That the Parliament commends the work of Who Cares? Scotland, an independent advocacy service supporting Scotland’s children and young people in care; understands that Who Cares? Scotland has been promoting and protecting the rights of children and young people in care since 1978, ensuring that all looked-after children across Scotland are listened to and given a voice; recognises that, in the year ended 31 March 2010, it worked with over 1,300 children and young people, providing more than 2,000 instances of advocacy support; supports the decision by almost every local authority in Scotland to accept in principle its charter of rights; understands the number of looked-after children has increased every year since 2001 with 16,171 children being looked after by local authorities as at 31 July 2011, a 2% increase since 31 July 2010, and supports what it sees as the invaluable work of Who Cares? Scotland across the country and in North Ayrshire, where it worked with 37 young people between 12 December 2011 and 25 March 2012.
Current Status:
That the Parliament commends the work of Who Cares? Scotland, an independent advocacy service supporting Scotland’s children and young people in care; understands that Who Cares? Scotland has been promoting and protecting the rights of children and young people in care since 1978, ensuring that all looked-after children across Scotland are listened to and given a voice; recognises that, in the year ended 31 March 2010, it worked with over 1,300 children and young people, providing more than 2,000 instances of advocacy support; supports the decision by almost every local authority in Scotland to accept in principle its charter of rights; understands the number of looked-after children has increased every year since 2001 with 16,171 children being looked after by local authorities as at 31 July 2011, a 2% increase since 31 July 2010, and supports what it sees as the invaluable work of Who Cares? Scotland across the country and in North Ayrshire, where it worked with 37 young people between 12 December 2011 and 25 March 2012.
Supported by: John Mason, Kevin Stewart, Bill Walker, David Torrance, Anne McTaggart, Colin Keir, Paul Wheelhouse, Joan McAlpine, Humza Yousaf, Clare Adamson, Mike MacKenzie, Bob Doris, Dennis Robertson, Jamie Hepburn, Joe FitzPatrick, Liam McArthur, Margaret McDougall, Willie Coffey, Richard Lyle, Alison Johnstone, Nigel Don, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Aileen McLeod, Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, Adam Ingram, Sandra White, Maureen Watt, Annabelle Ewing, Jean Urquhart, Jackie Baillie
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That the Parliament commends Arthritis Care Awareness Week from 14 to 18 May 2012 and supports the goals of the Arthritis Care Awareness campaign in raising awareness of arthritis care; understands that there are approximately 700,000 people in Scotland who have arthritis; notes that arthritis can affect people of all ages, including children, and that at present the causes of arthritis are not yet known, nor is there a cure; appreciates that arthritis can be a very painful and debilitating condition that can have an indirect impact on the lives of family members, causing financial worries, isolation, emotional stress and sometimes ill-health, and applauds the work of Arthritis Care, which campaigns for changes to improve the lives of those living with arthritis and runs self-management courses to enable people with arthritis to manage their condition more effectively, and the volunteers who provide peer support, community learning and raise awareness.
Current Status:
That the Parliament commends Arthritis Care Awareness Week from 14 to 18 May 2012 and supports the goals of the Arthritis Care Awareness campaign in raising awareness of arthritis care; understands that there are approximately 700,000 people in Scotland who have arthritis; notes that arthritis can affect people of all ages, including children, and that at present the causes of arthritis are not yet known, nor is there a cure; appreciates that arthritis can be a very painful and debilitating condition that can have an indirect impact on the lives of family members, causing financial worries, isolation, emotional stress and sometimes ill-health, and applauds the work of Arthritis Care, which campaigns for changes to improve the lives of those living with arthritis and runs self-management courses to enable people with arthritis to manage their condition more effectively, and the volunteers who provide peer support, community learning and raise awareness.
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Annabelle Ewing, Maureen Watt, Linda Fabiani, Fiona McLeod, Jean Urquhart, Nanette Milne, Adam Ingram, Gil Paterson, Aileen McLeod, George Adam, Roderick Campbell, Stewart Maxwell, Jackson Carlaw, Kenneth Gibson, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Nigel Don, Jim Hume, Alison McInnes, Joe FitzPatrick, Jamie Hepburn, Dennis Robertson, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Colin Beattie, Mike MacKenzie, John Finnie, Angus MacDonald, Humza Yousaf, Paul Wheelhouse, Joan McAlpine, Colin Keir, Jim Eadie, Mark McDonald, Anne McTaggart, Mary Fee, John Mason, Bill Walker, Kevin Stewart, Drew Smith
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That the Parliament supports Citizens Advice Scotland’s Energy Best Deal campaign, which aims to help consumers save money by finding the best energy deal; understands that fuel bills have more than doubled since 2003 and consequently that fuel poverty in Scotland has risen sharply; understands that a household bill that has never been switched is typically £200 higher than one on the best direct debit tariff available; commends Energy Best Deal group events, which provide people struggling with fuel bills with practical information about reducing energy costs by switching supplier or moving to a better tariff with their current supplier; understands that more than 90 sessions have been delivered throughout Scotland to over 370 consumers and 570 workers, with each worker estimated to help at least 15 vulnerable clients a year as a result of this training, and wishes the Energy Best Deal campaign success in reaching as many vulnerable people as possible.
Current Status:
That the Parliament supports Citizens Advice Scotland’s Energy Best Deal campaign, which aims to help consumers save money by finding the best energy deal; understands that fuel bills have more than doubled since 2003 and consequently that fuel poverty in Scotland has risen sharply; understands that a household bill that has never been switched is typically £200 higher than one on the best direct debit tariff available; commends Energy Best Deal group events, which provide people struggling with fuel bills with practical information about reducing energy costs by switching supplier or moving to a better tariff with their current supplier; understands that more than 90 sessions have been delivered throughout Scotland to over 370 consumers and 570 workers, with each worker estimated to help at least 15 vulnerable clients a year as a result of this training, and wishes the Energy Best Deal campaign success in reaching as many vulnerable people as possible.
Supported by: John Mason, Drew Smith, David Torrance, Gordon MacDonald, Anne McTaggart, Kevin Stewart, Bill Walker, Mary Fee, Mark McDonald, Colin Keir, Jim Eadie, Paul Wheelhouse, Joan McAlpine, Humza Yousaf, Mike MacKenzie, Angus MacDonald, Colin Beattie, Stuart McMillan, Dennis Robertson, Jamie Hepburn, Margaret McDougall, Joe FitzPatrick, Liam McArthur, Bob Doris, Nigel Don, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Roderick Campbell, Kenneth Gibson, Aileen McLeod, Chic Brodie, Gil Paterson, Maureen Watt, Sandra White, Rhoda Grant, Jean Urquhart, Linda Fabiani, Annabelle Ewing, Jackie Baillie
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That the Parliament notes with concern the poor take-up of housing benefit and council tax benefit identified in the report, Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-Up in 2009-10, published by the Department of Work and Pensions on 23 February 2012; considers that take-up rates for two-parent families with children for both benefits is particularly low, with up to 17,600 such families missing out on an average of £2,880 in housing benefit a year, and as many as 24,000 such families missing out an average of £780 in council tax benefit; understands that up to £443 million may be lost to the Scottish economy and low-income families as a result of this low take-up, that maximising the take-up of these benefits ahead of the implementation of the Welfare Reform Bill may help mitigate some of the impact of that legislation, as well as ensuring that no-one misses out on any transitional protection that they should receive; notes that local authorities have a statutory responsibility to promote council tax benefit and considers that many organisations, including the Scottish Government, have an interest in promoting the take-up of benefits, and therefore supports the call by Children 1st for the Scottish Government, local authorities and MSPs to do all that they can to maximise the take-up of these benefits by low-income families in Scotland.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes with concern the poor take-up of housing benefit and council tax benefit identified in the report, Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-Up in 2009-10, published by the Department of Work and Pensions on 23 February 2012; considers that take-up rates for two-parent families with children for both benefits is particularly low, with up to 17,600 such families missing out on an average of £2,880 in housing benefit a year, and as many as 24,000 such families missing out an average of £780 in council tax benefit; understands that up to £443 million may be lost to the Scottish economy and low-income families as a result of this low take-up, that maximising the take-up of these benefits ahead of the implementation of the Welfare Reform Bill may help mitigate some of the impact of that legislation, as well as ensuring that no-one misses out on any transitional protection that they should receive; notes that local authorities have a statutory responsibility to promote council tax benefit and considers that many organisations, including the Scottish Government, have an interest in promoting the take-up of benefits, and therefore supports the call by Children 1st for the Scottish Government, local authorities and MSPs to do all that they can to maximise the take-up of these benefits by low-income families in Scotland.
Supported by: Fiona McLeod, Annabelle Ewing, Jean Urquhart, Sandra White, Maureen Watt, Adam Ingram, Sarah Boyack, Gil Paterson, Aileen McLeod, Richard Simpson, John Wilson, Kenneth Gibson, Roderick Campbell, Dave Thompson, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Stewart Maxwell, Richard Lyle, Joe FitzPatrick, Margaret McDougall, John Park, Bob Doris, Jamie Hepburn, Colin Beattie, Dennis Robertson, Nigel Don, Stuart McMillan, Christina McKelvie, Angus MacDonald, John Finnie, Mike MacKenzie, Joan McAlpine, Paul Wheelhouse, Mark McDonald, Neil Findlay, Kevin Stewart, Gordon MacDonald, David Torrance, Bill Walker, John Mason, Marco Biagi
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That the Parliament notes with grave concern the findings of the Save the Children report of 12 March 2012, Ending Child Poverty: Ensuring Universal Credit supports working mums in Scotland, that the introduction of the universal credit could force thousands of children in Scotland into poverty; understands that this is due to the potential for the universal credit to make some single parents on low pay and some second earners, a large majority of whom are women, substantially worse off; calls on the UK Government to address these concerns by providing extra funding for universal credit to help all parents maximise their income through work, so that they can lift themselves and their children out of poverty; particularly urges the UK Government to provide sufficient earnings disregards, cover a minimum of 80% of childcare costs for all low-income working parents and commit to introducing a more generous taper rate, and asks the Scottish Government in partnership with local government to do everything possible to ease the pressure on single mothers or second earners hoping to enter the labour market.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes with grave concern the findings of the Save the Children report of 12 March 2012, Ending Child Poverty: Ensuring Universal Credit supports working mums in Scotland, that the introduction of the universal credit could force thousands of children in Scotland into poverty; understands that this is due to the potential for the universal credit to make some single parents on low pay and some second earners, a large majority of whom are women, substantially worse off; calls on the UK Government to address these concerns by providing extra funding for universal credit to help all parents maximise their income through work, so that they can lift themselves and their children out of poverty; particularly urges the UK Government to provide sufficient earnings disregards, cover a minimum of 80% of childcare costs for all low-income working parents and commit to introducing a more generous taper rate, and asks the Scottish Government in partnership with local government to do everything possible to ease the pressure on single mothers or second earners hoping to enter the labour market.
Current Status: Fallen on 18/05/2012
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That the Parliament notes the Big Lottery award of £99,800 to Eglinton Growers; understands that this funding will be used to help create community gardens in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, that will include 80 full-sized allotment plots that will be available to residents of Kilwinning and Irvine; congratulates the committee members who, it considers, have worked tirelessly in designing the project, obtaining planning permission and securing the funding; encourages as many gardeners as possible to support the project, and notes what it sees as the social benefits of allotment gardening, which include improvements to health, education and community wellbeing.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes the Big Lottery award of £99,800 to Eglinton Growers; understands that this funding will be used to help create community gardens in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, that will include 80 full-sized allotment plots that will be available to residents of Kilwinning and Irvine; congratulates the committee members who, it considers, have worked tirelessly in designing the project, obtaining planning permission and securing the funding; encourages as many gardeners as possible to support the project, and notes what it sees as the social benefits of allotment gardening, which include improvements to health, education and community wellbeing.
Current Status: Fallen on 18/05/2012
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That the Parliament congratulates North Ayrshire Council on its success in winning two awards at the COSLA 2012 Excellence Awards; notes that the North Ayrshire Homeless Prevention Project was the Gold Award winner in the Achieving Better Outcomes category; further notes that the Young People in the Criminal Justice System project was a Silver Award winner in the Service Innovation and Improvement category; understands that these awards took account of factors such as setting new standards for excellence, designing services that are affordable and sustainable for the long term, and reducing long-term demand by improving early intervention and prevention, and celebrates the partnership through COSLA between central and local government, which it considers helps to bring about innovative service improvements that enhance outcomes for local communities.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates North Ayrshire Council on its success in winning two awards at the COSLA 2012 Excellence Awards; notes that the North Ayrshire Homeless Prevention Project was the Gold Award winner in the Achieving Better Outcomes category; further notes that the Young People in the Criminal Justice System project was a Silver Award winner in the Service Innovation and Improvement category; understands that these awards took account of factors such as setting new standards for excellence, designing services that are affordable and sustainable for the long term, and reducing long-term demand by improving early intervention and prevention, and celebrates the partnership through COSLA between central and local government, which it considers helps to bring about innovative service improvements that enhance outcomes for local communities.
Current Status: Fallen on 18/05/2012
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That the Parliament congratulates Irvine on reaching the final of the Creative Place Awards in the category for places with fewer than 100,000 residents; recognises that Irvine can now describe itself in marketing and promotional material as a Creative Place Awards Nominee 2012; understands that local businesses and North Ayrshire Council will continue to work with organisations from the creative, heritage, tourism and commercial sectors to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the town, and hopes that Irvine, despite not winning the category, will be able to provide many of the cultural events planned for Irvine Harbourside.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates Irvine on reaching the final of the Creative Place Awards in the category for places with fewer than 100,000 residents; recognises that Irvine can now describe itself in marketing and promotional material as a Creative Place Awards Nominee 2012; understands that local businesses and North Ayrshire Council will continue to work with organisations from the creative, heritage, tourism and commercial sectors to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the town, and hopes that Irvine, despite not winning the category, will be able to provide many of the cultural events planned for Irvine Harbourside.
Current Status: Fallen on 13/03/2012
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That the Parliament notes with concern the report jointly published by the Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty and Rights Advice Scotland entitled Breaking the Social Contract regarding the UK Government’s plans to time-limit the payment of contributions-based Employment Support Allowance (ESA) to 12 months; considers it alarming that this change in welfare provision is to be applied retrospectively, potentially resulting in 25,000 people in Scotland immediately losing their contributions-based benefit; believes that this change will break the implied social contract between the taxpaying worker and the state, seriously undermining the relationship; understands that there are more than 130,000 people in Scotland currently receiving contributions-based ESA or its predecessor long-term incapacity benefit; understands that, in Scotland, this means that close to £300 million in annual payments will potentially be lost, and calls on the UK Government to reconsider its reform programme.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes with concern the report jointly published by the Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty and Rights Advice Scotland entitled Breaking the Social Contract regarding the UK Government’s plans to time-limit the payment of contributions-based Employment Support Allowance (ESA) to 12 months; considers it alarming that this change in welfare provision is to be applied retrospectively, potentially resulting in 25,000 people in Scotland immediately losing their contributions-based benefit; believes that this change will break the implied social contract between the taxpaying worker and the state, seriously undermining the relationship; understands that there are more than 130,000 people in Scotland currently receiving contributions-based ESA or its predecessor long-term incapacity benefit; understands that, in Scotland, this means that close to £300 million in annual payments will potentially be lost, and calls on the UK Government to reconsider its reform programme.
Current Status: Fallen on 13/03/2012
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As an amendment to motion S4M-01784 in the name of Margaret McDougall (Life Sciences Enterprise Area for GlaxoSmithKline, Irvine), leave out from “understands” to end and insert “also welcomes the other three enterprise areas in Scotland, which, with the Life Sciences Enterprise Area, cover 14 sites that can exploit opportunities in growth sectors; believes that all the designated areas will offer significant potential to stimulate and deliver new jobs, and congratulates the Scottish Government’s actions to support jobs and create the best possible business conditions to achieve sustainable economic growth for Scotland.”
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-01784 in the name of Margaret McDougall (Life Sciences Enterprise Area for GlaxoSmithKline, Irvine), leave out from “understands” to end and insert “also welcomes the other three enterprise areas in Scotland, which, with the Life Sciences Enterprise Area, cover 14 sites that can exploit opportunities in growth sectors; believes that all the designated areas will offer significant potential to stimulate and deliver new jobs, and congratulates the Scottish Government’s actions to support jobs and create the best possible business conditions to achieve sustainable economic growth for Scotland.”
Supported by: Kevin Stewart, David Torrance, Gordon MacDonald, Mark McDonald, Jim Eadie, Paul Wheelhouse, Joan McAlpine, Mike MacKenzie, John Finnie, Humza Yousaf, Richard Lyle, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Dave Thompson, George Adam, Kenneth Gibson, Chic Brodie, Sandra White, Maureen Watt, Annabelle Ewing
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