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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 29 November 2016

29 Nov 2016 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Blood Donation
Grahame, Christine SNP Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale Watch on SPTV

The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S5M-01537, in the name of Rona Mackay, on men who have sex with men—blood donations. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament acknowledges that, in 2011, the law regarding men who have sex with men being allowed to donate blood changed from a lifetime ban to a 12-month temporary deferral, subject to sexual abstinence; notes the view that, in the name of equality, Scotland needs to go further to ensure that all people can donate blood and that they should not be assessed on their sexual orientation, with the introduction of new non-discriminatory risk assessment in line with organ, stem cell and bone marrow donations, and believes that this would increase the number of much-needed donors in Strathkelvin and Bearsden and nationally.

17:05  
References in this contribution

Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S5M-01537, in the name of Rona Mackay, on men who have sex with men—blood donations. The de...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP
I am delighted that, for the first time, we are debating this hugely important issue in the chamber, and I am grateful for the great level of cross-party sup...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) SNP
We have moved a long way since homosexual relations between men over 21 and in private ceased to be illegal in 1967. We would think that, by now, being gay s...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green
I, too, congratulate Rona Mackay on securing the debate. It is pretty obvious to anyone that the primary objective of the blood transfusion service should b...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con
I, too, congratulate Rona Mackay on securing this evening’s debate and on the campaigning that she has undertaken on this issue since she was elected. The 2...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab
I commend Rona Mackay for bringing her important motion to the chamber for debate and for the work that she and many groups across Scotland have done to rais...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con
I join members in congratulating Rona Mackay on bringing this important debate to the chamber. Quite simply, blood must be available 24/7 throughout Scotlan...
The Minister for Mental Health (Maureen Watt) SNP
Unfortunately, the Minister for Public Health and Sport is not able to be here today. As I have held that post previously and considered the issue, I am happ...
Patrick Harvie Green
Does that low figure not suggest, as many of us did during the debate, that a great many people who identify as men and who are in stable and monogamous same...
Maureen Watt SNP
I am not sure whether there are any figures for people who do not turn up to give blood in the first place, but everyone will agree that safety is paramount....
Rona Mackay SNP
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP
I will let the member intervene, because it is a serious and important debate, but it would have been helpful had you intervened earlier. I knew that you had...
Rona Mackay SNP
Although I agree with the minister that safety is paramount, does she not agree that risk should be based on sexual behaviour rather than on orientation?
Maureen Watt SNP
That is absolutely what I have said throughout my speech. It is about the high risk of certain behaviours, not about sexual orientation. I hope that I made t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP
Thank you very much minister, especially for stepping in for a colleague. I thank all members for a serious and thoughtful debate. Meeting closed at 17:43.