Welcome to my latest blog. I hope to keep you updated on what has been happening in Dundee City West and in the Scottish Parliament. I will also provide regular updates on the 2021 Holyrood election campaign.
If you have any queries, or require my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at snp@joe.fitzpatrick.scot
Welcome to our new SNP members!
Over the past 48 hours, thousands of people have joined the SNP, including dozens here in Dundee, adding to our already substantial membership here in the city. Welcome to you all.
Together, we’ll build the fairer, better, independent Scotland that’s within our reach.
If you have any questions at all about the SNP, whether you are a new member or perhaps a returning member, please don’t hesitate to send me an email at snp@joe.fitzpatrick.scot
COVID-19 – Phase 2 of Schools Return
Earlier this week the First Minister providing an update on plans for more pupils to return to school.
All remaining primary school children are set to return to school full-time from 15 March, with all secondary pupils returning on a part-time basis from that date. All pupils are expected to return to full-time schooling after Easter, subject to continued suppression of the virus.
The plans are conditional on continued progress on suppressing coronavirus (COVID-19).
On 16th February, the SNP Government announced a package of support and safety steps to support the phased return, including:
- a further £40 million to help councils implement safety mitigations aligned with clinical advice
- £60 million of additional investment in education recovery, including employing more teachers, classroom support staff and facilities management
- twice weekly at-home testing to be offered to people who work in schools, early learning and childcare settings attached to schools, and senior phase pupils. The programme will be expanded to stand alone childcare settings as soon as possible
Find out more at https://www.gov.scot/news/phase-2-of-schools-return/
Vaccine Rollout Update
More than 146,300 people have now had their first vaccination in Tayside, which is around 41% of the adult population in Tayside. This means that NHS Tayside remains one of the top performing boards in Scotland in terms of population vaccinated. So far, around 97% of people in Tayside who are over 70, 87% of those shielding and 89% aged 65-69 have had a vaccination.
These figures are an incredible achievement and are thanks to the dedication and hard work of NHS Tayside staff, working in partnership with Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership, the Council, and GP surgeries, and others. Well done to everyone involved!
NHS Tayside is also now delivering second doses to patient-facing health and social care workers, care home staff and residents, with more than 5,300 having had both doses of the vaccine.
Currently, those in priority group 6 on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) prioritisation list are being invited for vaccination. This includes people aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions and adult unpaid carers. Detailed information on who is eligible in this group is available at www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine
First Families Receive Scottish Child Payments
Thousands of families are now receiving their first Scottish Child Payment. As of Sunday 28 February, 52,000 applications had been approved.
The new benefit to tackle child poverty, which is unique to Scotland, will give qualifying parents and carers £40 every four weeks for each child under six.
98,000 applications had been received by the end of February. Parents and carers are able to apply for all eligible children in their household in a single application and can also apply for Best Start Grants and Best Start Foods at the same time.
Find out more at: https://www.gov.scot/news/first-families-receive-scottish-child-payments/
Tackling Child Poverty
Action to tackle deep-rooted inequality and child poverty will be accelerated through £7.4 million of additional investment from the Scottish Government.
Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Aileen Campbell said:
“This increased funding delivers not only on our commitment to invest £50 million through our Tackling Child Poverty Fund, but also to target support to disabled parents to access employment.”
Find out more at https://www.gov.scot/news/tackling-child-poverty-4/
SNP – Delivering for Scotland
Majority Support for Independence
The latest poll by Savanta ComRes confirms once again that a majority of people in Scotland support independence.
YES: 53% NO: 47%
Scotland’s future must be in Scotland’s hands, not those of Boris Johnson’s. www.yes.scot/signup/

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Register to Vote and Sign Up for a Postal Vote:
As the Scottish Parliament election in May fast approaches, make sure that you have registered to vote at your current address. You can register at: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
With all of the uncertainty around Covid at the moment, lots of people are signing up for a postal vote. You can download a form to send to the Electoral Registration Office at: https://www.snp.org/postal-vote/

That’s all for this week. As ever, if you have any queries or if I can help with anything, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via snp@joe.fitzpatrick.scot, or you can message me on Facebook at: facebook.com/JoeFitzPatrickSNP
Yours for Scotland,

Joe FitzPatrick MSP (Dundee City West Constituency)