Chamber and committees

Graham, you have perhaps portrayed me as some anti-sustainable transport guru and I am not. I am very much a believer in making public transport accessible to all. That is where my challenge comes from.

In relation to the active travel agenda, I am passionate about eco-ableism and have grave concerns that many active travel policies discriminate against disabled people and people with mobility issues. As you will know if you watched my committee contributions on Tuesday, I also have concerns about sweeping statements about going from walking to wheeling. There is a lot in the range of mobility from walking to wheeling.

Are you involving groups in the CPG that will help the voices of people with mobility issues to be heard? Will people who are disabled, are blind or have hearing and mobility impairments be represented on the CPG? Without their voices, it does not matter what reports are presented, you will create more inequalities in society.

Let me know whether this is in scope—I am not sure whether it is. I have a half-urban and half-rural constituency in that it includes the Pentland hills, so I get a lot of questions about the balance between the right to access and the right to roam and the need to do those things in a responsible way. Just out of curiosity, is that something that your proposed group might consider?

I am concerned that the voice of cycling will be overrepresented and I want to ensure that there is balance. I have had, and continue to have, that challenge in Edinburgh, where 40km of cycle lanes have created 40km of road space that people with disabled badges can no longer access. I will be gravely concerned if the CPG’s membership does not reflect a more balanced view and include people with mobility issues.

I draw the chamber’s attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which states that I am a councillor on the City of Edinburgh Council. I thank Rona Mackay for bringing the motion to the Parliament and securing this members’ business debate.

As we have heard, the 70/30 campaign is a UK and Ireland-wide network of individuals, organisations and elected representatives working together and committed to reducing child abuse and neglect and other adverse childhood experiences by at least 70 per cent by the year 2030. Although that sounds ambitious, it is necessary, because at least half of children in the UK will suffer ACEs during their childhood. It is fantastic that more than 700 MPs, MSPs, MLAs, AMs, mayors and local councillors, from across all political parties, have signed the 70/30 campaign pledge. I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate to help to continue to raise awareness of the campaign.

Last year, I met Jay Haston, a WAVE Trust ambassador, in my remit as the shadow minister for drugs policy. After meeting him, I was immediately on board with the WAVE Trust ambition to reduce levels of child abuse and neglect by 2030. Each time that I have subsequently met Jay, I have been struck by his resilience and I have seen his commitment and determination to have his children grow up in a family home that is different from his experience. I see his ability to inspire all those around him in his role as a WAVE Trust ambassador, despite all the challenges that he has faced.

In October last year, in my role as an Edinburgh councillor, I submitted a motion to full council entitled “Early Days Prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences”, in which I called on the City of Edinburgh Council to explore with the WAVE Trust ideas on how to achieve 70/30. I know that there are relevant departments across the council that would have no problem in talking with the WAVE Trust 70/30 campaign for further consultation. In fact, I was heartened to hear of the wide understanding of adverse childhood experiences across our city services, including education, and of the awareness of the impact that ACEs can have not only on children but on adults, and, in turn, on their care of their own children and the decisions that they make.

My conversations with the WAVE Trust make it clear that a preventative approach must be embedded across organisations, and it must involve not just a few select managers or senior leaders but all staff, from janitors and dinner ladies to the senior management. Taking a preventative approach to addressing and combating adverse childhood experiences will have a significant impact on the inequalities that, rightly or wrongly, currently feel so entrenched in our society. It will give every child or young person the very best chance to have a thriving life. We owe that to all our young people, and I share the determination that Gillian Martin has expressed this afternoon with regard to the issues that she raised around children and young people who have been in care. The information that we, as a committee, gathered through those informal sessions was really quite gut wrenching.

It is time to turn all the policy papers, promises and pledges to support the motion in front of us into action. Let us send a shock wave through our society and stop talking and start helping our young people. I welcome the cross-party support for the 70/30 campaign, and I will continue to do all that I can to support the campaign across Scotland.

Thank you.

Where I struggle a bit, Dr Lowther—although maybe the next contributor can address this—is that all the documents go from walking to wheeling. An awful lot happens before someone who walks ends up in a wheelchair. I really struggle with that. It does not seem to allow for those who are striving to walk and want to get out. Do you understand where my approach and my thoughts are?

I would be interested to hear your comments about the 20-minute neighbourhood being about more than active travel. How, in your mind, does national planning framework 4 account for the needs and experiences of disabled people? The 39km or 40km of segregated cycle lanes that have been put down in Edinburgh under the premise of spaces for people have caused a lot of concern for disabled people and those with mobility issues. What can be done to build more inclusive settlements?

I have one more question, which is on an issue that Irene Beautyman also alluded to. One of the stated aims of the national planning framework is to increase the density of settlements. However, through the pandemic we have come to understand the value of green spaces in our urban areas. How will the need to support active travel and public transport be balanced with protecting our green spaces, which might be the spaces that are used to create active travel routes?

Perhaps that can go to Professor Pearce.

We seem to have lost the convener. Perhaps the deputy convener can take over.

It has been an informative session. I declare an interest as a councillor in the City of Edinburgh Council. As a mad keen hockey fan and umpire, I have seen at first hand the role that sports clubs and their teams and volunteers can play in addressing those inequalities. I get the sense that it is the hard work of clubs rather than policy that assists with that. I am trying to figure this out in my head. Do you get a sense that the Scottish Government’s focus on supporting equity in schools is dovetailing with other policies that support the health and wellbeing of deprived communities and families?