One of the largest gatherings of international parliamentarians to discuss the climate emergency will take place at the Scottish Parliament in November, it has been announced today.
The two-day event, which is being organised by GLOBE International in partnership with the Scottish Parliament, forms part of the wider programme of events surrounding the UK hosted, COP26 conference in Glasgow.
The International Legislators’ Summit is due to take place in a hybrid format at the Scottish Parliament on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November 2021. The Summit will invite international parliamentarians to engage in discussions around the theme of ‘accelerating climate action and delivering a green, fair and resilient recovery’.
Ken Macintosh MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, said: “The eyes of the world will soon turn to Glasgow as we look towards what international progress can be made to tackle the issue of climate change as it hosts COP26 later on this year.
“The Debating Chamber of this Parliament has not shied away from tackling important issues. So it is particularly fitting that the Parliament can support this global event and provide a platform for international parliamentarians to discuss some of the most important issues that will affect the world in the coming years.”
Gillian Martin MSP & Convener of Holyrood’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee said: “This event will help highlight the critical role that Parliaments all over the world will have to play if we are to effectively tackle the climate emergency. Only through effective law-making and detailed scrutiny can we be confident that national Governments can deliver on their global and national commitments.
“It will facilitate collaboration, open communication and shared learning which will be so important to us all on our shared journey through the climate emergency.”
Juan Carlos Villalonga, President of Globe Argentina & Chairman of the Board of GLOBE International, said: “Five years on from Paris, few could have foreseen that the world would be thrown off course by a global pandemic and COP26 delayed by a year. COVID19 has revealed the systemic and interconnected nature of crises.
“As we gather in Glasgow to address the climate emergency, our response as legislators must be similarly systemic and interconnected. We must work together to raise ambition for accelerated action on climate change.
“Action which succeeds most when it delivers co-benefits and simultaneously addresses related crises such as biodiversity loss and inequality in our communities.”
* Hybrid/virtual arrangements are assumed for this event to ensure that it is able to proceed despite any COVID-19 restrictions in place on 5 and 6 November
The Scottish Parliament will today commend the work of churches throughout the pandemic in a debate on the Stories of Hope report, published in December 2020 by the Evangelical Alliance and Serve Scotland.
The report calculated that churches across Scotland had delivered 212,214 acts of support during the first lockdown and that these acts were delivered by 3,212 volunteers and impacted 55,671 beneficiaries.
The motion, which has been submitted by Jeremy Balfour and will be held at the Scottish Parliament on the first anniversary of the UK COVID-19 lockdown, acknowledges that: “churches in 180 locations across Scotland worked in partnership with key stakeholders, including supermarkets, community councils, NHS boards, food banks, voluntary support groups and charities, to deliver services to support vulnerable groups, including older, homeless and young people; recognises the important role that it considers churches and charities play in communities across Scotland, including in the Lothian region, and praises all those involved in delivering these services during the pandemic.”
The report found churches across Scotland had developed support networks and established projects to support the most vulnerable and isolated in their communities.
Projects were active across the country from the Highlands to the Borders, across the breadth of denominations and in partnership with a number of charities including CAP Scotland, the Bethany Trust, and Glasgow City Mission.
Kieran Turner, Public Policy Officer for the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland said: “Often the work of churches in the community goes under-reported and as a result government and parliament are not aware of the role of the church in wider society.
“We are grateful to Jeremy and to all the MSPs who are supporting the debate for the opportunity to show how the church spreads hope and the impact that has been made at a national level during the pandemic.”
The report also highlighted the importance of churches partnering with local businesses and other agencies as more than two-thirds of the projects identified were delivered in partnership to provide support to those in need.
Supermarkets, community councils, businesses, NHS boards, housing associations, voluntary support groups, and food banks have all worked with churches on the ground in these projects. In addition, 11 local authorities were identified, sometimes by multiple projects, as providing emergency funding for weekly support costs.
Keiran Turner continued: “Having the Scottish Parliament debate the report and commend these churches will raise awareness and challenge perceptions of what the church is and what the church does in Scotland.
“The church is a force for good in Scotland and operates at a scale of national significance meaning it must be a core part of the government’s rebuilding plans post pandemic.”
The parliamentary debate has been welcomed across the political spectrum and is being supported by Michelle Ballantyne, Miles Briggs, Donald Cameron, Peter Chapman, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Maurice Corry, Murdo Fraser, Kenneth Gibson, Rhoda Grant, Jamie Greene, James Kelly, Liam Kerr, Bill Kidd, Gordon Lindhurst, John Mason, Stuart McMillan, Pauline McNeill, Margaret Mitchell, Anas Sarwar, Elaine Smith, Stewart Stevenson, David Stewart, Alexander Stewart, Annie Wells and Brian Whittle.
To find out more and download the full report go to:
Ministerial Code report published: First Minister cleared of code breach
The independent report by Mr James Hamilton on the First Minister’s self-referral under the Scottish Ministerial Code has been published.
Mr Hamilton is a former Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland and has been an independent adviser on the Code since January 2013, having been appointed by Alex Salmond when he was First Minister.
He was asked to assess whether there had been any breach of the Code by the First Minister, the nature of any such breach and, if a breach had occurred, to advise on the appropriate remedy or sanction.
Mr Hamilton looked at the following:
the First Minister’s meeting with Geoff Aberdein on 29 March 2018, and the meetings / telephone calls with Mr Salmond on 2 and 23 April, 7 June and 14 and 18 July 2018
whether the First Minister misled Parliament about these meetings
whether the First Minister attempted to influence the conduct of the investigation
whether the First Minister broke the code by continuing with the judicial review.
On each point he found the First Minister had not breached the code, saying in his conclusions at para 18.2 of the report: “I am of the opinion that the First Minister did not breach the provisions of the Ministerial Code in respect of any of these matters.”
Mr Hamilton’s report, formally commissioned by Deputy First Minister John Swinney, was delivered to the Scottish Government yesterday. In line with the First Minister’s commitment to Parliament, the report has been published on the day of receipt.
The report is published in full, except for information that needs to be excluded to comply with court orders in force to protect the identity of complainers. In a covering note to the report Mr Hamilton has acknowledged that redactions will be necessary.
Commenting, Mr Swinney said: “I want to thank Mr Hamilton for his thorough and impartial assessment of the facts.
“People can read the report for themselves, but the rigour and independence of his investigation is clear.
“This report is the formal outcome of the self-referral under the Ministerial Code made by the First Minister on 13 January 2019. I hope that everyone will now accept that Mr Hamilton’s conclusions are comprehensive and evidence-based.”
Mr Hamilton’s report said Ms Sturgeon had given an “incomplete narrative of events” to MSPs but he said this was not deliberate, rather a “genuine failure of recollection”.
While Mr Hamilton’s report relieves some of the pressure on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a Holyrood committee is expected to take a very different view when it finally publishes it’s findings this morning.
It’s parliament’s responsibility to hold the government to account, and a cross-party committee of MSPs has been scrutinising the government’s handling of the complaints against former First Minister Alex Salmond.
The committee’s work has been hampered throughout by obstructions placed in their way by the government and the Crown Office, but their final report is expected to be highly critical of Ms Sturgeon’s recollection of events. The report is likely to accuse the First Minister of misleading their investigation – that’s parliament-speak for lying.
The Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints will formally publish its full report at 8am.
In a pre-emptive strike, Ms Sturgeon has already dismissed the committee’s report as ‘partisan’.
The Scottish Tories also plan to hold a vote of no confidence in the First Minister today, but this seems doomed to failure as the SNP Government has the support of the Scottish Greens.
When all this is over, it’s full steam ahead to May’s elections – and it remains to be seen whether any of the above will make any difference at all to voting intentions. Was this a deliberate attempt to subvert our democracy – or just a Salmond Sturgeon stooshie of interest only to political anoraks and conspiracy theorists?
The Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee has stated that the societal and economic impact of Brexit is likely to intensify as Scotland begins to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a legacy report published on Friday, the Committee says scrutiny of the UK’s evolving relationship with the EU should be an early and urgent priority for a successor Committee.
The report highlights that alignment with the EU regulatory regime will be a key scrutiny challenge going forward. Monitoring EU policy and legislative developments will be necessary to determine how aligned future Scottish Governments will remain with the EU.
The Committee considers that Brexit has resulted in UK legislation re-shaping devolution and increased the complexity of the devolved settlement.
Evidence taken by the Committee in 2021 also reveals the substantial impact on key sectors of the economy due to the new trading relationship and this is likely to intensify in the coming months.
The combined impact of Brexit and Covid-19, the report says, has created significant challenges across the economy with the impact felt hardest by small and medium-sized businesses.
The report also highlights the significant impact of the pandemic on the cultural sector, specifically the viability of cultural venues and the need for a strategy to ensure they emerge sustainably from the pandemic. The Committee recognises the increased financial pressures facing the arts and recommends further monitoring to make sure funds are adequately supporting the sector.
The February 2021 announcement of an extra £9m for the Creative Freelancers Hardship Fund was welcomed but the Committee has stressed that more support is needed.
Another key area of scrutiny within the Committee’s culture remit was the Glasgow School of Art inquiry, which determined that the school did not specifically address the risk of fire to the Mackintosh building despite risks being identified.
The Committee understands work is ongoing by the Scottish Government to carry out a fire mitigation review of publicly-owned A listed buildings and recommends its successor seek an update on the progress of this work.
The Committee repeated its call for the Scottish Government to establish a public inquiry with judicial powers into the 2014 and 2018 fires at the Glasgow School of Art.
Speaking as the report was published, Committee Convener Joan McAlpine MSP said:“The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union has been a key area of focus for the Committee in Session Five.
“It has become abundantly clear that, although we have left the EU, there are still very real concerns and issues that will continue to affect Scotland in the years ahead.
“Moving into the post-Brexit reality, the Committee wants to see the Scottish Parliament and Government represented in the governance structures established by the new EU-UK relationship in order to ensure that Scotland’s voice is heard, especially when it comes to the impact of the Agreement on devolution”.
Ms McAlpine added:“The 2014 and 2018 Glasgow School of Art fires were of significant concern to the Committee because of the global, architectural significance of the Mackintosh building.
“We urge the Scottish Government, once the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service investigation has been completed, to undertake a public inquiry with judicial powers to understand what went wrong in Glasgow, explore the risks posed by fire to historic buildings and the ability of custodians to effectively manage properties to prevent such tragedies happening again in the future.”
Deputy Convener Claire Baker MSP said:“It is difficult to overstate the immense impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Scotland’s cultural sector.
“The Committee is acutely aware that this sector depends upon an extensive network of freelancers, many of whom could not access government support during the pandemic as they did not meet the eligibility criteria.
“Additional financial support announced by the Scottish Government in recent weeks is welcome, but it is clear that more needs to be done to support this important but vulnerable group.”
Over 8,500 blind and partially sighted people and their supporters across Scotland have been urged to join a concerted drive to contact their local candidates for the Scottish Parliament election in May.
The move comes after a year of lockdowns which sight loss charity RNIB Scotland says has exacerbated the issues that have made life more difficult for those with a visual impairment
It is linking people on its database to an online system that will let them quickly find and email the election candidates standing in their area.
“Covid highlighted some serious gaps in our services last year, gaps that were troubling enough in normal times but very alarming during a period of crisis,” said director James Adams.
“Vital information that sometimes wasn’t available initially in formats like audio and braille, access to online shopping, confusion over social distancing and guiding – not priorities for most people, perhaps, but absolutely essential to those who are blind and partially sighted.
“We want to mobilise our members and supporters to push their concerns onto the political agenda.”
In its own manifesto for the election, RNIB Scotland is calling for sight loss issues to be given more priority – not least a commitment that voting itself will be made more accessible for blind and partially people.
Research by RNIB last year found that only 13 per cent of one blind voters across the UK, and less than half of partially sighted voters (44 per cent), said they were able to vote independently and in private in the last General Election. A legal ruling in 2019 criticised existing arrangements for voters with sight loss as ‘a parody of the electoral process’.
The RNIB Scotland manifesto also calls for emotional support for people first diagnosed with sight loss, more specialist teachers in schools, disability benefits that better recognise the needs of blind and partially sighted people, and support in finding employment.
The charity wants an assurance, too, that the new post-covid emphasis on ‘active travel’ – which could see the legalisation of rented e-scooters – doesn’t infringe on the rights of people with disabilities to go safely outdoors.
“After the shock that was covid in 2020 we need to make our society safer and more resilient,” said Mr Adams. “But let’s grab this opportunity to make it fairer, too. Covid gave us all a sense of what it’s like to feel more vulnerable and unsure, more dependent on each other.
“Scotland should plan for more than just a return to yesterday in 2021 but aim towards a better tomorrow. Let’s make sure that the society and structures that we do at last come back to are open and inclusive for everyone.”
* The RNIB Helpline can be called on 0303 123 9999. The RNIB Scotland website is at www.rnib.org.uk/scotland.
Incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law finally gives children real power to hold the government to account, says the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland.
The country became the first part of the UK to vote to enshrine the UNCRC into domestic law after the Scottish Parliament passed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill last night.
Bruce Adamson, the Commissioner, warned the government and decision-makers that there is now no hiding place when it comes to upholding children’s rights.
He said: “Incorporating the UNCRC into Scots law is the most important thing we can do to protect and promote the rights of children and young people.
“People in power can no longer ignore or conveniently forget about children’s rights. If they do, children and young people can challenge and will have a meaningful system of redress when things go wrong.
“There’s no question this will improve life for all children, but those who will feel the biggest impact are children whose rights are most at risk – children living in poverty, disabled children, young carers, those who have experience of the care system, children from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
“Their rights will be at the centre of every policy, law, or budgetary decision from now on. This will lead to significant change in things like addressing poverty and supporting mental health which children themselves have identified as priorities. It will also mean better support for families.
“This law gives children power – they will be consulted and listened to. Children and young people, as well as other campaigners, have fought tirelessly for incorporation for many decades, and today is testament to their determination. The government and decision-makers should know that all eyes are on them and children won’t hesitate to hold them to account.”
MSPs voted unanimously for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill to become law, meaning public authorities will have to comply with children’s rights. The Bill will commence six months from Royal Assent, signalling a culture shift that has the potential to transform children’s lives in Scotland.
A £2.1 million programme over three years will help public authorities implement the legislation. This will include funding for guidance and training to help public authorities prepare for implementation. Work will also be done to empower children to claim their rights.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “This is a landmark Bill which is the most significant piece of legislation since devolution, delivering a revolution in children’s rights. That is a major cause for celebration.
“The Bill will deliver the highest protection possible for children’s rights across Scotland within the powers of this Parliament and ensure that a rights-respecting approach is at the heart of our recovery from the pandemic.
“Parliament passing this Bill means that Scotland stands amongst a small number of nations like Norway, Belgium and Finland, and I hope our action today will encourage other countries to follow suit.
“But it does not represent the end of the journey in making children’s rights real. It is now incumbent upon us all to ensure the Bill’s ambitions are translated into real-life improvements which transform the lives and life chances of our children and young people.”
Young human rights defenders have also praised the passing of incorporation of the UNCRC.
Jonathan, a young adviser to the Commissioner, said: “Until now, if a young person had felt their rights were not being respected, it was quite difficult for them to complain and there was no legal obligation to respect their rights.
“But by putting it into law, it shows children that the government and local authorities and other public bodies will take them seriously and do care about their rights.”
Fellow young adviser Abigail said: “Incorporation of the UNCRC will give young people a sense of security. They’ll now feel safe in the knowledge that their rights are in law. Incorporation is a way of children having their voices heard, they know that they will be listened to, and they know that they matter.”
Since it was created by the Scottish Parliament 18 years ago, the office of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner has campaigned for incorporation of children’s rights.
Scotland’s first Commissioner, Professor Kathleen Marshall, said: “There is still a job to be done in keeping governments to their promises.
“With the incorporation, we have been given a fantastic new tool – bright, shining, and wanting to be used. Everyone has a part to play.”
Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) Juliet Harris said: “In passing this Bill, the Scottish Parliament is making a promise to children and young people that their human rights will be at the heart of every decision impacting children that Scotland makes.
“This historic moment will be celebrated by the countless children, young people and charities across Together’s membership who have worked so hard over the past decade to make this happen. This Bill is a significant step forward in ensuring Scotland is a great place to grow up – for today’s children and young people and for future generations.”
The Scottish Parliament Notice of Election has been published.
Nominations open tomorrow (Tuesday 16 March) for candidates wanting to stand in the election.
Additional hygiene and distancing measures will be in place on polling day for voter and staff safety
If voters do not want to go to a polling place to vote they have the option of voting by post. Anyone can apply for a postal vote but this should be done as soon as possible.
Nominations open tomorrow (Tuesday 16 March) for candidates to stand in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament Election.
The Notice of Election was published today for Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Eastern, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Edinburgh Pentlands, Edinburgh Southern and Edinburgh Western Constituencies and the Lothian Region.
In order to stand as a candidate, individuals must submit nomination papers, which are available on the Council website, by 4pm on Wednesday 31 March.
The Scottish Parliament Election will take place on Thursday, 6 May 2021, when people living across Scotland will elect MSPs to represent them at Holyrood.
Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for the Edinburgh constituencies and the Lothian Region, said:“The Notice of Election signifies the official start of the election period.
“The forthcoming election will allow the city’s residents to have their say about the government of Scotland, and I urge all citizens to make sure they’re registered in plenty of time, think now about the way they’ll vote and then to use that vote on 6 May.
“We are keen to continue the enthusiasm demonstrated by voters during the UK Parliamentary Election in 2019 and even our recent by-election in Craigentinny/Duddingston when we had the same range of safety measures in place. Anyone unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.”
At the UK Parliamentary Election in December 2019 turnout in the capital was high, at an average of 73% across Edinburgh’s five constituencies.
People aged 16 and over and all those legally resident – including foreign citizens – can register to vote in this election.
Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. For those who choose to vote in person, polling stations will be following all public health guidance on 6 May.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight Monday 19 April, to apply for a postal vote the deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 6 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 27 April.
Find out more about voter registration and the election, including the safety measures we’re taking to ensure polling stations are safe and covid secure, on the Council’s website.
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:
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 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:
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
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.
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 …
