Equal Opportunities Committee, 25 Apr 2000
Meeting date: Tuesday, April 25, 2000
Official Report
160KB pdf
Reporters
The first report, from Irene McGugan, is on disability issues.
The group met just before the recess, on 4 April. We are still following up the evidence given by the Disabled Persons Housing Service and we will consider a draft report at our next meeting. Robert Brown has lodged a motion that encompasses many of the issues that were raised by DPHS.
It has been difficult to access the guide for MSPs to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, but we are advised that the launch and distribution of that leaflet is imminent—it should be available this week. Capability Scotland assures us that the committee will receive copies of it very soon. The reporters group recommends that the guide be given maximum publicity and the subject of a fairly high-profile briefing for all MSPs—not just members of the committee—so that all are aware of their responsibilities under part III in terms of providing services.
For those who are interested, there is on the website that is mentioned in the leaflet a summary of the 156 recommendations of the disability rights task force. The Executive is considering them; the reporters group will consider them further at our next meeting. We decided that it was appropriate to make links with the cross-party group on disability so that there was no duplication of work. That has been actioned and the two groups will exchange minutes. People who are members of both groups will act as informal co-ordinators.
A new organisation, Learning Disability Alliance Scotland, has been set up. Some of you might have attended the launch, which took place in this room the week before the recess. Its principal aim is to keep the Scottish Parliament informed of the views of learning-disabled people. It has highlighted a number of relevant issues that we have touched on in the past. One of those is transport, a subject that the reporters group will keep under review as there have been recent developments. The central research unit on disability issues has published a report and the minister has announced that a national group is being set up to advise the Executive on the transport needs of people with disabilities.
A new guidance leaflet on good practice for small business has been published. That was historic as it was the first time all three commissions have worked together to produce a document. Most of you will have copies of it.
The issue about targets for disabled people being appointed to public bodies has been addressed.
Are there any questions for Irene? It seems not, so we will hear Johann Lamont's report.
I apologise for not providing a written report. I hope that others who were at the meetings will fill in anything that I miss out.
We have had two meetings since the last meeting of the Equal Opportunities Committee. On 4 April, we concentrated on "Towards a Just Conclusion". Lesley Irving, who has been seconded to the Scottish Executive, is part of the group that is developing a response to it. We had an encouraging meeting with her. I understand that the action plan should be completed by the end of the month.
The key issue that arose from our meeting was that although a significant number of vulnerable witnesses are women, the document does not contain women's perspectives. Furthermore, women's organisations were not represented on the working group that developed the document. We hope that, if further work is done, that gap will be acknowledged and good use will be made of the expertise of women's organisations. That would partly address the feeling among women's organisations that they are consulted only once a document is produced. It might be useful to get either Jim Wallace or Angus MacKay to talk to us about specific recommendations on that subject.
The committee will be aware that a document on stalking has been issued. It does not acknowledge that stalking is, to a large extent, a gender-specific problem. Most people who are stalked are women and the stalker is often known to the person being stalked. The media often focus on high-profile celebrity stalking incidents, but it is important to remember that the biggest problem is to do with women being stalked by ex-partners.
At the second of our meetings, we talked to Jackie Baillie, the Deputy Minister for Communities. We raised with her some of the issues that the committee had highlighted about funding for women's organisations. We talked about the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities' guidelines on supporting women in crisis. We also examined ways in which the equalities unit and the minister can work with the committee. It would be useful to invite Jackie Baillie to the committee as the meeting that we had was constructive and there was a wish for everyone to work together on the equalities agenda rather than operate in parallel universes. Clearly, we would want to inform a lot of the work that is done by the equalities unit.
Are there any questions for Johann?
No.
We are still trying to get Jim Wallace and Jackie Baillie to attend future meetings on different issues. When they come, we can also question them on the issues that have been raised today.
Michael McMahon will now present his report on race issues.
At the previous meeting, I said that I would try to get the issue of travellers on the agenda for the next meeting of the group. That has now been arranged: several travellers associations will be represented at next Tuesday's meeting of the race reporters group. Although that will be a priority on our agenda, we will also discuss progress on other issues. An e-mail about the meeting has been sent out, but I will circulate it again with a fuller agenda.
Are there any questions for Michael?
No.
Nora Radcliffe will now present her report on sexual orientation issues.
Although the group has met, the minute of the meeting has not yet been written up. As soon as it is, I will e-mail it to all committee members.
Are there any questions for Nora?
No.