Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, convened a meeting earlier today between the four Highland based Women’s Aid groups, Highland MSPs, and Scottish Parliament election candidates to discuss the ongoing concerns surrounding the funding of Women’s Aid services in the north post March.
Speaking after the meeting which was attended by MSPs and candidates from all of the main parties, with Angus MacDonald MP also represented, Rhoda Grant said “There are real concerns over the ongoing funding uncertainty and the processes being adopted by Highland Council which have been described as “unclear and disingenuous”. Indeed many Highland Councillors appear to be in the dark about what is happening themselves.
“As a result of today’s meeting the group of MSPs and candidates have agreed to work cross-party in a bid to get answers and will now seek urgent meetings with the Management of Highland Council and with the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Local Government, Shona Robison.
Mrs Grant continued “Senior officials of Highland Council must now come forward with clear and unambiguous information on the funding of these services with calls also being made for the processes adopted by them to date to be clarified.
“The mood of the meeting was clear that the specialist outreach and Refuge services provided by Women’s Aid in the Highlands are essential with the uncertainty placing the services and staff members under extreme pressure. These issues must be resolved as a matter of the utmost urgency.”
Fergus Ewing MSP, Maree Todd MSP and Ariane Burgess MSP attended the meeting with Kate Forbes MSP, Edward Mountain MSP and Angus MacDonald MP all represented.