Spotlight on Holyrood

Balancing education and training at Work We are all leading increasingly busy lives, but that doesn’t have to curb your learning aspirations, says Daniel Evans MANY organisations are increasingly balancing job levels and pay scales against qualifications, so employees are finding they have to advance their knowledge and education in order to progress in the workplace.

Parliamentary Questions and Answers SNP MSP Sandra White asked the Scottish Executive: “What representations it has made to the Home Office regarding concerns that families may become destitute as a result of the award of the contract for the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers in Scotland to Serco.” The Minister for Public Health, Michael

Wake up to public procurement! ALYN SMITH MEP explains why public bodies need to be less scared of EU procurement rules and increase competition through creativity THE fastest way to lose friends, it seems, is to keep talking about public procurement and why it has to change. Dull, boring and a cure for insomnia are among the

The impact of welfare reforms on Scots unveiled Michael McMahon, convener of the Welfare Reform Committee, highlights the latest evidence sessions THE Welfare Reform Committee is keen to explore the practical options available in Scotland that could mitigate the impact of impending UK reforms, and to examine some of the knock-on effects of the reforms. Last

Parliamentary Questions and Answers SNP MSP John Mason asked: “How many local authorities are committed to paying a living wage?” The minister for local government Derek Mackay responded: “Five councils have confirmed that they already pay the current level of the living wage through their existing wage structures; nine councils have introduced the living wage; six

Edinburgh’s Twilight Talks with council candidates Edinburgh political parties spoke to the third sector at a series of Twilight Talks in the run up to this week’s local elections. MILIND KOLHATKAR analyses the events IT is an old platitude that we get the government we deserve! An engaged and informed electorate will likely choose a government

Weeding out the devil in the detail on welfare reform Michael McMahon MSP, chair of the Welfare Reform Committee, gives an update on the Scottish Welfare Reform Bill THE Scottish Welfare Reform Bill is required to ensure that passported benefits and other payments can be provided when the old welfare system lapses as a result of

Parliamentary Questions and Answers Christina McKelvie MSP (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) asked the Scottish Executive: “what progress has been made with its child poverty strategy?”Michael Matheson, minister for public health, responded: “We laid in the Parliament our first annual report for the child poverty strategy for Scotland. It highlights a range of measures that

The sinister world of cyber bullying is leaving permanent scars on young Scots, argues Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale

Parliamentary Questions and Answers CONSERVATIVE MSP Nanette Milne asked the Scottish Executive: “When it plans to establish a carer’s parliament.” The Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson responded: “The first Carers Parliament will be held on 1 October 2012 in the Scottish Parliament. The National Carers Organisations have agreed to work with us to help

Michael McMahon and Jamie Hepburn call for third sector bodies to get involved in the Welfare Reform committee

Parliamentary Questions and Answers GREEN MSP Patrick Harvie asked the Scottish Executive: “How much renewable electricity generation in megawatts is currently in local and community ownership and what plans there are to achieve the target for local and community ownership of electricity in the 2020 Routemap for Renewable Energy in Scotland.” The Cabinet Secretary for

MSPs united on need to change our booze culture Health and sport committee convener Duncan McNeil highlights the evidence given for minimum pricing In the week that the Scottish Parliament debates Stage 1 of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill, the eyes of the world are upon us. Several witnesses at the Health and Sport

Parliamentary Questions and Answers LABOUR MSP Drew Smith (pictured) asked the Scottish Executive: “Whether the public sector equality duty revised draft regulations will include proposals to publish data on (a) recruitment, (b) training and (c) grievance and disciplinary procedures for each protected characteristic, with the exceptions of gender reassignment and sexual orientation, as has been

Shelley Gray, director of policy at the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland explains what to expect from the Self-Directed Support Bill

Parliamentary Questions and Answers Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes asked the Scottish Executive: “What steps it is taking to tackle mental health problems in males.” The Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson responded: “The Scottish Government sets national policy direction for mental health and provides funding to NHS boards and local authorities to support implementation

Parliamentary Questions and Answers LABOUR MSP Rhoda Grant asked the Scottish Executive: “What the estimated annual payment to local communities on Forestry Commission land will be from the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables contracts?”The minister for environment and climate change Stewart Stevenson responded: “Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has negotiated a community benefit payment of £5,000 per

Jayne Stuart, director of Learning Link Scotland, explains why Scotland needs to refocus on adult education

Parliamentary Questions and Answers Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale asked the Scottish Executive: “How the Minister for Youth Employment will consult external organisations regarding the best way to use her £30 million budget?” The Minister for Youth Employment, Angela Constance responded: “The Scottish Government is convening a special session of the National Economic Forum on 1

Mary Fee MSP, convenor of the Equal Opportunities Committee, believes equality should be at the heart of Holyrood

Welfare Reform The potential impact of the Welfare Reform Bill (UK Legislation) on the most vulnerable people in our communities has been causing concern for many in the third sector.The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee has been leading the legislative scrutiny of the bill and hearing evidence from across the third sector. Following a

Kezia Dugdale MSP explains why she believes the third sector must be at the heart of public service reforms

Civil society can show us the way out of a crisis Anas Sarwar, MP for Glasgow Central, believes a strong third sector will help us weather the financial storm FOR Scotland’s civil society it threatens to be the perfect storm. Many organisations are facing unprecedented financial pressures – at exactly the same time as cuts

Parliamentary Questions and Answers Labour MSP Margaret McDougall asked the Scottish Executive: “what support there is for people with learning difficulties who attend college.”   The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell responded: “Colleges are required under equalities legislation to make reasonable adjustments in order to accommodate people with learning difficulties. In

Parliamentary Questions and Answers Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asked the Scottish Executive: “For what reason there is no recognition of the financial implications of welfare reform in the Scottish Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13.” The cabinet secretary for finance, employment and sustainable growth, John Swinney responded: “The UK Government has not made sufficient

David Griffiths told a committee of MSPs this week that Scotland needs to create its own welfare state

Carry on campaigning – it’s in the blood Politicians, whether in parliament or not, have a wealth of experience and knowledge to offer charities, explains Shirley-Anne Sommerville, a newly elected Shelter Scotland committee member BEING an MSP gives you the opportunity to experience and work with all sections of society – almost on a daily

Parliamentary Questions and Answers LABOUR MSP Rhoda Grant asked the Scottish Executive: “What steps it will take to enable housing associations to develop renewable heating schemes?” The minister for energy, enterprise and tourism, Fergus Ewing responded: “The Scottish Government has established a task group on renewable heat to advise on priority issues in order to

James Smyth, MSYP for Galloway and West Dumfries, is urging MSPs to back a Scottish Parliament motion on public transport

Keep an eye out for… The new Scottish Parliament Website – there have been significant improvements to the site which makes it easier to navigate and find information. Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Bill – the Scottish Government’s response to the consultation on a draft bill on self-directed Support is now available from their

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asked:  “the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to bring empty homes back into use.” The Minister for Housing and Transport Keith Brown responded: “Bringing empty properties back into use is primarily a matter for individual local authorities. Where there are significant issues locally the Scottish Government would expect authorities

Siobhan McMahon (Labour) highlighted the recent British Heart Foundation Heart Start Event: “That the Parliament acknowledges the Heart Start event that recently took place in the Parliament; considers this event to have been of significant value in raising awareness of the importance of emergency life support training; thanks the pupils from St Ambrose High School

Mary Fee (Labour) highlighted Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2011 “That the Parliament notes that October 2011 is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; acknowledges that breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for women in Scotland, with over 4,000 women diagnosed every year; understands that, while more women are surviving breast cancer, the incidence continues to

Water Rates Exemption. Labour MSP Elaine Murray asked the Scottish Executive: “whether it plans to review the criteria for charities exemption from water rates.” Stewart Stevenson (SNP) responded: “The Water Services Charges Exemption Scheme was set up as a temporary measure in 2002 to help small organisations that had received relief from water charges on

SNP MSP James Dornan’s eyes were opened when he met two women who have put their careers on hold to care for elderly parents

Public spending cuts have hit those on the margins of society hardest and opposition is still strong, writes KATE

Claudia Beamish, convener of the Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee, explains its role in the budget

Parliamentary Questions Labour MSP Elaine Murray (pictured) asked the Scottish Executive whether “it is committed to providing allowances for kinship carers of looked-after children equivalent to those provided to foster carers.”Minister for children and young people Angela Constance responded: “The level of kinship care payments are the responsibility of local authorities, who are best placed to

  Devolution of Community Care grants and crisis loans  This Scottish Government consultation seeks views on the successor arrangements for community care grants and crisis loans. Specifically it is looking for views on the method and processes for delivering this type of support following devolution. Under the current scheme Community Care Grants are primarily awarded

A failed government policy shift gives housing associations a chance to make alterations to plans for disability housing, says David Ogilvie

Holyrood Happenings: Prostate Cancer The Prostate Cancer Charity Scotland is contacting MSPs to encourage them to sign the Pledge for Prostate Cancer.  The pledge calls for MSPs to campaign for a situation whereby: •  every eligible man will have the opportunity to make an informed choice about the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test •  all

ONE of the many challenges facing the SNP’s majority government at Holyrood is the need to finalise a comprehensive strategy for autism in Scotland. The attempt to push a Bill for autism through the last Scottish Parliament was ill-conceived as it lacked substance and, had it been successful, would have resulted in little more than

Holyrood Happenings The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Fergus Ewing delivered a statement on the 2020 route map for renewable energy. The minister highlighted the target to meet 100 per cent of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewables by 2020 as well as an ambition to meet at least 30 per cent of our overall

A member’s bill could help councils prosecute pavement parkers, says Joe FitzPatrick

Find out what is happening at Holyrood

Helen Tyrrell discusses how to better develop the role of the voluntary health sector

In his first major policy speech to the Scottish Parliament since being re-elected as First Minister, Alex Salmond said the new government has an “ambitious agenda” focusing on Scotland having control of its own destiny and a new partnership – the Social Wage – between politicians, public services and people to create the social and

SPOTLIGHT looks at some of the opportunities available within the new layout of the Scottish Parliament debating chamber

In a series of articles from party leaders Tavish Scott explains the potential the Liberal Democrats see in the third sector

In a series of articles from party leaders Annabel Goldie explains what the Conservatives can do for the third sector THE numbers showing the remarkable scale of the third sector in Scotland are little short of astonishing. We have 45,000 voluntary organisations; a full time equivalent workforce of 93,000 people; 131 million hours of volunteering

A Climate Day election debate is key to ensuring that Scotland tackles global warming. Gail Wilson, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Co-ordinator urges readers to take part online. MARK 13 April in your diary! That’s this Wednesday and it’s now known as Climate Day. This is the day when climate change will top the political agenda and

In the second of TFN’s series of articles by party political leaders, PATRICK HARVIE explains how the Green Party will stand up for the third sector in the next parliamentary session. IT’S not every day that you hear fulsome praise for landlords, but the Scottish Greens are in the fortunate position of being able to speak

In the last of TFN’s articles from party leaders Alex Salmond explains the SNP’s proposals for expanding the role of the third sector.OVER the last four years, investing in a vibrant and enterprising third sector has been a key priority for the SNP Government. During that time, £118 million of direct funding has been provided

Holyrood Happenings: Equality Impact Assessments IN a written answer to a recent written question from Marlyn Glen (Lab), finance Secretary John Swinney gave examples of where changes to policy had been changed in response to Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA). For example, the Scottish Government recently decided to support the development of translation, interpreting and communication

Rosemary Brotchie, senior policy officer at Shelter Scotland  gives an update on current housing policy. The private rented sector (PRS) plays an important role in meeting housing need in Scotland, but it could, and must, do more. As we get closer to meeting the 2012 commitment, it is vital that all housing sectors in Scotland

Holyrood  Happenings: There is a Better Way – Members’ Debate LABOUR MSP Elaine Murray recently introduced a Members’ Business Debate in support of the STUC There is a Better Way campaign. She stressed that contrary to what we are told, cuts are neither inevitable or necessary. In fact Britain had a higher deficit in 1945

Scotland’s 1 million victims are not getting the service they deserve from the Scottish Criminal Justice System, argues David Stewart. Here he explains why he hasn’t given up on a Victims Commissioner. THE third sector has got a proud record in supporting and promoting the causes of victims. Indeed it was the valuable contribution of