Tag: Politics

Young women’s voices to be heard at Holyrood

A group of young women from across Scotland will today take over a Holyrood committee room as part of a project to increase political involvement.

The Young Women Lead project, which is run by the Young Women’s Movement, is a leadership programme for young women aged 30 and under and aims to increase political participation and connect a diverse range of voices to Scottish politics.

The project will see the group hold a series of committee meetings at the Scottish Parliament in order to gain more experience of how the Scottish Parliament works.

Chaired by Deputy Presiding Officer, Linda Fabiani MSP, the committee meetings will see the group hear from a range of witnesses on the issue of sexual violence, particularly sexual harassment experienced by women in education, a topic chosen by the young women themselves.

Speaking ahead of today’s meeting, Deputy Presiding Officer, Linda Fabiani MSP said: “I am thrilled to be involved in the Young Women Lead project, a project which is designed to not only help young women across Scotland find their voices but to ensure that these diverse and underrepresented voices are heard in the Scottish Parliament.

“The topic which the group has chosen to explore is something that all too many women will have faced in their lives – sexual harassment and violence experienced in education. It speaks volumes for the passion and commitment of these young women that they are willing to tackle such an important subject and I am looking forward to seeing the impact they make.

At today’s meeting, the group will hear from Scottish Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, Girlguiding Scotland and Zero Tolerance before meeting again at Holyrood on Friday 20 April and Friday 18 May.

Jemma Tracey from the Young Women’s Movement said: “Young Women Lead presents a unique opportunity to have young women in all their diversity feed into Scottish politics.

“It is such a privilege for us as organisation to have partnered with the Scottish Parliament in co-designing this pilot programme with young women.

“The Young Women Lead programme also supports young self-identifying women to develop leadership skills, knowledge of human rights issues, and their own professional networks. We’re aiming high, and we cannot wait to see how this programme develops. “

One of the participants in the project, Emily Davis said: “100 years ago, the first group of women in the UK got the right to vote. Young Women Lead allows us to stand together in the Scottish Parliament building and form our own parliamentary committee. That blows my mind. I know life is still hard as a woman. But this would have not have been possible years ago. I wish those brave women could see us now.”

Set a date, Scottish Affairs Committee tells RBS chief

The Scottish Affairs Committee has written to Ross McEwan, CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland, with a final request to set a date to appear the Committee. The Committee has raised a number of questions that remain unanswered in relation to plans to close 62 RBS branches in Scotland, and subsequent announcement of a partial reprieve for ten branches. Continue reading Set a date, Scottish Affairs Committee tells RBS chief

NHS Lothian A&E waiting times worst in Scotland over February

Latest figures have revealed that NHS Lothian is the worst performing Health Board in Scotland for A & E waiting times. Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs MSP says it’s another example of SNP Ministers failing people in Lothian. Continue reading NHS Lothian A&E waiting times worst in Scotland over February

Westminster Government must do more to protect employment rights and tackle poor employment practices

The Scottish Affairs Committee has welcomed much of the Government’s response to the Taylor review of employment practices, but has called on the Government to do more to protect the rights of employees and workers in a rapidly evolving work environment. Continue reading Westminster Government must do more to protect employment rights and tackle poor employment practices

SNP welcome shock collar ban commitment from UK Government

PUBLIC PRESSURE BRINGS END TO “UNNECESSARY AND CRUEL” PRACTICE

Reports suggest that electric shock collar devices used on dogs will be banned by Westminster “within weeks”, following sustained public pressure and a campaign led by the SNP. Continue reading SNP welcome shock collar ban commitment from UK Government

Scottish Affairs Committee to investigate delivery charges

The Scottish Affairs Committee is to hold a one off session to investigate delivery charges for online purchases. Tuesday’s session will feature major online retailers, delivery companies and organisations that have looked into delivery charges,  including Ofcom and Citizens Advice Scotland.  Continue reading Scottish Affairs Committee to investigate delivery charges

Show some respect: Holyrood action on ‘hated’ benefits assessments

Scottish Greens yesterday successfully pushed for a duty to be placed on government to consider existing evidence before ordering additional assessments for devolved social security benefits.

Assessments for the controversial Personal Independence Payment, which thousands of Scots have been called for, can be stressful and humiliating and in many cases not necessary because there is sufficient existing medical and other evidence.

At a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Social Security Committee, the Minister for Social Security, Jeane Freeman, accepted the intention of the amendment from Alison Johnstone MSP and pledged to work with her to implement its intentions before the Bill passes, likely this summer.

Speaking after the meeting, Lothian MSP Ms Johnstone, said: “If we are to found this new system on the principles of dignity and respect, then we should protect applicants from unnecessary assessments that cause distress.

“I am pleased to hear that the Scottish Government accept the principle of my amendment, and have agreed to work with me to ensure the final bill enshrines a duty for existing evidence to be considered by the Scottish Government before an assessment can be ordered.”

Citizens Advice Scotland describe such a move as “the highest priority for the Scottish social security system”.

The move comes after two earlier successes. The Scottish Social Security system will now include a principle that social security should reduce poverty, as a result of a Green amendment now passed.

Also as a result of a Green amendment, the Scottish Government has now recognised the unfair situation faced by carers who care for more than one person. Alison Johnstone has raised the issue that Carer’s Allowance claimants who care for more than one person yet receive no recognition of this. This can mean that some carers miss out on the support altogether.

Jeane Freeman said: “I fully appreciate the point that Ms Johnstone makes, and the fact that many of Scotland’s carers are splitting their hours of care between more than one person and might be missing out on support despite having significant caring responsibilities.

“I am also sympathetic to the principle that we should recognise a wider range of caring situations and ensure that we are providing support to those who need it. I want to ensure that we fully support carers, as I know Ms Johnstone does.”

Alison Johnstone added: “Greens are helping to build a fairer Scotland. As a result of Green action, the new social security system will have the overriding aim to reduce poverty and the Scottish Government has pledged to look at the situation facing people who have multiple caring responsibilities, which Greens raised.

And today, the Scottish Government has accepted the Green manifesto pledge to significantly reduce the number of unfair benefits assessments by making better use of existing evidence.”

Macpherson MSP said that SNP Scottish Government amendments passed yesterday were ground-breaking in ensuring anyone challenging a decision on their social security entitlements will not experience a gap in financial support.

Local SNP MSP Ben Macpherson, who sits on Holyrood’s Social Security Committee said: “Amendments brought forward by Minister for Social Security Jeane Freeman mean that through short-term assistance payments, people will continue to have financial support when redeterminations or appeals are undertaken.

“This is an extremely positive and ground-breaking move that will ensure any claimant wishing to challenge decisions about their benefits entitlements will not be faced with suddenly having no financial support while their appeal is made.

“This means that, unlike the current DWP system, no-one will face the cliff-edge of suddenly losing much needed benefits while they wait for decisions to be taken about their future payments.

“The Scottish Government is making clear on the face of the Social Security Bill that nobody will be left in the lurch, or be pushed into crisis, while an independent body scrutinises their appeals, and their payments will be maintained at the original level throughout any such appeal.

“This will be an extremely important and positive function of a Social Security System in Scotland that is embedded in dignity and respect and with peoples’ right to social security firmly at its heart – and I am proud to have played my part in shaping it.”

Creative Scotland funding process ‘completely unsatisfactory’, says Holyrood committee

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‘Completely unsatisfactory’ is the view of a Scottish Parliament Committee on hearing Creative Scotland’s response to questions about its Regular Funding process. Continue reading Creative Scotland funding process ‘completely unsatisfactory’, says Holyrood committee