Chamber
Plenary, 20 Dec 2000
20 Dec 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Home and Community Safety
Is that all? I will have to hurry, as I know that Cathy Jamieson will want me to respond to the point that she made on the statutory duty.
Many bodies are involved in this issue—I had intended to give an example of an initiative on accidents involving children by the Castlemilk community health project and to refer to the support given to ROSPA by the Executive, especially for its work with children.
Cathy Jamieson called for a statutory duty on local authorities. As she acknowledged, it is not self-evident that such a duty would appropriately rest on councils alone. Other central and local agencies—notably health boards—have a part to play. In fact, a wide range of bodies have a legitimate interest in some aspects of home safety: centrally, the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Trade and Industry; and, locally, health boards, the police, the fire service and voluntary bodies. However, consideration will be given to what Cathy Jamieson said.
It should not be implied that legislation is required to produce action. We have heard today of the 10 councils that have appointed home safety officers on a full-time or part-time basis. There is no bar to other councils following suit, and I certainly hope that they will.
This has been an important debate and I assure Cathy Jamieson that the Executive's mind is by no means closed, either to her central recommendation or to the many other important suggestions that have been made. I am sure that we all agree that there are no quick-fix solutions in this area. We must progress on a broad front nationally and, critically, at local level if we are to make progress in reducing the heavy toll of accidents that has been highlighted today.
Many bodies are involved in this issue—I had intended to give an example of an initiative on accidents involving children by the Castlemilk community health project and to refer to the support given to ROSPA by the Executive, especially for its work with children.
Cathy Jamieson called for a statutory duty on local authorities. As she acknowledged, it is not self-evident that such a duty would appropriately rest on councils alone. Other central and local agencies—notably health boards—have a part to play. In fact, a wide range of bodies have a legitimate interest in some aspects of home safety: centrally, the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Trade and Industry; and, locally, health boards, the police, the fire service and voluntary bodies. However, consideration will be given to what Cathy Jamieson said.
It should not be implied that legislation is required to produce action. We have heard today of the 10 councils that have appointed home safety officers on a full-time or part-time basis. There is no bar to other councils following suit, and I certainly hope that they will.
This has been an important debate and I assure Cathy Jamieson that the Executive's mind is by no means closed, either to her central recommendation or to the many other important suggestions that have been made. I am sure that we all agree that there are no quick-fix solutions in this area. We must progress on a broad front nationally and, critically, at local level if we are to make progress in reducing the heavy toll of accidents that has been highlighted today.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The members' business debate is on motion S1M-1389, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, on home and community safety.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament congratulates East Ayrshire Council for working towards achieving a community safety strategy that encompasses safety at home, on the roa...
Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab):
Lab
I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in this debate, which is the last debate of the year, on the important issue of home and community safety.First, I...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Patricia Ferguson):
Lab
As a large number of members want to speak in the debate, I ask members to keep their speeches to four minutes.
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Cathy Jamieson on raising the issue of home safety, which tends to fall off the agenda and is never debated properly. Members' business debate...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I will be brief—for no other reason than that Alex Neil has used up half the time for my speech.I welcome this debate about safety at home, on the roads and ...
Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
I congratulate Cathy Jamieson on securing this debate, in which I am pleased to take part. I support everything that has been said about accidents in the hom...
Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate my colleague Cathy Jamieson on securing the debate and join her in congratulating East Ayrshire Council on its efforts. This is the last debat...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
I will be brief. Two groups have been identified as most at risk: the elderly and the poor, particularly families on benefit. One minor way forward might be ...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
Home is where the heart is, but it is also where the danger is. Members may recall that in April I lodged a motion calling for a home safety bill and statuto...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
Does Fiona Hyslop agree that the people who have most access to the groups that we have been talking about are health visitors, who work with young families,...
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
Indeed, we must ensure that we have joined-up, commonsense thinking. I am worried that the cut in the number of home helps might mean that that opportunity i...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
What I wish to say has a narrow focus, but I thank Cathy Jamieson for giving me the opportunity to say it. A few weeks ago, I went to a seminar on home safet...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I will start by explaining why I did not sign Cathy Jamieson's motion, despite the fact that it congratulates East Ayrshire Council. I have no problem with t...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
Once again, we have had a most useful debate. Members' business debates have made a massive contribution to the new politics in Scotland. The debate highligh...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
You have a minute and a half.
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
Is that all? I will have to hurry, as I know that Cathy Jamieson will want me to respond to the point that she made on the statutory duty. Many bodies are in...
Meeting closed at 17:00.