Report
to the People
31st
March 2003
The First Four Years
With the election looming large on the horizon, the last week of business in the Scottish Parliament before tomorrow’s Dissolution had a strange feeling about it.
At times, the Chamber felt like a classroom on the eve of the summer holidays. Jovial well-wishing, some tearful goodbyes and a few valedictory words from the headmaster.
Indeed, when I walked in on Wednesday I half expected to see MSPs wearing their weekend clothes and playing board games.
No such luck.
We had the small matter of four bills to pass – including one to give children and young people greater protection by setting-up a Children’s Commissioner – and major debates on the economy and older people.
But that’s been the way of the Parliament since it was set up. The pace has been frenetic. We have passed, for example, 62 Bills; Ministers have answered 35,000 written questions; 5,000 witnesses have appeared before Committees; and 200,000 people have watched proceedings from the public gallery.
The mood, then, was one of reflection. And I found myself thinking, if asked to highlight only one achievement from the past four years, what would it be?
In amongst what I suppose would be regarded as the headliners – free personal care, free local bus travel (to which, remember, men will be entitled at 60 from tomorrow) and free central heating – one thing which stands out for me is the progress we have made on getting justice for asbestos victims.
At a meeting with Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, last week, I was pleased to learn the full impact of the decision by Lord President, Lord Cullen, to allow "fast-track" court hearings for asbestos sufferers.
Little did I think that, back in November 2000 when I held a Member’s Debate calling for an end to the injustices facing asbestos victims seeking compensation through the courts, that, by the end of the Parliament, the hard work of campaigners would have persuaded the legal establishment to implement sweeping changes.
The rules, which come into force tomorrow, put to an end to the endless spinning out of cases by insurance companies and their lawyers. At a stroke, the length of time these cases take will be halved. If the victim is terminally ill, it will be halved again. The whole focus of the process will be on getting a settlement.
It’s a huge honour and a great responsibility to represent your community at any level. The trust which you placed in me four years ago has allowed me to play my small part in this huge issue and I thank you for it.
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