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HOMELESSNESS BILL A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
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Linda Fabiani MSP has welcomed the passing of the homelessness Bill through the Scottish Parliament, but has criticised the government for overturning a committee amendment which would have taken homeless children out of Bed and Breakfast accommodation.
Speaking from her home in Strathaven, Linda said:
“This Bill passing in the Scottish Parliament shows that our Parliament has the ability to change the lives of Scotland’s people for the better.
Improving the rights of people who find themselves homeless is most certainly a step in the right direction, and I welcome that. I think, though, that there are some areas in which we could have gone further.
At stage 2, the committee stage, the Social Justice committee put through an amendment which would have made it impossible to house homeless families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation. That was most certainly a positive move, there is a huge body of evidence to show that children housed in B&B accommodation suffer serious consequences.
In the final chamber stage of the Bill, though, stage 3, the government overturned that amendment. I think that they are simply not willing to invest properly in tackling homelessness in Scotland, but the upshot of that move is that children can still be housed in unsuitable accommodation, and that children will still have their lives blighted.
It is unfortunate, to say the least, that the Scottish government has been so short-sighted over this when it is obvious from the committee vote that MSPs were in favour of ending the practice. I can only hope that we will have an opportunity in the next Parliament to change the way that homeless families with children are treated.
All in all, though, the Bill is largely a positive step forward, and I welcome it.”
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TRADING FAIRLY IN STRATHAVEN
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Strathaven’s move to becoming one of the first fair trade towns in Scotland was marked in the Scottish Parliament with a Member’s Debate sponsored by Strathaven resident Linda Fabiani MSP.
Speaking in Edinburgh after the debate, Linda said:
“I am delighted that Strathaven has the distinction of leading the way in Scotland with a move to Fair Trade status, where the guarantee on products is that the producer has been paid a proper rate for the goods.
This is especially important for developing countries, helping us to ensure that we are not part of the exploitation of the poorer people of the world, and I think that most of the people in Strathaven will agree with the sentiments behind Fair Trade.
More than half a million people around the world have already been helped by getting a fairer deal through the Fairtrade Foundation, and more than four and a half million growers and their families throughout the world are now participating in Fair Trade.
I hope that local producers will also enter into the spirit of the move, Strathaven is the first Fair Trade group to include support for local producers in its constitution. The principle of fair reward for effort applies as much in Scotland as in any part of the world.
I hope that the farming links of Strathaven will be strengthened by this change in the status of the town, and I look forward to seeing the input of local farmers.
We can think global and act local on this issue. At a time when we are sending £35 billions in aid to poorer countries who are losing £500 billions through unfair trade practices, I like to think that we can help a little while improving our own lives.”
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NOT IN MY NAME SAYS FABIANI
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Linda Fabiani MSP has repeated her opposition to military action in Iraq after a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the issue on Thursday ended in defeat for the peace resolutions which were put forward.
Speaking from her home in Strathaven, Linda said:
“We debated the current situation in Iraq again, and again it was at the instigation of the SNP. We put forward our very clear position that there should be no military action without a new, specific United Nations mandate supported by incontrovertible evidence of a breach of resolution 1441 by the Iraqi government.
In the last days of the first term of the Scottish Parliament, in what may be the last few days before military conflict, we had a duty to ensure that the voice of the Scottish people was heard.
Speaker after speaker made it clear that conflict was not Scotland’s preferred option, that the drive of Tony Blair to war did not have the support of the Scottish people. Unfortunately, Labour MSPs put loyalty to their party before the principles they shout about, and voted for war.
They should have had the moral fibre shown by Robin Cook on Monday when he resigned from the cabinet, politicians have a duty to stand by the principles they expound during elections.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll see whether our voices are being heard in London, or whether ordinary Iraqis will have to suffer conflict again to satisfy Tony Blair and George Bush.”
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FABIANI SUPPORTS EUROPEAN YEAR OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
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Linda Fabiani MSP has added her support to the European Year of People with Disabilities. Speaking after the debate on the subject in the Scottish Parliament, Linda said:
“There is a real need, as the Madrid declaration made clear, to move away from the impression of people with disabilities as objects of charity, and towards viewing all of us as independent citizens and consumers.
We should be moving away from a focus on individual impairments and towards removing barriers and revising social norms. To give a couple of examples, during a recent screening of the television programme “Operatunity”, the name and occupation of each contestant was flashed up on the screen as they came on stage. For one contestant it read “mother of three – registered blind”.
The idea that being registered blind should be the way this woman was described is horrific. On a BBC messageboard called ‘ouch’, there was a message from a chap by the name of Bob Williams-Findlay who said “I believe that society disables me, not my impairment.”
I am thankful that the attitude of charity is diminishing, that the opinion that people with disabilities cannot speak for themselves is diminishing, but we need to accelerate that.
We must be considering what needs to be done, we must be looking for advancement in this area, and that means really thinking about what needs to be done.”
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EDUCATION AT DUNGAVEL RUN BY DETENTION SERVICE
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REVELATIONS A 'DISGRACE' BUT 'NO SURPRISE' SAYS FABIANI
Commenting on today's (Friday) criticisms of Dungavel asylum centre from Bishop of Paisley John Mone, SNP Shadow Deputy Social Justice Minister Ms Linda Fabiani MSP revealed that the Scottish government had been aware for some time about the difficulties faced by asylum seekers and their children at the centre.
Ms Fabiani has raised several questions to the Scottish Parliament over the past 18 months with regard to education at the centre and labelled today's revelations as a 'disgrace' but 'no surprise', she said;
"I agree with the Bishop John Mone about the provision of education facilities for asylum seekers and especially their children at Dungavel. I have been aware of the problem for some time and these revelations although a disgrace come as no surprise.
"I have spent the last 18 months trying to get some straight answers from the Scottish Executive about the provision of school facilities at the centre but all I have received is vague replies.
"I was told that a meeting would take place to discuss the matter last year but it is clear that no progress has been made and this simply isn't good enough.
"This Executive have known for almost 12 months that education facilities for children were not being provided by the local authority but were the responsibility of the contractor - Premier Detention Services!
"These children are asylum seekers not inmates in a young offenders institute and they should have the right to a proper education. They are in the centre through no fault of their own and should not be made to suffer.
"I hope that the comments made today will force this Labour Executive into action and end the misery these kids have had to suffer."
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