Chamber
Plenary, 20 Dec 2006
20 Dec 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities
Absolutely. As I said earlier, we cannot give a full response at this point. Members of the committee will accept that the report has been available to us for only four weeks and contains what is probably the largest set of recommendations that has ever been presented to the Executive. Further, it cuts across the work of many departments. Clearly, we will need more time in order to present members with a detailed response. However, in general terms, I am responding positively to the report and am acknowledging that it has a wider reach than the report of the disability working group. Of course, we will deal with its recommendations in our detailed response in the new year.
Both reports emphasise the need for joined-up working across a range of services and on the part of a host of providers in order to deliver solutions that respond effectively and coherently to disabled people's needs. There will certainly be challenges in implementing the findings of the reports, but what is heartening is that the separate pieces of work are clearly moving in the same direction and both clearly fit well with the aims of the disability equality duty, which establishes a framework that will help us to measure progress. Public bodies will report in December 2007 and every year thereafter on the progress that they are making towards equality of opportunity for disabled people.
The specific duties set out in the Disability Discrimination (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (SSI 2005/565) require the Scottish ministers to publish reports by 1 December 2008, and every three years thereafter, giving an overview on the progress that public authorities have made towards equality of opportunity for disabled people. That duty also requires ministers to set out proposals for the co-ordination of action by public authorities to progress disability equality. The Scottish Executive will work with the Scottish public sector to develop a strategic approach to that.
Of course, there is much to do to realise our goals for disability equality. The new duty will increase the pace of change on disability equality and will make a real difference to the lives of disabled people. It will begin to shift the disadvantage and discrimination that can occur when organisations and institutions fail to take account of disabled people in the development of policies and services.
The committee's report and the 156 recommendations that it makes will also help to set the agenda for the coming period. The inquiry will have found areas where we—that is, the Parliament, the Executive and the public sector—need to improve, become better attuned and deliver more effectively.
I am enthusiastic about meeting the challenge and understand the need for long-term, sustained commitment and hard work. Our close relationships with disabled people and their organisations will help us and the committee's detailed inquiry will provide opportunities for us all to focus our energies and work together.
Again, I commend the committee's approach and the extensive and far-reaching recommendations that it has made. It will take some time for the Executive to develop a full response to the report and we will submit this to the committee early next year. Through our response, we will aim to maximise the opportunities for the full participation of disabled people in Scottish daily and public life and to remove the barriers to that participation.
Both reports emphasise the need for joined-up working across a range of services and on the part of a host of providers in order to deliver solutions that respond effectively and coherently to disabled people's needs. There will certainly be challenges in implementing the findings of the reports, but what is heartening is that the separate pieces of work are clearly moving in the same direction and both clearly fit well with the aims of the disability equality duty, which establishes a framework that will help us to measure progress. Public bodies will report in December 2007 and every year thereafter on the progress that they are making towards equality of opportunity for disabled people.
The specific duties set out in the Disability Discrimination (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (SSI 2005/565) require the Scottish ministers to publish reports by 1 December 2008, and every three years thereafter, giving an overview on the progress that public authorities have made towards equality of opportunity for disabled people. That duty also requires ministers to set out proposals for the co-ordination of action by public authorities to progress disability equality. The Scottish Executive will work with the Scottish public sector to develop a strategic approach to that.
Of course, there is much to do to realise our goals for disability equality. The new duty will increase the pace of change on disability equality and will make a real difference to the lives of disabled people. It will begin to shift the disadvantage and discrimination that can occur when organisations and institutions fail to take account of disabled people in the development of policies and services.
The committee's report and the 156 recommendations that it makes will also help to set the agenda for the coming period. The inquiry will have found areas where we—that is, the Parliament, the Executive and the public sector—need to improve, become better attuned and deliver more effectively.
I am enthusiastic about meeting the challenge and understand the need for long-term, sustained commitment and hard work. Our close relationships with disabled people and their organisations will help us and the committee's detailed inquiry will provide opportunities for us all to focus our energies and work together.
Again, I commend the committee's approach and the extensive and far-reaching recommendations that it has made. It will take some time for the Executive to develop a full response to the report and we will submit this to the committee early next year. Through our response, we will aim to maximise the opportunities for the full participation of disabled people in Scottish daily and public life and to remove the barriers to that participation.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5293, in the name of Cathy Peattie, on behalf of the Equal Opportunities Committee, on its second report ...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
Before I begin my remarks on behalf of the Equal Opportunities Committee, I welcome Dr Jones's comments on diversity and his previous remarks on this importa...
That the Parliament notes the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Equal Opportunities Committee’s 2nd Report, 2006 (Session 2):
Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities (SP Paper 677).
The Minister for Communities (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
I thank the Equal Opportunities Committee for the fantastic job that it has done in the past two and a half years in its disability inquiry. I commend the th...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
The minister said that the committee's report goes further than that of the disability working group. Will he thoroughly consider the Equal Opportunities Com...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
Absolutely. As I said earlier, we cannot give a full response at this point. Members of the committee will accept that the report has been available to us fo...
Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, offer my condolences and deep sympathies to Cathy Peattie.I welcome the people in the public gallery who helped the committee with the report and gav...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
It is poignant and perhaps appropriate that we are discussing disability this morning, following the sad death last night of Lord Carter, who was a remarkabl...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab):
Lab
I presume that the member will encourage the Conservative group to be among the early signatories to my bill proposal to make all disabled parking bays in Sc...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
I am sure that we will do so.The committee welcomed the proposed changes to building regulations, which, if properly utilised, will bring great improvements ...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
I am glad that I had the opportunity to participate in the work on the report, which was thorough, wide ranging and in the best traditions of the Parliament ...
Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
We have come a long way in Scotland in our work on equalities. Equal opportunity is a founding principle of the Parliament, and the Equal Opportunities Commi...
Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green):
Green
I was fortunate to be a member of the Equal Opportunities Committee when it began its huge inquiry. At that time, my personal interest was in access to work....
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
I declare my registered interest as a member of the Transport and General Workers Union.As others have said, the debate is the culmination of more than two y...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
I record my admiration for the amount of work that went into producing the report and the long process that was required. I joined the Equal Opportunities Co...
John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP):
SSCUP
I will concentrate on the problems that many disabled people face with regard to physical access. The main obstacle to be overcome is complacency among peopl...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate the committee, the convener—Cathy Peattie—and the clerking team for a comprehensive report on the barriers that disabled people face and, impo...
Dave Petrie (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I pass on our condolences to Cathy Peattie and her family. I congratulate the committee on a comprehensive report. This has been a good debate that has clear...
Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Although I am not a member of the Equal Opportunities Committee, I congratulate it on its disability inquiry and on the publication of such a comprehensive a...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I congratulate the committee again on the significant contribution that the report represents to the future direction of disability equality in Scotland. I p...
Elaine Smith:
Lab
I am pleased to hear the minister's comments. However, I want to ask about wider trade union issues. In evidence to the committee, Des Loughney of the Scotti...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I certainly congratulate the T&G; we have also had a successful partnership with the STUC on the campaign that Elaine Smith mentioned. Obviously, the matter ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
You have enough time. I will tell you when you are running out of it.
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I should say something about lifelong learning, which has not featured too much in the debate, although I am sure that it will feature in Marilyn Livingstone...
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
Will the minister acknowledge the grand work that is being done by the people in the gallery who are using sign language? Their conveying of what is being sa...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I acknowledge the invaluable sign language work that is being done in the Parliament and throughout Scotland. We have recently sought to support and expand t...
Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab):
Lab
I thank Cathy Peattie for her first-class convenership of meetings in which evidence was taken for this important inquiry and for her commitment to ensuring ...
Elaine Smith:
Lab
Carolyn Leckie told us that only 45 per cent of disabled people are in work. During evidence, we heard that only 6 per cent of people with ASD are in employm...
Marilyn Livingstone:
Lab
Yes, I will. That work is an exemplar of best practice and the National Autistic Society is to be congratulated on it. I know that Elaine Smith has done much...
Meeting suspended until 14:00.