Report to the People
Campaigning Parliament
A month ago I reported on the plight of mesothelioma sufferers who, on top of dying from an extremely painful and aggressive form of cancer, are being denied justice in their fight for compensation.
Last Thursday, a motion I tabled highlighting the situation was debated in the Parliament and watched from the public gallery by local members of Clydeside Action on Asbestos.
Taking part in a debate which is important to all of us in Greenock & Inverclyde, with constituents looking on from above, underlined an important point: The effectiveness of the Scottish Parliament in campaigns such as this.
In the Scottish Parliament there are two backbench led debates every week. This is not the case in Westminster.
But holding backbench debates are often only the beginning of parliamentary campaigns. There are many other ways in which the Parliament can be used to further a cause.
Any group or individual, for example, can petition the Parliament. Petitions are considered by a dedicated Public Petitions Committee, who decide on what action to take.
One such petition is currently being prepared by the asbestos campaigners, setting out the action they feel is needed to prevent continued abuse of the legal process by powerful employers and to deliver proper compensation for their victims. This could be referred to the Justice Committee, which can, if it so chooses, conduct a full inquiry into the issue. Such an inquiry would issue a report and, if it found that a change in the law was necessary, the committee itself could introduce the appropriate Bill.
At the risk of stating the obvious, the location of the Parliament also makes it far easier to put your case to politicians.
Asbestos campaigners will shortly be holding a meeting in the Parliament to inform MSPs of a new drug treatment which may offer relief to mesothelioma suffers. Again, they don’t need expensive lobbyists or consultants. They can simply put their case straight to the lawmakers.
Our new, accessible Parliament is proving itself an ideal forum for addressing long-standing injustices. I hope that it will play a part in finally delivering justice, not only for asbestos victims, but also for many others with legitimate grievances.
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