"Bringing Families Together"

"Bringing Families Together"
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Protest to Government over lack of consideration for children.

The whole story.

More Child neglect More Crime more tax to pay for it.

The Scottish Governments plan for 45p per unit of alcohol shows of their failure in not properly thinking out the effects of their proposal on children and their failure to grasp the far reaching addictive nature of alcohol.

An alcoholic or drug addict will not change because of price they will always find a way. The addicted alcoholic as well as drug addicts is forever on the lookout for the next drink or fix and superficial thinking like cost will not deter their need for the drug.

Supermarkets will rake in millions with the increase. No wonder they are for it. But who will fund the increase of crime, child neglect and abuse this will bring about.

We must treat this problem at the root source where change can be brought about. The care and treatment of children must be a priority. Children who are not treated right are the criminals and gang members of the future. The care, stability and love must be done by kinship care like grandparents whose only concern is their welfare and love for the children. Forced adoption or farming out to people or institutions seldom cater for the whole of childrens needs.

We are convinced this government is ignoring the best interests of the child for politics. When this government came into power Grandparents Apart UK was summoned to a meeting with the children’s minister and we asked questions but got no answers and told them so.

The government then placed the responsibility for the Charter for Grandchildren to the local authorities. SNP MSP’s who were taking up the cause for Charter for Grandchildren backed off because we work in the child’s best interest and not theirs.

Children are the future and it is everyone’s responsibility if you want to sleep safer in your beds at night.

Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk



Reply from Mike Russell MSP

Dear Mr. Deuchars,

Thank you for you email of 3rd September regarding your concerns about the 45p
minimum price per unit on alcohol. .

While the issues you raise are pertinent, the Scottish Government's policy on minimum pricing is based on sound research and support from a wide range of interests, including the British Medical Association, the World Health Association, Tennants, the UK's four Chief Medical Officers, Molson Coors, the Children's Commissioner, the Royal College of Physicians and Scotland's churches. The Scottish Government's proposal of minimum pricing at 45 p per unit is
widely recognised as offering real benefits for public health, the economy and public
services.

A survey was recently conducted with organisations from across the political, social and business spectrums, including police, local authorities, the licensing body, industry, health, consumer, children and young people, alcohol and academic. 56% of all submissions expressed support for minimum pricing. If you exclude those submissions that were unclear or made no comment, then of the rest that clearly expressed an opinion on minimum pricing, 79% were in favour.

It has been shown elsewhere that minimum pricing can have ~ dramatic impact on the reduction of alcohol abuse, which is why the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon has fought so hard 'to develop this policy. While it is not a magic bullet, I'm confident that the positive knock-on effects of this policy will be seen throughout Scottish society.
Yours Sincerely,

Michael Russell MSP


Reoly to Mike Russell MSP

Dear Mr Russell,

Your letter above still does not mention safeguards that need to be put in place to protect children from alcohol problem families who will still get their drink no matter what the cost and it is the children who will lose out.

I am totally shocked that the Commissioner for Children and Children and Schools has supported this without concerns for the danger. If these concerns had been raised you would not have been long in putting me right..

I was at St Pauls School in Pollok for www.glasgowgrand.org where quite a few alcohol addiction groups had tables set up for the general public. I’m afraid the front line workers were more likely to agree with our views on how this effect will have on children than the directors of organisations who fail to spot these dangers.

The increased neglect/abuse that will surely occur will put more pressure on our dear social services and safeguards will be needed to protect our children. The Charter for Grandchildren should be mandatory for professionals who work in this area or an explanation why they have not consulted with the grandparents or extended family. Who better to recognise early detection of child neglect/abuse than grandparents? Who better to keep a child in a stable home environment rather than have the life frightened out of them by taking them away from those they know and love than their grandparents? Who is the biggest cares of child in the world?

It seems your government would rather pay Bernardo’s or others around £400 per week of tax payer’s money to demoralise children then force adopt them to strangers.

All the promises of a Granny Grant from SNP came to nothing and it is a total insult to grandparents when you tell them they need to train to look after children to get it. Was it another get out from your promises? To make matters worse SNP booted out The Charter for Grandchildren out and the SNP MSPs that were supporting the Charter dropped us like a ton of bricks.

My only interest is our children and as far as I am personally concerned SNP have no real policies for the welfare of children or their grandparents.

Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk

1 comment:

  1. I also have very grave reservations on minimum pricing of alcoholic drinks. As Jimmy has said the only people to benefit will be the supermarkets. Alcoholics and binge drinkers will always find their fix - even if it means turning to crime. The SNP policy is tantamount to creating a Nanny state - its a bit like increasing the price of food to help fight obesity!! The people who will suffer directly are those who like a drink in moderation - it is well known that one glass of wine a day is good for your health. We should take lessons from the past - remember the prohibition era?? Well done Jimmy. We support your efforts.

    John Lynch
    Seniors Network
    admin@seniorsnetwork.co.uk

    ReplyDelete