Meeting of the Parliament 21 January 2014
Thank you very much. I just wondered whether it was all right to continue. I am not one for complaining, but I could not hear myself speak.
It is really important that people realise that the bill will open up the Surplus Fire Fund to so many more people—which is why I want to encourage members to listen to these points.
As I said, the changes will encourage more applications from individuals who have been affected by fire, because their injuries will no longer have to be deemed to be serious. They will also allow people to claim for damage to domestic premises and household contents; in many cases—this is really important—those applying will not be insured, so that is a very helpful change. They will expressly allow the provision of grants to burns units that care for people who are resident in the City of Edinburgh Council area. Those three points are very important.
The transfer of the fund will enable EVOC to refer organisations that it works with in its large network. EVOC believes that that will have a
“cumulative impact on other charitable organisations and ... individuals.”——[Official Report, City of Edinburgh Council (Leith Links and Surplus Fire Fund) Bill Committee, 14 November 2013; c 32.]
That is also an important point. The transfer will also make use of the trustees’ wide experience to ensure that the fund is used to best effect.
I believe that both the bill’s purposes will provide benefits to the community. On behalf of the committee, I recommend to Parliament that the general principles of the bill be agreed to.