Hansard

I am pleased to be called to speak in this important and timely members’ debate on disability history month, which Siobhan McMahon has secured. I acknowledge the work that Siobhan McMahon has done in the campaign to achieve equality of treatment for disabled people across all aspects of their lives.

The establishment of disability history month in 2010 was an important marker in provoking debate about the profile of disabled people’s rights. The event serves to act as a celebration of the achievements of disabled people, many of which were listed by Siobhan McMahon. Those achievements are a matter of record, notwithstanding the adversity that disabled people face in their daily lives. Many individuals’ achievements do not attract much by way of publicity, but the Herculean effort and determination involved on the part of the individual concerned mean that such achievements are truly colossal in anyone’s book.

As Siobhan McMahon said, this members’ debate is timely because it falls on the eve of the Parliament’s legislative consent motion debate on the United Kingdom Welfare Reform Bill. That bill, which was introduced by the Tory-Liberal Democrat Government in London, has proved to be extremely controversial because of its likely impact on disabled people. The legislation will impose changes to disability benefit and support that will cut the budget for the disability living allowance by 20 per cent. That is the stated motivation for the changes to be introduced by the bill. It is all about cuts and has nothing to do with fairness or with improving the operation of the system for those who are entitled to some help and support because of their disability. Surely, in a civilised society, the payment of a benefit to assist with a disability should be seen as an entitlement and not a handout.

It would be instructive for the UK Tory-Liberal Government in London, during disability history month, to reflect further on the deeply damaging impact that the legislation will have on disabled people who will be affected disproportionately in Scotland and who have been placed in a state of fear and alarm. There is no safety net in the proposals. The UK Government should be ashamed of itself and should amend the bill in light of the widespread concerns that have been raised across the spectrum. There are no second-class citizens here in Scotland and it is simply unacceptable to me and to my colleagues that the UK Government, through the Welfare Reform Bill, is content to see disabled people being treated so shoddily.

As Siobhan McMahon said, disability history month is not just about negatives. It is very much about focusing on positives. I end on a more positive note by mentioning the recent launch of the human rights toolkit for disabled people and their advocates. That is excellent source material and a practical guide for disabled people and for all those who have responsibility for ensuring that the rights of disabled people are respected. It is not enough just to talk about the rights of disabled people; there must be appropriate mechanisms for ensuring that those rights can be enforced. More work needs to be done here, but I am convinced that the publication of that toolkit is a significant step on the way to creating a truly just society in which we can all enjoy our rights as individuals.

Presiding Officer, I thank you for calling me to speak in the debate and I congratulate Siobhan McMahon on securing it.