Hansard

I will be happy to update Mary Fee as soon as I can.

Alongside the local leaders network, the Scottish Government will work with the Gypsy Traveller community to develop a marketing campaign to challenge stereotyping. A very clear way in which we can do that is by challenging the negative attitudes towards Gypsy Travellers at national level. The Gypsy Traveller community will help us to develop that, as well.

Through our continuing support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month in Scotland, we will recognise and celebrate the contribution that Gypsy Traveller communities make to our history and culture. I have something to say a bit later on, on that.

Many members here will have heard me use the phrase, “Nothing about them without them.” It is really important that we develop solutions with the community, and that we do not assume that we know best, which is what has happened for a very long time. We will give practical and financial support to help Gypsy Traveller communities to work with us at local and national levels, so that they can be heard and have their say actioned on a wide range of issues that matter to them, and play their part in delivering that change, and have ownership of it.

As I have already said, as we move from words to action, the action plan will rightly be judged on the impact that it has on people’s lives. The role of local government is crucial in that, so we have funded an additional post at COSLA to support councils to deliver the actions locally. We will monitor progress closely and will meet Gypsy Traveller community members every six months to hear directly from them about the changes that they are seeing. If they tell us that they have not seen changes, we will take action to remedy that.

I have given a very positive update to Parliament today, but there is an issue in the background that I want to raise. I hope that I have shown that Scotland is taking decisive action to improve the lives of Gypsy Traveller communities. That stands in stark contrast to the actions of the United Kingdom Government. A current Home Office consultation proposes to increase police powers to take action against Gypsy Travellers by arresting individuals and seizing their assets, effectively criminalising their traditional way of life. We should all be shocked and angered by that, and we should express our strong opposition to what amounts to a clear breach of human rights.

Members should make no mistake: supporting my motion makes our opposition to the actions of the UK Government absolutely crystal clear, so I call on all members across the chamber to speak out against the regressive and punitive approach to Gypsy Travellers that is proposed south of the border. We must all take a stand against discrimination, whether it is in Scotland—and we take responsibility for what happens in Scotland, now—the UK, or wider.

I will reiterate a point that I have made several times. We can no longer allow racism towards our Gypsy Traveller communities to be normalised or tolerated. The Scottish Government and COSLA leaders have committed to taking decisive action. That is not just a job for Government; it is a job for all of us to play our part in. Those of us who have an elected position of authority have a particular responsibility to speak out and challenge what has been described as

“the last form of acceptable racism.”

That is not a nice thing even to say out loud.

I will give the final word to the Gypsy Traveller women who spoke at the launch of the plan in October. One of the women told me:

“We want this plan to give our children and young people and future generation a better life. It has been like this for too long.”

I could not agree more. The time for change is now. With that in mind, I call on all members to play their part in delivering that change.

I move,

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the joint Scottish Government and COSLA action plan, Improving the Lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers, which aims to deliver better outcomes in the key areas of accommodation, health and education, and incomes; recognises the vital role of local government to transform the life chances of Gypsy/Travellers across the country; commends the Gypsy/Traveller community for the role that it has played in developing the plan, and supports its continued involvement to shape and deliver the actions at the national and local level; welcomes the contribution that Gypsy/Traveller communities have made to Scottish history and continue to make to its culture and heritage, and agrees to actively challenge any form of prejudice or discrimination towards Gypsy/Travellers and work together within a human rights framework to accelerate improvements for this community.