Food Banks Figures from the Trussell Trust showing that the number of people using their foodbanks has increased by 400% in Scotland have been described as a demonstration of the grim reality of Westminster’s cuts.

I recently visited the foodbank in Erskine and was pleased to be able to make a donation, but I was also saddened by the that these food banks have to exist in a 21st century Scotland.

The figures show that in 2012/13 Scottish food banks provided help to 14,318 people, but in 2013/14 that figure had increased by 400% to 71,428.

In Renfrewshire alone there are 4590 people using food banks with nearly 30% of them children.

The increase use in Food banks is quite frankly disturbing. Why should a country as wealthy as Scotland need food banks for 70,000 of our population to survive? The Westminster cuts are forcing people to rely on foodbanks, while the Scottish Government is doing what it can to mitigate Westminster’s actions. That is why the SNP Government has announced a £1 million package of support for foodbanks.

It doesn’t have to be this way, with Westminster consistently putting Scotland in difficult positions; the referendum in September gives Scotland the chance to do things differently and will allow the Scottish Government to make decisions better suited for the people of Scotland.

Knife Crime is Falling Crimes of handling an offensive weapon (including knives) have dropped dramatically in Renfrewshire. They have fallen by a massive 43 per cent since 2009/10, helped by campaigns such as No Knives Better Lives, and are now at their lowest level in Scotland for 27 years.

The figures were published as Kenny MacAskill visited the award winning Street Stuff programme at St Mirren Park. I was pleased to introduce this when I was the SNP Council Leader and am happy to see that the Street Stuff project has continued to grow and be enjoyed by youngsters around Renfrewshire.

In the Scottish Government, we are seeking to increase the maximum penalties for knife possession from four to five years in the Criminal Justice Bill. Backed by our education programmes, Scotland already has the toughest knife crime sentencing regime in the UK and those caught risk a significant custodial sentence.

Tackling Low Pay At our recent Spring Conference the SNP announced the commitment to launch a Fair Work Commission after a Yes vote – which will ensure that the minimum wage rises at least in line with inflation.

The minimum wage has failed to rise in line with inflation in recent years meaning that the UK is now the fourth most unequal country in the developed world – with the lowest paid people in Scotland losing out on more than £600 over the last five years.

We must acknowledge that as an Independent Nation, Scotland can achieve so much more and make decisions that will directly benefit the people of Scotland.

Veterans Commissioner Applications are now open for Scotland’s first Veterans Commissioner - a new role which will look to improve public services by listening to the experiences of ex-servicemen and women.

Our Veterans will have an ambassador who will help them access all the fantastic services that are available to them to allow ex-service men and women reach their full potential.

The new ambassador will work with service charities like Helping Heroes, local authorities and health boards to identify any areas in public services that could provide greater support to veterans and help shape future policy development and opportunities.

It has always been in the best interest of the Scottish Government to provide the best possible service for Veterans’ of war.