Equal Opportunities Committee, 12 Sep 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 12, 2000

Official Report 89KB pdf

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Reporters

Item 6 on the agenda is progress reports. Irene McGugan is meeting the Disabled Persons Housing Service to discuss building standards. She has produced a written report, which will be circulated. If anyone has any questions on the report they can ask Irene when she comes to the meeting. Johann Lamont has sent her apologies, so there is no report on gender issues. Does Michael McMahon have anything to report on race issues?

The last thing that we did was the report for the Scottish Homes consultation. We have made a contribution toward that consultation. I was waiting to see how things would fit into place with the inquiry on travelling people before setting up another meeting of the race group, but we should be meeting in the next couple of weeks.

Does Nora Radcliffe have anything to report on sexual orientation issues?

There is nothing new to report. We have met more or less monthly. We considered various pieces of legislation, and made contributions to the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill and the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Bill.

A consultative forum is in the process of being set up to represent the Scottish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and it hopes that it will be recognised by the equalities unit as a consultative body. It will be helpful to have an umbrella organisation such as that forum to pull together views from the community.

Legislation is coming up that will be of particular interest to that section of the community, such as the family law bill and the housing bill. The big topic of discussion is registration, or some sort of civil recognition, of same-gender couples.

The group's next meeting has been organised for 27 September in room F1 of Cannonball House at lunchtime, from 12:30 to 2:00. Previously, I have reported back to the committee by e-mailing the minutes of the group's meetings to members. That was seen as secretive, so written minutes will be brought to committee meetings from now on.

I forgot to ask, do members have any questions for Michael McMahon? Are there any questions for Nora? No.

Lee Bridges will be contacting reporters to discuss their role in the committee and the kind of support that they will have.