Scottish Parliament – Page 48 – The NEN

MSPs seeks views on financial impact of Covid-19 on human rights budgets

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on future public spending decisions to protect equalities and human rights in Scotland is to be considered by a Holyrood Committee.

The Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights (EHRi) Committee has issued a call for views on the financial implications arising from Covid-19, including the impact on funding of third sector organisations which support people to be treated equally and to access their rights.

MSPs will focus on how inequalities highlighted by the public health emergency and the response to the crisis can be addressed in Scotland’s economic recovery.

The Committee also seeks views on what more can be done to ensure equalities and human rights are central to Scottish Government budget decisions.

Committee Convener, Ruth Maguire MSP, said: “As this committee’s on-going inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on equalities and human rights has shown, it is some of society’s most vulnerable groups who have experienced disproportionately negative effects as a result of the virus and as a consequence of the lockdown measures imposed.

“Covid-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities in Scotland, but it has also shown that positive outcomes can be achieved with targeted funding to support individuals and particular groups.

“Now that we are moving out of the crisis and restarting the economy, we want to hear how the pandemic has affected funding to support people to access their rights and ensure they are treated equally.

“We also want to explore how the Scottish Government considers equalities and human rights when it makes budget decisions. We want to know what actions should be taken and what data collected to make this happen more effectively, to address the unequal impact of Covid-19 on specific groups and tackle long-standing health and social inequalities in Scotland.”

The closing date for responses to the call for views is Friday 18 September 2020.

The Committee is are looking for information about the following questions:

1. Last year we were successful in getting the Scottish Government to commit to increasing the Equalities and Human Rights allocation to £30.2m. What is this extra money being used for and is it enough?

2. During last year’s budget scrutiny, we found that spending decisions were sometimes being made without due consideration to equality impact assessments. With unprecedented levels of grants being provided to the private and third sectors over the past six months in response to COVID 19, how confident is the third sector and other stakeholders that money is being committed only after due consideration is given to equality impacts?

3. In the Scottish Government’s response to the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, the Scottish Government has committed (p.69-70) to “recognise the necessity of embedding an Equalities and Human Rights approach across our policy thinking and development for economic recovery and renewal.” It has listed what it’s done so far to help meet this commitment and what it intends to do in the near future. What more should be done and how can the 2021-22 budget contribute?

4. Any other relevant comments?

Substantial gap remains in early mental health support for young people, warn MSPs

A Scottish Parliament Committee has warned that more needs to be done to ensure that young people who need help with their mental health can access support at the earliest opportunity.

A Scottish Parliament Committee has warned that more needs to be done to ensure that young people who need help with their mental health can access support at the earliest opportunity.

In a report published yesterday, the Public Petitions Committee has said that despite efforts to improve the provision of early intervention mental health services, more needs to be done to ensure that young people feeling low or anxious, or both, can access advice and support.

The Committee’s inquiry into mental health support for young people in Scotland was driven by petition PE1627, which called for consultation with, and consent from, a parent or guardian before prescribing medication to treat mental ill health if the patient is under 18 years of age. The petition was lodged by Annette McKenzie following the tragic death of her daughter, Britney, from an overdose of prescription medication.

While there was limited support for the primary action being called for in the petition, the Committee backed the current guidance, which asks GPs to encourage patients to speak to their families and seek support.

MSPs were however concerned by the evidence heard highlighting serious concerns about the experiences of young people seeking help for their mental health, particularly for the first time.

Some young people explained that they felt cast aside by their GP, despite their obvious signs of distress, and in some cases, the distress escalated to self-harming and attempting suicide.

During its inquiry, the Committee found that young people, and those supporting them, are often unaware of the availability of initial support services. As a result, young people are often inappropriately referred to specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) only to be rejected for not meeting NHS board criteria.

While the Committee welcomed the Government’s commitment to ensure every secondary school has access to counselling services, it warned that this alone will not address the wide-ranging needs of young people. It can therefore only be part of a larger package of measures, complementing existing services and forms of support.

To achieve this, the Committee has made recommendations for the Scottish Government, COSLA, integration authorities and Education Scotland.

These include:

• That authorities set out clear pathways to support for young people seeking help by the end of 2020.
• That there should be local ‘inventories’ of mental health services in each area so it is clear to professionals what support is available in each area. This work should be completed no later than by the end of 2020.
• That work is undertaken to identify how to support parents and carers in accessing information about their children’s mental health, as well as signposting them to the right services.
• That the provision of school counsellors is reviewed to ensure they are delivering their services most effectively; and that Personal and Social Education (PSE) becomes more relevant and empowering for young people.

The counsellor review should be reported to Parliament by early 2022, with the Government review of PSE due to be implemented in March 2021.

• That teachers are empowered to identify and support young people with their mental health. Mental health first aid training should be included in Initial Teacher Education by the start of academic year 2021/22.
• That the Government should consider ways to help employers of young people fulfil their duty of care when it comes to supporting their mental wellbeing.

The Committee also recognised the efforts and dedication of all those supporting young people, and hope that this work will allow young people themselves, as well as parents, carers, teachers, medical professionals, and others working with young people to feel able to find the right help.

Committee Convener Johann Lamont MSP, said: “The Committee wants to recognise the work of Annette McKenzie, who has shown such courage in highlighting the concerns in her petition. She has done so in circumstances which no parent should ever have to face.

“During the Committee’s work on the inquiry, we have found a troubling picture.

“Though anyone can experience low mood, anxiety, or both, at some point in their life, when it comes to seeking support, young people often find themselves facing a cluttered and even confusing landscape, which too frequently does not provide the support needed.

“While the Committee welcomes those measures announced by the Scottish Government to improve the situation, these are not enough to address the substantial gap that remains in the provision of mental health services, or to improve understanding of the help available.

“Therefore, we believe that the Government should work urgently with authorities to ensure that not only is there sufficient provision available at the local level, but that this is clearly communicated and easily accessible, both for young people and those they are turning to for help.

“The need for this work will only be increased by COVID-19, and its consequent impact on young people’s mental health.”

Bid to boost local government

A Bill aiming to strengthen local government in Scotland is to be scrutinised by a Holyrood Committee.

The Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee is seeking views on a Member’s Bill which aims to incorporate the European Charter of Local Self-Government into Scots law.

The Charter, which was created in 1985 by the Council of Europe and ratified by the UK in 1997, sets out 10 principles to protect the basic powers of local authorities, concerning the political, administrative and financial independence of local authorities.

The Bill would allow people and organisations to challenge the Scottish Government in court if its laws or decisions are not compatible with the Charter.

Speaking as the call for views was launched, Committee Convener James Dornan MSP, said: “Local authorities deliver a wide range of services that are a vital part of our daily lives; from social care and public libraries to planning and street cleaning.

“The aim of this Bill is to strengthen local democracy by increasing the autonomy of local authorities and enshrining support for local government into law.

“The Committee are interested in hearing from people across Scotland as to whether they feel this Bill will support local government, strengthen the bond between councils and communities and make a practical difference to people’s lives.

“We also want to make sure it would have no unintended consequences. We are keen to hear whether the public supports these measures.

“We also want to gather thoughts on the financial impact of this legislation, and whether this will have a positive impact on equality and human rights.”

The deadline for responses to the call for views is Thursday 17 September 2020.

Help Holyrood committee plan a green recovery

Holyrood’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee has launched an inquiry into how Scotland can ensure that a green, just and resilient recovery is central in our response to the social and economic challenges of the COVID-19 health crisis.

The inquiry will focus on identifying the principles, opportunities, key actions for change, immediate priorities, leadership and governance needed to underpin an effective green recovery, as well as the potential barriers to implementation.

The Committee has issued a call for views to help inform its inquiry over the coming weeks.

Gillian Martin MSP (above), Convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, said: “The global pandemic has been responsible for creating immediate challenges across almost every aspect of modern day living.

“But pre-COVID-19, we already faced the biggest and most immediate challenge of all – Climate Change. We have proven that, as a nation, we can adapt our behaviours and thinking for the greater good, so it makes complete sense that within this mindset, we grab the opportunity to change our habits and thinking to bring us out of this crisis in a green and sustainable way.

“A reframed pathway will help us meet our climate change targets for 2030, 2040 and 2045 at the same time as creating a stronger, cleaner and more resilient economy.”

“If you have views on how we should progress from here, our Committee would love to hear from you. You may be an environmental expert; belong to a third sector organisation or campaign group; local authority or non-departmental public body or be a member of the public. All of your views are important and help us reach the conclusions we take to the Scottish Parliament.”

The Committee would particularly welcome views on the following questions –

Do the principles of sustainable development* (Webpage Annex A) and those proposed by the UK Committee on Climate Change**, provide a comprehensive framework for guiding an effective green recovery in Scotland?
What are the key barriers to delivering a green recovery (within your sector and / or community)?
What key policies, actions and immediate priorities are needed to deliver a green recovery (within your sector and / or community)?
How should the 2021/22 Budget support a green and sustainable recovery and avoid locking in carbon?
What funding is needed to deliver a green and sustainable recovery?

The closing date for responses is Friday 7 August 2020.

To respond to this inquiry, please find the committee’s call for evidence here: https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/115472.aspx

Kicked into the long grass?

Progress has been too slow, Committee warns football authorities

Legislation and external regulation may be the only way to protect the rights of children and young people involved in youth football, a Scottish Parliament Committee has warned.

In a report published today, the Public Petitions Committee welcomed measures introduced by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) since it first raised concerns about unfair contracts and the state of youth football.

However, the Committee has also warned that progress in many areas has been too slow and that systemic issues remain, with over ten years passing since the petition was first lodged in Parliament – making it the longest-running petition in The Scottish Parliament.

While developments such as Club Academy Scotland players now being able to play recreational football, the establishment of a young player wellbeing panel, and the publication of a ‘Child Wellbeing and Protection Strategy’, have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the concerns raised in the petition, the Committee is not satisfied changes have improved child welfare sufficiently.

“The Committee is therefore making a number of recommendations to footballing authorities and the Government.”. It then continues “This includes calling for an independent evaluation of the work which has been carried out, in order to ensure the wellbeing of young players are protected with the possibility of legislation as a last resort”.

Committee recommendations and conclusions include:

That players under the age of 16 should not be required to sign up to multi-year contracts, proposing to extend the one-year registration period for players aged 10-14 to include 15-year-olds;
That there should be an annual sampling of contracts to ensure that young players are being paid the minimum wage, however their club chooses to remunerate them;
That the Government works with the SFA and SPFL to fully evaluate the measures already introduced, as well as to investigate the recommended changes;
That it is incumbent on the Children and Young People’s Commissioner to maintain a clear focus on addressing the outstanding issues raised in this petition, as there appear to be breaches occurring in regard to young people’s human rights in football.

Speaking as the report was published, Committee Convener Johann Lamont MSP, said: “There is a huge power imbalance between football clubs and the young people who aspire to play for them.

“Football is a passion for many young people and an offer to join a club’s youth set up may seem like a golden ticket. However, clubs trading in children’s dreams should not be hiding devils in the detail, such as contractual small print which too many young people and their parents or carers may overlook until it is too late.

“The Committee welcomes some of the measures introduced by the SFA since our consideration of this petition began, but this progress has been painfully slow. After 10 years, the Committee believes that time is up.

“A number of the issues in this petition are not simply about football, but the protection and welfare of our young people. Children under the age of 16 should not be expected to sign exploitative multi-year contracts, and young players should expect to be paid at least the minimum wage for their work.

“We are also concerned that the current Children and Young People’s Commissioner is not prioritising this petition in his office’s work, despite agreeing with his predecessor that issues remain unresolved.

“We believe that the Commissioner’s office still has a critical role to play in ensuring the rights of children involved in youth football are not overlooked.”

First lodged on 11^th March 2010, PE1319 ‘Improving youth football in Scotland’ has become the Parliament’s longest-running petition ever.

More info can be found online by clicking here.

Appointees should be able to collect benefits on behalf of claimants – but safeguards must be in place, say Holyrood Committee

Holyrood’s Social Security Committee has backed a Bill which would allow adult benefit claimants who consent to nominate an appointee to claim benefits on their behalf. However MSPs have warned that suitable safeguards must be put in place to limit fraud and the exploitation of vulnerable people.

The Committee has recommended the Bill be amended to include safeguarding principles that underpin the detail of how the appointee system will work and protect it from abuse. They have urged the Scottish Government to bring forward detailed guidance which should also be statutory.

The Committee published its Stage 1 report in response to the Social Security Administration and Tribunal Membership (Scotland) Bill which makes changes to the Social Security Act of 2018.

They have also backed a change which would allow health professionals, other than doctors, to verify that a claimant is terminally ill meaning their disability benefit claim would be fast-tracked.

Bob Doris MSP, Convener of the Social Security Committee, said: “The Committee welcomes this legislation and strongly supports the general principles of this Bill including allowing anyone in receipt of benefits to appoint someone to collect benefits on their behalf.

“However, submissions to the Committee from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Law Society of Scotland outlined that without suitable safeguards in the legislation, the appointee system would not be compliant with human rights legislation and could be open to abuse.

“The Scottish Government’s principal safeguard is that consent must be given. However, the legislation should go further and build in additional safeguards such as the ability to challenge appointee decisions, undertake periodic reviews and resolve disputes.

“We are also keen to see amendments brought forward at Stage 2 which would ensure there is a duty to inform people of their eligibility for all top up benefits including the Scottish Child Payment.”

Care home testing must increase, say Scottish Tories

SNP Ministers must step up their efforts and get on top of testing care home staff and residents in NHS Lothian.

2,665 care home staff and 2,460 care home residents have been tested cumulatively since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, up to the 7^th June.

This is despite SNP Health Secretary Jeane Freeman promising last month that every care home worker would be routinely tested.

The Scottish Conservatives challenged SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the matter at First Minister’s Questions where Nicola Sturgeon revealed only a fifth of care home staff had been routinely tested across the country.

Table 5 – Number of Tests – Care Home Staff and Residents

	Number of Tests
	Week Commencing 1 June		Cumulative total to 7 June
NHS Board	Staff	Residents	Staff	Residents
Ayrshire and Arran	67	30	689	579
Borders	22	13	343	193
Dumfries & Galloway	4	7	75	159
Fife	178	30	763	372
Forth Valley	876	565	2,176	1,858
Grampian	115	167	1,709	1,668
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	17	678	920	5,709
Highland	47	40	258	265
Lanarkshire	43	119	586	956
Lothian	566	327	2,665	2,460
Orkney	6	5	20	15
Shetland	8	9	74	52
Tayside	264	139	876	741
Western Isles	30	4	41	22
Scotland	2,243	2,133	11,195	15,049

Scottish Government statistics reveal that across Scotland’s 14 health boards, only 18,110 care home staff have been tested out of an estimated 50,000 across the country – NHS Border said it didn’t have the capacity to run care home tests.

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has repeatedly raised concerns over the level of testing in care homes since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month it was revealed that over 900 hospital patients were discharged to care homes with being tested for Covid-19.

The Scottish Conservatives are calling for all for SNP Ministers to set a deadline for when all care home staff will be routinely tested.

Miles Briggs, who is the Conservative health spokesperson, said: “There has simply not been enough testing carried out in care homes since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has had disastrous consequences.

“SNP Ministers have been repeatedly told that testing is crucial for reducing the spread of Covid-19, but have slow to implement testing in care homes.

“In Edinburgh and the Lothians there have only been 2,665 tests carried out on care home staff, no where near as many as are necessary.

“Nicola Sturgeon and SNP Ministers must set a firm deadline as to when all care home staff will be tested.”

Putting voters first? Scottish elections to be held every FIVE years

Scottish Parliamentary and local election terms will be extended from four to five years in line with the UK Parliament and other devolved legislatures under changes approved by MSPs.

The Scottish Elections (Reform) Bill, which has now passed its final stage in the Scottish Parliament, increases the election cycle from the current four-year term.

The legislation also enables all 14-year-olds to register ahead of attaining voting age, and bans people from voting in more than one area in local elections – mirroring the law for Scottish and UK Parliament elections.

The legislation gives the Scottish Parliament oversight of the work of the Electoral Commission on Scottish elections for the first time. In order to focus on removing barriers to voting for disabled people, the Commission will report on the assistance provided to disabled people at Scottish elections.

Minister for Parliamentary Business Graeme Dey said: “From the outset, this Bill has been focused on ensuring robust electoral processes, building on the progress of previous legislation, and putting the voter first.

“The integrity and smooth functioning of elections is a cornerstone of any democracy, and these reforms will deliver a real difference.

“We consulted extensively on whether to change election terms for Parliament and local government elections and the majority were in favour of five-year terms. This will reduce voter fatigue and avoid clashes between elections.

“Longer terms provide the opportunity to build upon and develop expertise in Government and Parliament. They should – depending on possible early UK general elections being called – avoid clashes with UK elections.

“We are not alone in making this change – the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Welsh Parliament both moved to five-year terms in 2014.”

Politicians vote to give themselves an extra year … there’s a shock!

MSPs to quiz Health Secretary on coronavirus in care homes

The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee is to question the Cabinet Secretary for Health Jeane Freeman on the impact of coronavirus on Scotland’s care homes.

Recent figures show more than half of Scotland’s Covid-19 deaths have taken place in care homes and Ms Freeman will be quizzed on the various issues faced by the care home sector.

Ahead of the meeting, Lewis Macdonald MSP, Health and Sport Committee Convener, said: “The shocking impact of coronavirus on Scotland’s care homes has been well documented with over half of Scotland’s deaths taking place in this setting.

“Some have felt that the NHS was prioritised over care homes at the outset of this pandemic and we are keen to examine whether this was the case.

“We also know that access to adequate PPE and lack of testing have impacted on care homes and we want to investigate these issues further.

“We are also seeking to find out how prepared care homes were for this crisis, what support the Government provided to them and how they will be supported to ensure that if there is a second wave of this deadly virus, care homes are not exposed again.”

The Committee’s meeting takes place this morning (Thursday 4th June) at 9.30am and will be broadcast live on www.scottishparliament.tv .

MSPs call for significant changes to debt solution

Holyrood’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee has published a report on protected trust deeds citing that changes are needed to make the debt solution more effective in supporting people who are in debt.

A protected trust deed is one of three statutory debt solutions in Scotland. It involves a debtor’s assets being managed by an insolvency practitioner for the benefit of the creditors for a four-year period. During this time, part of the debtor’s income is paid to the insolvency practitioner.

Last year around 8,000 people entered a protected trust deed, 150,000 people sought debt advice and, beyond that 600,000 adults are considered to be over-indebted in Scotland.

Amongst its calls within the report, the Committee asked for changes to the way fees are charged in protected trust deeds. The current rules can see debtors making contributions but not reducing their overall debt levels for at least the first two years.

Committee Convener Michelle Ballantyne MSP said: “Now more than ever people’s finances will be feeling the strain, and some will be contemplating seeking help to clear their debts.

“A debt solution should work in reducing that person’s debt. We heard evidence which showed that fees were being frontloaded resulting in the overall debt not lowering despite payments being made. This needs to change.

“The Committee welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to conduct an overarching debt review. However, it is incredibly important that the Scottish Government listen to the Committees recommendations to ensure that protected trust deeds act as an effective debt solution and debtors are safeguarded from the potential harm that can be caused when things go wrong.”

The Committee also heard evidence that online advertising and social media campaigns can target people in debt, offering a solution which is not always suitable for their circumstances.

Michelle Ballantyne MSP added: “People in debt must receive the right help and advice and not choose a solution based purely on what they saw on social media that day.

“The Committee recommends tighter regulations on online advertising and believes that free independent money advice would help ensure that people make the decision right for them.”

There are three statutory debt solutions in Scotland:

Bankruptcy – All of the debtor’s assets are managed by a trustee for the benefit of creditors for a four-year period. Contributions from income will also be required, where appropriate. Almost all outstanding debts are written off at the end of the four-year period, allowing the debtor to become debt free.

Debt Payment Programme under the Debt Arrangement Scheme – Debtors make payments over an extended period of time to pay off their debts. It can last for any “reasonable” time period, but the average is around seven years. Debts are not written off, so the scheme is only available to those who can repay in full over the length of the scheme.

Protected Trust Deed – As with bankruptcy, a debtor’s assets are managed by a trustee for the benefit of creditors for a four-year period. Contributions from income will have to be sufficient to pay the trustee’s fee and provide a return to creditors. Protected Trust Deeds are seen as offering more flexibility than bankruptcy.

Informal debt solutions – Most debtors negotiate informally with their creditors to make lower repayments. These arrangements can be unstable, and do not prevent creditors from taking action to enforce their debts if they think they should be paid more.

The published report can be found here.

Are you struggling to manage debt? Free, independent advice is available. Granton Information Centre’s office on West Granton Road is currently closed to the public, but they at still here to support you.

If you have money worries, employment concerns or housing issues, or if you are claiming benefits for the first time and find it all very complicated, contact Granton Information Centre and speak to an adviser:

Telephone 0131 552 0458 or 0131 551 2459

Email info@gic.org.uk

Granton Information Centre: here to help.