Commemorating the National Day of Catalonia, 11 September 2023
That the Parliament acknowledges that 11 September 2023 is the National Day of Catalonia, known as "La Diada"; believes that this day-long festival unusually and defiantly commemorates a day of defeat, remembering the fall of Barcelona during the War of Spanish Succession in 1714 and the subsequent loss of Catalan independence, institutions and laws; understands that this commemoration was forbidden during the dictatorship of Franco, but that it was recovered after his death and the return of democracy; considers that the day has particular significance for those who believe that Catalonia should again be an independent nation, and celebrates what it sees as the friendship between Catalonia and Scotland.
Supported by: John Mason, Rona Mackay, Colin Beattie, David Torrance, Stuart McMillan, Kevin Stewart, Stephanie Callaghan, Bill Kidd, Kenneth Gibson, Audrey Nicoll, Marie McNair, Jackie Dunbar, Fulton MacGregor, Evelyn Tweed, Gordon MacDonald, Clare Adamson, Maggie Chapman, Karen Adam
Current Status: Fallen on 14/12/2023
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To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the recent visit of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands to Catalonia, what the method of international travel was, and how any carbon emissions resulting from this travel were offset.
Answered by Mairi Gougeon
(12/05/2022): Myself and officials used a low cost carrier to travel from Scotland to Catalonia for the visit. Travel is an essential part of official Government business and Ministers take their responsibility to travel sustainably very seriously and aim to use more sustainable forms of transport wherever possible. A carbon emission levy is collected against air travel on a journey by journey basis. The levy aims to compensate for the carbon that our business travel generates. It raises funds that are put into projects that will remove the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere. The carbon emissions levy is applied to all journeys undertaken by air as follows: Domestic – £5 per journey European – £6 per journey International – £15 per journey
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12/05/2022
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To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost was of the recent visit of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands to Catalonia, broken down by the cost of travel, accommodation, and expenses.
Answered by Mairi Gougeon
(12/05/2022): Ministers and Civil Servants travel for a range of reasons including ensuring that the people of Scotland are effectively represented and ensuring that Scotland’s voice is heard on important issues. The purpose of the trip to Catalonia was to further engage with Catalonian Government on agriculture, food and drink and climate change following engagement at COP26 and moreover attend Seafood Expo Global event. The Seafood Expo is a major seafood event where many key Scottish seafood companies exhibit as well as international companies and organisations. Total costs (Flights and hotels for Minister, Private Office and Food and Drink officials) was: £3165.49. This can be split into circa £1340 in flights and £1850 in accommodation. Incidental and meals expenses maybe claimed by officials in line with travel and subsistence policy and Ministerial expenses will be published in due course.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12/05/2022
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Catalan MEPs Immunity Status Withdrawn
That the Parliament notes the recent vote and decision of the European Parliament to remove the immunity status of Clara Ponsati MEP, Carlos Puigdemont MEP and Toni Comin MEP; believes the people of Catalonia and their elected representatives should be respected when exercising their democratic right to self-determination, and considers the actions of the Spanish Government during and after the Independence Referendum held on October 2017 to be a direct contravention of the principles of democracy, human rights and civil liberties.
Supported by: Rona Mackay, Angus MacDonald, Kenneth Gibson, David Torrance, Bob Doris, Mark McDonald, Richard Lyle, John Finnie, Fulton MacGregor, Bill Kidd, Annabelle Ewing, John Mason, Clare Adamson, Gil Paterson, Ruth Maguire, Gillian Martin
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Parliament of Catalonia Bureau Members Banned from Public Office
That the Parliament extends its solidarity to the members of the Parliament of Catalonia’s bureau members who were recently convicted of disobedience and banned from public office for 20-months, with four also being fined 30,000 euros each; believes that these convictions were based on their decision to allow debates and votes to take place in the parliament on matters regarding self-determination and independence, considers that this sets a dangerous precedent by preventing parliamentarians from even discussing subjects deemed "unacceptable" by the Spanish courts; believes that the right of elected politicians to debate and discuss any and all matters relevant to the people that they represent is vital to democracy, and considers that this judgment undermines that right.
Supported by: Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Maureen Watt, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Mark McDonald, John Mason, Gil Paterson, Fulton MacGregor, Ruth Maguire, Ross Greer, Alison Johnstone
Current Status: Fallen on 27/01/2021
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Catalonia Human Rights Abuse
That the Parliament expresses concern over the actions of the Spanish Government in issuing a European Arrest Warrant for the University of St Andrews Professor, Clara Ponsati, in relation to the role that she played in the 2017 independence referendum in Catalonia; understands that, in October 2019, violent protests erupted after Spanish courts sentenced nine Catalan leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for, it believes, simply allowing their country to make a decision about its own future through the democratic process of a referendum; believes the shocking levels of violence against the Catalan people, which it considers have been witnessed on social and terrestrial media, to be extremely alarming; further believes the levels of violence to be a fundamental breach of human rights and an attempt to scupper people's right to peacefully protest; expresses solidarity with the Catalan people at this troubling time, and wishes Professor Ponsati and her legal team every success in what it sees as their pursuit of justice, democracy and the re-establishment of human rights in Catalonia.
Supported by: Alex Neil, Sandra White, Christine Grahame, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Richard Lyle, Joan McAlpine, John Mason, Gil Paterson, Gordon MacDonald, Annabelle Ewing, Rona Mackay, Bob Doris, David Torrance, Jenny Gilruth, John Finnie, Gail Ross, Fulton MacGregor, Gillian Martin, Alex Rowley, Kenneth Gibson
Current Status: Fallen on 23/01/2020
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Catalan Elected Representatives and Independence Activists Sentenced
That the Parliament is appalled at the charging and sentencing of Catalan elected representatives and independence activists of sedition and misuse of public funds by the Spanish Government as a result of them holding and participating in an independence referendum across Catalonia on 1 October 2017; believes that the actions of the Spanish Government and its judicial system against these representatives and activists violates the democratic process, and further believes that the international community should condemn this action and call on the Spanish Government to acknowledge the right of self-determination by the people of Catalonia.
Supported by: John Finnie, James Dornan, Stuart McMillan, Shona Robison, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Gillian Martin, Alex Neil, Christine Grahame, Gil Paterson, Ruth Maguire, Jenny Gilruth, John Mason, George Adam, Gail Ross, Willie Coffey, Joan McAlpine, Fulton MacGregor, Maureen Watt, Clare Adamson
Current Status: Fallen on 23/01/2020
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Catalan Politicians on Trial
That the Parliament notes with grave concern the legal proceedings that are commencing on 12 February 2019 in the Supreme Court in Madrid of the Catalan political pro-independence leaders and civic leaders who stand trial for organising and holding an independence referendum across Catalonia in 2017; understands that 12 people will face trial accused of rebellion and sedition for their role and could face up to 25 years in prison; considers that the future of Catalonia is one that must be democratically taken by the people of Catalonia and their elected representatives, and not by the imprisonment of those elected representatives in order, it believes, to suppress Catalonia’s right to self-determination.
Supported by: Jenny Gilruth, Ruth Maguire, Mark Ruskell, Stuart McMillan, Richard Lyle, Alex Neil, Kenneth Gibson, Fulton MacGregor, Bob Doris, Gordon MacDonald, John Mason, John Finnie, Bill Kidd, Gillian Martin, Angela Constance, David Torrance, Clare Adamson
Current Status: Fallen on 09/05/2019
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InChorus in Catalonia
That the Parliament congratulates InChorus, a Peebles community choir, on its 10th anniversary; understands that, as part of the celebrations of this milestone, the choir undertook a weekend trip to Barcelona where it performed in a range of venues from town squares to churches to the Palau De La Musica Catalana; notes that the choir met and formed a link with Coral Catasons, a Catalan choir, which is now planning to visit Peebles and the wider Scottish Borders next year; considers that the warm welcome that the choir received in Barcelona is indicative of its talent and positive ethos, and wishes everyone involved in the choir all the best for the next 10 years.
Supported by: Joan McAlpine, David Torrance, Kenneth Gibson, Rona Mackay, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Maureen Watt, Angus MacDonald, Angela Constance, Tom Arthur, Gillian Martin, Gil Paterson, Fulton MacGregor, John Finnie, Mark Ruskell, Ruth Maguire
Current Status: Fallen on 24/01/2019
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To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister has accepted an invitation from the President of the Government of Catalonia to visit Barcelona, and, if so, what the total estimated cost of the visit is projected to be.
Answered by Fiona Hyslop
(22/10/2018): The First Minister of Scotland and the President of Catalonia met at the First Minister’s official residence in Edinburgh on the evening of 11 July. It was a cordial meeting aimed at strengthening the ties of friendship between Scotland and Catalonia. The President extended an invitation to visit Barcelona. The First Minister agreed in principle to this, however, plans or preparations for any visit are not yet underway. Therefore, details or any estimated costs for this visit cannot be provided.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22/10/2018
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