An inquiry into the future of funding for the arts in Scotland has been launched by MSPs on the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee. Continue reading Arts Funding: have your say
Tag: Scottish Parliament
New Holyrood exhibition celebrates inspirational women across Scotland
A new digital exhibit that celebrates the lives and achievements of one hundred women across the country has gone on display at the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading New Holyrood exhibition celebrates inspirational women across Scotland
Are hospitals bad for your health?
The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee has today started an inquiry to identify the scale of health problems linked to the healthcare environment in Scotland. Continue reading Are hospitals bad for your health?
“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”
Holyrood committee to investigate the impact of Social Security on rented housing
Scotland’s Social Security Committee has launched an inquiry into whether the social security system adequately supports tenants in both the private rented sector and social housing. Continue reading Holyrood committee to investigate the impact of Social Security on rented housing
MSPs to study range of subject choice in Scotland’s schools
Is the range of subject choice in schools impacting on the future of Scotland’s young people? This will be examined in a new Holyrood inquiry announced today. Continue reading MSPs to study range of subject choice in Scotland’s schools
Young people invited to set out their future hopes for the Scottish Parliament
Young people from across Scotland are being asked to send a letter to the Scottish Parliament setting out their hopes and aspirations for the institution over the next 20 years. Continue reading Young people invited to set out their future hopes for the Scottish Parliament
Holyrood committee backs opt-out organ donation change
The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee have expressed their support for a bill which would see Scotland move to an organ donation system with consent to donate presumed unless a person opts out. Continue reading Holyrood committee backs opt-out organ donation change
Twenty years of Holyrood: short film competition launched
Student film-makers are being encouraged to enter a nation-wide competition to produce a short film on the impact the Scottish Parliament has had in their area. Continue reading Twenty years of Holyrood: short film competition launched