Tag: Scottish Parliament

International Women’s Day event will celebrate the role of Scottish Women during COVID-19

The frontline role of women across Scotland in dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is to be celebrated as part of a virtual event, to be held on International Women’s Day.

The event, being organised by the Scottish Women’s Convention and the Scottish Parliament will be held on Monday (8 March), in the Scottish Parliament’s ‘virtual chamber’.

The experiences of those working at the heart of tackling the pandemic, including Erin Moffat, a critical care nurse; Cynthia Osayamwen, a care assistant; Clare McInally, a trade unionist; Mary Boyd, a student nurse and Pam Duncan-Glancy, a disability, equality and human rights activist, will be heard.

Women of all ages, and from across Scotland are being invited to sign up for this free event and to listen to a line-up of interesting and engaging speakers, who have all played vital roles in the fight against coronavirus.

The event will be chaired by Linda Fabiani, Deputy Presiding Officer. She said: “Women have undoubtedly risen to the many challenges that Covid-19 has thrown at them, often juggling so many different priorities, at home, at work and in their communities.  I am delighted that this event will allow us a virtual platform from which to celebrate and recognise their many achievements.

“This annual event is usually held in our Debating Chamber, with hundreds of women joining us in person. Whilst we can’t do that this year, we will continue to help support women, acknowledging the challenges they face and their collective hopes and aspirations for the future.”

Other speakers addressing the event will include: 

• Linda Bauld, Professor of Public Health, The University of Edinburgh;
• Elaine C Smith, one of Scotland’s best-known performers;
• Monica Lennon MSP, Scottish Labour Party spokesperson on Economy & Fair Work;
• Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security & Older People;
• Alison Johnstone MSP, Co-leader of the Scottish Green Party;
• Caron Lindsay, Scottish Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Equalities.
• Margaret Mitchell MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety.

Those attending will also hear a pre-recorded video message from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP.

Agnes Tolmie, Chair, Scottish Women’s Convention, said: “This year our event is being held online and this enables us as an organisation to reach out to more women than ever before bringing women together from different cultures and backgrounds across Scotland and Internationally to celebrate all of their achievements during the current Pandemic. 

“The SWC have been showcasing Women in Scotland’s contributions since January with daily nominations in the run up to this event and what it has highlighted is the far-ranging achievements of women during one of the most difficult periods in our history.  

“Women make up more than 50 per cent of the Scottish population and have been hardest hit by COVID but looking at the wonderful work Women in Scotland have been doing, we thought we should use our event to celebrate them. We look forward to an evening of inspiring and motivational contributions which highlight women achievements during this time”

Taking place on Monday (8 March 2021), from 6pm until 8pm, the event is free to attend and can be accessed as below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-womens-day-2021-tickets

Report of the first Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland welcomed by Holyrood Parliament

The Scottish Parliament debated the report of Scotland’s first Citizens’ Assembly on Thursday 18 February.

MSPs welcomed the Assembly’s shared vision and 60 recommendations for the country’s future, ahead of an action plan on the Assembly’s findings to be published by the next Scottish Government and a further debate to be held by the new Parliament following the election in May.

Parties were urged to take forward the Assembly’s work through manifesto pledges.

The debate can be viewed here.

The Assembly’s report was published last month. The vision and recommendations were agreed by an overwhelming consensus of members, and cover a wide range of areas including future citizens’ assemblies, incomes and poverty, tax and the economy, health and wellbeing, support for young people, sustainability and further powers for the Scottish Parliament.

Following the report’s publication, Assembly members met virtually to discuss their vision and recommendations with ministers from the Scottish Government, including the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs Michael Russell and a number of other ministers. 

Last week, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Futures Forum held an event convened by the Presiding Officer which brought together members of the Assembly, a political panel and a number of MSPs to discuss and consider the vision and recommendations of the Assembly ahead of the Parliamentary debate on Thursday. 

The report of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland can be read online at citizensassembly.scot

To accompany the report, a short film on the Vision and Recommendations agreed by the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland, and featuring the voices of members is here: 

Our Vision and Recommendations – YouTube

And a second one that considers the deliberative process is here:

Finding common ground through deliberation – YouTube

All of the materials including evidence from previous weekends, an interim report and range of supporting papers covering previous work and articles and videos about the impact of COVID-19, together with recordings of plenary sessions, are available on the Assembly website 

www.citizensassembly.scot 

Scotland has another Citizens’ Assembly underway. Scotland’s Climate Assembly is tackling the question: “How should Scotland change to tackle the climate emergency in an effective and fair way?” and will continue its work over the next few months.

Best wishes,

Citizens’ Assembly Secretariat

Salmond: At last … it’s time to talk

Former First Minister Alex Salmond will give evidence to the Committee on the Scottish Government’s Handling of Harassment Complaints at Holyrood this afternoon.

The Committee’s remit is to consider and report on the actions of the First Minister, Scottish Government officials and special advisers in dealing with complaints about Alex Salmond, former First Minister, considered under the Scottish Government’s “Handling of harassment complaints involving current or former ministers” procedure and actions in relation to the Scottish Ministerial Code.

In a formal submission to the committee, Mr Salmond maintains that senior members of the SNP colluded with civil servants in an orchestrated campaign to damage his reputation.

He also accuses First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of both misleading parliament and breaking the Ministerial Code. If this is proven, Ms Sturgeon would be expected to resign.

Ms Sturgeon yesterday dismissed Salmond’s claims as ‘a litany of nonsence’.

This is much more serious than a ‘he said, she said’ internal SNP stooshie: the allegations go right to the heart of Scotland’s democratic structures.

So the stakes couldn’t be higher. It remains to be seen whether today’s session will see us inch any closer to the truth …

Alex Salmond will NOT appear before Holyrood committee today

Former First Minister Alex Salmond will not now give evidence to today’s session of the inquiry into how the Scottish government handled complaints against him.

He was due to present his evidence to the committee this morning, but a Scottish Parliament spokesperson has confirmed that Mr Salmond’s legal advisers yesterday informed the committee he would not be attend unless his final submission was published in full.

Mr Salmond’s decision was brought about after The Scottish Parliament’s Parliamentrary Body withdrew his final submission from the Scottish Parliament website under pressure from The Crown Office, who expressed ‘grave concerns’ over it’s public presence – despite the fact that the Salmond testimony was published in The Spectator magazine some weeks ago.

The submission was later uploaded in a redacted form – but the removal of some sections would potentially hamper Mr Salmond’s ability to give full answers to committee questions which would be based on the redacted report.

The Crown Office’s role is severely criticised in the Salmond submission, in which he accuses a number of individuals and organisations of an orchestrated attempt to ‘damage my reputation and remove me from public life in Scotland’.

In his final submission, Mr Salmond says: “I leave it to others the question of what is, or is not, a conspiracy but am clear in my position that the evidence supports a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort among a range of individuals within the Scottish Government and the SNP to damage my reputation, even to the extent of having me imprisoned.

“The individuals, for the avoidance of doubt: Peter Murrell (Chief Executive), Ian McCann (Compliance Officer) and Sue Riddick (Chief Operating Officer) of the SNP, together with Liz Llloyd, the First Minister’s Chief of Staff.

“There are others who, for legal reasons, I am not allowed to name.”

Alex Salmond’s submission concludes: “The real cost to the Scottish people runs into many millions of pounds and yet no-one in this entire process has uttered the simple words which are necessary on occasions to renew and refresh democratic institutions – “I Resign”.

“The Committee now has the opportunity to address that position.”

Mr Salmond also accuses the First Minister of both breaching the Ministerial Code and of misleading parliament in her recollection of events. If this was proven to be the case, Ms Sturgeon would be expected to resign.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took to the airwaves on Monday evening, challenging Alex Salmond to prove there was a conspiracy against him and saying he has made claims “without a shred of evidence.”

The nine-person Holyrood committee will meet in private today to discuss how they can overcome the latest setback – their inquiry has been dogged by procedural issues and legal wrangling since it was set up in January 2019.

Mr Salmond has now offered to appear before the committee on Friday if the legal dispute over the written submission can be resolved.

Salmond submission published

Alex Salmond’s final submission to Wednesday’s committee inquiry has been published.

It’s quite a document, and on reading it you can understand why some people have done their damndest to make sure it never saw the light of day.

Take this, for example:

“I leave it to others the question of what is, or is not, a conspiracy but am clear in my position that the evidence supports a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort among a range of individuals within the Scottish Government and the SNP to damage my reputation, even to the extent of having me imprisoned.

“The individuals, for the avoidance of doubt: Peter Murrell (Chief Executive), Ian McCann (Compliance Officer) and Sue Riddick (Chief Operating Officer) of the SNP, together with Liz Llloyd, the First Minister’s Chief of Staff.

There are others who, for legal reasons, I am not allowed to name.”

Should be quite an interesting session … !

Alex_Salmond_Final_SubmissionDownload

Citizens Panel: Scottish Government must set out its Covid-19 strategy

A panel of the public convened by the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 Committee has reported its findings to MSPs.

The 19-member panel, which broadly reflects the demographic make-up of Scotland, met over four Saturdays to consider the question ‘What priorities should shape the Scottish Government’s approach to COVID-19 restrictions and strategy in 2021’, hearing from experts to help inform its findings. 

Key conclusions in its report include: 

* The panel believes the Scottish Government should focus on stopping the spread of virus, ideally by pursuing an ‘elimination’ strategy. 

* The panel believes elimination would provide the fastest way back to ‘normal’, but also recognised that this needs maximum cooperation across UK, as well as accepting travel restrictions;

* If this is not possible, the panel recommends a ‘maximum suppression’ strategy should be adopted, with a reinvigorated Test and Protect to keep case numbers low once they have dropped. The panel concluded that by tackling the direct harm of the virus head on, other harms (economic, societal, other health problems) will also reduce;

* Priority should also be given to supporting a green recovery, young people’s economic opportunities, town centres, and continuing support for businesses; 

* The Scottish Government must therefore define what it is aiming to achieve and tell us what its strategy is moving forward. Key to understanding this is what it deems to be an acceptable level of infection in the population, so that it is clear what restrictions will be effective in 2021.

The panel also considered wider issues associated with the pandemic within its deliberations. It agreed:

* Previous lockdowns happened too slowly – resulting in longer lockdowns and more deaths;

* Communication and explaining strategies is key to public acceptance and understanding. This is most effective when scientists and clinicians can take centre stage;

* Globally, no one is safe until everyone is safe.

Members of the panel will give evidence to MSPs on the Covid-19 Committee about their report today (Thursday 18 February).

In the coming weeks, the report will also inform MSPs’ consideration of the possible extension of the emergency Coronavirus legislation, which is currently due to expire at the end of March.

Covid-19 Committee Convener, Donald Cameron MSP, said: “The Committee is very grateful to the members of the public and experts who gave their time to participate in deliberations. 

“The steps taken to counter this virus are so drastic they would have been unimaginable a year ago. It is therefore vital we gauge the public mood as we enter into the next phase of managing the pandemic.

“The considered priorities of this broadly representative group, who have looked at the issue with fresh eyes, will help inform us as we begin to look at the likely extension of the emergency powers, and work to ensure the efforts of Government are focused in the right place.

 “We are looking forward to hearing more from panel members, and testing their conclusions, at our next meeting.”

The panel was announced and first met on 16 January.

The full report and further information on the panel will be online here.

Social Care Reform: Listen to carers, says Holyrood Committee

A Health and Sport Committee report into the future of social care has said those delivering and receiving care must be at the heart of social care reform with the current model described as unsustainable.

The Committee say a national conversation on the future of social care is needed and that the myriad issues facing staff must be addressed in the development of any new system. The Committee’s report says the problems faced by the care sector have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Committee express concern over the lack of value placed on social care and social care staff, in stark contrast to NHS staff. The report emphasises the ongoing difficulty the sector faces in attracting and retaining staff; citing a lack of training and staff development opportunities, alongside low pay as the key reasons for this.

A number of problems with the current care model are highlighted by the Committee including the continued lack of progress on health and social care integration. They also recommend the Scottish Government seek alternative models of commissioning and procurement with the current ones described as ‘counter-intuitive’.

The Committee describe the current model of crisis driven, reactive care as unsustainable and say more must be done to shift the focus to a preventative model, involving local communities in the future planning of health and social care services.


Lewis Macdonald MSP, Convener of the Health and Sport Committee, said: 
“Throughout this inquiry the message we have been given from those receiving care, and from paid and unpaid carers, is that they have not felt listened to and have been undervalued. That’s why it is essential that they are at the centre of much needed reform of the social care system.

“There is no doubt the current model of care is unsustainable, with some of the issues facing the sector exposed by the pandemic. We want to see a nationwide conversation held into the future of social care and we hope that the findings of our report, and the independent review, can help in shaping this future.

“We are grateful to all of those from across the care sector who provided evidence to our inquiry and gave their keen insight into how it is experienced in Scotland.

“I’d like to put on record our thanks to the tireless and passionate workforce, both paid and unpaid, who undoubtedly deserve better.”

End Child Poverty publishes Holyrood elections manifesto

“the pandemic has pulled families even deeper into poverty, while many more have been swept into poverty for the first time. A rising tide of child poverty now threatens to overwhelm many in our communities.”

John Dickie, Child Poverty Action Group Scotland

All political parties in Scotland should commit to at least doubling the value of the new Scottish Child Payment to stem the rising tide of child poverty, a coalition of anti-poverty groups, children’s charities and women’s organisations have urged today.

The End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland made the call in A Manifesto for Ending Child Poverty: Our Priorities for the 2021 Scottish Parliament Election, launched today, in which it set out its key asks ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.

While warmly welcoming the new £10 per week per child benefit for low income families – due to begin its roll out for under 6s next month – the manifesto warns that it will not go far enough in helping to meet Scotland’s child poverty reduction targets. By increasing the payment to £20 per week, the coalition say, at least another 20,000 children could be lifted out of poverty.

As well as doubling the Scottish Child Payment, the coalition are also calling for all parties to commit to:

• Bolstering other support for low income families, including by increasing the value of School Clothing Grants and Best Start Grants;

• Ensuring crisis support is adequate and accessible, including by investing in the Scottish Welfare Fund;

• Guaranteeing holistic whole family support to all families needing help;

• Supporting migrant children and caregivers, including increasing financial support to families with No Recourse to Public Funds;

• Setting out a child poverty-focused labour market policy, including action to tackle the gender pay gap.

Launching the manifesto, John Dickie (Director, CPAG in Scotland) said: “Even before Covid-19, almost one in four children in Scotland were growing up in the grip of poverty.

“Now, the pandemic has pulled families even deeper into poverty, while many more have been swept into poverty for the first time. A rising tide of child poverty now threatens to overwhelm many in our communities.

“That’s why we have set out this range of measures that would help to stem that tide, by putting much-needed cash into the pockets of families who are struggling to stay afloat. We urge all political parties to commit to the action we’ve set out, and to use the next Scottish Parliament to loosen the grip of poverty on the lives of Scotland’s children.”

Anna Ritchie Allan (Executive Director, Close the Gap), said: ““The existing inequalities women face in the labour market means they’ve been hardest hit by COVID-19 job disruption.

“The pandemic has starkly illuminated the link between women’s in-work poverty and child poverty. Women who were already struggling are now under enormous financial pressure as they and their families are pushed into further and deeper poverty.

“The End Child Poverty Coalition manifesto calls on Scotland’s political parties to commit to bold action to reduce child poverty. Close the Gap welcomes the focus on substantive action to address women’s inequality in the labour market including tackling women’s low pay and boosting the provision of funded childcare.

“Ensuring economic recovery policymaking prioritises measures to build a labour market that works for women is a necessary step in tackling the growing child poverty crisis.”

The manifesto – along with a summary version – can be found here.

Citizens’ Panel convened to discuss Scotland’s Covid strategy

A citizens’ panel met online for the first time on Saturday to discuss how Scotland is and should continue to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. The panel will meet for the next four weekends before reporting its conclusions to the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 Committee.

Participants in the 20-member panel, who have been chosen to broadly reflect the demographics of Scotland, and includes residents from all eight Parliamentary regions, will be asked to respond to the question ‘What priorities should shape the Scottish Government’s approach to COVID-19 restrictions and strategy in 2021?’.

To help in forming a response to this question, a range of experts will give presentations on issues including public health, medical and behavioural science, epidemiology and virology, and the social, legal and economic aspects of the pandemic.

It is expected that the panel’s findings will help the Committee scrutinise the Scottish Government’s strategic approach to the pandemic, including what priorities should inform any future restrictions in 2021.

The Committee will also reflect on the panel’s findings to inform its recommendations for how Covid scrutiny should continue after the election. 

Speaking ahead of the first meeting, the Covid-19 Committee Convener, Donald Cameron MSP, said: “In spite of the hope provided by vaccines, we find ourselves at a worrying juncture in this pandemic. Unfortunately, there is a going to be a need for restrictions for months to come, and the way we respond in 2021 is likely to shape our economy and society for many years to come.

“Therefore, it is critical that we have public support for Government plans to respond to Covid-19, and that we ensure areas important to the public are prioritised. While the Covid-19 Committee is able to provide robust scrutiny and recommendations, it will be immensely helpful to this work to have the informed opinion of a representative group of citizens.

“We are very grateful to the panel members and experts assisting them for giving up their time, and look forward to receiving the final report next month.”

The Citizens’ Panel will meet online on Saturdays 16, 23, 30 January and 6 February. A report will be produced thereafter.

Young Women Lead at Holyrood

A project which aims to boost women’s involvement in politics have their work recognised this week in the Scottish Parliament.

Deputy Presiding Officer Linda Fabiani MSP led a debate in Parliament on Thursday welcoming the publication of the 2019-20 Young Women Lead Report.

The report investigates the obstacles facing BAME women transitioning from school to the workplace. A subject chosen due to a lack of Scotland-specific data on the issue. It looks at employment opportunities for women from ethnic minorities considering recruitment, retention and development policies and practices.

The Young Women Lead Committee is a leadership programme for young women aged 30 and under who live in Scotland and is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Parliament and YWCA Scotland – The Young Women’s Movement.

Deputy Presiding Officer Linda Fabiani MSP said: “I am delighted to lead the debate today which will give us all an opportunity to better understand the barriers faced by young BAME women across the country.

“Throughout the last year, I have been continually impressed by the young women involved in this project. They have put together a vital piece of work despite the immense challenges presented by a global pandemic.

“The recommendations of this timely report should be taken on board to help create a fairer and better Scotland for all.”

The Young Women Lead programme was launched in 2017 and was created from a need to address the lack of representation of young women in politics. In 2019-20 the programme was revised with the intention to increase young BAME women’s political participation and to hear their voices and experiences.

The programme was created from a need to address the underrepresentation of young women in politics. Working with the Scottish Parliament, The Young Women’s Movement (YWCA Scotland) has designed the programme for 30 participants from a range of diverse communities to come together in the Parliament to run their own committee inquiry, focusing on a topic of their choice.

You can read the full report here.