To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland regarding the promotion of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.
Scottish Government officials have been working with stakeholders since early 2009 on the preparations for, and launch of, the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. In particular, a wide range of stakeholder groups were engaged in the preparation for and delivery of the launch event for the European Year on 22 March 2010, opened by Fergus Ewing MSP.
The Department for Work and Pensions are working in partnership with Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations to co-ordinate the UK National Programme for the European Year, being taken forward by a range of stakeholder groups. This includes awareness raising documentaries being produced by Poverty Alliance in Scotland.
Scottish Government also sponsor and work closely with the Poverty Alliance on promotion of the year “ including funding and support for a seminar in September 2009, to encourage early engagement with the European Year. Save the Children Scotland have also been supported by Scottish Government to raise awareness as part of the European Year, for a programme of local engagement centred around their travelling Museum of Poverty.
For more information about the activities being organised, stakeholders can visit the following websites:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion.
http://stoppovertynow.direct.gov.uk/index.html.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/european-year-2010.