Commenting, Sir Menzies said:

“It is unfortunate but not surprising that so many of our serving personnel are not registered to vote. Many will have joined the Forces before they were eligible to vote and regular deployments overseas or to different parts of the UK make it hard for servicemen and women to make sure they are on the electoral register at any given point. Some may be unaware that they can use a postal vote, register as a ‘service voter’ or to nominate someone to vote in their place by proxy.

“For those who are registered to vote in the coming election but who are serving overseas, even casting a vote can be logistically extremely difficult. But for those who are fighting to spread democracy and aid free elections in places like Afghanistan it is only right that every effort is made to ensure they can vote in British elections.

“The General Election could be called any day now. I have written to the Ministry for Defence to ask what it is doing to ensure signing up does not mean signing away your right to vote.”

Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit. It is paid when temperatures are below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days.

Up to 1.7 million pensioners in the United Kingdom are missing payments worth an estimated £42.5 million.

Commenting, Sir Menzies said:

“During a period of extended bad weather Cold Weather Payments are a lifeline to people on low incomes who are already struggling to pay their usual heating bills. If pensioners are to heat their homes adequately during such periods, they must have the reassurance that they will be financially supported.

“In the short-term the Government must do all it can to identify those pensioners who qualify for this payment. In the long-term they must simplify the benefits system so that vulnerable people can more easily access the financial support due to them.”

“This announcement underlines the extent to which reserve forces are contributing to the effort in Afghanistan, and also points up the folly of the previous proposal from the government to cut the training hours of the Territorial Army”, said Sir Menzies.

“The public will want to be assured that both regulars and reservists alike are fully trained and properly equipped.

“The whole community will wish them godspeed and a safe return.”

“Alastair Campbell’s evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry was only the hors d’oeuvre, the main dish will be Tony Blair on Friday 29th January.

“It is clear now what Mr Blair’s line is going to be – there is nothing for which to apologise and military action against Saddam was the right thing to do!

“The only thing wrong with that position is that it ignores the fact that the action was illegal under the UN Charter, that the resolutions of the United Nations did not authorise the use of military force and that the inspectors looking for weapons of mass destruction did not get the chance to finish their job. If they had been allowed to do so then both President Bush and Prime Minister Blair would have known the truth – that there were no such weapons!

“The result of the illegal Iraq war was to cause incalculable instability in the Middle East, to provoke terrorist activity, to damage reputation significantly, and to cause the death of a huge but unknown number of Iraqi citizens.

“On the 29th January we shall see whether Mr Blair still thinks that it was the right thing to do.”

A report by two charities, Macmillan Cancer Support and Citizens Advice, has found the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) process, which was introduced in October 2008 to encourage ‘job ready’ people to return to work, is failing seriously ill and disabled people.

Commenting, Sir Menzies said:

“It is unacceptable that people who are undergoing exhausting chemotherapy or radiotherapy or suffering terminal cancer should be expected to attend work-focused interviews to secure benefits. People coping with cancer should not have to worry about benefits which are due to them by right.

“A lack of understanding about cancer and the effects of its treatment combined with poor knowledge of the ESA system means cancer sufferers are at risk of financial hardship. Applying some common sense to the system would go a long way.”

“This survey is yet another excellent example of just how strong the opposition in the area is to the proposed pharmacy in Leuchars.

“There has been a strong local campaign in opposition and they must be commended for their efforts. We must all hope that the hard work from so many pays off and secures the future of the doctor’s surgeries in Balmullo and Leuchars.”

“This is an iconic building in a world famous location and it deserves a thorough restoration to bring it back to its former glory.

“There are few locations in the world more prized by golf fans and I am sure that there will be no shortage of interest from those looking to live there.

“It is important that the treatment of the building reflects the significance of its location and the dignity of the home of golf.”

ENDS

Sir Menzies, who takes every available opportunity to fight the corner of the village-based fishing industry such as that in Pittenweem, made the call during the annual Fisheries debate in the House of Commons.

During the debate Sir Menzies said:

“The [Conservative Fisheries Spokesman] has spent a commendable amount of time talking about the 10 metre and under sector. As I am sure he has found out from his travels north an south of the border, in many cases it is that sector that supports the village-based industry. Would he be willing to extend the localism that he is talking about as far down as those components of the village-based industry?”

Speaking after the debate, Sir Menzies said:

“The village-based fishing industry in the East Neuk of Fife is a vital part of the local economy and generates employment both directly and indirectly, with profound social and economic consequences. Greater local control of fishing resources would help to underpin the village-based industry.”

“Alex Salmond wants full financial responsibility for Scotland. It is a great pity his party is not exercising responsibility on this St Andrew’s Day. To waste money on an unwanted referendum is an act of unpardonable folly when so many Scots are anxious about their jobs and their mortgages.

“In Mr Salmond have we found Scotland’s own Nero, fiddling while Scotland burns?”

ENDS

Sir Menzies will be conducting a constituency wide broadband survey over the next few weeks in order to gauge people’s personal experiences with their service.

Commenting, Sir Menzies said:

“I am seeking assurances from Ofcom and BT that North East Fife is not disadvantaged for commercial reasons, and that after years of watching the rest of the UK forge ahead in the broadband revolution, they will be given first priority in receiving Next Generation Access.

“For too long North East Fife has suffered from low speeds and unreliable connection to broadband internet. This was highlighted recently in Newburgh as the area was left without satisfactory broadband access for several days without an explanation.

“For many individuals and businesses across North East Fife this limited access means that the internet is more like the inter-not. The provision of reliable broadband must be a top priority due to its importance to rural communities and business alike.”

Sir Menzies added:

“After discovering that only 33% of rural areas in Scotland have access to broadband from anyone other than companies using BT lines, I have written to their Chief Executive to seek clarification of the exact figure in North East Fife. This reliance on a single operator will no doubt make it difficult for the consumer to get the best service.

“I will be conducting a broadband survey of the constituency over the next few weeks to see exactly what peoples own experiences are and bring this to the attention of BT and Ofcom. With the information from this survey, I hope that we will be able to make a strong case that broadband internet provision must be improved within North East Fife in order not to unfairly disadvantage the people and businesses here.”