Deidre Brock MP co-sponsored a Bill coming before parliament today (Wednesday) calling for asylum seekers to be given the right to work. Continue reading Brock backs bill to let asylum seekers work
Tag: Politics
Letters: Unfit for office
Dear Editor
The increasing number of statements made recently by Defence Minister Gavin Williamson (above) during tours both at home and abroad are extremely disturbing.
In one statement he calls for the establishment of more military bases around the world, in another he calls for increased support to back Ukranian forces in their dispute with Russia.
His latest statement – calling for an aircraft carrier to be sent to the Yellow Sea – shows, in my opinion, he is quite unsuited to be in any position of government.
A. Delahoy
Silverknowes Gardens
Auld Alliance: FM calls for EU nationals to stay in Scotland
The Scottish Government will increase its efforts to encourage EU citizens to remain in Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will confirm in an address to the Assemblée Nationale, the lower house of the French Parliament, later today. Ms Sturgeon will describe the UK’s decision to end Freedom of Movement as part of its Brexit deal as a ‘self-defeating measure.’ Continue reading Auld Alliance: FM calls for EU nationals to stay in Scotland
Auld Alliance: now Nicola’s off to Paris
Trade links highlighted during Paris visit
Steps to increase trade with Scotland’s third largest export market will be progressed by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a two-day visit to France this week.
The First Minister will a lead a delegation of technology companies who will showcase their products and services to French partners, academics and customers in Paris.
Latest figures show France is Scotland’s third largest international export market worth an estimated £2.4 billion to the Scottish economy.
During the visit the First Minister will address the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Assemblée Nationale, the lower house of the French Parliament on Tuesday, meet Minister for European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau and officially open the Scottish Government’s France Hub.
The First Minister said: “The relationship between Scotland and France is one of the oldest in the world.
“France is our third largest export market and French-based firms play a key part in our economy, with investments in financial services and our food and drink industry.
“By promoting trade and investment, and officially launching our new hub in Paris, the Scottish Government is working to show Scotland is open for business and an attractive place to invest, visit, work and live.
“Despite the challenges we face as a result of Brexit the Scottish Government will continue to do all we can to show the world that we are an open and outward looking country.”
Game Over? Brock warns of Brexit threat to Scotland’s Games Industry
Local MP Deidre Brock has warned that leaving the EU single market will severely damage Scotland’s world-leading games industry. Continue reading Game Over? Brock warns of Brexit threat to Scotland’s Games Industry
People in poverty must not pay the price for Brexit, say charities
A coalition of charities have urged the Government to take urgent steps to protect people and places in poverty from the financial consequences of Brexit, including no-deal. Continue reading People in poverty must not pay the price for Brexit, say charities
UK Government must immediately rule out ‘no deal’ Brexit, says Sturgeon
Scottish Government steps up ‘no deal’ preparations
Continue reading UK Government must immediately rule out ‘no deal’ Brexit, says Sturgeon
Miles Briggs: Edinburgh Council “out of touch” on SNP Car Park Tax
“The SNP / Labour run Edinburgh City Council seem to tax hard working people at any chance they get, whether that is for garden waste collection or to go to work.” – Miles Briggs MSP
Continue reading Miles Briggs: Edinburgh Council “out of touch” on SNP Car Park Tax
“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.
Mundell: “Devolution is working well”
The UK Government today handed over the last of the powers which the Scotland Act 2016 transfers to the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell welcomed the significant landmark which means Holyrood can now legislate in every area where the Scotland Act 2016 has given it power to do so – reinforcing its standing as ‘one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world’. Continue reading Mundell: “Devolution is working well”