Report to the People
15th September 2003
Making Devolution Work for Inverclyde
One
of the more interesting things about the Scottish Parliament is that it can
debate things over which it has no power.
Don’t
ask me why. (I think it’s a bit
like two bald men arguing over a comb.) But,
rules are rules and, if a party wants to use its debating time to discuss what
shade of green the army should paint its tanks, the level of Child Benefit in
Bolivia, or whatever, that’s their business.
It
was thanks to this anomaly that MSPs last Thursday found themselves talking
about the Dungavel detention centre – a matter which is the responsibility of
the Home Office and the Westminster Parliament.
With
the participants safe in the knowledge that they will never be asked to
implement whatever such a debate agrees, proceedings can have the feel of a
school debating society. They are
also fairly predictable. Whatever
the issue, you can guarantee that the opposition will conclude it’s all the
fault of wicked Westminster.
I
suppose when your ultimate goal is to end the devolution settlement, painting
Westminster as some dark force determined to impose unpopular measures on
Scotland seems the sensible thing to do.
But
sensible political strategy or not, the idea of Westminster as arch villain is
still a travesty.
I
know it’s not a particularly fashionable view, but the truth is that
Westminster and the Scottish Parliament are actually working well together.
And, for a prime example of how we are co-operating, you need look no
further than the Wellpark Mid Kirk this Saturday morning.
My
Westminster colleague, David Cairns and I will be taking part in a pensioners’
advice road-show, explaining to Inverclyde’s senior citizens how they can take
advantage of the various measures implemented by the Scottish and UK
Parliaments.
David,
for example, will be on hand to answer your questions about the new Pension
Credit, the Winter Fuel Allowance and other state benefits. And I will be able to give you advice on Scottish Parliament
initiatives such as free central heating, free bus travel and free personal
care. Expert representatives from
Age Concern, the Pension Service, the Council and others will also be there to
help.
Working
together, the Scottish Parliament and Westminster are a powerful alliance which
can deliver real results for communities like ours. And we shouldn’t let constitutional fights, picked for
political reasons, let us lose sight of that.
If you can’t make Saturday’s
road-show, call my office on 791820 for
a free guide to the help and support to which you are entitled in retirement.
Back to Current Reports to the People
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Report to the People ] [ Interact ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ UK Online ] [ Scottish Parliament ]