Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2016
23 Feb 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
"SNAP: Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights—Year Two Report"
I acknowledge what the member has said. The lead from Government not only in saying those things but in ensuring that they are delivered will give the individual public servant the confidence to know that they will not be blamed for their openness and will not feel any pressure because of being frank. In future, we will not need whistleblowing lines and the like, because every citizen will feel free to operate within the law and to be frank with their views.
I am conscious that time is short. In closing, I say that I hope that SNAP will become an attractive early project for the new Government and that we can continue to work so that internationally, as Christina McKelvie has said, we continue to be respected for the work that is done here in Scotland. I hope that this subject matter never becomes political, because it is important that we work together as human beings to deliver human rights.
15:38In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15645, in the name of Christine Grahame, on behalf of the Justice Committee, on Scotland’s national actio...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I rise to speak on behalf of the Justice Committee and am pleased to speak on the progress of SNAP, Scotland’s national action plan for human rights, which i...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights (Alex Neil)
SNP
I thank Christine Grahame and the Justice Committee for promoting the debate. It provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the journey that we have all tak...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Christine Grahame for introducing this afternoon’s debate. I identify entirely with the comments of the cabinet secretary and of the convener of the ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is a pleasure to participate in today’s debate to mark the publication of the second annual report on Scotland’s national action plan for human rights. SN...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
We turn to the open debate. Speeches should be four minutes, please. 15:21
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
I am very happy to speak in this debate. I add my voice to the voices of everybody else in the chamber in congratulating Professor Alan Miller on getting out...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
When Professor Alan Miller, the outgoing chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, came before the Justice Committee, he explained to us that, in develo...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I thank all members who have contributed to a good debate this afternoon. From the tenor of the speeches, it is clear that there is a strong degree of consen...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Well done.
Margaret Mitchell
Con
As Professor Miller prepares to step down from the SHRC at the end of March, I wish him every success in his future endeavours. Even in its fledgling first ...
Graeme Pearson
Lab
I am pleased to close on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party. I am also pleased to recognise the tone of the contributions from all sides of the chamber. Thi...
Christine Grahame
SNP
I agree with that, but a lot is about what happens in practice. If people at work on the front line, in policing, hospitals or schools, or even in our shops,...
Graeme Pearson
Lab
I acknowledge what the member has said. The lead from Government not only in saying those things but in ensuring that they are delivered will give the indivi...
Alex Neil
SNP
Although this has been a truncated debate, it has nevertheless been one in which there is a broad consensus across the chamber on the importance of human rig...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
The cabinet secretary will recognise that Scotland has the power to implement human rights. Does he accept that there are various instances of the UK’s havin...
Alex Neil
SNP
That exemplifies the tragedy that, although a lot of progress has been made in some areas, the Trade Union Bill is travelling in the opposite direction. The ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call John Finnie to wind up the debate on behalf of the Justice Committee. 15:46
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
I am delighted to close the debate on behalf of the Justice Committee. I thank all participants for their contributions; it has been a largely consensual deb...