|
 Maiden
Speech (made
in the House of Commons on Monday 23rd May 2005)
It is with a deep sense of honour Mr Speaker, that I make
my maiden speech here today. And it is with a deep sense of gratitude to
the electors of the new Dundee East Constituency who have given me the
opportunity to serve them in this parliament.
I wish at the outset to pay tribute to my immediate
predecessors who served the people of the new Dundee East seat.
I wish to pay tribute to Iain Luke, who in the last
Parliament represented two thirds of the constituency before boundaries
were changed.
I also wish to pay tribute to my honourable friend, the
newly returned member for Angus, who represented the people of
Carnoustie, Monifieth and Sidlaw East in the old Angus Constituency –
burghs which are now within my constituency.
Both men, Mr Speaker, ably represented the electors of
the re-drawn Dundee East Parliamentary Constituency – And I pay tribute
to both of them for that work.
Mr Speaker, the new boundaries have created a
constituency which in many ways is a microcosm of the whole of Scotland.
From the tiny village of Panbride in the North, the
constituency runs along the North Sea Coast through Carnoustie, with its
world famous championship golf course, through Monifieth and the
prosperous burgh of Broughty Ferry.
From there Mr Speaker, the boundary runs along the
coastline of the firth of the Tay into Dundee City Centre.
The Western Boundary then runs North towards the county
town of Forfar until it reaches Finlarig Hill and then the boundary
sweeps eastward to rejoin the coast, taking in the rich farmland and
small villages of Sidlaw East.
My constituency provides a first class environment and
for many a high quality of life. I am concerned that all of my
constituents have the opportunities to share that high quality of life.
Within this boundary lives a generous and industrious
people. It contains the gentle beauty of the east coast and it contains,
within the City, the vibrant life one would expect from a University
town.
As Hon & Rt Hon members will be aware, the two
Universities, Dundee and Abertay, recruit their students from both
within my constituency and from outwith.
In particular, many students from outside the UK study in
Dundee.
I hope that in giving consideration to the Immigration &
Asylum Bill, no decisions are taken which will weaken the ability of
Dundee to retain many of the highly skilled graduates required to
strengthen Dundee’s economy and stop the decline in the city’s
population.
I said, Mr Speaker that my constituency offers a high
quality of life for many. Others however suffer from many of the
problems too many of our cities still suffer from.
Mr Speaker, the Government are proposing 45 bills to be
considered in this session. Many of these will have a direct impact on
the lives of the people of Dundee East.
The decisions taken here must address many of the deep
rooted problems too many of my constituents are forced to face. In
Dundee East male unemployment, at nearly 10%, remains stubbornly high.
In a number of wards in my constituency, large numbers of
people still remain totally dependent on benefits.
In parts of my constituency one in three children still
live in households where no one has a job.
I hope Mr Speaker, that in considering the Housing
Benefit Bill and the Incapacity Benefit Bill in particular; the measures
proposed to allow mobility and help people back into work are sensitive
and offer genuine support for my constituents to get into work.
I know that there are many real barriers to people
returning to work.
Not least of these is the fear of additional debt in the
early weeks and months of leaving benefit and starting work.
I hope Mr Speaker that the legislation planed properly
addresses the real concerns – and the real needs – of those seeking
leave benefit and return to work.
I also hope Mr Speaker that in considering changes to the
Company Law Bill which is designed to make the creation of a company
easier, that the Government understand, that for many of my ambitious
and entrepreneurial constituents, it is not creating a company which is
the problem, it is a lack of access to capital.
For many with drive and ambition, access to capital
remains illusive.
Within the boundaries of Dundee East also stands proudly,
on Powrie Brae, a memorial to the Black Watch. The statue is a strong
and permanent reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the many men who
have given their lives serving in an old and proud local regiment.
My constituency, taking in parts of Dundee and Angus is a
key recruiting ground for the Black Watch. The issue of the merger of
the Scottish Regiments, the Black Watch in particular, remains of deep
concern to my constituents.
Dundee East Mr Speaker, holds a dear place in the hearts
of the Scottish National Party.
In the Scottish Parliament, the Dundee East Constituency
is held by Shona Robison MSP – who is also my wife.
For 13 years between 1974 and 1987 it was held by Dr
Gordon Wilson, a previous National Chairman of the SNP.
I have, Mr Speaker, a great deal to live up to.
In Dr Wilson’s maiden speech on 13 March 1974, he made a
number of suggestions to the then labour government.
He suggested that, with the North Sea Oil industry in its
infancy, if the government supported investment in Scottish
manufacturing related to the North sea sector, Scotland could benefit
long into the future by exporting the skills and products from that
manufacturing base.
With the renewables sector still in its infancy, the
off-shore wind sector in particular, I am certain that if Gordon Wilson
was to make his speech today, he would certainly call for support and
investment in Scottish manufacturing related to offshore renewable
energy from which Scotland could benefit long into the future.
Gordon Wilson also suggested in his maiden speech that he
supported the objectives of the then ‘Hardman’ report, which called for
the dispersal of civil service jobs from the centre.
It was reported last years that Dundee had only one
percent of the core civil service jobs in Scotland.
I remain committed, as Gordon Wilson was, to the
dispersal of civil service jobs and will continue to offer my support to
the campaign to bring such jobs to my constituency and the wider Tayside
area.
Honourable & Rt. Honourable members may know that Dundee
East also includes communities from two local authorities; the City of
Dundee and Angus.
I said during my acceptance speech that I intended to
serve all of my constituents equally: irrespective of who they voted
for; irrespective of where they live; irrespective, Mr Speaker, of any
boundaries.
I intend to honour that commitment.
Stewart Hosie |
