in pressing DECC Minister David Kidney for desperately needed help for households in remote and rural areas struggling to pay their fuel bills.

During the Westminster Hall debate on Home Energy Efficiency and Fuel Poverty, secured by Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce, Danny outlined the huge inequality in fuel bills and the urgent need for action to get Highlanders to the front of the queue for help.

23-Feb-2010 - Superfast broadband cannot be left to market alone - Alexander

Local MP Danny Alexander has criticised today's BIS Select Committee report on broadband which argues that the focus should be on providing basic broadband for all and allowing markets to deliver higher speed broadband – rather than putting a funding mechanism in place to support superfast broadband roll-out in rural areas.

Mr Alexander, Lib Dem MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said:

"Whatever the committee's criticisms of the proposed 50p levy for funding superfast broadband, it is simply wrong to say we can just leave this to the market.

18-Feb-2010 - Highland Lib Dems urge action over Loch Ness lay-by

Highland Lib Dems today called for urgent action by Transport Scotland to reinstate a Loch Ness side lay-by and view point.

Danny Alexander MP and Aird and Loch Ness councillor Hamish Wood raised the issue of the deteriorating structure and the closure of two thirds of the Wellington lay-by on the A82 on north Loch Ness side last summer.

16-Feb-2010 - Forum shows City unity in demand for bypass - Alexander

A community wide forum on the Inverness bypass, hosted at the Town House last night by local MP Danny Alexander, showed that the City is united in demanding that the bypass be completed.

Mr Alexander called the Forum to bring together representatives across the City to maintain the pressure for the bypass, for which funding for the western end was refused by the Scottish government.

9-Feb-2010 - Government still failing Highland youth - Alexander

Figures obtained in a parliamentary answer by local MP Danny Alexander have demonstrated how the Government's 6 month pledge for young people rings hollow in the Highlands.

Analysis of the figures obtained shows that for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey:

For 2009 the average amount of time an 18 - 24 year old claimed jobseekers allowance was 8.5 months.

4-Feb-2010 - Alexander 'does his bit' to honour the military covenant

Highland MP Danny Alexander has joined other parliamentarians at an event in the House of Commons to pledge their support for the British Legion's campaign to improve the welfare of serving personnel, veterans and their families.

The Royal British Legion recently published their general election manifesto which included plans to ensure service families stay together and pledged extra medical and financial support for veterans and injured servicemen.

2-Feb-2010 - Minister agrees to look again at Highland housing debt

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey MP Danny Alexander today received an assurance from Treasury Minister Ian Pearson that he would look again at the Highland Council proposals to ease payments servicing the local authority's housing debt.

During today's Treasury questions in the House of Commons Danny reminded the Minister of discussions before the last budget about ways to ease the burden of debt repayments that are preventing the Highland Council from being able to provide the stimulus needed to create jobs and build new homes.

1-Feb-2010 - 3 year wait for swimming lessons 'unacceptable' - Alexander

Commenting after it emerged that children seeking swimming lessons at the Aquadome in Inverness are being told they could face a 1040 day wait, local MP Danny Alexander said:

"Every child should have the chance to learn to swim. Swimming is a very important skill in terms of safety, and can offer enormous health benefits all the way from early childhood to old age.