Category Archives: Debates in Parliament

Global perspective on violence against women

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Claudia

Earlier this week, I spoke in a Member’s Debate celebrating 20 years of Zero Tolerance an Edinburgh based organisation working to tackle the causes of men’s violence against women.  The campaign highlights the many forms that violence against women can … Continue reading →

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Oil & gas sector debated

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Claudia

One of the first debates in Parliament following the Christmas recess was on the future of Scotland’s oil and gas industry. The debate was an opportunity to discuss the important role that the sector fills, in relation to both its value to … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Debates in Parliament, Economy, Energy, Environment, Renewable Energy | Leave a comment

Social Care Bill passed

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Claudia

At the end of November, the Parliament passed new legislation that seeks to give carers and cared for people more choice and control over how their care needs are met. The Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Bill enshrines in law the … Continue reading →

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The Scot who lit the world

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Claudia

Member’s Business in Parliament recently paid tribute to the life and work of William Murdoch (1754-1839), the Scot who lit the world. This was the description given by author Janet Thomson in her book of the same name to the … Continue reading →

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Celebrating Scotland’s relationship with Malawi

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Claudia

In the build up to the bicentenary of the birth of David Livingstone next year, the Parliament this week debated the special relationship between Scotland and Malawi. The link between the two countries dates back to Dr Livingstone’s journey to … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Co-operatives, Debates in Parliament, Economy, Education, Energy, Fair Trade, Farming, Health, Human Rights, Justice, Renewable Energy | Leave a comment

Dyslexia Toolkit update

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Claudia

Earlier this week, the MSPs welcomed the launch of an updated toolkit for addressing dyslexia during a debate in Parliament. The toolkit, developed by the charity Dyslexia Scotland, provides a valuable resource for teachers and youth workers to help them … Continue reading →

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Are you Ready for Winter?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Claudia

With winter weather beginning to close in, the Scottish Government has set out is winter resilience plans during a debate in Parliament. The importance of this annual debate has been heightened over the past few years following the extreme weather … Continue reading →

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Stop Climate Chaos Rally

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Claudia

I was in the Chamber this week to hear the Scottish Government’s Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse give a statement explaining why annual climate change targets had been missed. Back in 2009, the Scottish Parliament passed the Climate Change Act which set … Continue reading →

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Support for renewables announced

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Claudia

Earlier this week the Scottish Government’s Energy Minister Fergus Ewing delivered a statement on support levels for renewable energy. The announcement outlined the different levels of support for renewable technologies through Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC). ROCs are green certificates issued … Continue reading →

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Call to end postcode lottery for kinship carers

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Claudia

Earlier this month I took part in a debate on the subject of looked after children and highlighted the varying level of payments made to kinship carers by local authorities across Scotland. Kinship carers are family members such as grandparents, … Continue reading →

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