Tag: Alison Johnstone MSP

Scottish Parliament marks minority ethnic ‘emerging leaders’’ success

Thirteen ‘emerging leaders’ from the Scottish Parliamentary Service (SPS) staff were recognised yesterday at a certification event hosted by the Presiding Officer.

The staff were the first group to attend a new course created by Edinburgh College and the Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators (SAMEE). The course supports minority ethnic employees in achieving their full potential now and in the future.

The scheme also aims to ensure the Parliamentary Service more closely reflects Scotland’s population by developing existing minority ethnic talent within the organisation.

While the 2021 election saw a more diverse group of MSPs elected, diversity monitoring within the Parliament as an employer found an ethnicity pay gap caused by a lack of minority ethnic staff in more senior positions.

Speaking after the certification event, Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Diversity matters, and I am proud to recognise the achievements of our first intake of colleagues participating in this innovative and progressive scheme.

“I am very pleased to encourage them as they advance their careers at the heart of Scottish public life.”

Find further details about the emerging leaders scheme.

Greens: Railways can pave way to green recovery

Scotland’s railways can play a crucial role in getting Scotland moving again while cutting dangerous climate emissions, the Scottish Greens have said.

In a parliamentary debate this week the Greens outlined the party’s fully costed £22 billion Rail for All proposals to upgrade, nationalise, and electrify the railways.

The plan includes a new cross Forth rail tunnel, which would transform journeys between Edinburgh and Fife, and up the east coast to Dundee and Aberdeen, and north to Perth and Inverness.

Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Making rail the natural choice for passengers and freight would be a strategic investment in the recovery from the COVID crisis and could play a big role in cutting transport emissions as we tackle the climate crisis too.

“Crucially, the fully costed plans from the Scottish Green Party use technology that already exists, rather than pin our hopes on new inventions that we can’t afford to wait for. This investment could alleviate congestion on our roads and open up Scotland to those who don’t drive.

“And if we’re going to show the ambition we need, there’s no place for private profit or offshore companies in providing public services. It will be up to the next parliament, elected in May, to show this ambition.

“Reopening the Edinburgh South Suburban line and better connecting our towns and cities to the wider network can transform the lives of local residents, while helping tackle our lethal levels of air pollution.”

The Rail For All report can be found here: 

https://greens.scot/sites/default/files/Rail%20For%20All.pdf

Greens: Government must ensure public funding protects community assets

The Scottish Government must take responsibility for the funding it provides to Edinburgh’s Christmas and New Year celebrations and ensure that communities and public assets are protected, according to Lothian MSP Alison Johnstone.

Ms Johnstone raised the matter at Culture Questions in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, highlighting local controversy and damage to parks and public assets caused by various events in the city, and received confirmation from the Scottish Government that it provided hundreds of thousands to support these festivities.

Alison Johnstone MSP said: “The Scottish Government must take responsibility for the funding it provides and ensure this supports our communities. Serious community concerns have been repeatedly raised about the impact of Christmas and New Year events, and we must guarantee that these issues are addressed in future.

“Clearly the primary responsibility for these events lies with the City of Edinburgh Council, but Ministers must also use their influence to ensure these events don’t negatively impact our communities.

“Princes Street Gardens’ parks are much loved and sit at the heart of a world heritage site.

“We must make sure this precious community asset is protected so that local people and visitors alike are able to enjoy these celebrations.

“The First Minister recently reminded us that wellbeing should be at the heart of our economy. If government are to live up to this, they must ensure that important public places are adequately valued.”