| Roseanna welcomes water rescue debate and praises safetay initiative |
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The Scottish National Party's Ms Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Members of the Scottish Parliament for the Perth constituency has welcomed the Scottish Government debate held in the Scottish parliament this afternoon (Thursday) on the recently published review of water rescue in Scotland. Ms Cunningham said; “ I became closely interested in this issue some time ago following a number of tragic incidents in my constituency including the death of Graham Motion, whose sister Lisa Stuart is watching the debate today. “There were ealso incidents with happier outcomes but which raised serious questions such as the successful rescue by brave fire- fighter Tam Brown who was initially suspended and investigated by his bosses for breaching policy and was later given a bravery award by the Royal Humane Society.“As a constituency MSP I raised my concerns in parliament through motions, questions and debates on the need for improved co-ordination and capability for water rescue in Scotland. “I am pleased that this is an issue which has been taken extremely seriously by the Scottish Government with the commissioning of Paddy Tomkins' report which was published last month being backed up with the comments from colleagues the Communities Minister in today's debate. “The report takes particular mention of the Safe-Tay initiative founded by Lisa Stuart and praises the way in which they work closely with Perth and Kinross Council, Tayside Police and Tayside Fire and Rescue Services as good practice which it commends to all local authority areas in Scotland. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to Lisa and her family for the way in which they have driven forward the issue of water safety in Perthshire and I hope that their actions coupled with the degree of commitment shown by the Minister today will ensure that we can live up to the ambition of living in a Safer Scotland, added: Lisa Stuart, founder of Safe-Tay, added: “I am pleased that parliament is discussing this important report today. Improving water safety in Scotland is very important to me and I welcome the interest that has been shown in the issue. Roseanna has been most helpful in pursuing this matter and keeping us informed and I thank her for that. “The recognition that Paddy Tomkins has given Safe-Tay in this report is welcome and, while he has not gone along with everything we were looking for, the recommendations he has made represent a real step forward.” Paddy Tomkins water review - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/04095925/0
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