That the Parliament expresses its concern that boat movements on the Forth and Clyde Canal remain restricted due to the closure of Bonnybridge and Twechar road bridges; calls on Scottish Canals to urgently repair the bridges and fully reopen the canal to through navigation; notes the once-only opening of the Twechar and Bonnybridge bridges; believes that the closure represents the loss of the purpose of the £78 million Millennium Link restoration, which brought the canals back to life for communities across the central belt; understands that the popular Auchinstarry Marina and Boathouse Hotel & Restaurant are now isolated from the rest of the canal network, threatening local jobs in the catering, tourism and leisure industries; agrees that the asset management plan must now be reviewed to ensure that resources are committed to maintain and replace canal network infrastructure; considers that a failure to maintain the canal has resulted in a loss of movements, water stagnation and overgrowth to the detriment of new housing and commercial developments attracted to the canal banks; congratulates the voluntary groups for their determined campaign to keep the canals alive, and urges the board of Scottish Canals to meet what it sees as its statutory obligations to keep the canals maintained and open for use.
Current Status:
That the Parliament expresses its concern that boat movements on the Forth and Clyde Canal remain restricted due to the closure of Bonnybridge and Twechar road bridges; calls on Scottish Canals to urgently repair the bridges and fully reopen the canal to through navigation; notes the once-only opening of the Twechar and Bonnybridge bridges; believes that the closure represents the loss of the purpose of the £78 million Millennium Link restoration, which brought the canals back to life for communities across the central belt; understands that the popular Auchinstarry Marina and Boathouse Hotel & Restaurant are now isolated from the rest of the canal network, threatening local jobs in the catering, tourism and leisure industries; agrees that the asset management plan must now be reviewed to ensure that resources are committed to maintain and replace canal network infrastructure; considers that a failure to maintain the canal has resulted in a loss of movements, water stagnation and overgrowth to the detriment of new housing and commercial developments attracted to the canal banks; congratulates the voluntary groups for their determined campaign to keep the canals alive, and urges the board of Scottish Canals to meet what it sees as its statutory obligations to keep the canals maintained and open for use.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Jackie Baillie, Alison Harris, Monica Lennon
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That the Parliament supports the excellent work of volunteers and staff at Victim Support Scotland; acknowledges the organisation’s continued commitment to victims and witnesses of crime; commends the charity on its dedication to hate crime training and notes its new training course on the matter; congratulates the organisation on its recent hate crime conference and report, which seeks to place victims at the heart of any legislative response to hate crime; understands that there is work to be done to increase reporting of hate crime, and encourages Members, stakeholders and interested parties to respond to the consultation on hate crime by the closing date of 23 November 2017.
Current Status:
That the Parliament supports the excellent work of volunteers and staff at Victim Support Scotland; acknowledges the organisation’s continued commitment to victims and witnesses of crime; commends the charity on its dedication to hate crime training and notes its new training course on the matter; congratulates the organisation on its recent hate crime conference and report, which seeks to place victims at the heart of any legislative response to hate crime; understands that there is work to be done to increase reporting of hate crime, and encourages Members, stakeholders and interested parties to respond to the consultation on hate crime by the closing date of 23 November 2017.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Anas Sarwar, John Mason, Daniel Johnson, Stewart Stevenson, Gail Ross, Johann Lamont, Iain Gray, Lewis Macdonald, Neil Findlay, Colin Smyth, Alex Neil, Jackson Carlaw, Richard Lochhead, Kezia Dugdale, Colin Beattie, Alexander Burnett, Clare Adamson, Jackie Baillie, Ben Macpherson, Ivan McKee, Neil Bibby, Monica Lennon
Current Status: Fallen on 24/01/2018
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That the Parliament expresses its disappointment that the Scottish Government has approved the plans of Peter D Stirling Ltd to expand Mossend Railhead freight terminal on what, it understands, is the last remaining area of greenbelt land in Bellshill; notes that North Lanarkshire Council rejected the proposals, a move it believes was supported by the Scottish Government-appointed planning reporter in 2015; further understands that Scottish ministers then intervened to grant the application and that the Court of Session upheld North Lanarkshire Council's appeal against that decision, citing Scottish ministers lack of "proper, adequate and intelligible" reasons for going against the view of the planning authority and the planning reporter; understands, with concern, that Scottish ministers subsequently installed a new reporter and that the plans have now been approved; considers that the plans will have a significant and detrimental environmental impact on the community of Bellshill, directly impacting 900 homes; notes what it sees as the high level of opposition from residents; considers, with deep concern, that local democratic decision-making has been ignored, and calls on Scottish ministers to reconsider their position on this matter.
Current Status:
That the Parliament expresses its disappointment that the Scottish Government has approved the plans of Peter D Stirling Ltd to expand Mossend Railhead freight terminal on what, it understands, is the last remaining area of greenbelt land in Bellshill; notes that North Lanarkshire Council rejected the proposals, a move it believes was supported by the Scottish Government-appointed planning reporter in 2015; further understands that Scottish ministers then intervened to grant the application and that the Court of Session upheld North Lanarkshire Council's appeal against that decision, citing Scottish ministers lack of "proper, adequate and intelligible" reasons for going against the view of the planning authority and the planning reporter; understands, with concern, that Scottish ministers subsequently installed a new reporter and that the plans have now been approved; considers that the plans will have a significant and detrimental environmental impact on the community of Bellshill, directly impacting 900 homes; notes what it sees as the high level of opposition from residents; considers, with deep concern, that local democratic decision-making has been ignored, and calls on Scottish ministers to reconsider their position on this matter.
Supported by: Margaret Mitchell, Elaine Smith, Graham Simpson, Neil Findlay, Alex Rowley
Current Status: Fallen on 24/01/2018
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That the Parliament recognises the campaign by community activists in Bo’ness and Grangemouth who have fought against the closure of the A904 Bo’ness Road; notes that the A904 is the main road connecting Bo’ness and Grangemouth; understands that INEOS is seeking planning permission to establish an integrated site, which would result in the road being closed; further understands that the plans are being considered as a national development and INEOS has submitted an appeal to close the road directly to the Scottish Government; notes what it understands is widespread opposition to the proposals from local residents, including concerns that any closure of the road would have a detrimental impact on existing users, increase journey times and add pressure to the surrounding road network; welcomes that the appeal has been called in by the Scottish Ministers, and calls on ministers to respect the wishes of those local people in the communities of Bo’ness and Grangemouth, who have fought these proposals, and reject the plan.
Current Status:
That the Parliament recognises the campaign by community activists in Bo’ness and Grangemouth who have fought against the closure of the A904 Bo’ness Road; notes that the A904 is the main road connecting Bo’ness and Grangemouth; understands that INEOS is seeking planning permission to establish an integrated site, which would result in the road being closed; further understands that the plans are being considered as a national development and INEOS has submitted an appeal to close the road directly to the Scottish Government; notes what it understands is widespread opposition to the proposals from local residents, including concerns that any closure of the road would have a detrimental impact on existing users, increase journey times and add pressure to the surrounding road network; welcomes that the appeal has been called in by the Scottish Ministers, and calls on ministers to respect the wishes of those local people in the communities of Bo’ness and Grangemouth, who have fought these proposals, and reject the plan.
Supported by: Richard Leonard, Claudia Beamish, Monica Lennon, Elaine Smith, Neil Findlay, Mark Ruskell, Alison Harris, Margaret Mitchell, Alex Rowley, Graham Simpson
Current Status: Fallen on 24/01/2018
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That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD) on reaching its 90th anniversary and the West of Scotland Deaf Children’s Society (WSDCS) on reaching its 70th; acknowledges the tremendous work undertaken by both organisations throughout their history; understands that their efforts have made a significant difference to the lives of deaf people of all ages in Scotland; recognises the need for organisations like SCoD and WSDCS to continue raising awareness of, and campaigning for, the rights of deaf people in Scotland to be equal citizens to their hearing peers, and wishes both organisations well in all their future work.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD) on reaching its 90th anniversary and the West of Scotland Deaf Children’s Society (WSDCS) on reaching its 70th; acknowledges the tremendous work undertaken by both organisations throughout their history; understands that their efforts have made a significant difference to the lives of deaf people of all ages in Scotland; recognises the need for organisations like SCoD and WSDCS to continue raising awareness of, and campaigning for, the rights of deaf people in Scotland to be equal citizens to their hearing peers, and wishes both organisations well in all their future work.
Supported by: Miles Briggs, Ruth Maguire, Iain Gray, Monica Lennon, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Sandra White, Graeme Dey, Stewart Stevenson, Richard Lyle, Bruce Crawford, Fulton MacGregor, Colin Beattie, Jackie Baillie, Adam Tomkins, Ben Macpherson, John Mason, Tom Arthur, Ivan McKee, Jackson Carlaw, Clare Adamson
Current Status: Fallen on 29/11/2017
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That the Parliament welcomes what it considers the overwhelming support for universal credit payments to be split between the members of a household from 99% of organisations and 78% of individuals who responded to a consultation on social security; recognises the responses of key stakeholders, including Engender, Scottish Women’s Aid, JRF, Inclusion Scotland, SCVO and SFHA, which it considers advocate automatic use of this flexibility; further considers the automatic splitting of universal credit payments to be a step towards gender equality in the Scottish social security system, which will promote financial autonomy and which is particularly critical to protect women and children from domestic abuse; understands from evidence from women’s organisations that 9 in 10 domestic abuse cases include financial abuse, that women receive 20% of their incomes from social security payments and 86% of UK Government cuts to social security and tax credits will come from women’s incomes; recognises that East Lothian, Inverness, Inverclyde and East Dunbartonshire are now universal credit full service areas, but considers that this split payment flexibility is both under-publicised and under-used, and notes the view that the will to deliver split payments should not be hindered by the technical limitations of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes what it considers the overwhelming support for universal credit payments to be split between the members of a household from 99% of organisations and 78% of individuals who responded to a consultation on social security; recognises the responses of key stakeholders, including Engender, Scottish Women’s Aid, JRF, Inclusion Scotland, SCVO and SFHA, which it considers advocate automatic use of this flexibility; further considers the automatic splitting of universal credit payments to be a step towards gender equality in the Scottish social security system, which will promote financial autonomy and which is particularly critical to protect women and children from domestic abuse; understands from evidence from women’s organisations that 9 in 10 domestic abuse cases include financial abuse, that women receive 20% of their incomes from social security payments and 86% of UK Government cuts to social security and tax credits will come from women’s incomes; recognises that East Lothian, Inverness, Inverclyde and East Dunbartonshire are now universal credit full service areas, but considers that this split payment flexibility is both under-publicised and under-used, and notes the view that the will to deliver split payments should not be hindered by the technical limitations of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Supported by: Claudia Beamish, Alex Rowley, Pauline McNeill, Iain Gray, Johann Lamont, Neil Findlay, Ivan McKee, Claire Baker, David Torrance, Alex Cole-Hamilton, John Mason, John Finnie, Richard Leonard, Gillian Martin, James Kelly, Rona Mackay, Stuart McMillan, Elaine Smith, Jackie Baillie, Colin Smyth, Neil Bibby, Alison Johnstone, Andy Wightman
Current Status: Fallen on 20/06/2017
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That the Parliament believes that, in 21st century Scotland, no child should be born into poverty; congratulates the work of the Child Poverty Action Group and the organisations across civic Scotland that campaign to boost child benefit; believes that actions prior to 2010 to set targets and lift incomes achieved a reduction in child poverty across the country of 120,000; calls on the Scottish Government to return to lifting incomes and include in the Child Poverty Bill a measure to top-up child benefit by £13 a month in 2018-19, rising to £20 per month by the end of the Parliamentary session, and believes that what it considers such meaningful action would lift 18,000 children out of poverty in the first year, and up to 30,000 by 2021.
Current Status:
That the Parliament believes that, in 21st century Scotland, no child should be born into poverty; congratulates the work of the Child Poverty Action Group and the organisations across civic Scotland that campaign to boost child benefit; believes that actions prior to 2010 to set targets and lift incomes achieved a reduction in child poverty across the country of 120,000; calls on the Scottish Government to return to lifting incomes and include in the Child Poverty Bill a measure to top-up child benefit by £13 a month in 2018-19, rising to £20 per month by the end of the Parliamentary session, and believes that what it considers such meaningful action would lift 18,000 children out of poverty in the first year, and up to 30,000 by 2021.
Supported by: Anas Sarwar, Monica Lennon, Pauline McNeill, Iain Gray, Alex Rowley, Claudia Beamish, Kezia Dugdale, James Kelly, Jackie Baillie, Richard Leonard, Lewis Macdonald, Neil Bibby, Mary Fee, Elaine Smith, Daniel Johnson, Neil Findlay, David Stewart, Jenny Marra, Rhoda Grant, Claire Baker
Current Status: Fallen on 04/10/2017
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As an amendment to motion S5M-02948 in the name of Jeane Freeman (Creating a Fairer Scotland, Our Disability Delivery Plan), insert at end “; recognises that the new Scottish social security system will be a vital tool to ensure that disabled people have independence, decent incomes and fairer working lives; further recognises that two fifths of people in poverty live in a household with at least one disabled person and that the costs associated with a disability can average £550 per month, and agrees that new disability benefits powers will give the Parliament and the Scottish Government both the substantial responsibility and opportunity to support Scotland’s disabled people by halting and reversing the worst effects of Tory social security cuts, under a system that is based on the principles of dignity and respect.”
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S5M-02948 in the name of Jeane Freeman (Creating a Fairer Scotland, Our Disability Delivery Plan), insert at end “; recognises that the new Scottish social security system will be a vital tool to ensure that disabled people have independence, decent incomes and fairer working lives; further recognises that two fifths of people in poverty live in a household with at least one disabled person and that the costs associated with a disability can average £550 per month, and agrees that new disability benefits powers will give the Parliament and the Scottish Government both the substantial responsibility and opportunity to support Scotland’s disabled people by halting and reversing the worst effects of Tory social security cuts, under a system that is based on the principles of dignity and respect.”
Supported by: Alex Rowley, Pauline McNeill
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 08/12/2016
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As an amendment to motion S5M-02651 in the name of Jeane Freeman (The Future of Social Security in Scotland), leave out from "understands" to "scrutinised by the Parliament" and insert "recognises the considerable work that local government and third sector welfare rights organisations do across the country to support people to maximise their incomes; believes that an extensive public information campaign, complemented by a well-resourced welfare rights network, can further this work in advance of the transfer of social security powers; agrees that a statutory duty on the new social security agency to maximise people's incomes is necessary to ensure increased take-up by those who are eligible; understands that this is the largest transfer of powers to the Parliament and will require a major programme of transition and implementation in order to ensure that Scotland's future social security system meets the needs, expectations and ambitions of its people; recognises that this transfer will affect 1.4 million people and that therefore the safe and secure transfer of benefits must be the priority, but believes that the complexities of devolution must neither undermine or impede the delivery of real changes for Scotland’s most vulnerable, and that devolution must be realised before 2020 to allow the Parliament and the Scottish Government to halt and reverse the worst effects of Tory social security cuts".
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S5M-02651 in the name of Jeane Freeman (The Future of Social Security in Scotland), leave out from "understands" to "scrutinised by the Parliament" and insert "recognises the considerable work that local government and third sector welfare rights organisations do across the country to support people to maximise their incomes; believes that an extensive public information campaign, complemented by a well-resourced welfare rights network, can further this work in advance of the transfer of social security powers; agrees that a statutory duty on the new social security agency to maximise people's incomes is necessary to ensure increased take-up by those who are eligible; understands that this is the largest transfer of powers to the Parliament and will require a major programme of transition and implementation in order to ensure that Scotland's future social security system meets the needs, expectations and ambitions of its people; recognises that this transfer will affect 1.4 million people and that therefore the safe and secure transfer of benefits must be the priority, but believes that the complexities of devolution must neither undermine or impede the delivery of real changes for Scotland’s most vulnerable, and that devolution must be realised before 2020 to allow the Parliament and the Scottish Government to halt and reverse the worst effects of Tory social security cuts".
Supported by: Pauline McNeill, Alex Rowley
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23/11/2016
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That the Parliament is deeply concerned by the reported proposals by First Bus to cut the X86 and 24 bus services; believes that these are lifeline transport routes and that their removal will have a significant detrimental impact on people in Kilsyth and the villages of Banton, Banknock and Queenzieburn; welcomes the campaign against the proposals, Haud the Bus, which is being led by Unite the Union, and encourages First Bus to reconsider their plans to remove these services while continuing to operate profitable routes.
Current Status:
That the Parliament is deeply concerned by the reported proposals by First Bus to cut the X86 and 24 bus services; believes that these are lifeline transport routes and that their removal will have a significant detrimental impact on people in Kilsyth and the villages of Banton, Banknock and Queenzieburn; welcomes the campaign against the proposals, Haud the Bus, which is being led by Unite the Union, and encourages First Bus to reconsider their plans to remove these services while continuing to operate profitable routes.
Supported by: Elaine Smith, Monica Lennon, Alex Rowley, Iain Gray, Pauline McNeill, Neil Findlay, Richard Leonard, Alison Harris, Colin Beattie, David Torrance, Neil Bibby
Current Status: Fallen on 05/10/2016
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