Meeting of the Parliament 05 November 2014
When, on 14 December 2011, the Scottish Government used its majority to railroad through the Parliament the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs stated:
“Once the legislation is in place, we can get down to the difficult and long-term work of tackling sectarianism.”
She said that she wanted
“to begin the process of healing the divide and then celebrating this nation’s differences and diversity.”—[Official Report, 14 December 2011; c 4676.]
I am sure that we all agree that the work of the advisory group on tackling sectarianism in Scotland is an important contribution to that difficult and long-term work. The group, which is chaired by Dr Duncan Morrow, published its independent advice to the Scottish ministers and its report on activity in December last year. That was 70 pages detailing the history of sectarianism in Scotland; how it is manifested in today’s Scotland, including a working definition; and recommendations on how the attitudes and actions of a range of institutions could help to counter sectarianism. It is the most substantial piece of work that has been carried out on the issue.
The Scottish Government published its response to the independent advice in February, and a number of other agencies such as the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have discussed their responses to the report. However, despite the Scottish Government’s professed concern about sectarianism in Scotland, it has not found time to present even a statement to the Parliament, still less a debate on the report or its response. I am aware that the minister has asked the advisory group to continue until March next year, but that is not a valid reason to postpone discussion of the independent advice by Parliament for more than 15 months. Moreover, that is when the funding of the 44 core projects is due to run out.