Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 September 2014
25 Sep 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Accessible Tourism
I will in a minute or two, but I want to say a little more first.
We have spent far too much time focusing on people’s inabilities and not enough time on realising people’s capabilities that we currently do not provide for. I will give a few examples. A colleague that I used to work with was registered blind and his visual acuity was, in essence, restricted to being able to distinguish light from dark, yet one of his hobbies was flying gliders. He did not do it on his own, but he was able to fly gliders. Was that not stepping up to something ambitious?
Do members know that it is possible for people to get a private pilots licence when they have only one eye and they cannot hear? Why should not more people who have only one eye and no hearing get that pilots licence? Why do we not have cookery courses, or gardening courses, for people with a range of shortcomings in sight, hearing or touch? Why should not holidays for people with some restricted capabilities also be holidays for their carers? Taking on holiday another team of carers would double the economic benefit and the benefit to individuals.
When we get away from the ghettoisation of some members of our community and we are all the same and all accessing the same facilities, that will be the real triumph.
In the same item of business
The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
Today in the chamber we are particularly grateful that the Scottish Parliament has provided its assistance so that British Sign Language users can follow the...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Oh, well. I will chance my arm then, Presiding Officer. Thank you. That allows me to talk about access statements. The phrase sounds rather like those that ...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the minister for bringing to the chamber the Scottish Government’s debate on the very important topic of accessible tourism. Like him, I begin by ack...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to take part in this important debate, which comes as a refreshing return to normality after so many weeks of intense focus on constitutional ma...
Graeme Dey
SNP
I am suitably chastised. Continuing with the positive—and, at a reasonable pace—I should also mention Dundee Contemporary Arts, which provides signed tours ...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the fact that we have BSL translation for the debate today and I look forward to that becoming the norm, rather than the exception. I encourage mem...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
This is a fascinating debate, particularly given that, as has already been mentioned, it comes after the kerfuffle of the previous few weeks. I am grateful t...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I add my voice to those of other members in welcoming the BSL interpretation that is going on to make this debate about accessible tourism as accessible as i...
Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, welcome the debate and our visitors today. My son is a professional golfer. A few years ago, he was asked to appear on the BBC’s “Today” programme, ...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I join others in welcoming the presence of BSL signers for the debate. As a member of the corporate body, I reflect on the fact that the Parliament has a goo...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the Scottish Government for bringing forward this debate. I have been motivated to speak in the debate by the difficulties that a constituent of mine...
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
In my intervention on the minister, I made a point about the phrase “people with disabilities”, because it is important to recognise that we must put people ...
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
The concept of people first and of ensuring that they are able to get to parts of our country for holidays is complex and difficult to achieve. However, the ...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
I will in a minute or two, but I want to say a little more first. We have spent far too much time focusing on people’s inabilities and not enough time on re...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the use of BSL in the chamber today. When I first thought about writing this speech, I thought about my wheelchair-bound brother, who has tr...
Mark McDonald
SNP
I am sure that Margaret McDougall would welcome me to the clan nonetheless. I refer members to my declaration of interests. I am a trustee of a recently est...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Yes, indeed. We are familiar with Mr Robertson’s work in this area and with his bill. When we are dealing with private land, we need the owners of the facili...
Jenny Marra
Lab
That is absolutely right. We do not have jurisdiction over the issue in this Parliament; there probably is not even jurisdiction over it in the UK Parliamen...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I have thoroughly enjoyed the debate. I congratulate all members on their speeches, which have been varied, thoughtful—replete with experiences from the live...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Does the minister extend the consideration of accessible holidays to people who suffer degrees of ill health that mean that they cannot get insurance to trav...
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate the minister on moving on to talk about people with disabilities rather than disabled people, because that in itself is a very positive step f...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to open debate. Speeches should be of about six minutes, please—although I have a little bit of time in hand, at this stage. 15:04
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Do I have time to give way, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The member should draw to a close, please.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Thank you for that very detailed speech. I now call Stewart Stevenson—you have a generous seven minutes or thereby, Mr Stevenson. 16:12
Dennis Robertson
SNP
The gold standard was spoken about earlier by Nanette Milne and Jamie Hepburn in relation to Crathie Opportunity Holidays, whose chalets are fully accessible...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Many thanks. I call Mark McDougall. You have seven minutes or thereby. 16:26
Jenny Marra
Lab
That point was well made, and I thank Liam McArthur for his intervention. Stewart Stevenson also said that we will triumph only when there are no disabled s...
Dennis Robertson
SNP
The point about Crathie Opportunity Holidays is that it provides an opportunity for all, not just people who have disabilities. Although the site is fully ac...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
That concludes the debate on accessible tourism. I thank the BSL interpreters and the palantypist, who have assisted us throughout the day. We are most grate...