Week beginning Monday 13th November 2006
Actually my week began on Tuesday this week and straight to
Edinburgh University’s beautiful Playfair Library in the morning to
open a seminar about the ‘7th Framework Programme’ of the European
Union which is about research and development funding from the EU to
institutions within nation states. The programme begins next year
and it is crucial that Scotland gets its share. Edinburgh University
has always performed well in this regard, and in fact it’s part of a
wider Scottish success story, with our universities punching well
above our population weight in bringing in EU funding for research.
With only 8.5% of the population of the UK, Scottish institutions
brought in 12.5% of EU research funding awarded in the UK in
2004/05. That is hardly surprising, though, when we consider the
quality of our universities and the engagement they have had with
Europe over centuries. Scotland has world leaders in research in
many areas from biotechnology to nanotechnology, in renewable
energies and in healthcare, and it is research done in Scotland
which is helping to drive the reinvention of the modern world – you
know, everyone recognises this except the Scots!
Squirreling away at the computer on Tuesday
afternoon and then a lovely treat in the evening – dinner with Mercy
Corps to talk about their ongoing global relief work. Mercy Corps is
headquartered in Portland, USA and Edinburgh and I have long been a
fan of their work and their insistence that wherever possible
‘in-country’ staff should be local – over the last five years more
than 90% of their resources have been allocated directly to the
programmes, a fact much appreciated by donors, both public and
private.
The Mercy Corps website is well worth a look – I was particularly
struck by this recently posted article – One Night in Ogonyo – about
the current situation in Uganda where thousands fled their homes due
to civil strife. Now following recent peace talks many people are in
“return camps” with at least some hope of getting home.
http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/
Public Petitions Committee for me on Wednesday
morning – I’m not on that committee but there was a Petition coming
up which I just had to support. This was the petition by veterans of
the Malayan Emergency from the mid-1950’s to ‘60’s, to give them the
right to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal as presented to them by
Malaysia itself in gratitude for their endeavours and sacrifice. For
some crazy reason Commonwealth veterans (eg Australia) are allowed
to officially wear this medal, but British troops are not. How
ridiculous is that? Anyway, I’m happy to report that the majority of
the Public Petitions Committee members recognised this anomaly too
and queries have been duly sent ‘down the road’ to Westminster. The
case put by Andy Nicoll and Donald Fairgrieve was indisputable – men
who had served and having been honoured by Malaya just wanted
recognition in their own land; not a lot to ask for. I’ll keep
everyone posted, but should anyone want to read more, either let me
know, or have a look at the Public Petitions Committee page on the
Scottish Parliament website. Or, join the Campaign.
www.fight4thePJM.org
Regular meeting with the Euro Team later in the
morning, talking through our plans for the next week’s meeting and
our Maritime Conference to be held at the beginning of December – so
important to Scotland, and more info at the time.
The rest of Wednesday and Thursday was taken up
with the final stages of the Planning Bill – in Chamber all the time
with constant voting. The SNP argued for greater rights for those
other than developers to have the right of appeal against planning
decisions, but I’m afraid we were unsuccessful. In theory, however,
although this new planning legislation doesn’t go far enough in my
opinion, it seems better than what we have at present – let’s wait
and see.
Some colleagues manage to sit in the Chamber and
get on with other work whilst Stage 3 debates are going on – me? no
chance! just can’t do it; I guess I’m too nosey and scared I miss
something, though having said that, often I’m in a dwam and miss
what I’m supposed to hear. So, another weekend of catching up on
constituency work I’m afraid.
Fair Trade Meeting in Strathaven on Thursday
night – always a pleasure, and reminded me that I really must get my
Christmas Card competition sorted out: Last minute as usual –
Chapelton School this time, visiting on Friday morning.
And to Friday morning and Chapelton School –
loads of ideas from the children as to how we do our Fairtrade
Christmas cards this year. We’ve decided that pupils of primaries 6
and 7 will design their cards and then a boy winner and a girl
winner will be chosen by the Strathaven Fair Trade Group (I’m
staying well out of that one!), then we’ll print and go! Interesting
that the children also decided that the winners’ prizes should be
lunch with me for them and their parents! Don’t know what the poor
parents will make of that one.
Linda Fabiani
21.11.06
