Week
beginning Monday 7th June
Unusually a Monday
daytime in Edinburgh – stayed over Sunday night following the UK/Espana
Dinner.
Managed to get to the
morning sessions of the UK/Espana Conference – really interesting
topic (each event is themed) of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’. In
other words, do companies have an obligation to take social and
environmental factors into account in their business dealings? How
many do? Should there be legislation? Interesting presentations and
points of view from Government, Business and Non-Governmental
Organisations active in the field.
Back up to the
Parliament for 11.30 am though to meet the Friendship Force from
Lanarkshire with their visitors from Colorado, USA – around 40
visitors. There is only one active Friendship Force organisation in
Scotland I understand, covering the West of Scotland. Members create
links with other organisations all over the world, and all visit each
other, exchange visits etc. A great way of meeting interesting people
- I’ve hosted Parliament visitors from Holland too, through local
Friendship Force members. We ended up with a question/answer session
in the Chamber gallery and the Colorado folk (Coloradians?
Coloradoans? I don’t know, must find out) were fascinated about our
having re-convened our Parliament after almost 300 years. Stunned
though to also learn that we have less powers than a State Legislature
in the USA.
Morag and Linda with Lanarkshire
and Colorado
Back to Lanarkshire in
the evening – two meetings – one at Dungavel village and one in
Gilmourton. The meeting at Dungavel was hosted by the local police to
tell locals about the security plans for the forthcoming Dungavel
Detention Centre demonstration during the G8 Summit at Gleneagles.
Naturally, small communities worry about the effect of potentially
thousands of demonstrators turning up on their doorstep, but I didn’t
detect any view from those present that the demonstration should be
stopped or opposed. There are regular demonstrations at Dungavel
(albeit smaller) and as the police stressed, always peaceful.
Followed that with a
meeting of parents of school-children in Gilmourton who are aghast at
South Lanarkshire’s latest plans for Strathaven Academy. An Action
Group covering the whole of Avondale has been set up. The original
Council schools’ renewal plan was that Strathaven Academy would be
refurbished, and this was the one approved by the Scottish Executive.
But now, however, it seems that the plan is to demolish the school,
build a new one on the same site and meanwhile, for two years, bus the
Academy pupils into East Kilbride every day! Yes, ludicrous though
that seems, that’s the plan – 40 buses a day. A 30-40 mile round trip
for some rural pupils. Pick-ups around 7.30 am. Health & Safety
concerns. What about extra-curricular activities for two years? No
wonder parents are up in arms. I could go on at greater length – lack
of consultation etc. etc. etc. This really must be resisted. I’ll do
whatever I can to assist.
I spoke some time ago
about East Kilbride Befrienders – a voluntary group suffering, as
always, with lack of core funding even though they are carrying out
work by referral from the Council. Well, despite funding agreement
from the Council back at the beginning of May they’ve still received
no funding, and the Committee are so demoralised they are thinking of
closing altogether and paying off their only staff member. Shameful
that this should happen and that people giving of their time and
commitment to help others are treated this way. And what about the
youngsters who rely on their Befrienders? Potentially more change for
them – so much for continuity, trust and certainty in their lives. And
so much for Malcolm Chisholm’s contention that core funding is not an
issue!
Back through to
Edinburgh for the closing sessions of the UK/Espana event. You know, I
enjoyed it better when it was in Spain, and not Edinburgh! That way I
had to clear the diary for a couple of days, no-one could get to me
and I had two whole days to concentrate and learn. I guess when it was
in Spain though, some of the Spanish delegates had the same problem as
me in Scotland. So that’s only fair I suppose.
More visitors today –
representatives of The Church and Society Forum of Churches Together
in Britain and Ireland who wanted to discuss with me how Cross-Party
Groups work in our Parliament and to discuss in particular the work of
the XPG on Refugees and Asylum Seekers. They were particularly
interested in how here in Holyrood members of Civic Society –
churches, charities, non-governmental organisations, individuals – can
be full members of the Cross Party Groups, as this doesn’t appear to
happen elsewhere. Certainly when I’ve attended any at Westminster the
MPs all sit round a table and everyone else is just in attendance – I
am told that this is ‘the norm’ there. Our way sounds much more
interesting and bonds the founding principle of Parliament and Civic
Society – that’s why it’s so important to keep arguing for the
existence and beefing-up of the Scottish Civic Forum.
Various internal
meetings in the afternoon and then a treat – Dinner with the Norwegian
Ambassador, Mr. Tarald O. Brautaset. Wednesday of course is the
centenary of Norway’s independence from Sweden and the Ambassador was
visiting as part of the Norwegian Centenary celebrations. Norway and
Scotland of course have strong trade links which have existed for many
hundreds of years – fishing, construction industry, oil and education.
Consistently Norway is
deemed to have the highest standard of living of any small country –
around the same population as Scotland, the same natural resources,
but of course it is independent and makes its own choices (including
having used their oil to the advantage of their people). It was a
peaceful break-up from Sweden and now the Scandinavian countries work
together in all sorts of ways, joint initiatives in many things. This
of course gives lie to the nonsense of Scotland’s becoming independent
leading to “DIVORCE/SEPARATION/PASSPORT CONTROLS AT THE BORDER”. No
more than scare stories and panic tactics. England is after all our
nearest neighbour and would become a good friend, as Sweden is to
Norway. Enough ranting from me – Rob Gibson’s Member’s Debate on
Wednesday night says it all. You can log onto it on the Scottish
Parliament website, or if you want a hard copy, just let me know and
I'll send one out. You may note that no members of the Labour Group
spoke in this debate. In fact none attended, except one for the first
5 minutes or so. I found it embarrassing to see these empty benches
when the Ambassador, representing his country, was sitting in the
gallery. How graceless. Our pal below celebrates Norway and Scotland
in their absence.
The Big Dug
And as for the First
Minister constantly going on about Scotland being “the best small
country in the world”. Potentially yes, but Jack, have a look at
Norway. Maybe that’s why none of his troops turned out to the Norway
debate – too sore to listen to reality.
Wednesday afternoon we
debated the G8 Summit in the Chamber. All aspects from how Scotland
may/may not benefit, and the hopes for real change in the rich
countries’ treatment of the world’s poor countries. The Executive keep
banging on about how Scotland will be showcased by this event. I’m not
convinced of this, and actually don’t believe this should be the main
aim. It’s about others, not us, and we didn’t invite this event, the
UK Government told us it was coming!
Quick bite and half a
glass of wine at the Commission for Racial Equality reception hosted
by Nicola Sturgeon and then off to the BBC to talk about the G8 on the
Politics Tonight Radio Show. It was one of the Green MSPs in the
studio with me so we reckoned it would be all consensus on this issue,
but then a Labourite turned up, so a rammy was had after all!
Back to the office to
catch up on the week’s emails – late home as usual.
Tory debate in the
Chamber Thursday morning, so managed to sneak in and out only to cover
my question to the Minister about core-fund for voluntary
organisations yet again. This meant I got some constituency work done.
Then, a great way to break up the day – lunch and tour with the lovely
couple who won the prize I donated to the East Kilbride Kittoch Rotary
Ball. I could have sat in that restaurant all afternoon, chewing the
fat. I am so glad that I liked Karen and Les – think how difficult it
would be if someone really awful won the prize and you had to wine and
dine them! Uncharitable of me I know, but who likes everyone they
meet!
Much as I was enjoying
myself though I had to be back in the Chamber for the Stage 3 of the
Charities Legislation – all over and done with; it’s been a long time
coming.
Interesting meeting of
the International Development Group on Thursday evening when we met Dr
Sein Win, Prime Minister of the National Coalition Government of the
Union of Burma, that is of course Prime Minister in exile with some of
his Government. Others of course are imprisoned in the country, the
most famous being the leader of the National League for Democracy,
Aung San Suu Kyi. She has been under house arrest on this occasion
since 2003 and has been completely incommunicado. Dr. Sein Win and his
associate explained the current situation in their country, now
renamed the Union of Myanmar, which has been under military rule since
1990 when the NLD gained 80% of the votes in the election, but were
not allowed to take office. I met others of the Government in Exile
when I was in South East Asia some years ago and was amazed by their
forbearance. Dr. Sein Win believes that the situation will improve – I
guess you have to believe that or you couldn’t go on in such
circumstances.
Again, a Friday in
Edinburgh – Central Scotland coming to Edinburgh rather than me going
there. First of all Kilmarnock Academy, visiting the parliament to
learn about how we use Information Technology – I hope I was helpful,
but I’m not convinced that I knew anywhere near as much as they did!
Then, 49 dancers from the Red Deer Centre in East Kilbride – yes, 49!
It was a great visit – we congaed in Committee Room 1 and we cha-chaed
in the Chamber. Then we had lunch in the Restaurant and ended up with
a Gay Gordons in the Garden. I’m only kidding, we didn’t dance on
Friday, but I do intend to do so when I visit the Dance Classes when
they re-open in September.
I did dance on Friday
night in Perth though, at Roseanna Cunningham’s 10th
Anniversary celebration of being elected at the by-election for
Westminster. Hard to believe it’s been ten years since we all stood
singing in the streets of Perth when the result was announced. A great
memory.
Well, I said I danced,
and on Saturday morning I could prove it – a big ‘strip the willow’
bruise on my arm, courtesy of Rob Gibson and Calum Smith, and a sore
throat from heuchin’ and cheuchin’. Never mind, it was worth it.
Strathaven Gala Day on Saturday, but I could only go along for a wee
while because I was at a wedding in the afternoon and evening (Louise
was an absolutely beautiful bride, and Stuart was quite handsome too
in his Scottish National Tartan kilt!). I also missed the
commemoration service for the radical martyrs – Baird, Hardie and
Wilson (Purlie Wilson was a Strathaven man) - which takes place at the
monument in Strathaven every year. The 1820 Society do admirable work
in keeping the memory of the radical uprising alive: read all about
the Society and the history on ElectricScotland. Meanwhile some
photos:
A sunny day in Strathaven - honest, the
Union Jack's not at my house!
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/1820/
Well, rounded off the
week with Sunday canvassing for the Kildrum, Cumbernauld by-election
which takes place Thursday 16th. Then, tried
(unsuccessfully) to catch up on day-to-day work. Monday starts another
week.
Linda Fabiani
13.6.05
Email Linda at
Linda.fabiani.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
