Chamber
Plenary, 05 Mar 2008
05 Mar 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Wheelchair Users <br />(Human Rights)
Johann Lamont's concluding remark about setting the debate within the context of human rights is exactly right, and my remarks will be within that context. I congratulate Trish Godman on bringing the matter to the chamber for debate. Her speech and the speeches from other members reach out in a very real way to wheelchair users, and to carers as well.
Members have given the minister a lot of food for thought. An important question was posed about whether a disability forum will sit within the Scottish Government. That question is a litmus test of how seriously the matter is taken.
I will talk briefly about disabled access. Members will recall the lack of access in the Parliament's temporary home up the road from here. Looking back, it was a disgrace. We should all be proud of the level of disabled access that we have in our building today. It is one of the best things about the building. We recognised the issue, took it on board, and we have what we have today.
In October 2007, the Caithness Courier printed an article under the headline "Disabled woman was barred from bus". The issue that is raised in the article parallels the one that Johann Lamont raised about parking spaces. The article states:
"A disabled Lybster woman was reduced to tears when she was told that she could not take her mobility scooter on a bus while trying to make one of her regular shopping trips to Wick."
The case became a cause célèbre in my constituency. It is entirely wrong that she was denied access to the bus, and things got worse because the driver was not as helpful as he could have been.
Members have given the minister a lot of food for thought. An important question was posed about whether a disability forum will sit within the Scottish Government. That question is a litmus test of how seriously the matter is taken.
I will talk briefly about disabled access. Members will recall the lack of access in the Parliament's temporary home up the road from here. Looking back, it was a disgrace. We should all be proud of the level of disabled access that we have in our building today. It is one of the best things about the building. We recognised the issue, took it on board, and we have what we have today.
In October 2007, the Caithness Courier printed an article under the headline "Disabled woman was barred from bus". The issue that is raised in the article parallels the one that Johann Lamont raised about parking spaces. The article states:
"A disabled Lybster woman was reduced to tears when she was told that she could not take her mobility scooter on a bus while trying to make one of her regular shopping trips to Wick."
The case became a cause célèbre in my constituency. It is entirely wrong that she was denied access to the bus, and things got worse because the driver was not as helpful as he could have been.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-1028, in the name of Trish Godman, on Scottish wheelchair users and their human rights...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament commends The Herald for alerting the public to the ofttimes severe distress and denial of human rights inflicted upon Scottish wheelchair...
Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab):
Lab
At one point in a training session, I had to spend half a day in a wheelchair. It was an experience that I will not forget. I remember not so much what I cou...
Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab):
Lab
I commend Trish Godman for encouraging and facilitating this important debate. I hope that she will join me in welcoming to the Scottish Parliament my consti...
Trish Godman:
Lab
I could not have put it better myself.The consensus is that the wheelchair service in Scotland is underresourced. The review of the service made 40 recommend...
Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I thank Trish Godman for initiating this debate on an issue that is significant to all those who depend on wheelchairs to live their lives in as dignified an...
Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD):
LD
I am delighted to speak in this important members' business debate, and I commend Trish Godman for securing it. As a Liberal Democrat, I am absolutely commit...
Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
This is one of those occasions on which the motion seems to say it all. Trish Godman lodged a comprehensive statement summarising the issue at hand and spoke...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab):
Lab
Members have already indicated that this is an important debate. If Mr Carlaw was hesitant about following Trish Godman's speech, he should consider how I fe...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
Johann Lamont's concluding remark about setting the debate within the context of human rights is exactly right, and my remarks will be within that context. I...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
The member raises an important point. Does he agree that people who work in public services should get disability awareness training? Such training is import...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Before the member responds, I say that I have been fairly relaxed, but the motion is fairly specific and it is not really about access issues. I ask the memb...
Jamie Stone:
LD
The motion's title is about wheelchair users and their human rights. If I am incorrect to address my remarks to that issue, I will—
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
We are debating the motion. The fact that it has a title does not mean that we do not debate the motion. I ask the member to refer in his remarks to the moti...
Jamie Stone:
LD
Very well. With that guidance from the chair, I conclude my remarks by saying that disabled access to bus travel in Caithness and the north of Scotland leave...
Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I am a member of the Equal Opportunities Committee, and I was also a member of the committee in the previous session, when Cathy Peattie was the convener. We...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab):
Lab
I join others in congratulating Trish Godman on securing the debate. Wheelchair services have been the subject of motions—Trish Godman has run with several i...
The Minister for Public Health (Shona Robison):
SNP
I congratulate Trish Godman on securing the debate. I assure her that I will of course take cognisance of what has been said and of members' views. The issue...
Trish Godman:
Lab
Will the extra money to health boards be ring fenced? We want the money that is being provided to go exactly where it should go. Perhaps some things could be...
Shona Robison:
SNP
I am coming to that.I realise that people who use the services now want real progress. Service providers are considering and implementing several recommendat...
Meeting closed at 17:43.