Working in Parliament

To find out what issues Richard has been addressing in the parliament, please click on the following link and you will see his written questions and answers, what motions he has put forward and those that are being supported.

The Scottish Parliament:
MSP Biography - Richard Baker MSP

Last Summer Richard launched a successful petition calling on the Scottish Executive to bring in a range of new measures to tackle knife crime.

The petition attracted over 400 signatures and Richard presented it to Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson when she visited Aberdeen.

There was a very positive response to the petition, which included a great deal of local media coverage, and the Executive's response to was also encouraging.

As part of the new legislative programme Cathy Jamieson will bring forward proposals to double the maximum sentence for carrying a knife to four years and increase the minimum age for buying a knife to 18.

Richard also launched a petition calling for greater restrictions on the sale of air-guns and raised this issue at First Minister's Questions.

To gain first-hand experience of the tasks facing the police, he joined the police on one of their busiest shifts in Aberdeen City Centre on a Friday night which provided and invaluable insight into some of the problems they have to deal with.

What Richard has set out to achieve
He works along side his colleagues in the Parliament in achieving a fairer and safer Scotland for all.  He does this by bringing the views and concerns of his constituents and members of various public and private sectors from around the North East back to the parliament in the form of Parliamentary Questions, motions, committee’s, discussions and debates.

Click here for a List of Achievements so far

Working in the North East

Meeting with constituents
Richard regularly invites his constituents to come along and speak to him about issues that may be directly affecting their everyday lives or that they may feel strongly about on a political level.  He would then take appropriate steps in attempting to solve any problem or achieve a satisfactory response in relation to policy matters or parliamentary queries.

To find out when Richard holds his surgeries, please click here

Regional Issues
Richard has already tackled various issues affecting the North East such as:

-         Anti-social behaviour

-         Affordable Housing

-         Fishing Crisis

-         Nature Conservation Bill

-         Gangmasters operating in the North East

-         Traffic Congestion

-         Diabetes awareness and blood donor campaign

Liaising with public bodies and engaging with the wider community
Richard has been involved in regular consultations with Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations (ACVO) in helping to improve the voluntary sector in Aberdeen and the North East.

Richard has worked closely with Grampian police in helping to tackle the issue of Anti-Social Behaviour, drug related crime and improving resources for the force across the North East

Aberdeen City Council play a regular role in assisting Richard to address issues which have been put to him by his constituents such as housing, health, crime, education, transport.

Others include:
VisitScotland
Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board
Various School visits across the region
North East Scotland Fisheries Group
NHS Grampian Universities Hospital Trust
Aberdeenshire Council
Scottish Agricultural College
Scottish Enterprise Grampian
Royal Mail
Various school visits

Longside Primary School - Assembly talk