Proposals that place a legislative duty on health boards and care service providers to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of qualified staff on duty are to be examined by the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee. Continue reading Health and care staffing levels legislation to be examined by Holyrood Committee
There has been an incredible revolution over the past 100 years, which has transformed the lives of women. Opportunities have been created, expectations have been surpassed, and women are now on track to achieve equality. Changes in the law have empowered women to gain the right to vote, right to an education, right to divorce, the right to legal abortions, as well as provide them with a platform to advocate for issues that were not previously addressed (writes KAREN HOLDEN). Continue reading Women’s History Month: Nine laws that have transformed the lives of women
Following a consultation into the tied pub sector, over 90% of respondents called for Scottish licensees to have the same level of protection as their counterparts in England and Wales. Continue reading Call for Scottish pub reform
People in the UK are to have more control over their personal data and be better protected in the digital age under new measures announced by Digital Minister Matt Hancock today. Continue reading UK Government to strengthen data protection laws
A new law will make it easier to prosecute people who share intimate images without consent. Those convicted of the new offence of ‘disclosing, or threatening to disclose, an intimate photograph or film’ could face up to five years imprisonment under the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016. Continue reading ‘Revenge Porn’ law comes into force in Scotland
Four new laws aimed at tackling abusive behaviour and sexual harm come into force today. These include a requirement for judges to direct juries when dealing with trials relating to certain sexual offences. Continue reading Tackling abusive behaviour and sexual harm: new laws come into force today
Communities urged to take advantage of new legislation
Community groups in Scotland’s towns and cities are being encouraged to take advantage of powers allowing them to create new places for growing fruit and vegetables. Allotments provided by local authorities are in high demand and the Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, says land reform powers could help reduce waiting lists by providing more land to grow food. Continue reading Grow your own!
The Scottish Parliament is to begin scrutinising plans to give terminally ill people the right to assisted suicide. Proposals to legalise assisted suicide will today be scrutinised by MSPs on the Health and Sport Committee.
The Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill is at stage one of the parliamentary scrutiny process and the nine MSPs on the Health and Sport Committee will begin their scrutiny by questioning the legal and medical professions on their view of the proposals.
At their meeting today, the Committee will hear from the Faculty of Advocates, the Law Society of Scotland, Police Scotland and the Crown Office. They will then question the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow, the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland.
Convener of the Health and Sport Committee, Duncan McNeil MSP said:
“MSPs have a duty to scrutinise the detail behind any proposed piece of legislation, but given that this bill adjudicates on life and death, it is imperative that we robustly and transparently scrutinise what is being proposed.
“Our Committee has already received the views of over 800 people and will now start over two months of evidence, hearing from those with knowledge, expertise and interest in how the proposed bill would operate in practice.
“I want to make clear that all MSPs on the Committee will consider the evidence in front of them, question robustly our witnesses and consider carefully the implications before we reach a Committee view.”
Deputy Convener of the Committee, Bob Doris MSP said: “This legislation has the potential to polarise opinion on both sides of the debate, and as a Committee we understand the strength of feeling that these proposals generate.
“However, it is our job as a Committee to approach this subject without prejudice, take a detailed look at the proposals and consider both the written and oral evidence before taking a Committee view on any change in the law.”
