Tag: consultation

In sickness and in health: Holyrood seeks your views on primary care

A major new inquiry has been launched into the future of primary care in Scotland by MSPs on the Health and Sport Committee. The inquiry calls on people to outline their hopes for the next generation of care, using a specially designed survey. Continue reading In sickness and in health: Holyrood seeks your views on primary care

“Not fit for purpose”: Holyrood Committee calls for changes in census legislation

A Scottish Parliament Committee has found serious deficiencies in the way consultation was carried out around planned changes to the 2021 census.  In a report published today, they recommend wider consultation and propose amendments to avoid the perception that sex is being conflated with gender identity.

The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee has been scrutinising the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill in preparation for the next census which will take place in 2021. 

The bill proposes that new questions on sexual orientation and transgender identity should be voluntary. In its guidance for the bill, National Records of Scotland also proposed that the mandatory sex question should include a non-binary response option as well as male and female.

In its stage one report, MSPs found the lack of consultation with a range of organisations including a broad range of women’s groups, to be a serious deficiency in the process when considering issues of sex and transgender status. The Committee concluded that many of these issues, particularly in relation to the perceived conflation of sex and gender identity, could have been avoided if there had been an adequate process of consultation.

The Committee also recommended by a majority that the next census should continue to offer a binary male/female question in order to maximise response rates and maintain consistency with previous censuses.

Under current legislation, all census questions are compulsory apart from questions on religion. The Committee agreed that a voluntary approach to new questions on sexual orientation and gender identity/trans-status is appropriate.

Joan McAlpine MSP, Convener of the Committee said: “The purpose of the census is to accurately reflect our society and gather vital information for the provision of public services and the development of policy. However, there has been a serious lack of consultation with a range of women’s groups which has led to legislation being published which is not fit for purpose. Had a proper, robust consultation been undertaken in the first place a lot of these issues could have been avoided.

“The Committee also found that some of the language within the legislation has created confusion and a perception that the Bill conflates issues around sex and gender identity. We have recommended that the Scottish Government addresses this issue through a range of measures including amendment of the Bill at stage two.

“To maximise response rates and ensure consistency, a majority of the Committee concluded that the sex question should remain binary. People who identify as transgender or non-binary will still have the option of a separate question on their identity, which the Committee agreed should be voluntary.”

The report can be found here.

Edinburgh’s budget: still time to have your say

There’s still time to share your views on the City Council’s draft council change strategy and proposals for the 2019/20 budget.  Continue reading Edinburgh’s budget: still time to have your say

Fireworks safety: public consultation launched

Have your say on fireworks misuse at Craigroyston event

The use and regulation of fireworks is the focus of a public consultation which aims to ensure everyone can enjoy displays safely.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham launched the consultation, which asks for views on issues such as whether the sale of fireworks to the public should be banned, and what other measures can help ensure fireworks are used safely and responsibly.

Responses will inform on-going discussions about whether changes to legislation and regulation of fireworks in Scotland are needed, following concerns about their misuse and the potential impact on public safety and animal welfare.

Legislation on the sale and storage of fireworks is reserved to the UK Government while laws covering their use is devolved.

Ms Denham (above) said: “From Hogmanay to summer festivals to Diwali and Bonfire night, fireworks are a focal point of a range of celebrations through the year. Most people enjoy fireworks responsibly but if used inappropriately or without respect for others they can cause great distress or even physical injury to people and to animals.

“From conversations with members of the public and emergency service workers I am aware of concern about the use and sale of fireworks to individuals. We want to work with others to reduce the negative impact of fireworks and the public’s voice is vital in shaping our approach going forward.

“While much of existing legislation on the sale of fireworks is reserved to Westminster, we hope this consultation will identify any gaps in the law and highlight where the regulation of fireworks could be improved.”

A series of consultation events will be held across the country – and one of these will take place at Craigroyston Community High School on Wednesday 13th February from 6 – 8pm.

This is one of a series of engagement events on the Scottish Government’s Consultation on Fireworks, where individuals, communities and professionals are invited to come along to give their views.

Events will provide an opportunity to explore and discuss the use and impact – both positive and negative – of fireworks use in Scotland. A summary report will be produced from the events for the Scottish Government to consider alongside comments received online.

This is an excellent opportunity for those with an interest in discussing views and ideas on what action can be taken to ensure fireworks continue to be enjoyed safely and responsibly.

North Edinburgh has had it’s fair share of firework related antisocial behaviour. Last year North Edinburgh became one of four city dispersal zones created over the bonfire season, following criminal behaviour – and a serious injury to a local police officer – in 2017. Take this opportunity to have your say.

The Scottish Government consultation on fireworks: Your experiences, your ideas, your views is open now. The consultation runs until 13 May 2019.

 

Opportunities for older people to have their say

The Scottish Government are developing a new Older People’s Framework in 2019 and the Scottish Older People’s Assembly have been asked to help gather views to feed into this process. 

In an effort to gather as wide a range of views as possible, we have produced a questionnaire which we hope you can circulate to your networks, feature in newsletters and encourage as many people as possible to complete (within the limitations of the timescales that we have been set, which we acknowledge are very tight).

The questionnaire is available online at https://surveyhero.com/c/SOPA2019

The deadline for survey completion is Wednesday, 30th January 2019.

 We will also be holding an engagement event on Monday 4th February 2019, 10am-3:30pm at COSLA Conference Centre, Haymarket, EH12 5BH.

Places are limited and will be prioritised for SOPA members but if you are interested please register on the Eventbrite website and we will confirm availability. 

 Please follow this link to the Eventbrite website for more information and to reserve your place. 

If you have any queries, please contact Caroline Clark on the details below. 

Caroline Clark | Scottish Older People’s Assembly – Co-ordinator| Eric Liddell Centre, 15 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4DP | 0131 357 1277 |caroline@scotopa.org.uk.

The Scottish Government are currently preparing a new National Framework for Older People in Scotland. This Conference has been organised by the Scottish Older People’s Assembly to give members an opportunity to come together and make a contribution to the development of this framework.

The event will focus on the following key objectives:

  • providing an inclusive opportunity for older people to share their ideas and experiences
  • identifying and gathering examples of the positive contributions made by older people
  • identifying barriers faced by older people in a range of different aspects of life and ideas of how to break these down.
  • gathering ideas of how to combat negative perceptions and stereotypes commonly held about older people.

Please join us to share your views, ideas and experiences.

Due to limited space, we ask that a maximum of two representatives per organisation attend. If you would like additional tickets please contact Caroline Clark on 0131 3571277

If you have any dietary or access requirements that will allow you to participate fully in this event, please let us know.