Week
beginning Monday 20th June
First
of all my apologies to St. Anne’s Primary School in Hamilton. I met
unexpectedly with the boys and girls on Tuesday 14th at the
Parliament and because it wasn't scheduled and not in my diary, I
forgot to write about it here! So sorry St. Anne’s, but I did really
enjoy our impromptu session, and all of your questions were really
well prepared and presented. And, thank-you for your emails
afterwards.
Constituency work with Davie on Monday morning. A lot of constituency
work can be standard – individuals and groups lobbying about
legislation, health service waiting times, homelessness – but we’re
trying to progress some cases which have been current for a couple of
years now. As I’ve said before, it’s difficult to talk about cases
like this here because they are very individual and unable to be
standardised. Some folk have real difficulties to face in life and
very often the system just seems to beat them down further. There’s a
particular family we’re assisting just now who are doggedly fighting
for recognition of what they believe to be a great wrong – their
dignity, and their determination to make sure no-one else faces what
they have had to is humbling. There are many who fight to make things
better, yet, they often seem to be regarded as ‘troublemakers’ rather
than constructive critics. If feathers were never ruffled or cages
never shaken, then those whose self-interest dictates that the
status-quo remains would win out every time.
Lunch
with my pal Sergio Casci. Sergio’s a writer – film and TV scripts –
whose award winning movie ‘American Cousins’ was a big hit last year.
He gave me the DVD so I’m looking forward to seeing it again. The
movie’s based in a Glasgow café/chip shop, and because that’s Sergio’s
background the café scenes are wonderfully authentic. I still insist
though that Tony Fabiani’s ice-cream was the best! When I went to the
premiere l was honoured to meet Russell Hunter who played the café
owner – the last screen part he played before he died I think. He was
a great actor, and a real character.
A
meeting of the Lanarkshire Osteoporosis Society on Monday night in
East Kilbride. A big turnout as ever; this disease affects so many,
many people, and I’m told that a deal of it is preventable, and the
proper management of it would mean far fewer casualties with broken
hips etc. So much of our health service is reactive rather than
preventative, treating symptoms rather than dealing with root causes.
That is not an indictment of our service, or my thinking I have all
the answers, because obviously a large part of the service must be
reactive; surely though there should be more of a role for prevention
and consideration of alternatives. Such an approach would probably
require more funding up-front, but the long term benefits may well be
worth it in all respects.
Into
Edinburgh office first thing Tuesday morning to have my ‘Blackberry’
installed. Now my emails can get me anytime, anyplace, anywhere, so no
excuses for not replying quickly. Not sure I like this idea!
A
smashing American chap came to interview me and various colleagues on
Tuesday morning for his Study on ‘Identity’ – detailed questions that
really made me think about my views on such things as what it means to
be Scottish; who is Scottish, why are we Scottish – history,
symbolism, shared experience, heart or head? Well, my head was birlin’
by the end of it, that’s for sure. It will be interesting to read his
analysis when it’s published.
Morag
and I had great fun at lunchtime and through the afternoon when the
Access Group from Motherwell paid us a visit at the Parliament. I’ve
spoken about this Group many times before I know, but they really are
special. This is the special programme run by North Lanarkshire
Council for youngsters who have experienced homelessness and
unemployment, young people who’ve had a difficult start in life and
need a ‘puddy up’. We had a group of 10 I think (felt like 110!), and
they ran us ragged with their questions, and their sheer energy. Our
Presiding Officer, George Reid, paid us a visit too, and was also put
through the mill about how legislation works, what his role is. He
told me the next day that he’d thoroughly enjoyed the session and
wants to know more about how the Access programme works. Because, this
programme really does seem to work. I’m sure that part of that is
because of the respect shown by all concerned to the participants. And
they truly deserve that respect because of what they’re achieving by
their own perseverance and determination to succeed. But this Group is
only the tip of the iceberg – there are many more who are not getting
such appropriate assistance.
The
Education Committee of the Parliament is doing an Inquiry just now
into ‘looked after youngsters’, those who don’t have a family
background. Some of the evidence I’ve picked up on has been
disturbing, and the full Report when published must be taken
seriously, with action to follow. Again I worry about the short term
implications of many of the programmes that are set up because it’s
easy to tick the boxes for ‘outcomes’ at the end of a set period, the
secret is to give a solid grounding so that these ’outcomes’ are
sustained – the ability to manage their own household, acquired skills
and education so that they are employable in the kind of job they want
to do for a long time, the confidence of knowing that they are a
valuable part of a wider society.
I hope
that Access continues its good work with many more young people, and
that they keep in touch as their programmes progress.
With the PO/In the Garden Lobby/First Minister Sean
Hot-footed it from the Access Group up the High Street to do a quick
training session on ‘How to Lobby your MSP’ as part of a course for
organisations who want to interact with their Parliament. A good,
informal session. I’ve done a few of these now – as well as enjoying
meeting new people, the bonus is that the organisation which runs the
courses makes a donation to a charity of my choice. Some survey firms
offer the same deal, so I try always to accommodate. Back to work –
clear the emails, read the mail, listen to phone messages, then SNP
Group Meeting and home.
Clear
morning on Wednesday – no Communities Committee – so time to read
through some paperwork. The news this morning was full of condemnation
for the operation of the Government’s Income Tax Credits system. No
surprise to me – Davie has been dealing locally with many instances of
people having problems with payments, both under and over, and I wrote
in January of this year to the Executive Chairman of the Inland
Revenue to highlight the very problems that are now being admitted by
the Government. Real hardship is being suffered by some families who
have fallen foul of the system through absolutely no fault of their
own.
The
Annual General Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
in the Chamber at lunchtime. It was interesting hearing about some of
the international events which have been both hosted and attended by
MSPs over the last year – particularly the Malawi trip which preceded
the First Minister’s own visit and subsequent announcement of the
Malawi Fund. I was a wee bit disappointed in a parliamentary answer I
got this week – I had hoped that Blantyre in Lanarkshire would be
given some special consideration in the Malawi initiative, because of
its historical links with the country, but it would seem that this
will not be the case. Surely some link can be made between Blantyre,
Malawi, and Blantyre, Lanarkshire. It could be of benefit to both
communities.
Stage 1
of the ‘Licensing Scotland Bill’ in the Chamber, and than after
Decision Time, back to Strathaven on Wednesday evening for the
Strathaven Academy Prizegiving. I absolutely love dishing out these
prizes – they’re not all academic awards, but cover all ranges of the
school’s activities and beyond. I especially like it when I know those
who have won! I am so proud of our Jennifer – a leading light in the
Strathaven Fair Trade Group – who walked off with umpteen and heads
for University in October.
Crack
of dawn driving again on Thursday morning to get to Edinburgh on time
for Chamber – ‘Year End Flexibility (finance)’ and then Question Time
as usual on a Thursday morning. It was Jim Wallace’s last week as
LibDem Leader and Deputy First Minister, and it was he who faced up to
Nicola Sturgeon on the issue of Student Debt. Nicola was ferocious,
and Jim just seemed to be quite glad to be retiring to the
back-benches. Good luck to him.
The
National Schizophrenic Society, East Kilbride Branch, paid a visit to
the Parliament on Thursday afternoon. I know so many of the members
through involvement with the Lanarkshire Mental Health Forum and its
many associated groups, so it was great to show off my office and have
a chat in one of the Committee Rooms. As always with voluntary groups,
the question of core funding. I was able to show the members the
recent Parliamentary Questions I’ve asked on this issue – we suddenly
found out at the beginning of the week that the Executive had changed
the goalposts, without warning, for payment of grants. All of a sudden
the new rules propose that grants could be paid in arrears, and
withdrawn at six months notice! So much for the Minister’s recent
pronouncements about valuing the voluntary sector and sorting the
funding. When challenged, the Executive justified their position as
follows: “Inappropriate conditions can also be deleted from the
generic set, subject to negotiation with the relevant SE grant
providing area” (that particular piece of gobbledygook follows on
from the opening statement which says that the review has meant that
the conditions are “easier to understand and follow”!).
Come and tell
your story to this audience Minister - I think they find it amusing!
Meeting
of the International Development Group in the evening – AGM and
information session about progress in areas affected by the Tsunami
six months ago. There’s been a lot of coverage in the press about it
this week as well, displaced persons, aid not getting through to
everyone, bureaucratic hold-ups. As always.
A free
day on Friday – that is free to tidy up the office, catch up with
Morag and Calum, and begin my usual panic at recess coming up! The two
of them just ignored me really, so I set off home to Strathaven to
prepare for the next day’s house visits and afternoon march from
Stirling to Bannockburn to commemorate 1314 and Scotland’s freedom. I
go most years to the Bannockburn rally and it did seem this year to be
busier; perhaps because this year marks the 700th
anniversary of the murder of William Wallace in London; perhaps
because we’re only a couple of years away from the 300th
anniversary of the signing of the Act of Union and the throwing away
of that Freedom; Perhaps because Scotland’s on the way to demanding
that Freedom back.
Linda Fabiani
20.6.05
Email Linda at
Linda.fabiani.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
