That the Parliament welcomes data from the National Records of Scotland showing that there has been a rise of 36,000 in the number of non-British nationals residing in Scotland between 2018 and 2019, taking the total to 388,000; recognises however that, although EU migration has remained stable over the last two years, net EU migration has fallen from a peak of over 200,000 in 2015 to 49,000; believes that Scotland does not have enough babies being born to either maintain and grow the population in future or to fill all the jobs required, and seeks to promote the country as a destination for migrants, both from and outwith the EU, to increase its international outlook, cultural diversity and economic viability.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes data from the National Records of Scotland showing that there has been a rise of 36,000 in the number of non-British nationals residing in Scotland between 2018 and 2019, taking the total to 388,000; recognises however that, although EU migration has remained stable over the last two years, net EU migration has fallen from a peak of over 200,000 in 2015 to 49,000; believes that Scotland does not have enough babies being born to either maintain and grow the population in future or to fill all the jobs required, and seeks to promote the country as a destination for migrants, both from and outwith the EU, to increase its international outlook, cultural diversity and economic viability.
Supported by: Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Mark McDonald
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That the Parliament acknowledges that 15 May 2020 is the International Day of Families; remembers that the UN General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1993 in order to raise awareness of issues relating to families and to develop an understanding of the social, economic and demographic processes that affect families; agrees with the UN’s view that families are central to achieving the sustainable development goals, and notes that it is a particularly poignant day this year, given that many families across the globe are separated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current Status:
That the Parliament acknowledges that 15 May 2020 is the International Day of Families; remembers that the UN General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1993 in order to raise awareness of issues relating to families and to develop an understanding of the social, economic and demographic processes that affect families; agrees with the UN’s view that families are central to achieving the sustainable development goals, and notes that it is a particularly poignant day this year, given that many families across the globe are separated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supported by: David Torrance, Kenneth Gibson, Stewart Stevenson, Bill Kidd, Mark McDonald, Clare Adamson, Murdo Fraser, Joan McAlpine, Sandra White, Jeremy Balfour, Fulton MacGregor, Willie Coffey, Tom Arthur
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That the Parliament is concerned at reports regarding the arrest of Mubarak Bala in Nigeria; notes that Bala is a prominent humanist and President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria; further notes that many people in Nigeria are strongly committed to a religion, which is predominantly Muslim in the north and Christian in the south; understands that Bala was taken from his home to the neighbouring state of Kano, where there had been an arrest warrant for blasphemy, which in Kano is punishable by death; further understands that this is just the latest incident experienced by Bala, who has received death threats and had previously been detained, for allegedly psychiatric reasons, against his will and because of his beliefs; is concerned at reports that Bala has not formally been charged and has been refused a lawyer, and supports the Cross Party Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief in its statement to the Nigerian Government to clarify Bala’s legal status, to ask that he is taken to a more neutral state to ensure a fair trial and to ensure his wellbeing and safety while in detention, and to ask that Nigeria promotes freedom of religion or belief and human rights in all of its international engagements.
Current Status:
That the Parliament is concerned at reports regarding the arrest of Mubarak Bala in Nigeria; notes that Bala is a prominent humanist and President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria; further notes that many people in Nigeria are strongly committed to a religion, which is predominantly Muslim in the north and Christian in the south; understands that Bala was taken from his home to the neighbouring state of Kano, where there had been an arrest warrant for blasphemy, which in Kano is punishable by death; further understands that this is just the latest incident experienced by Bala, who has received death threats and had previously been detained, for allegedly psychiatric reasons, against his will and because of his beliefs; is concerned at reports that Bala has not formally been charged and has been refused a lawyer, and supports the Cross Party Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief in its statement to the Nigerian Government to clarify Bala’s legal status, to ask that he is taken to a more neutral state to ensure a fair trial and to ensure his wellbeing and safety while in detention, and to ask that Nigeria promotes freedom of religion or belief and human rights in all of its international engagements.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Bill Kidd, Kenneth Gibson, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Murdo Fraser, Sandra White, David Torrance, Fulton MacGregor, Clare Adamson, John Finnie
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That the Parliament acknowledges with concern Glasgow Disability Alliance’s findings from its recent survey that COVID-19 has "supercharged" the inequalities faced by disabled people in Glasgow; understands that the findings suggest that 40% of disabled people are worried about food, medication or money, and that over 72% are worried about being acutely isolated, which is amplified by digital exclusion, with the survey finding that only 37% of respondents have home broadband and even then, for some, confidence is a barrier to digital inclusion, and seeks to ensure that, while COVID-19 requires that we all make sacrifices, disabled people must not be further disadvantaged.
Current Status:
That the Parliament acknowledges with concern Glasgow Disability Alliance’s findings from its recent survey that COVID-19 has "supercharged" the inequalities faced by disabled people in Glasgow; understands that the findings suggest that 40% of disabled people are worried about food, medication or money, and that over 72% are worried about being acutely isolated, which is amplified by digital exclusion, with the survey finding that only 37% of respondents have home broadband and even then, for some, confidence is a barrier to digital inclusion, and seeks to ensure that, while COVID-19 requires that we all make sacrifices, disabled people must not be further disadvantaged.
Supported by: David Torrance, Stuart McMillan, Richard Lyle, Andy Wightman, Mark McDonald, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Neil Findlay, Willie Coffey, Fulton MacGregor, Clare Adamson
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That the Parliament remembers, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that there are other crises being experienced by people across the globe; is aware of the issues in East Africa and the Arabian peninsula relating to locusts, which have caused a level 3 humanitarian crisis, which is the equivalent of the COVID-19 pandemic; notes the continuing situation in Yemen and the warnings from the WHO that, if COVID-19 disrupts malaria prevention and treatment programmes, deaths from that disease could exceed 700,000 in 2020 alone, an increase of 365,000 since 2017, with sub-Saharan African countries the worst affected, and urges everyone to keep in mind, not only those affected by COVID-19, but also people around the world who are affected by such other crises.
Current Status:
That the Parliament remembers, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that there are other crises being experienced by people across the globe; is aware of the issues in East Africa and the Arabian peninsula relating to locusts, which have caused a level 3 humanitarian crisis, which is the equivalent of the COVID-19 pandemic; notes the continuing situation in Yemen and the warnings from the WHO that, if COVID-19 disrupts malaria prevention and treatment programmes, deaths from that disease could exceed 700,000 in 2020 alone, an increase of 365,000 since 2017, with sub-Saharan African countries the worst affected, and urges everyone to keep in mind, not only those affected by COVID-19, but also people around the world who are affected by such other crises.
Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Stewart Stevenson, Mark McDonald, Sandra White, David Torrance, Fulton MacGregor, Clare Adamson
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That the Parliament recognises that 23 April is St George’s Day; wishes all, in this difficult time, a happy and safe day; remembers the time before the union of England and Scotland when the day was a much larger celebration; notes that, in 2009 when he was the Mayor of London, the current Prime Minister spearheaded a campaign to reinvigorate the St George’s Day celebrations, and suggests that, perhaps if Scotland was independent, it might facilitate this aim of reinvigorating those celebrations.
Current Status:
That the Parliament recognises that 23 April is St George’s Day; wishes all, in this difficult time, a happy and safe day; remembers the time before the union of England and Scotland when the day was a much larger celebration; notes that, in 2009 when he was the Mayor of London, the current Prime Minister spearheaded a campaign to reinvigorate the St George’s Day celebrations, and suggests that, perhaps if Scotland was independent, it might facilitate this aim of reinvigorating those celebrations.
Supported by: Clare Adamson
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That the Parliament notes that 21 April 2020 is John Muir Day, in celebration of his birth on this day in 1838; remembers him as a Scottish/American naturalist, writer, inventor, conservationist and campaigner who was largely responsible for the founding of Sequoia and Yosemite national parks; recognises his work relating to the protection of wild places and the impetus that he has given to organisations such as the John Muir Trust; considers that, while he has not been well recognised in Scotland, the work done by the John Muir Trust and the creation of the John Muir Way as part of the Central Scotland Green Network has developed awareness of John Muir, and supports organisations such as the John Muir Trust in their mission to inspire people to get close to nature, to prevent the loss of wild places and to manage wild places in a responsible and model fashion.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes that 21 April 2020 is John Muir Day, in celebration of his birth on this day in 1838; remembers him as a Scottish/American naturalist, writer, inventor, conservationist and campaigner who was largely responsible for the founding of Sequoia and Yosemite national parks; recognises his work relating to the protection of wild places and the impetus that he has given to organisations such as the John Muir Trust; considers that, while he has not been well recognised in Scotland, the work done by the John Muir Trust and the creation of the John Muir Way as part of the Central Scotland Green Network has developed awareness of John Muir, and supports organisations such as the John Muir Trust in their mission to inspire people to get close to nature, to prevent the loss of wild places and to manage wild places in a responsible and model fashion.
Supported by: Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Stewart Stevenson, Joan McAlpine, Jeremy Balfour, Kenneth Gibson, Murdo Fraser, David Torrance, Clare Adamson, Neil Findlay, Fulton MacGregor, Willie Coffey
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That the Parliament remembers the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh in Malaysia on 17 February 2017 in what was an apparent kidnapping; notes that Pastor Koh is a vocal Christian pastor and a strong social activist; recognises the report of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, which blames the incident on the Special Branch of that country's police; acknowledges Release International’s petition to the Malaysia's Prime Minister and its Chief of Police to demand the release of information relating to the disappearance; supports the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief in its writing to the Prime Minister of Malaysia to also ask for this information to be made available and for those responsible for the alleged abduction to be brought to justice, and promotes the promotion of freedom of religion or belief and human rights in all of its international engagements.
Current Status:
That the Parliament remembers the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh in Malaysia on 17 February 2017 in what was an apparent kidnapping; notes that Pastor Koh is a vocal Christian pastor and a strong social activist; recognises the report of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, which blames the incident on the Special Branch of that country's police; acknowledges Release International’s petition to the Malaysia's Prime Minister and its Chief of Police to demand the release of information relating to the disappearance; supports the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief in its writing to the Prime Minister of Malaysia to also ask for this information to be made available and for those responsible for the alleged abduction to be brought to justice, and promotes the promotion of freedom of religion or belief and human rights in all of its international engagements.
Supported by: Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Kenneth Gibson, Jeremy Balfour, Murdo Fraser, David Torrance, Clare Adamson
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That the Parliament praises the tremendous efforts of local authorities across Scotland to continue essential services and support residents as far as they possibly can; particularly appreciates that services such as childcare, provision of food for families in need, and refuse collection are absolutely key requirements and thanks the workers who make such services possible; notes Glasgow City Council’s offer to delay council tax payments by two months to help those in financial hardship as a result of COVID-19; recognises that such moves will help a number of people who have been financially affected by COVID-19; expects those who can still pay council tax to do so in view of this being a time of exceptional difficulty and financial pressures on councils, and thanks all local authority workers who it considers are making sacrifices at this time for the good of their communities.
Current Status:
That the Parliament praises the tremendous efforts of local authorities across Scotland to continue essential services and support residents as far as they possibly can; particularly appreciates that services such as childcare, provision of food for families in need, and refuse collection are absolutely key requirements and thanks the workers who make such services possible; notes Glasgow City Council’s offer to delay council tax payments by two months to help those in financial hardship as a result of COVID-19; recognises that such moves will help a number of people who have been financially affected by COVID-19; expects those who can still pay council tax to do so in view of this being a time of exceptional difficulty and financial pressures on councils, and thanks all local authority workers who it considers are making sacrifices at this time for the good of their communities.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Stewart Stevenson, Kenneth Gibson, Sandra White, David Torrance, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Maureen Watt, Clare Adamson, Willie Coffey
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That the Parliament notes that the China Tribunal, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, released its full judgment on 1 March 2020; recognises that the Tribunal’s judgment is the first legal analysis of available information and evidence relating to forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience to determine the extent of criminality on the part of the state of the People’s Republic of China; understands that the Tribunal has found, after reviewing available evidence such as extraordinarily short waiting times promised by doctors for organs to become available for transplant, that there was documented torture of Falun Gong and Uyghurs and the impossibility of there being anything close to the number of "eligible donors", and that it is certain beyond reasonable doubt that forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience has been practised for an extended period of time and has involved a "very substantial number of victims"; notes the belief that, in line with the Tribunal’s judgment, there must be a strong international response to what it considers crimes against humanity and a possible genocide committed by China, and further notes the view that it is important that medical institutions and people, including those living within the Glasgow Shettleston constituency, are made aware of the findings of the Tribunal so that they do not unwittingly aid state sponsored organ harvesting.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes that the China Tribunal, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, released its full judgment on 1 March 2020; recognises that the Tribunal’s judgment is the first legal analysis of available information and evidence relating to forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience to determine the extent of criminality on the part of the state of the People’s Republic of China; understands that the Tribunal has found, after reviewing available evidence such as extraordinarily short waiting times promised by doctors for organs to become available for transplant, that there was documented torture of Falun Gong and Uyghurs and the impossibility of there being anything close to the number of "eligible donors", and that it is certain beyond reasonable doubt that forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience has been practised for an extended period of time and has involved a "very substantial number of victims"; notes the belief that, in line with the Tribunal’s judgment, there must be a strong international response to what it considers crimes against humanity and a possible genocide committed by China, and further notes the view that it is important that medical institutions and people, including those living within the Glasgow Shettleston constituency, are made aware of the findings of the Tribunal so that they do not unwittingly aid state sponsored organ harvesting.
Supported by: David Torrance, Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris
Current Status: Eligible for Members’ Business, Pending Cross Party Support
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