Motions supported by Marlyn Glen in the Scottish Parliament
June 2007
Scottish Spina Bifida Association Centre, Cumbernauld
—That the Parliament acknowledges the vital work carried out by the Scottish Spina Bifida Association by providing the only specialist family support service for spina bifida and hydrocephalus in Scotland; welcomes the new family support centre in Cumbernauld which has allowed the association to expand its support services to best meet users’ needs by providing a relaxing environment for families to visit and training, recreation and support services; congratulates the association on the creation of a specialist telemedicine suite which is the first to be located outwith a hospital setting and which enables those with spina bifida and hydrocephalus to receive medical advice from health professionals based across the United Kingdom; recognises that Scotland has more live births with spina bifida per head of population than anywhere else in the UK, resulting in one pregnancy per week in Scotland being affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, and notes that taking folic acid supplements at the correct recommended dose could prevent over 75% of those pregnancies from being affected.Women and Human Trafficking— That the Parliament expresses its continuing deep concern about the number of women who, falling victim to trafficking, are brought to Scotland and forced to work in our growing illegal sex trade; notes that more than 6,000 foreign women are already believed to be here through this route, many living a miserable existence as virtual prisoners of the criminal gangs who brought them to Scotland with promises of a new and better life, and calls on the Scottish Executive to work closely with the UK Government to ensure a well-resourced and co-ordinated inter-agency approach to ending sex slavery in Scotland and to provide to the women affected every possible chance to rescue themselves from those who would exploit them.
Welcome for the Cervical Cancer Vaccine— That the Parliament welcomes the decision of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to recommend a new vaccination programme against the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is responsible for around 70% of cases of cervical cancer; further welcomes the Scottish Executive’s proposals to introduce this vaccination for girls aged 12 to 13 by autumn 2008; notes with concern that almost 3,000 women are diagnosed with and 1,000 women die from cervical cancer in the United Kingdom each year; recognises the huge long-term benefits to be had though vaccination not only in reducing deaths but in also reducing the number of colposcopies, reducing the number of abnormal smears and reducing the number of people requiring treatment for genital warts; also recognises however that the vaccine will not prevent all cases of cervical cancer; therefore believes that the cervical cancer screening programme should be continued and that further action should be taken to increase the take-up of screening in more deprived areas, among ethnic minority groups and among women with learning difficulties; further believes that this will improve early detection and allow earlier treatment of this disease, and welcomes the work of charities such as Jo’s Trust, Cancerbackup and Cancer Research UK, among others, in supporting patients with cervical cancer and their families and in counselling the thousands more women who worry about their health following an abnormal smear result.
EU Ban on Cat and Dog Fur— That the Parliament welcomes the decision of the European Parliament to support a complete ban on the import, export and trade of cat and dog fur across all 27 member states; places on record its disgust at the practice of breeding cats and dogs for the purpose of killing them for their fur; hopes that, in conjunction with similar existing bans in the USA and Australia, this will signal the end of this abhorrent trade in the global market, and congratulates animal rights agencies and concerned European citizens who successfully lobbied the European Parliament on this issue.
Affordable Housing for All— That the Parliament reaffirms its commitment to making housing affordable for all; notes that, despite increases in funding over the last 10 years and limited reform of the right to buy, many families living in overcrowded accommodation are currently waiting years for suitable offers from social landlords; believes that there is a severe shortage of housing for social rent in some areas, such as in the west end of Glasgow and other high-demand areas where housing provision is driven by developers’ desire to provide only high-return accommodation, resulting in families and individuals being forced out of areas where they have a strong family or community connection; further notes that there are no legal requirements on local authorities or any other agencies to ensure a sustainable housing mix that would include affordable housing to both buy and rent, and calls on Scottish ministers to examine urgently affordable housing policy in order to ensure the availability of affordable homes in every part of Scotland.
Investment in Building Affordable Rented Homes— That the Parliament acknowledges the need for increased investment in building affordable rented homes; further acknowledges that the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review is the most significant opportunity to secure this funding, which is essential to achieve the Scottish Executive’s target that all unintentionally homeless people will have the right to a home by 2012, and recognises the case for committing the funding for 30,000 affordable homes for rent over the period 2008 to 2011.
RNID Report, Here to be Heard, on Information for Hearing Aid Users— That the Parliament notes the report, Here to be Heard, by Glasgow Caledonian University on behalf of RNID and, in particular, its key findings that only half of hearing aid users believed that they had received enough instruction on how to use their aids before being fitted and that three-quarters felt that this would have been useful; supports the empowerment of well-informed patients who can manage their own health needs, and believes that NHS Scotland should carry out a full evaluation on how the needs of new hearing aid users can best be met.
Baldragon Academy's Success— That the Parliament congratulates Baldragon Academy of Dundee on earning the chance to host BBC Radio Scotland’s SoundTown project and notes that pupils will acquire technical and presentational skills while operating a radio studio for the next 12 months, contributing directly to a number of BBC Radio Scotland broadcasts.
Congratulations to West Lothian Council— That the Parliament congratulates West Lothian Council on becoming the first council in Scotland and the only unitary authority in the United Kingdom to be awarded a corporate Charter Mark, awarded as the highest recognition for excellence in public services, and also congratulates the staff of West Lothian Council for their outstanding achievement secured through many years of hard work and developing best practice.
Congratulations to Lawside Academy—That the Parliament congratulates Lawside Academy on its success in the Scottish School Magazine of the Year Awards where its Breakout magazine won the award in the Best Online Presence category; wishes its editorial team and contributors every success should they consider journalism as a future career, and welcomes the support and sponsorship given to the competition by the Scottish Executive’s Strategy for Enterprise in Education, Determined to Succeed
Living Below The Radar— That the Parliament agrees that it is unacceptable that 90,000 children in Scotland are living in severe poverty, as identified in new research published by Save the Children, and calls on the Scottish Executive to commit to eradicating child poverty by 2020, target resources and invest in an action plan that prioritises the needs of the poorest children by supporting parents into and remaining in work, maximising benefit uptake and working in partnership with the UK Government to end child poverty.
Save the Land Reform Act and Restore the Will of Parliament—That the Parliament is concerned about the decision by Perth Sheriff Court to grant a declarator to Ann Gloag, owner of the Kinfauns Castle estate, which has the effect of denying the statutory right to roam over parts of the estate that was previously allowed under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003; notes that Perth and Kinross Council and the Ramblers Association opposed the declarator and gave evidence to the court that such a declarator would be contrary to the intention of the Act; believes that this decision undermines the clear will of the Parliament which legislated for the widest possible access to the countryside and that the court judgement ignores the significance of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code approved by MSPs to accompany and inform the operation of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, and considers that the judgement should be examined and appropriate action taken to give proper effect to the land reform legislation and, if necessary, to issue guidance to the courts on the status of the access code.
Right to Roam—That the Parliament notes the recent court ruling in favour of Ann Gloag, making her the first private individual in Scotland to exempt her land from right-to-roam legislation; considers this to be a regrettable decision that undermines the intention of The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which was meant to enshrine right-to-roam laws and was one of the first flagship policies of the first term of the Parliament; notes that the legislation establishes a statutory right of responsible access to almost all land and water along with guidance on responsible behaviour for recreational users and land managers under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code; recognises the desire for people to enjoy and experience our beautiful countryside and landscape responsibly and respectfully, and calls on the Scottish Executive to honour this desire and undertake an immediate review of the legislation in light of this judgement in order to pre-empt similar challenges which would undermine the intention of the Parliament.
Barnardo’s Work in Dundee—That the Parliament congratulates Fight Against Child Exploitation (FACE) for winning an award for "Involvement of people who use services in any aspect of the organisation’s work" at the Care Accolades award ceremony on Friday 8 June 2007; notes that FACE was also awarded a special commendation in the category for "Innovative and/or imaginative training programme", and commends the work done by Barnardo’s and young people involved in raising awareness of the dangers of sexual exploitation, including production of the film, Nae Danger, which was piloted in schools in Dundee and Fife and which received "excellent" evaluations.
The Continued Detention of Aung San Suu Kyi— That the Parliament condemns the recent move on the part of the Burmese authorities to extend for a further 12 months the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma’s National League for Democracy, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and one of only two foreign nationals to be awarded the freedom of the City of Edinburgh, who has been under house arrest for most of the last 20 years; sends Aung San Suu Kyi best wishes on her 62nd birthday on Tuesday 19 June 2007, and commends the work of Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters across Scotland, including the Burma Subgroup of Amnesty International based at St Mark’s Unitarian Church in Edinburgh, in campaigning for her immediate release and the release of others like her who have sought to secure democracy and human rights in Burma by non-violent means.
Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland— That the Parliament notes the recent presentation of the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland; congratulates all those artists and theatre groups who won awards, and particularly recognises the achievement of the National Theatre of Scotland in winning four out of 10 awards presented for its much acclaimed production, “Black Watch”.
World Refugee Day 2007 - That the Parliament notes that Wednesday 20 June 2007 is the United Nations designated World Refugee Day when thousands of organisations in dozens of countries will come together to focus global attention, not only on the plight of refugees and the causes of their exile, but also on their determination, their will to survive and the contribution that they make to their host communities; acknowledges that Scotland has long offered support, understanding and sanctuary to those fleeing persecution; applauds the lead taken by Glasgow City Council in welcoming refugees and asylum seekers to Scotland and hopes that other local authorities will follow this positive example, and welcomes the programme of over 100 Refugee Week events across Scotland which aim to challenge ignorance, fear and negative stereotypes and highlight the benefits that refugees bring to their new communities in Scotland.
National Transplant Week—That the Parliament notes that National Transplant Week runs from 7 to 14 July 2007; recognises that there is a need to raise awareness of organ donation and the number of potential transplant recipients on waiting lists across Scotland and that many patients not only make a full recovery on receipt of a transplant but excel in their chosen sporting field; further notes that the 2007 British Transplant Games are taking place in Edinburgh from 26 to 29 July, and encourages politicians, community and business leaders and the public at large not only to support these games but also to sign themselves up to the organ donation register.
National Diabetes Week, 10 to 16 June 2007—That the Parliament welcomes the Small Change, Big Difference campaign being run by Diabetes UK Scotland for National Diabetes Week 2007; commends the tremendous support that Diabetes UK Scotland gives to the estimated 173,000 people in Scotland who are living with diabetes; notes that, in the Highlands alone, the number of people living with diabetes stands at 11,111 and this figure is predicted to rise to at least 13,000 by 2017, and therefore considers that the Scottish Diabetes Framework Action Plan should be delivered by 2009, as set out in the Diabetes UK Scotland Manifesto 2007.
Council of Economic Advisers Representation—That the Parliament supports the important role that constructive industrial relations plays in improving workplace productivity and competitiveness; welcomes the central role that trade unions in partnership with employers can play in ensuring world-class employment standards; recognises the strategic input of trade unions in economic matters in countries such as Ireland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden; believes that trade unions bring expertise and balance to economic debate, and calls on the Scottish Executive to ensure there is a workplace perspective in the shape of trade union representation in the proposed council of economic advisers or any similar body advising government
Congratulations on Broughty Ferry's Blue Flag Award— That the Parliament congratulates Broughty Ferry on securing the coveted international Blue Flag for the condition of its beach, water quality and cleanliness for the third consecutive year; acknowledges the combined efforts of the community and Dundee City Council in this achievement, and notes with great satisfaction that the latest awards represent the best-ever results for Scotland in the scheme. ( motion proposed by Marlyn )
Congratulations on Montrose's Blue Flag Award— That the Parliament congratulates Montrose on winning the coveted international Blue Flag for the condition of its beach, water quality and cleanliness; acknowledges the work of the community and Angus Council towards achieving this distinction, and notes with great satisfaction that the latest awards represent the best-ever results for Scotland in the scheme. ( motion proposed by Marlyn )
Dementia Awareness Week 2007 - 4 to 8 June— That the Parliament acknowledges that Dementia Awareness Week takes place between 4 and 8 June 2007; welcomes representatives from Alzheimer Scotland to the Garden Lobby of the Parliament during that week where they will host an exhibition to raise awareness of the disease; is aware that in 2007 there are over 60,000 people in Scotland diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and that 1,350 to 1,650 of these people are under 65; notes with concern that with an ageing population this figure is set to increase and that Alzheimer Scotland predicts that by 2031 there will be approximately 102,000 to 114,000 people with dementia; recognises that there is a need for the Scottish Executive to take decisive action now to accommodate this increasingly vulnerable group in our society; welcomes the publication on 4 June 2007 of Alzheimer Scotland’s latest report, The Dementia Epidemic – Where Scotland is Now and the Challenge Ahead; notes that the report highlights the large and rapidly-growing number of people with dementia in Scotland and the economic impact that this has today and will have in the future; recognises that there are steps that everyone can take to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease; welcomes Alzheimer Scotland’s latest information campaign, Good for You, Good for Your Brain, which emphasises the small but significant lifestyle changes that people can make to reduce the risk, such as eating healthily, staying mentally and physically active and maintaining social networks; but accepts that it is the responsibility of government to implement strategies to better accommodate the needs of dementia sufferers and their families, and therefore calls on the Executive to increase funding for care services, both in the immediate and longer term, improve training in dementia care, restore the availability of drug treatments to people with mild Alzheimer’s disease and make dementia a national priority.
Tesco Distribution Depot Workers, Livingston— That the Parliament expresses its deep concern that drivers at the Tesco distribution plant, Livingston, have been threatened with dismissal unless they accept new terms and conditions under a plant relocation proposal; notes that the proposed new depot is to be located just 500 yards from the existing site; further notes that it is possible that drivers will lose up to £5000 from their annual incomes despite the supermarket giant recently announcing record annual profits of £2.5 billion; strongly supports the drivers’ unanimously approved industrial action to uphold their terms and conditions and the drivers’ union, Unite T&G Section, in its ongoing efforts to uphold the local agreement and reach a negotiated settlement; condemns Tesco’s attempts to break the strike through use of non-union and unaware migrant labour, and acknowledges that Tesco may be using the Livingston site to undermine the workforce’s terms and conditions and that failure to reach a mutual conclusion could result in prolonged national industrial action.
Carers Week 11 to 17 June - Carers’ Rights Guide—That the Parliament notes the publication by Carers Scotland, as part of Carers Week from 11 to 17 June 2007, of Carers and their Rights: A Guide to the Law Relating to Carers; further notes that Carers Week is a week of awareness raising and activities to reach hidden carers; recognises the vital role that Scotland’s 600,000 unpaid carers play in providing support and care to disabled and older people in the community; supports the need to invest resources to support carers; recognises the endeavours of Carers Scotland in producing this guide to ensure that, in this year of equal opportunities for all, carers have effective information about their rights and opportunities to take part in work, education and leisure, and recognises the work of Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre in providing immense support to over 22,000 carers in Falkirk East, Falkirk West and Ochil.
Cumbernauld's 50th Anniversary—
That the Parliament congratulates Cumbernauld on its 50th anniversary; notes
that the new town was established in 1957 as a population overspill for Glasgow;
notes that Cumbernauld now boasts a population of approximately 52,000 people,
making it the eighth largest town in Scotland; recognises the commitment of
ordinary people who moved into this budding community, and thanks all
individuals, groups and organisations who have fostered the strong community
which exists in Cumbernauld today.
Congratulations to Adi Roche—That the Parliament congratulates
Adi Roche who was recently honoured with the Burns Humanitarian Award for
outstanding humanitarian efforts; recognises the work that Adi Roche and the
Chernobyl Children’s Project International, which she established, have
undertaken to work with children and families affected by the Chernobyl
disaster, and supports the Burns Humanitarian Award in preserving and promoting
the compassionate, international view of the world symbolised by the work and
values of Robert Burns.
May 2007
Congratulations to Dundee's Grove Academy— That the Parliament congratulates Dundee’s Grove Academy on its recent success in winning the English-Speaking Union Schools Mace; acknowledges that this is the first time a Scottish state school has won the prestigious event; hopes that this is the first of many victories for the school, and wishes it every success in the future ( motion proposed by Marlyn )
Recognising Success in the Voluntary Sector—That the Parliament congratulates CVS Fife and Adam Smith College on being awarded the Partnership Award at the inaugural annual Third Force News (TFN) Charity Awards; recognises their huge contribution to the voluntary sector in Fife through the promotion of a programme of free training; notes their successful partnership with local public and private sector organisations to achieve this and believes that they should be supported in building on this excellent work in the future; further recognises that the awards highlight the significant contribution that the voluntary sector makes to Scottish society, and believes that the sector should receive continued support and investment.
Aberdeen Shortlisted to be Hub of UK Energy Technologies Institute— That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that Aberdeen has been shortlisted under the Scottish consortium bid to host the hub of the proposed UK Energy Technologies Institute; congratulates local agencies and academic institutions on working together to make the case for Aberdeen; believes that, as the energy capital of Europe and home to over 900 energy-based companies, Aberdeen is the natural choice for the hub; notes that Aberdeen’s bid is supported by CBI Scotland and Oil and Gas UK; notes that the Scottish Executive’s own Intermediary Technology Institute for Energy is already based in the city; further notes the work of the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group in developing and promoting renewable energy technology, and calls on the Executive to promote Aberdeen as its preferred location for the hub.
Breastfeeding Awareness Week, 13 to 19 May
2007— That the Parliament welcomes National Breastfeeding Awareness Week
from 13 to 19 May 2007; notes that this is an annual event to raise awareness
among all sectors of the importance of breastfeeding and this year includes the
launch at Westminster on 16 May of a breastfeeding manifesto by a coalition of
non-governmental organisations; expresses concern at the small decrease in
breastfeeding rates in Scotland over the past year; notes that the post of
National Breastfeeding Advisor has been vacant for more than a year; believes
that more information and assistance is required, including better publicising
of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, and considers that the Scottish
Executive should do more to support, promote and encourage breastfeeding.