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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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Showing 60 of 2,095,827 contributions. Latest 30 days: 2,655. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 09 Jun 2026.

Mary Fee Lab Committee

That is helpful. Thank you.

Mary Fee Lab Committee

That is very helpful. Finally, can you give us a timetable or an estimated timescale for the introduction of the human rights bill?

Mary Fee Lab Committee

That is very helpful. I welcome your commitment to keep pushing on Gypsy Travellers—I really appreciate it. One issue that we hear about every time that we take evidence in committee on the budget is how to follow the budget line through, from the very start when the money is...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I will ask you to say a bit more about mainstreaming human rights. First, I will pick up on Joe FitzPatrick’s point about Gypsy Travellers. As you will know, there is the Gypsy Traveller action plan, and a pot of money is now being put into men...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Adults with Additional Support Needs (Employment)

Despite the Government continuing to promise to reduce the gap by at least half, the employment rate for disabled people still sits as low as 47.8 per cent, which compares with 81.3 per cent for those who are not disabled. The Scottish National Party’s “A Fairer Scotland for ...

3. Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Adults with Additional Support Needs (Employment)

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting adults with additional support needs in the West Scotland region into employment. (S5O-05132)

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I reassure you and all members that this is definitely my final contribution to a debate in the Scottish Parliament. I will use some of my time to reflect on my 10 years as a member of the Scottish Parliament for West Scotland. It has truly been ...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

I hope that I am invited. Laughter.

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

I hope that, in the next parliamentary session, Parliament continues to work to make our society fairer, more equal and more protected and that the members who remain here are a positive example of how we can enhance equality and protect human rights. I said in my opening rem...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

As a member of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, I am delighted to open the debate for Scottish Labour. I would like to begin by thanking the committee clerks and the bill team for their extremely hard work on the bill. They have worked tirelessly for the past few wee...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I have no further comments. I press amendment 47. Amendment 47 agreed to. Amendment 48 moved—Mary Fee—and agreed to. Section 19—Interpretation of legislation 17:45

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Amendments 47 and 48 in my name seek to ensure that all bills introduced in the Parliament—not just Government bills—meet the UNCRC requirements. Effective scrutiny of legislation is essential for protecting, respecting and fulfilling children’s rights in practice. The bill al...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I thank Alex Cole-Hamilton and the cabinet secretary for their positive and helpful comments. I am grateful for Andy Wightman’s comments and explanation on behalf of the corporate body and for the consideration that the corporate body has given to the matter. Throughout the ...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Amendment 46 would require the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to publish a report outlining how the work of the Parliament has met the requirements of the bill. Having worked closely with stakeholders, including Together Scotland, on the issue, I can say that it is of ...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I thank Clare Adamson for her very kind words, and I confirm my support for all the amendments in the group. Amendment 45 is in line with my amendment 38, which was debated in group 5, on guidance. It will ensure that there is a similar requirement on the Scottish ministers t...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

The issue of guidance has been of interest to many stakeholders and many members across all parties throughout the consideration of the bill, which prompted me to lodge my amendments in relation to that at stage 2. However, I was happy to listen to the minister and not to pres...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

Equality and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Human Rights Commission

That was very helpful. Given the situation that we have been in over the past year, it is remarkable that that piece of work is on track to be finished before the end of this parliamentary session. On the back of that, there are a couple of things that I want to ask you. How w...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

Equality and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Human Rights Commission

Judith Robertson, can you give us an update on the work of the national task force on human rights leadership?

Mary Fee Lab Committee

Equality and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Human Rights Commission

The update that you have given us on the situation in prisons has been useful. I convene the cross-party group in the Parliament on families affected by imprisonment and, although I am not standing in the election in May, I hope that the cross-party group will continue. It wou...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

Equality and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Human Rights Commission

That is very helpful. Thank you. 09:30

Mary Fee Lab Committee

Equality and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Human Rights Commission

That is helpful. You touched on the review of the public sector equality duty and your involvement with that. Will you say a bit more about that? The Scottish Government has said that the review will be done in two stages between now and the summer. There will be an effective...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

Equality and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Human Rights Commission

Are you confident that all the reports will be completed on time?

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee

Equality and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Human Rights Commission

Public authorities have been asked to provide a statement if they are unable to provide the equality outcomes that are required under the public sector equality duty by the end of April this year. Could you give the committee an update on how that is going? Have you had discus...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Virtual Prison Visits

With restrictions on travel and on prison visits, digital visits will have been a lifeline for many, as they support both the welfare and mental health of prisoners. In light of the fact that more than 1,200 prisoners are currently self-isolating, what support is being given t...

2. Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Virtual Prison Visits

To ask the Scottish Government how many virtual prison visits have taken place since 29 June 2020. (S5O-05026)

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

I begin in the same way that I began the debate that is referenced in the motion—by thanking the Liberal Democrats for bringing the debate. I also indicate our support for the Liberal Democrat motion and the Conservative amendment. I appreciate every opportunity to discuss ...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 52 seeks to bring greater clarity to section 6. The amendment’s purpose is to ensure that the bill covers all public bodies that have duties in respect of the care of a child. Making that explicit will strengthen the bill in the interests of the children whom it seek...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I would like to speak in support of amendment 1. I fully support the amendment and all Alex Cole-Hamilton’s comments about commencement. The specific point about the commencement of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019 was well made. It should shame us all t...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I support Alison Harris’s amendments in this group, which are significant and important. Since I came into Parliament I have campaigned for the rights of children of offenders to be protected, and I know only too well that the children of offenders are often among the most mar...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Given the supportive comments that the minister made on my amendments, I am happy to work with her ahead of stage 3, and I will not move amendment 59. Amendment 59 not moved. Amendment 60 not moved. Amendment 49 moved—Gillian Martin—and agreed to. Section 15, as amended, a...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 59 would strengthen the quality of the content of the bill by ensuring that listed authorities met the requirements regarding children who have one or more protected characteristics or who are in a situation of vulnerability, which would ensure that their rights were...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I listened carefully to the minister’s comments and, in the light of them, I will not move my amendments 54, 55, 58 and 61. However, I will speak to the amendments because I wish to speak to the intention behind them. Amendment 54 sought to strengthen the bill by ensuring tha...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I welcome the minister’s comments, and I am encouraged by the work that is being done by the Government to ensure that, when the bill is enacted, there will be adequate guidance and instruction. Given those comments, I am happy to work with the Government ahead of stage 3 to e...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 53 is based on a number of discussions that I have had with a variety of organisations, including Together and Families Outside. I lodged it as a probing amendment, and I am keen to work with the Government, ahead of stage 3, to produce guidance in order to ensure th...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I welcome the supportive comments from Alex Cole-Hamilton. I also note the minister’s comments. However, my amendments reflect the views and concerns of stakeholders that we heard throughout our evidence sessions, and I believe that the amendments are an important addition to ...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 51 in my name seeks to strengthen the bill by including jurisprudence from the United Nations treaty bodies, which would provide greater clarity for the courts. The amendment would allow for the parameters of the UN treaty bodies—which oversee the Convention on the R...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Homelessness

The reality is that the extension of the unsuitable accommodation order for all homeless persons has twice been delayed and the affordable housing budget has just been reduced by £132 million. Those actions by the Government are hampering efforts to reduce homelessness. Does t...

4. Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Homelessness

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce homelessness. (S5O-04980)

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Covid-19 Restrictions (Support for Tourism in West Scotland)

The £104.3 million of support will help many tourism and hospitality businesses in my region, but what support—financial or otherwise—is available to businesses in the tourism and hospitality supply chain that primarily rely on that sector?

1. Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Covid-19 Restrictions (Support for Tourism in West Scotland)

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to tourism businesses in the West Scotland region in light of the current Covid-19 restrictions. (S5O-04921)

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

It is a privilege to speak in this stage 1 debate on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill and to open for Scottish Labour. The significance of the proposed legislation cannot and should not be underestimated. It will have a l...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

I fully support the comments that Joe FitzPatrick has just made. I think that we should keep the petition open and include it in the legacy paper in very strong terms. Although I accept that we cannot tell a future committee what pieces of work it should be doing, we should e...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

I completely agree with the convener and Mr Stewart. The petition should be kept open and included in the legacy paper. I would very much like our successor committee in the next session to do something on the issue. It is an important issue that fits nicely into our remit as ...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

I remember the petition from the previous session of Parliament, when I was convener of the committee in its previous life as the Equal Opportunities Committee. The petition has been going on for a long time. I accept that some progress has been made, but it has been very litt...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee

I thank Mr Stewart for his input and for the support that he has given to the Mundells in taking forward the petition. I am grateful for his input. We have a number of options open to us. I am keen for us to write to the Government to seek an update on the legislative reform ...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Schools (Specialist Support Staff)

Early in December, a report by the Incorporated Society of Musicians showed that Scotland has been the most negatively impacted country of the four United Kingdom nations in terms of the provision of music tuition across primary and secondary schools during the pandemic. Some ...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Human Rights Day (70th Anniversary)

I, too, thank Ruth Maguire for bringing this important debate to the chamber. Human rights day is a time for both celebration and reflection. During my time in Parliament, I have championed human rights and they have always been at the centre of everything that I do. That is b...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I welcome that response from the Deputy First Minister. In relation to the guidance that is attached to the bill, would he consider putting in detailed and specific guidance for public authorities when they do such outsourcing?

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

That is helpful—I appreciate the further explanation. My second question is on the definition of a public authority. In our evidence sessions, there has been a fair bit of discussion of how we can strengthen that definition. Some witnesses have suggested that the Scottish Par...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

That is very helpful. I appreciate that answer. One view that we heard in evidence is that favouring the dual duties approach would almost be like taking a belt-and-braces approach—it would leave organisations in no doubt that they have a responsibility in this area. Did you c...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I have a couple of questions for you, cabinet secretary, the first of which is about the approach that is taken in the bill. The policy memorandum explains that two approaches could be taken to incorporation. One would be to make it “unlawful for a public authority to ‘act i...

Mary Fee Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Rent Affordability

I thank the minister for that answer. However, the reality is that, between 2010 and 2020, private accommodation rents in Scotland have increased above consumer prices index inflation. Last year, rents for two-bedroom properties increased above the CPI inflation rate of 0.5 pe...

6. Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Rent Affordability

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since 2019 to ensure that tenants can afford their rent payments. (S5O-04806)

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Mental Health Support for Young People

On behalf of Scottish Labour, I welcome the committee’s report. We agree that mental health provision for young people in Scotland is complex and fragmented, and for that reason I welcome the conclusions and recommendations that have been offered by the Public Petitions Commit...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Valuing the Third Sector

It is a pleasure to close the debate on behalf of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee. The importance of the work that the third sector carries out has shone through members’ speeches. Many of our constituents rely on the services and advocacy that the voluntary sector p...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Good morning. I would like to ask the same two questions that I asked the first panel. I will roll them into one, because I am conscious of time. The first question is about the duties of a public authority. The Government’s focus in the bill is on a duty not to act incompat...

Mary Fee Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I thank the panel for those very helpful responses. My next question is about the definition of “public authority”. In section 6, it is not exclusively defined, although its meaning has been considered in a human rights context in courts. I will give an example before I ask f...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

The approach that the Government has taken in the bill is to focus on a duty not to act incompatibly rather than take a dual-duties approach, which would include a due regard duty. The reason it has given is that that could cause unnecessary duplication. We have heard differin...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

National Adoption Week 2020

I thank Rona Mackay for securing this important debate. Adoption week gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate and strengthen the adoption service in Scotland. I am sure that all members in the chamber agree that there can never be too many adoptions; it can certainly be ar...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill

There are many people and organisations to thank for bringing the bill to stage 3. My colleague Monica Lennon has worked hard and diligently to secure the bill’s passage, and women and girls across Scotland will be grateful to her for her commitment to ending period poverty. I...

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Committee

Equalities and Human Rights Committee 18 March 2021

18 Mar 2021 · S5 · Equalities and Human Rights Committee

Item of business

Human Rights

Fee, Mary Lab West Scotland Watch on SPTV

That is helpful. Thank you.

In the same item of business

The Convener (Ruth Maguire) SNP

Good morning and welcome to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee’s eighth meeting in 2021. This is our final meeting in the current session of Parliamen...

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People (Shirley-Anne Somerville) SNP

Good morning, convener. It is a real pleasure to give evidence to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee today. The Scottish Government is committed to e...

The Convener SNP

Thank you, cabinet secretary. We move straight to questions.

Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

Good morning. The subject of human rights has officially been added to the committee’s remit. What impact, if any, will that have on the scrutiny of human ri...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

That decision, which the Scottish Government has supported, is to be warmly welcomed. It is not only correct in principle—in addition, the committee’s work d...

Alison Harris Con

Will you commit to create and resource a human rights tracker tool for Scotland, which would benefit all stakeholders, officials, public authorities and righ...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

Our response to the committee’s report, “Getting Rights Right: Human Rights and the Scottish Parliament”, and the recommendations that it set out, showed tha...

The Convener SNP

Alison, are you content with that?

Alison Harris Con

I am content with those responses. Thank you, cabinet secretary.

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I would like to touch on the human rights framework. In your opening statement, you talked about the task force report. We a...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

It is to be expected, when there is a large group of passionate people around the table, that there will be a range of views during the process. What is rema...

Alexander Stewart Con

It is good to hear that there was a shared ambition for what we are trying to achieve on human rights. You touched on the fact that the proposed human right...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

It is partly a case of ensuring that we continue to work in a collaborative manner. The task force might have reached its conclusion, but the issue will not ...

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP) SNP

I will follow on from Alexander Stewart’s question. It is proposed that the bill will contain a section on equality that aligns with the Equality Act 2010. T...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

Absolutely—we need to analyse all our policies to ensure that human rights are dealt with. As the committee will be well aware, we already have a variety of ...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

That is really important. In your opening statement, you made the point that human rights is not just the responsibility of equalities ministers. The impact ...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

First, I pay tribute to the work that Mary Fee has done on issues around Gypsy Travellers during her entire time in Parliament. She has challenged the Govern...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

Thank you. That was helpful.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I will ask you to say a bit more about mainstreaming human rights. First, I will pick up on Joe FitzPatrick’s point about Gy...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

I absolutely take on board Mary Fee’s first point; that is why we will miss her in Parliament. We have moved forward on Gypsy Traveller issues, but there is ...

Mary Fee Lab

That is very helpful. I welcome your commitment to keep pushing on Gypsy Travellers—I really appreciate it. One issue that we hear about every time that we ...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

Again, the transparency of our budget is an area in which I think that the Scottish Government is doing well in comparison with other parts of the UK and oth...

Mary Fee Lab

That is very helpful. Finally, can you give us a timetable or an estimated timescale for the introduction of the human rights bill?

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

I am not able to give a firm time for introduction. However, I can assure the committee that we will need to look at it very early in the new session. I have...

Mary Fee Lab

That is helpful. Thank you.

The Convener SNP

I ask the cabinet secretary about the UK Government review of the Human Rights Act 1998. The committee has responded to the consultation, as has the Scottish...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

As you said, our response made very clear our view that no changes should be made to the 1998 act without the consent of the Scottish Parliament. That is in ...

Duncan Isles (Scottish Government)

It is a difficult question to answer in the abstract, as the cabinet secretary has said. At this point, we really do not have a clear indication of what the ...

The Convener SNP

Cabinet secretary, in your opening statement, you mentioned that it has been a good week for human rights in Scotland, with the passing of the United Nations...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

There will be no conflict between the Human Rights Act 1998 and the proposed framework bill. The future bill will incorporate a wide range of new rights into...