Report to the People
Programme of Protection
With our landlords, the Kirk, returning to our temporary lodgings on the Mound for their General Assembly last week, the Parliament moved North to the Granite City of Aberdeen.
While I would not wish to be uncharitable to our landlords in Edinburgh, the setting for our three day stay amongst the dreaming spires and rolling lawns of Aberdeen University was very pleasant (a marked contrast to some of the offices and industrial estates in which I have worked in the past.)
There was, however, more to the visit than making me think I had wandered on to the set of Brideshead Revisited. As you know, I want everyone to feel they can have their say on want they want to see the Parliament do for them. Sending the Parliament to Aberdeen was, as a taxi driver there said to me, a way of underlining to the North of Scotland that this includes them.
Much of what was debated, then, unsurprisingly focussed on issues of importance to the North – such as transport. We also, though, discussed issues which affect the whole country, but are currently especially live in the Grampians – such as the oil and gas industry.
Of most interest to us, however, was the statement from First Minister, Jack McConnell, on the Executive’s programme for the coming year.
It seemed appropriate that, with the Church of Scotland meeting at the Parliament’s usual home, the theme for the First Minister’s speech was protecting the vulnerable. He announced that the coming months will see bills brought forward to tackle homelessness, increase protection for children, review adoption procedures and update mental health law.
In addition to increasing protection for vulnerable individuals, community protection will also be given a boost. In what is undoubtedly a major shift in the way things are done (in Britain at any rate), the First Minister announced that he was ready to collaborate with MSPs from all sides of the Chamber to bring forward new laws aimed at sorting out major local nuisances such as vandalism, litter and dog fouling.
Heated political debate will and should always surround many topics. But with most MSPs there is little room for ideological debate around issues like cleaning up the streets.
I look forward to this experiment and hope that everyone with views and ideas engages constructively with the debate – giving the country the laws we need and vulnerable people and vulnerable communities the protection they deserve.
Back to Current Reports to the People
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Articles ] [ Calendar ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ UK Online ] [ Scottish Parliament ]