Equal Opportunities Committee, 18 Sep 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 18, 2001

Official Report 78KB pdf

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Civic Participation Event

The fourth item on the agenda is the civic participation event that took place on Friday. I am sure that anybody who was able to attend agrees that the event was successful on a number of counts. It was good to see so many black and ethnic minority people sitting in the chamber. That glaringly illustrates the fact that we are a white Parliament that does not involve members of the minority ethnic communities in parliamentary decision making. The political parties need to take that on board.

Another good aspect was the three-minute silence to show sympathy for what happened in America. People from all races and cultures stood together. In the light of that, it is disappointing that people have used what happened as an excuse to commit racist attacks, not only in the USA, but in this country. I understand that there has had to be increased security at mosques throughout Scotland. The people who commit such racist attacks and harassment are racists, who are using what happened in America as an excuse to attack people. They are not tolerant and respectful of other people's cultures. That is the worst tribute to the people who lost their lives in the American terrorist attacks.

I entirely agree. We should try to find a positive course of action. Perhaps the committee could write to the Executive asking it to redouble its efforts to promote good race relations. The word "war" has been bandied about quite a lot in the past week. If we are going to get involved in a war, it should be a war against racism. The committee has an obligation to ensure that something positive comes from the events. Could we write to the Executive asking it to do something constructive and visible to meet that challenge?

I reiterate what everybody has said. We must recognise that the civic participation event took place only three days after the terrible events in America. I was sitting with two Muslim women and all they could talk about was the events in America. They were at least as distressed as me and the other people who were there. It was good that the event went ahead, because other events were cancelled. It was a poignant occasion, with people of all races standing in silent respect for those affected by what happened in America. All nations, creeds, colours and religions expressed together their absolute distress at what had happened.

I agree with Michael McMahon. It would be an extremely good idea for the Executive to have something high-profile. I know that there was talk of having to cancel last week's event, given that other things had been cancelled out of respect, but when you saw the event in the chamber, you realised that it was right to go ahead with it and to send out a positive message to Scotland from the committee.

If members remember, one of the action points agreed at Friday's event was to have a high-profile campaign against racism. We have said that we will explore all the action points. If members agree, we will pass a copy of that particular action point to the Executive and ask whether, in view of what is happening in Scotland, it will immediately consider starting a high-profile, zero-tolerance campaign against racism. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

I thank the clerks for the tremendous amount of work that they put into the civic participation event. I know that it took blood, sweat and tears. It has been suggested that we have such an event every year. That is something that we can explore when we evaluate Friday's event, but I am not sure whether the clerks will get over the amount of work that was involved in a year.

That gives them a year to get on to another committee.

I think they might ask for a transfer.

Members have a paper on the evaluation of the event. Do members have any comments on the evaluation form or any changes to suggest? Is everybody happy with it?

People were disappointed at not being called to speak at the event. I do not know what we could do about that in future. Perhaps Richard Walsh has a suggestion.

Although we do not have any ideas about how we can give everyone a chance to speak without lengthening the event, several people who wanted to speak and had prepared speeches gave us their speeches afterwards. They will be printed up with the report of the event. Similarly, we received late e-mail submissions from people who were not called to speak, who have asked for their comments to be included in the report. We are attempting to address the situation by making this Friday the cut-off date for late submissions.

I want to thank my fellow MSPs who attended for not pressing their request-to-speak buttons. It was not a day for speeches from MSPs.

Just because MSPs were not called does not mean that they did not press their buttons.

I obviously have great faith in human nature.

I will not mention any names.

As I said at the start of the event, members of the public who were watching from the gallery or on the web and people who were not called to speak could send in their submissions for consideration. We have tried to be as inclusive as possible, although some people did not get to speak publicly in the chamber.

Given the limited number who could be accommodated in the chamber, I am sure that there were people who wanted to attend the event but could not. The evaluation paper is a good idea, as it will provide an indication of what we should take into account if we hold a similar event next year.

Part of the evaluation process is finding out how the Parliament can initiate an inclusive discussion with a group that has no representation.

Do members agree the content of the evaluation questionnaire, and to allow the clerks to distribute it?

Members indicated agreement.