An app which allows disabled visitors to personalise the assistance they need has been launched at the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading You’re Welcome: New app to help disabled visitors access Holyrood Parliament launched
Tag: Holyrood
Social Prescribing: can it really improve health and wellbeing?
A new Scottish Parliament inquiry is seeking views on social prescribing’s ability to tackle health and wellbeing issues in people across Scotland. Continue reading Social Prescribing: can it really improve health and wellbeing?
Holyrood Committee urges immediate halt to latest Universal Credit rollout
Holyrood’s Social Security Committee has called on the DWP to urgently halt the launch of its latest pilot. It would see those receiving working tax credits moved on to Universal Credit and potentially subject to in-work conditionality including sanctions. Continue reading Holyrood Committee urges immediate halt to latest Universal Credit rollout
Work with us on immigration, Ben Macpherson urges UK Government
Migration Minister Ben Macpherson has urged the Home Office to work with the Scottish Government and stakeholders on an immigration policy that addresses the particular problems experienced by remote communities – and proposed that Scotland pilot a different approach. Continue reading Work with us on immigration, Ben Macpherson urges UK Government
MSPs seek health professionals’ views on the future of primary care
The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee is seeking the views of health professionals across Scotland as they embark on the second phase of their inquiry into primary care. Continue reading MSPs seek health professionals’ views on the future of primary care
Over 100,000 children to be hit by Two-Child Cap in Edinburgh
TORY GOVERNMENT MUST SCRAP “HEARTLESS” POLICY – SNP
13.1% of the total number of children in Edinburgh could be affected by the two-child cap, according to new research – prompting more calls for the UK Government to scrap the “heartless” policy.
The “two-child policy” allows low-income families to claim child tax credits or universal credit for their first two children only.
New research from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) (see report, below)has revealed that 160,000 families have had their income slashed by the two-child limit to-date. The charity estimates that more than 3 million children across the UK could eventually be affected by the benefit cap.
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald said: “Social security should be a safety net for all of us, but the two-child limit is having a devastating effect on families up and down the country, with 10,305 children in Edinburgh set to be affected by it.
“All families are valuable and worthy of support, but this heartless policy turns people away when they most need support, and leaves children to grow up in hardship – which can have lifelong consequences for their health and wellbeing.
“The SNP government has been left to pick up the pieces, investing over £125 million to mitigate callous Tory welfare policies.
“In addition, the Scottish Government is introducing a Scottish Child Payment to tackle child poverty. Without the two-child cap, this payment could go so much further.
“We have an aging population and we will be relying on children and young people in the years to come.
“The next Tory Prime Minister should make it a priority to tackle the unacceptable levels of poverty we are seeing as a direct result of the UK Government’s welfare policies, starting with reversing the two-child limit and horrendous ‘rape clause.”
MSPs call for formal role in new Scottish bank
The creation of a Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) has been backed unanimously by MSPs on the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee who have called for a formal role when it comes to setting the long-term focus of the Bank’s work.
Continue reading MSPs call for formal role in new Scottish bank
Have your say on political participation
What impact will new laws have on political participation? This is the question that Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is asking as it launches a call for views on the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill.
The Bill extends candidacy rights for Scottish Parliament and local government elections for foreign nationals, as well as setting out a number of changes to the electoral franchise in Scotland.
These changes include provisions extending the electoral franchise to include all those with a legal right to live in Scotland and extending the right to vote to some prisoners.
Now the Committee is asking what effect this will have on political participation in Scotland.
Committee Convener, Bill Kidd MSP said: “Although the Bill before us is small, its ambition is clear. By extending the right of who can stand in Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections, it is aiming to increase diversity and of course political participation.
“But we want to hear about how this would work in practice and whether this change really will have an impact on who gets involved in politics.”
More information about the Committee’s call for views can be found here.
Deadline for responses is 6 September.
Holyrood: Industry leaders must ‘take ownership’ in tackling construction challenges
Industry leaders should ‘take ownership’ when it comes to tackling longstanding challenges within the construction industry MSPs on the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee said today.
The call comes as a result of the Committee’s inquiry into Scotland’s construction sector. Continue reading Holyrood: Industry leaders must ‘take ownership’ in tackling construction challenges
Holyrood committee asks: Are Scotland’s roads properly funded?
The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee is looking for views from a wide range of road users on the effectiveness of the current approach to road maintenance in Scotland and whether current funding levels are sufficient. Continue reading Holyrood committee asks: Are Scotland’s roads properly funded?