TOMORROW: SCOTLAND DEMANDS BETTER

TOMORROW, Saturday 25th October, Child Poverty Action Group – alongside other members of the End Child Poverty Coalition – will be joining charities, community organisations, faith groups, trade unions and many more in a march from Holyrood to the Meadows in Edinburgh (writes CPAG Scotland’s MARIA MARSHALL). 

#ScotlandDemandsBetter has been organised to give organisations and individuals in Scotland an opportunity to make their voices heard and demand that politicians make the change needed so that every household in Scotland can thrive. 

Signs we are on the right track…

In a lot of ways, we have seen progress to tackle child poverty in the past several years, at least here in Scotland.

The passing of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act in 2017 was a watershed moment. Following the abandoning of child poverty targets by the UK Government in 2015, the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act ( unanimously backed by all of Holyrood’s parties) set targets for child poverty reduction and requirements such as a tackling child poverty delivery plan to be published by the Scottish Government every four years. 

The result of this cross-government, cross-party effort in Scotland has been to sharpen the minds of those who hold the power and drive real and tangible progress for families. 

Since then, we have seen the introduction and expansion of the Scottish child payment (SCP), first introduced in February 2021 and now worth £27.15 a week for every eligible child under 16.

This has made a real difference for many low income families.

Along with other members of End Child Poverty and the Scotland Demands Better movement we are now calling for immediate and sustained increases in its value so that it reaches £55 per week by the end of the next parliament. Investing further in the Scottish child payment is the most direct and cost-effective tool available to the Scottish government to further reduce child poverty. 

SCP is one of a suite of policy interventions in the first two delivery plans including; Best Start Foods and Best Start grant (replacing Healthy Start and Sure Start in the UK), an expanded offer of 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare, increased focus on parental employability support and the expansion of universal free school meals in primary schools (despite subsequent backtracking on promises for universal provision for P6-7 pupils too…)

Of all the interventions taken, it is the increased investment in social security in Scotland that is behind the diverging trend confirmed in the latest child poverty statistics which saw child poverty in Scotland fall by four percentage points, while rising (once again) UK-wide. Steps in the right direction for sure.    

We’ve come some way, but not far enough

So on the one hand, we have seen some real success. In December last year, research commissioned by CPAG on the costs of raising a child, found that the gap between costs and incomes for families in Scotland was narrower than the rest of the UK. However, this same research found that Scotland’s lowest-income families are still left with less than half the income they need for a minimum socially acceptable standard of living. 

Despite showing that progress had been made, this year’s child poverty statistics also confirmed that over one in five children in Scotland are still growing up in poverty. For those children, for all children, we are demanding better. 

We can shout about the progress made, but for families living on the sharp end of the cost of living crisis, this will ring hollow.  Summer holidays this year too often brought more stress and anxiety for Scottish parents than opportunities to learn and play. Like Hope, parent and participant in the Changing Realities project, who wrote in July:

“Already it has been a bit stressful. The kids are constantly hungry and “bored”  then hungry again. Which means more food shopping. I can’t afford summer clubs/camps (tennis, football, multi sports, water sports etc) as they are coming in at around £40 a day and some of them state you have to bring your own packed lunches … I also am embarrassed to take the kids to a food bank this year. So if my oldest boy is in I’ll get him to watch my youngest and tell them “I’m going shopping.”

Too many families are being denied the security and opportunity to thrive that we all deserve. But looking to the future, there should be reason to feel hope.  

Standing at the crossroads

We now have two governments, UK and Scotland, who have made a commitment to tackling child poverty. Campaigners are anxiously awaiting the UK child poverty strategy due to be published this Autumn.

Next year’s elections in Scotland also provide an opportunity for all parties, MSPs and candidates to commit to building on the progress made and delivering a better future for all of Scotland’s children.

In theory, we are at the cusp of a real opportunity for making progress on tackling child poverty. But we can also risk losing our way…

Will we build on the progress made in Scotland to meet the 2030 targets? Will the UK Government pull the levers in their power such as scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap to move us in the right direction together?

Or will we see a stalling in Scotland, resting on existing progress and unable to keep up with the rising costs squeezing low-income families? Will the UK strategy fail to tackle the true drivers of rising child poverty such as the slashing of social security support in the past 15 years?

Walking with hope

In May last year, parents from the Changing Realities project launched their own campaign ‘Hope Starts Here’ with the aim to change the narrative on the progress we need to see by shifting the focus on the potential that all children have.

One parent, Faith, expressed that: “I hope that my children will be able to have endless possibilities of what and who they want to become in the future when they grow up. There is a big world waiting out there for them.”

Faith’s words encapsulate why members of the End Child Poverty coalition will be marching together to demand better for our children. All children should have endless possibilities of what and who they want to be when they grow up. 

Better is possible. There is already ambition across the political spectrum to tackle child poverty. We now need to see the two-child limit and benefit cap scrapped at UK level, and in Scotland we need all parties to set out a clear path that will deliver year on year progress towards the 2030 targets, so that every child in Scotland can have the best possible start in life.

If you’re in Edinburgh on Saturday, please join us.

Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund allocation “wholly unacceptable”

SCOTTISH FISHERMEN BEING RIPPED OFF?

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon is calling on the UK Government to reconsider its approach to funding allocations in the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund as it is “not a fair settlement for Scotland.”

Ms Gougeon’s letter reads:

To: Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP

From: Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon 

Dear Angela,  

Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund  

Thank you for your letter of Monday 20 October setting out your intention to allocate the Scottish Government just £28 million of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund announced by your government earlier this year.  

The deal that you have presented on the share of this funding to Scotland is wholly unacceptable. As you will be aware, the Scottish fishing sector accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity and over 60% of UK seafood exports.

Moreover, more than 75% of all UK quota species is landed by Scottish vessels. Over the past several months, at both Ministerial and official level, we have set out a clear, rational, and evidence-based case for Scotland’s share of this funding to be representative of the relative size and importance of the Scottish sector, and reflect at least the 46% share Scotland previously received from the EU funding allocated to the UK.

Instead the announced allocation of just 7.78% is a grossly oversimplified approach which does not represent a fair settlement for Scotland, a position supported by key Scottish stakeholders.

It is unjustified and nothing short of insulting to the Scottish fishing industry and our coastal communities. It also disproportionately benefits your own fishing sector in England – for whom you have retained over £300 million, despite landing significantly smaller catches than Scotland.  

With the funding being spread over 12 years – and no guarantee that the commitment will even be maintained following this parliamentary term – the deal you have set out means Scotland will have a meagre £2.3 million per annum of additional funding to invest in our marine industries and coastal communities. This is nowhere near enough to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities as your letter sets out.  

This announcement is yet another negative consequence of Brexit which the people of Scotland did not vote for, but for which our businesses and communities are paying the price.

However, more than that, it demonstrates a clear misunderstanding of, and lack of care for, the Scottish fishing industry and our coastal communities by the UK Government.

The fact that this announcement was made within hours of you writing to me and my counterparts in the devolved governments in Wales and Northern Ireland, with no opportunity for discussion, also demonstrates a disappointing departure from your government’s commitment to resetting and renewing the devolution relationship and effective intergovernmental working.

This comes on the back of a similar lack of engagement on the EU deal in relation to fisheries, which will hit the Scottish sector hard. At the same time we are still assessing the likely implications of the scientific advice on mackerel and cod – which are expected to have serious negative impacts for the fishing industry in Scotland.  

I strongly urge you to reconsider this approach, and enter into discussions at the earliest possible opportunity with myself, and our colleagues in Wales and Northern Ireland, to agree an alternative approach which treats each of our respective industries and communities with the respect they deserve.  

I have copied this letter to Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies and Minister Andrew Muir for awareness of the Scottish Government’s position.  

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Mairi Gougeon

The Scottish fishing industry has condemned the UK Government’s “grossly unfair” allocation of funding from its £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

Read our full statement below:

Walk-in GP clinics to open in Scotland

Improving access to primary care

A network of walk-in GP clinics will open as part of work to improve access to primary care.

The clinics, which would be staffed by GPs, nurses and support staff, will be open seven days a week, 12:00-20:00, in addition to existing primary care services. They will provide a range of same-day assessments, diagnostics and treatment.

Fifteen clinics in sites across Scotland will proceed initially to test the benefits for patients.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Improving access to primary care and shifting more care into the community is central for this Government.

“As part of this, we are taking forward new and innovative ways to improve access to primary care, including the benefits of local walk-in GP clinics.

“These will be in addition to core GP services and will offer additional flexibility for patients. These will be designed in collaboration with NHS Boards, GPs and other partners to ensure they strengthen existing services.”

The announcement was made by First Minister John Swinney at the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen yesterday.

The Holyrood elections take place next May.

Starmer welcomes hostages release

The last 20 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are now back in Israel after spending more than two years in captivity.

The hostages were kidnapped by Hamas during the 7 October2023 attacks

Hamas says it will also hand over the remains of four dead hostages later today, but has told mediators it does not know the location of some of the other 24.

Israel has released almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the release of hostages in Gaza.

Starmer, who has travelled to the middle east, said: “I share the deep feeling of relief as hostages are released today.

“It is now crucial that we work together to implement President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.”

Views sought on Bill which would recognise digital assets as property

Proposed legislation which aims to recognise digital assets as property in the eyes of the law will be scrutinised by a Holyrood Committee.

The Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee has launched a call for views on the Scottish Government’s Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill is designed to incorporate the ownership and transfer of digital assets into Scots law.

In recent decades, the use and importance of digital assets has become widespread. There is, however, little case law relating to new forms of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, to help individuals, businesses and legal practitioners in their dealings with such assets.

The Bill confirms that digital assets can be recognised as incorporeal moveable property. If passed, the Bill would confirm how ownership can be established and acquired, providing greater legal certainty for tech developers, digital asset owners and the legal profession.

As of 2025, approximately 10% of adults in Scotland – around 540,000 people – own some form of cryptocurrency.

Economy and Fair Work Convener, Daniel Johnson MSP, said: “Scotland’s financial technology (FinTech) sector contributes £14billion to the Scottish economy.

“This Bill could help provide the answers needed about digital assets as objects of property and support ongoing innovation and investment in the sector.

“We are keen to hear from legal practitioners, academics and anyone with an interest in digital assets about whether they support the provisions in the Bill. We also want to hear what other actions could be required to support businesses and individuals in their dealings with digital assets.”

Murdo Fraser comments ‘not racist’

A CALL FOR UNDERSTANDING AND UNITY

In my role as Chairman and President of the Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, which also oversees the Buddhist Council, I have been asked to comment on recent remarks made by Murdo Fraser MSP, following the departure of Rangers FC manager, Russell Martin (writes NEIL LAL).

Mr Fraser’s post on social media – “No more vegans, Buddhists or Green Party members please @RangersFC” – sparked debate among Buddhists, vegans, and some environmentally conscious individuals.

As the lead organisation committed to representing and protecting diverse communities across Scotland and the UK, we felt it was important to independently assess the situation in a fair, measured and constructive manner.

Findings of Our Investigation:

After engaging with community leaders, interfaith representatives, and those mentioned in the comments, we undertook a thorough investigation to determine whether Murdo Fraser’s remarks constituted intentional racism, religious discrimination, or targeted exclusion.

We can now formally state the conclusion of our investigation:

⁠Murdo Fraser MSP has been CLEARED of any intentional racism or discrimination.

Our findings indicate the comment was not posted with malice or deliberate prejudice. It was a remark made in the emotionally charged context of a sports discussion – a space where passions often run high and words, which are intended to be humorous, can be misinterpreted. 

That does not remove the responsibility public figures carry, but it does offer context. We accept Mr Fraser’s remarks were not intended to target the Buddhist community, vegans, or supporters of the Green Party with hate or exclusion.

A Positive Way Forward:

Rather than fuelling division or prolonging misunderstanding, we believe this is a moment to encourage further dialogue.

To that end, we are extending a formal invitation to Murdo Fraser MSP to visit a Buddhist temple, where he will be welcomed by myself, as Chairman of the Indian Council, and by Mrs Warakant McLaughlin, Chair of the Buddhist Counciland Head Monk Samak.

Scotland is a proudly diverse and inclusive nation. At the Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, we champion unity, understanding, and peaceful coexistence.

We believe in calling out intentional harm when it occurs, but we also believe in allowing space for reflection, conversation, and learning when offence is caused unintentionally. We also recognise that humour is also an important ingredient in public discourse.

From our perspective, this matter is concluded, and we look forward to a constructive and respectful engagement between Murdo Fraser MSP and the Buddhist community.

NEIL LAL

Chairman & President
Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom

£84 million injection to tackle homelessness in England

£84m cash boost to help prevent homelessness and support families this winter and immediate help for children and families in temporary accommodation

  • New £84m cash boost to help prevent homelessness and support families this winter
  • Immediate help for children and families in temporary accommodation at heart of new package
  • Announced on World Homeless Day, the funding builds on the record £1 billion investment this year to end homelessness and rough sleeping

Thousands of people facing homelessness will be supported by a new £84 million cash injection to councils up and down the country – ahead of winter.

Children and families in temporary accommodation will be prioritised – with the funding to go towards helping families to cover the essentials like food, school travel and laundry. The new funding, which will support children to remain in education, will be announced on World Homeless Day (10 October).

It comes as record levels of households are in temporary accommodation, including nearly 170,000 children. Levels of rough sleeping have more than doubled since 2010.

Areas with the highest pressures, such as London, will be in line for the additional funding to tackle homelessness this year. This comes on top of the government’s almost £1 billion investment to tackle homelessness this year and includes the largest ever investment in prevention services, helping councils intervene early and stop homelessness before it happens.

The investment provides tailored services for those experiencing long-term rough sleeping – including mental health support, drug and alcohol treatment and sustainable accommodation – ensuring people get the help they need to rebuild their lives.

Housing Secretary, Steve Reed said: “Homelessness is a moral stain on our society. Growing numbers of people have been abandoned to sleep rough on the streets and children left in squalid, overcrowded conditions.  

“This government will not stand idly by and allow that to continue. We will make different choices. That’s why we are investing £1 billion to give homeless people the security of a roof over their heads and get back on track to end homelessness for good.”

Yesterday’s investment supports delivery of the Plan for Change, in addition to: 

  • £950 million to increase the supply of good temporary accommodation. 
  • Abolishing ‘no fault’ evictions through the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill. 
  • £39 billion investment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation. 

Homelessness Minister, Alison McGovern said: “You can’t have a decent life without a decent home. Whether it’s rough sleeping or sofa surfing or, at its worst, children stuck in B&Bs, homelessness in the UK has been too high for too long.  

“This has to stop. Through our Plan for Change, the UK will build homes and get help to those who need it to put a roof over their head.

“We’re providing extra cash now to address a crisis made over the past decade.  Both the government’s £39bn to build social and affordable homes and the Child Poverty Strategy to come will tackle the root causes of this problem, but we need action now to stop homelessness getting any worse.”

Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “This funding is very welcome, especially as winter approaches and with homelessness rising. More people are likely to face the prospect of sleeping on cold streets and need support urgently. More parents will be working out how to help their children do homework from cramped and draughty temporary accommodation.

“We know that targeted support can make a big difference and help people take their first steps out of homelessness.

“We hope this announcement marks another step towards an ambitious homelessness strategy. Alongside a concerted effort to build social housing at scale, and ensuring all parts of Government make their contribution to ending homelessness, we can create a safer and more prosperous future for people and families across the country.”

The £84m cash injection includes:  

  • Nearly £70 million for the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant. This is flexible funding for 62 local authorities to prevent people sleeping rough and help them stay off the streets. This could mean strengthening local services on offer, partnering with charities and community organisations, providing sustainable accommodation to help people sleeping rough and specialist physical and mental health support workers and treatment.  
      
  • Nearly £11 million to help families with children living in temporary accommodation access basic facilities like Wi-Fi, laundry, travel passes for school and uniform, and help pay for food and leisure activities. While the number of children and families living in B&Bs continues to fall under this government, more must be done to get those that need it into safe, secure homes. This funding will be directed to 61 areas with the highest numbers of children in temporary accommodation to make sure that they can have access to facilities they need and support with costs while they are there.  
       
  • £3 million increase for the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment element of the wider Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Recovery and Improvement Grant. This funding will be directed to 83 local authorities and a pan-London project, targeted at lifesaving support to people with drug or alcohol related issues who are sleeping rough and at risk of homelessness, including those with co-occurring mental health needs.   
  • An uplift of £200,000 for the Voluntary, Community and Frontline Sector Grant which supports innovative faith and community-led initiatives such as night shelters to reduce the number of people experiencing repeat homelessness.    

This funding is supporting the government’s Plan for Change to drive long-term improvements to health and education, ensuring both families and children can truly thrive and forms part of the government’s forthcoming homelessness and child poverty strategies.     

  • World Homeless Day takes place every year on 10 October, raising awareness of the need to prevent and end homelessness and alleviate the suffering of those experiencing it. World Mental Health Day also takes place on 10 October every year – another important topic in homelessness and rough sleeping prevention.   
  • Regional breakdown for total funding being allocated to local authorities is as follows:  
  • London:  £36.5m  
  • South East: £9.6m  
  • South West: £9.1m  
  • East of England: £4m  
  • East Midlands:   £5.3m  
  • West Midlands:  £4.4m  
  • North East:  £1.5m  
  • North West:  £8.2m  
  • Yorkshire & Humber: £5.2m  
  • Total: £83.8m (to note, £200k is allocated to VCFS organisations and is therefore not included in the above regional breakdown as this is for local authority funding only)  
  • The latest government figures show positive signs of fewer people needing help from the homelessness system across the last year. Between January and March 2025, 83,450 households were assessed as owed a duty to prevent or relieve homelessness, which is lower compared to the record high in the same period in 2024.    
  • The number of households with children in B&B has continued to fall since June 2024 when it was 5,910 – at the end of March 2025 it was 3,870.    
  • There is also a continued drop in households with children in B&Bs for more than the statutory 6 weeks – at the end of June 2024 there were 3,770 households compared to the end of March 2025 where there were 2,300.   
  • The government also confirmed it will repeal the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824 by Spring next year, to ensure rough sleeping is no longer a criminal offence: Rough sleeping to be decriminalised after 200 years  – GOV.UK 

OOR BILLY

BILLY FITZPATRICK HAS DIED AFTER A PERIOD OF ILL HEALTH

Billy’s family posted this very sad news on Facebook yesterday:

This morning he passed away at the Western General surrounded by loves ones.

He asked that friends, family, acquaintances, people from his beloved North Edinburgh, and old comrades were given the news when the time came, and in his own words he had a good kick at the baw.

When funeral arrangements are made we’ll update again, thanks x

A proud trade unionist and a popular local councillor who fought for his community, Billy went on to share his negotiating skills and vast experience when he retired from front-line party politics.

Billy supported a number of important community projects, including Granton Information Centre, Royston Wardieburn Community Centre (he chaired both of these long-established community organisations) and North Edinburgh Arts.

Proud ‘Roystoner’ Billy featured in the recent ‘Quiet Heroes‘ exhibition at Madelvic House granton:hub.

Billy wasn’t always so quiet – it’s fair to say that oor Billy could be passionate, fiery even, and he had his fair share of brushes with the Labour Party hierarchy! – but Royston’s very own Quiet Hero fought North Edinburgh’s corner loyally for over forty years.

A genuine working class community stalwart, they just don’t make politicians like Billy Fitzpatrick any more. And our communities, our cities and our country are all the poorer for that.

Farewell, Billy, my dear old Comrade. We shared many good times together, and some dreadful ones too. Throughout all that time, you never changed: loyal, steadfast and honest to the very end.

How we will miss you.

John Swinney: A Fresh Start with Independence

FM: Scots should make choices that best serve Scotland’s interests

Independence would give the people of Scotland new opportunities to improve their standards of living, according to a new paper published by First Minister John Swinney.

‘A Fresh Start with Independence’ examines how an independent Scotland would be able to improve the economy and the NHS, and tackle issues such as household finances, pensions, social security, migration, energy and defence.

The paper states that the Scottish Government has worked hard to improve the lives of people living in Scotland using devolved powers but it would only be able to fully capitalise on the nation’s potential with independence.

The First Minister said: “I firmly believe that the people who live in Scotland are best placed to make decisions about Scotland. That is the fundamental democratic and practical argument underpinning the case that we make.

“Too many people in Scotland today do not have a decent standard of living and are finding it difficult to make ends meet. That is because standards of living in the UK have improved little in over 10 years, due to a failing economic system and Westminster decisions such as austerity and the disastrous decision to leave the European Union. Scotland did not support austerity and it did not support Brexit. The reality is Westminster is not working for Scotland.

“The Scottish Government works tirelessly to use the powers of devolution to deliver the very best for Scotland. Much good has been achieved through the expansion of early learning and childcare, the introduction of free university tuition, the expansion of the rail network, the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing of alcohol, the creation of the Scottish Child Payment and many other measures.

“But Scotland needs to be able to improve the opportunities available to our people, our communities and our businesses. Scotland needs to build a stronger, more inclusive economy that works for all. Those possibilities would only be available to Scotland with the fresh start of independence.

“We have shown that when we have the power to decide for ourselves, we find solutions and make choices that best serve Scotland’s interests. I believe Scotland can and will become a successful independent country, with a more dynamic economy and a fairer society.”

The Scottish Conservatives don’t agree, oddly enough:

A Fresh Start with Independence – gov.scot

Holyrood Committee agrees general principles of Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill

The introduction of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill has been welcomed by the Economy and Fair Work Committee, who believe it has the potential to play a vital role in improving the lives of people across Scotland.

The Bill would place a duty on all local authorities to work with public bodies to adopt a community wealth building (CWB) partnership approach. According to the Bill, this would help communities to generate and retain wealth locally and give communities a greater stake in Scotland’s economy.

However, the Committee’s Stage 1 report says that, although the Bill creates an obligation to act, it may not, on its own, enable or necessarily drive implementation.

Success will depend on the strength of the accompanying statement by Scottish Ministers that clearly sets out the intended policy outcomes, and the provision of clear and consistent Scottish Government guidance that helps CWB partnerships to produce action plans.

Under the Bill, CWB partnerships will be required to publish and report on the measures being taken, or which will be taken, to empower communities and strengthen local economies. Examples include buying locally, supporting job opportunities, and including fair work criteria in procurement contracts.

Complementary legislative and policy reforms to shift economic power to local communities will also be crucial, such as compulsory purchase orders to support the acquisition of land or property for community use.

As part of the Committee’s scrutiny, members visited Alloa and Irvine to observe different local CWB approaches in practice. MSPs heard about the many benefits, including safer and more vibrant neighbourhoods, improved facilities and transport links, increased employment opportunities, and a stronger sense of community pride and wellbeing.

Committee Convener, Daniel Johnson MSP said: “Our Committee recognises the transformative potential of community wealth building, when supported by local authorities and other public bodies.

“The Bill is a significant step toward empowering communities and promoting inclusive economic development across Scotland.

“But an obligation to act imposed by the legislation may not, on its own, drive implementation. Quality guidance to support action plans, and a clear policy statement from Scottish Ministers will help to support that.”

Further legislative and policy changes will also be essential to fully realise the Bill’s aims, the Committee heard. During evidence, stakeholders consistently highlighted the importance of reforms in areas such as compulsory sale orders, procurement practices, community empowerment and asset transfer.

The Convener added: “The Committee agrees these changes are vital and asks the Scottish Government to outline how the broader policy landscape will be adapted to support the Bill’s success.”