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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 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
17 Mar 2016
General Question Time · Fracking (Central Scotland)
Even with the moratorium in place, people across Central Scotland are concerned about the impact of fracking and want to know that their leaders will fight against it, but Jim Ratcliffe of Ineos has reportedly received assurances that the Scottish National Party Government is ...
3. Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
17 Mar 2016
General Question Time · Fracking (Central Scotland)
To ask the Scottish Government what impact fracking would have on Central Scotland. (S4O-05678)
The Convener Lab Committee
10 Mar 2016
Subordinate Legislation
That concludes the public part of today’s meeting. As this is likely to be our last meeting before dissolution, I thank everyone for their work this session. 10:02 Meeting continued in private until 10:30.
The Convener Lab Committee
10 Mar 2016
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you. Does the committee agree that it does not wish to make any recommendations in relation to the instruments? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
10 Mar 2016
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 2 is subordinate legislation. The committee is asked to consider two negative instruments, SSI 2016/66 and SSI 2016/67, both of which relate to gender recognition, marriage and civil partnership. Further information can be found in the policy notes. The Delegated ...
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
10 Mar 2016
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Welcome to the Equal Opportunities Committee’s sixth meeting in 2016. Please switch all electronic devices to flight mode or off. Agenda item 1 is a decision on taking business in private. Does the committee agree to consider in private at agenda item 3 its approach to this s...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Feb 2016
Annual Report
That error was put there deliberately to check that people read the report. Laughter. If no one else has any comments to make about the annual report, we will take on board those points. That concludes the public part of today’s meeting. Our next meeting will take place on T...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Feb 2016
Annual Report
That is okay.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Feb 2016
Annual Report
Yes, we can do that.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Feb 2016
Annual Report
Agenda item 3 is consideration of a draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 11 May 2015 to 23 March 2016. Do members have any comments on the annual report?
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Feb 2016
Petition
Are members happy to include the petition in our legacy paper? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Feb 2016
Petition
The minister said in his letter to the committee: “I stated on 1 December that the Scottish Government will, before the end of this Parliamentary term in 2016, meet the SNP manifesto commitment to publish an options paper on an environmental court.” There is no actual date a...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Feb 2016
Petition
At agenda item 2 we will consider petition PE1372. When we considered the petition last year, we requested information from the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Scottish Government. Their responses, and an update from the petitioner, are included in the meeting papers. We hav...
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
25 Feb 2016
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Welcome to the fifth meeting in 2016 of the Equal Opportunities Committee. I ask everyone to set any electronic devices to flight mode or switch them off. We have received apologies from Drew Smith. Agenda item 1 is a decision whether to take in private item 4, which is consi...
The Convener Lab Committee
11 Feb 2016
Subordinate Legislation
That concludes the public part of today’s meeting. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 25 February. 10:17 Meeting continued in private until 10:38.
The Convener Lab Committee
11 Feb 2016
Subordinate Legislation
We will report the outcome of our consideration to the Parliament. I thank the cabinet secretary for his participation.
The Convener Lab Committee
11 Feb 2016
Subordinate Legislation
As members have no more questions, we move to agenda item 3, which is formal consideration of motion S4M-15553. Motion moved, That the Equal Opportunities Committee recommends that the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016 draft be approve...
The Convener Lab Committee
11 Feb 2016
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you, cabinet secretary. Annabel Goldie will ask the first question.
The Convener Lab Committee
11 Feb 2016
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 2 is an evidence-taking session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights on an instrument that, having been laid under the affirmative procedure, must be approved by Parliament before the provisions may come into force. Foll...
The Convener Lab Committee
11 Feb 2016
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Agenda item 1 is a decision whether to take in private item 4, which is consideration of a paper on our review of budget considerations. Are we agreed? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
11 Feb 2016
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Welcome to the fourth meeting in 2016 of the Equal Opportunities Committee. Please switch off any electronic devices or set them to flight mode. I will start with introductions. We are supported at the table by clerking and research staff, official reporters and broadcasting ...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
10 Feb 2016
Female Genital Mutilation
I thank all members who have supported the motion and allowed me to bring the issue of female genital mutilation to the chamber. I also thank all the organisations and activists who have committed so much of their time to raising awareness of FGM not just among the wider publi...
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
10 Feb 2016
Portfolio Question Time · HM Revenue and Customs (Centralisation)
I thank the cabinet secretary for that response and for his correspondence with me about the impact of the planned HMRC closures in my region. What plans does the Scottish Government have to provide assistance to trade unions and community leaders to help them to build a case...
1. Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
10 Feb 2016
Portfolio Question Time · HM Revenue and Customs (Centralisation)
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact would be on Scotland’s economy of the proposed centralisation of HM Revenue and Customs offices. (S4O-05534)
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
09 Feb 2016
Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs etc) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
If the bill does not proceed, I hope that the Government will revisit the issue in the next session of Parliament, as it has promised. For now, I will support a soft opt-out to give real hope to all those who are waiting for a life-saving transplant, and their families. Let us...
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
09 Feb 2016
Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs etc) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Yes. I totally agree. Also, under the bill, the relatives are consulted and their wishes are taken into account as well. For us in Scotland—a country that has already improved public education and awareness in the health professions—the next step is surely to look at new ways...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
09 Feb 2016
Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs etc) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I congratulate Anne McTaggart on bringing the bill to the chamber and taking her proposals this far through the parliamentary process. Her bill has been an important part of a genuine national conversation about organ donation in this country. That is a testament to her hard w...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
09 Feb 2016
Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs etc) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
I thank the witnesses for their contribution. That concludes the public part of the meeting. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 11 February. 10:36 Meeting continued in private until 11:26.
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Thank you very much. Does any of the witnesses have anything else that they would like to say that they have not had the opportunity to mention already?
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Are there any large employers or any organisations that, in an application form for example, give you the opportunity to use a third option?
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
If you then had to use the service, you would have to explain to the GP that you do not fit.
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Vic, you said that you have to pick male or female. How does it make you feel when you have to go through that process? What difference would it make if you had the third option?
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Over to you again, Annabel.
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Where are you with the current process for gender recognition?
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Would any of the witnesses like to make a brief opening statement?
The Convener Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Item 2 is an evidence session on the Scottish Transgender Alliance’s equal recognition campaign. We will start the session with introductions. At the table, we have our clerking and research team, official reporters and broadcasting services. Around the room, we are supported ...
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
04 Feb 2016
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Welcome to the Equal Opportunities Committee’s third meeting in 2016. I ask members to set any electronic devices to flight mode or switch them off. Our first agenda item is a decision on taking business in private. Do we agree to take in private item 3, which is consideratio...
The Convener Lab Committee
21 Jan 2016
Decision on Taking Business in Private
As we previously agreed to take item 2 in private, that concludes the public part of today’s meeting. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 4 February. 09:31 Meeting continued in private until 11:12.
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
21 Jan 2016
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Welcome to the Equal Opportunities Committee’s second meeting in 2016. I ask everyone to switch electronic devices to flight mode or off, please. Under agenda item 1, members are asked to agree to consider in private agenda item 3, which is our approach to this session’s lega...
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
13 Jan 2016
Portfolio Question Time · NHS Lanarkshire (Medical Staffing)
Last year NHS Lanarkshire graded the medical staffing position in a number of departments as “high risk”. It reported concerns about on-going recruitment difficulties, about overreliance on locums and about the future of the board’s approved training status. Can the cabinet se...
4. Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
13 Jan 2016
Portfolio Question Time · NHS Lanarkshire (Medical Staffing)
To ask the Scottish Government what medical staffing challenges it has identified in NHS Lanarkshire. (S4O-05237)
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
12 Jan 2016
Scottish Local Shop Report
I, too, congratulate Gordon MacDonald on securing the debate and on giving us all the opportunity to note the findings of “The Local Shop Report 2015” and to speak more generally about the retail and grocery sector in Scotland. I commend the Association of Convenience Stores, ...
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
06 Jan 2016
Age and Social Isolation
Yes, I totally agree with that. It is also important that the Equal Opportunities Committee continually keeps an eye on the situation later. Mapping is also important, as is the work that is being done to look at prevention and the links between statutory and third sector ser...
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
06 Jan 2016
Age and Social Isolation
Yes, I totally agree with the member on that. The problem is widespread across Scotland and covers all age groups. Ms McCrindle also said that the Food Train does not think that it is a “coincidence that the same number of older people are affected by malnutrition and loneli...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
06 Jan 2016
Age and Social Isolation
This is a good time for us to talk about social isolation and loneliness. During the festive period, many people will have been alone and thinking about what the year ahead holds, and given what we heard during our inquiry into age and social isolation, we know that, for many ...
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Dec 2015
Decision on Taking Business in Private
As we previously agreed to take item 3 in private, that concludes the public part of today’s meeting. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 14 January 2016. 09:31 Meeting continued in private until 11:01.
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
17 Dec 2015
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Welcome, everyone, to the Equal Opportunities Committee’s 22nd meeting in 2015. I ask members to switch any electronic devices to flight mode or off. The first agenda item is a decision on taking business in private. Do members agree to take in private agenda item 2, which is...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
15 Dec 2015
Redesigning Primary Care
I put on record my appreciation for the hard work and dedication of GPs. We as a society depend on their skills, experience, hard work and sense of duty to others. They are an invaluable profession; they are essential and their dedication should be acknowledged by the whole Pa...
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
15 Dec 2015
Topical Question Time · Trade Union Bill (Presiding Officer’s Ruling)
For clarity, on the basis that the Scottish Government believes that ministerial executive competence is compromised by the proposed legislation, what consideration does the Government think the relevant committee should give to the issue?
Margaret McCulloch Lab Chamber
15 Dec 2015
Topical Question Time · Trade Union Bill (Presiding Officer’s Ruling)
This Parliament overwhelmingly spoke out against the Trade Union Bill, and Labour members welcomed the Government’s first attempt to lodge an LCM against what is a draconian piece of anti-trade union legislation. As a consequence of the bill and last week’s ruling on the LCM, ...
2. Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
15 Dec 2015
Topical Question Time · Trade Union Bill (Presiding Officer’s Ruling)
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Presiding Officer’s ruling on a potential legislative consent memorandum regarding the United Kingdom Government’s Trade Union Bill. (S4T-01233)
The Convener Lab Committee
10 Dec 2015
Decisions on Taking Business in Private
We will now move into private. 10:01 Meeting continued in private until 11:18.
The Convener Lab Committee
10 Dec 2015
Decisions on Taking Business in Private
Members are also asked to agree to take in private at future meetings consideration of a draft report on our inquiry into removing barriers: race, ethnicity and employment. Do we agree to do that? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
10 Dec 2015
Decisions on Taking Business in Private
Welcome to the Equal Opportunities Committee’s 21st meeting in 2015. I ask members to switch any electronic devices to flight mode or off, please. The first agenda item is a decision on taking business in private. Members are asked to agree to take in private item 2, which is...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 Nov 2015
Gypsy Travellers (Follow-up)
That concludes today’s meeting. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 10 December. Meeting closed at 11:19.
The Convener Lab Committee
26 Nov 2015
Gypsy Travellers (Follow-up)
Does the committee agree to ask the clerks to draft a paper for our consideration? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
26 Nov 2015
Gypsy Travellers (Follow-up)
We can discuss that. The clerks can produce a paper for discussion at our next meeting.
The Convener Lab Committee
26 Nov 2015
Gypsy Travellers (Follow-up)
Agenda item 2 is consideration of Scottish Government correspondence and the Scottish Parliament information centre update paper on Gypsy Travellers, EO/S4/15/20/5. We have just heard evidence from the SHR in respect of the Gypsy Traveller report that it prepared following it...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 Nov 2015
“Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland” (Scottish Housing Regulator Report)
As there are no further questions, I thank everyone for their contributions and suspend the meeting briefly to allow the witnesses to leave the room. 11:13 Meeting suspended. 11:16 On resuming—
← Back to list
Committee

Equal Opportunities Committee 11 February 2016

11 Feb 2016 · S4 · Equal Opportunities Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016 [Draft]
McCulloch, Margaret Lab Central Scotland Watch on SPTV
That concludes the public part of today’s meeting. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 25 February. 10:17 Meeting continued in private until 10:38.

In the same item of business

The Convener Lab
Agenda item 2 is an evidence-taking session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights on an instrument that, having b...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights (Alex Neil)
Thank you very much, convener. First of all, I should introduce Eileen Flanagan from the equalities unit, who deals with the policy side of things, and Stuar...
The Convener Lab
Thank you, cabinet secretary. Annabel Goldie will ask the first question.
Annabel Goldie Con
I have three pretty simple questions, cabinet secretary. First of all, how many additional listed authorities will now be brought under the provisions of the...
Alex Neil
Thirty additional authorities will now be covered. I will read some of them out to you, but we will send you a full list of them. We can also send you a list...
Annabel Goldie Con
Thank you. That is helpful. I know that, during the consultation, some concerns were raised about data protection issues because of the smaller size of some...
Alex Neil
The main concern was about the level at which we should set the lower number, and on the advice of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, it has been set ...
Annabel Goldie Con
Finally, there will obviously be an additional financial and administrative obligation on the smaller listed authorities. Has there been any attempt to quant...
Alex Neil
Before we decided to introduce this secondary legislation, we looked at whether there were other administrative ways of fulfilling this requirement without h...
Annabel Goldie Con
So you do not expect the organisations to have to take on extra staff.
Alex Neil
Not at all.
Christian Allard SNP
I have a brief question. When I looked at the amendments that you are making in these regulations, I saw that proposed new regulation 6A(1) of the Equality A...
Alex Neil
I will bring in Stuart Foubister but speaking from my 17 years’ experience in Parliament, I have to say that the phrase “from time to time” has appeared regu...
Christian Allard SNP
It just seems very strange to have the word “must” before it.
Alex Neil
Absolutely. The answer, I think, is that it allows a degree of flexibility. If we were too prescriptive—if, for example, we said that something had to be don...
Stuart Foubister (Scottish Government)
That is correct. If the regulations were silent on the matter and did not use the phrase “from time to time”, it could be suggested that there was an obligat...
Christian Allard SNP
What is the minister’s intention just now? Have you any idea when you will be taking those steps?
Stuart Foubister
Once the regulations are in force, it will be a case of doing that as quickly as possible, but the idea is that after some information is picked up, the proc...
Alex Neil
I can provide some clarification on the timetable. In effect, the new arrangements for the 30 additional bodies that will be covered become operational from ...
Annabel Goldie Con
Given the delightfully flexible drafting of the regulations, I suppose that the phrase “from time to time” can mean now and again when it comes up the minist...
Alex Neil
I think that the Parliament, led by this committee, would take a very dim view of that and, as would normally be the case, would decide what to do about the ...
John Finnie Ind
I suspect that we would discuss the sanctions in private, cabinet secretary. Laughter. I had intended to ask about the number of listed public authorities w...
Alex Neil
The issue with organisations with fewer than 20 employees relates to the diversity requirements. For example, someone might not want it to be known that they...
John Finnie Ind
I am sorry—I should have clarified that I was asking exclusively about pay matters. Clearly, I would not wish to disadvantage anyone in the way that you have...
Alex Neil
As far as pay is concerned, everyone knows the pay of people on a board, because we publish that information for every board member, regardless of whether th...
John Finnie Ind
Let me rephrase my question—I might be slow on the uptake here. Are we talking about public authorities in which there are certain individuals who are employ...
Alex Neil
The situation varies across the board. Let me take the example of Scottish Enterprise, which is already covered by the legislation; the chief executive of Sc...
John Finnie Ind
Thanks very much for that. An aspiration for some people, including me, is that we address the issue of wage ratios in a more public way. Obviously there ca...
Alex Neil
I am very sympathetic to that. In his report, Will Hutton suggested that no organisation in the public sector—and, if I remember correctly, the private secto...
John Finnie Ind
Thanks very much.