That the Parliament congratulates Scotland's universities on their performance in the league tables that have been recently published by the Complete University Guide; recognises that St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow are in the UK top 20 and that Aberdeen, Abertay, Heriot Watt, Strathclyde, Robert Gordon and Napier all rose in the rankings from the previous year; believes that central to this performance are research quality, student satisfaction and graduate prospects; welcomes the value that the country's universities bring, but recognises that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, they might face severe financial and logistical challenges in the upcoming period.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates Scotland's universities on their performance in the league tables that have been recently published by the Complete University Guide; recognises that St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow are in the UK top 20 and that Aberdeen, Abertay, Heriot Watt, Strathclyde, Robert Gordon and Napier all rose in the rankings from the previous year; believes that central to this performance are research quality, student satisfaction and graduate prospects; welcomes the value that the country's universities bring, but recognises that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, they might face severe financial and logistical challenges in the upcoming period.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Rona Mackay, Alex Neil, Kenneth Gibson, Sandra White, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Stewart Stevenson, David Torrance, Maureen Watt, Fulton MacGregor, Willie Coffey, Mark McDonald
|
|
That the Parliament notes the Office of Budget Responsibility’s projection that UK national debt could reach £2 trillion in June 2020, which would push it beyond 100% of national income for the first time since the Second World War; agrees with the Chief Economic Advisor at EY that "we cannot just deal with this with more austerity"; recognises that increased taxation is one avenue through which governments can raise funds and not shrink the state and services, and believes that, while the considerable expenditure during the COVID-19 pandemic has been critical to limiting the long-term economic impact of the virus, rising UK national debt must be tackled without reducing public expenditure or saddling future generations with that debt.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes the Office of Budget Responsibility’s projection that UK national debt could reach £2 trillion in June 2020, which would push it beyond 100% of national income for the first time since the Second World War; agrees with the Chief Economic Advisor at EY that "we cannot just deal with this with more austerity"; recognises that increased taxation is one avenue through which governments can raise funds and not shrink the state and services, and believes that, while the considerable expenditure during the COVID-19 pandemic has been critical to limiting the long-term economic impact of the virus, rising UK national debt must be tackled without reducing public expenditure or saddling future generations with that debt.
Supported by: Bill Kidd, David Torrance, Gil Paterson, Willie Coffey
|
|
That the Parliament acknowledges that 12 June 2020 is World Day Against Child Labour; understands that there are around 152 million 5- to 17-year-olds who are subject to such exploitation, with almost half, 73 million, being in what the UN describes as ‘hazardous child labour’; notes that, this year, there will be a focus on the impacts of COVID-19, which is expected to push more children into labour; recognises the vast impact that this has on children’s health, social development and education; believes that this has a detrimental impact on their ability to reach their potential in life, and promotes the protection of children from exploitative labour in all of its international engagements.
Current Status:
That the Parliament acknowledges that 12 June 2020 is World Day Against Child Labour; understands that there are around 152 million 5- to 17-year-olds who are subject to such exploitation, with almost half, 73 million, being in what the UN describes as ‘hazardous child labour’; notes that, this year, there will be a focus on the impacts of COVID-19, which is expected to push more children into labour; recognises the vast impact that this has on children’s health, social development and education; believes that this has a detrimental impact on their ability to reach their potential in life, and promotes the protection of children from exploitative labour in all of its international engagements.
Supported by: Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Mark McDonald, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Sandra White, Richard Lyle, Christine Grahame, Bill Kidd, Alex Neil, David Torrance, Gil Paterson, Pauline McNeill, Fulton MacGregor, John Finnie, Maureen Watt, Joan McAlpine, Willie Coffey, Clare Adamson
|
|
That the Parliament acknowledges that 8 June 2020 is World Oceans Day; recognises that this year’s aim is to call on governments across the world to protect 30% of the blue planet; notes that, in Scotland, community groups are to share a fund of £150,000 to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, and welcomes Scottish Natural Heritage’s announcement that 24 projects across Scotland have secured awards through its Plunge In! Coasts and Waters Fund, and further welcomes community projects and action aimed at increasing education around, and protection of, Scotland’s coasts and waters given the intimate relationship between their health and the health of Scotland.
Current Status:
That the Parliament acknowledges that 8 June 2020 is World Oceans Day; recognises that this year’s aim is to call on governments across the world to protect 30% of the blue planet; notes that, in Scotland, community groups are to share a fund of £150,000 to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, and welcomes Scottish Natural Heritage’s announcement that 24 projects across Scotland have secured awards through its Plunge In! Coasts and Waters Fund, and further welcomes community projects and action aimed at increasing education around, and protection of, Scotland’s coasts and waters given the intimate relationship between their health and the health of Scotland.
Supported by: David Torrance, Emma Harper, Stuart McMillan, Richard Lyle, Stewart Stevenson, Liam McArthur, Mark McDonald, Andy Wightman, Kenneth Gibson, Pauline McNeill, Willie Coffey, Bill Kidd, Clare Adamson, Annabelle Ewing, Maureen Watt, Gil Paterson, Fulton MacGregor, Angela Constance, John Finnie, Joan McAlpine
|
|
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, Sandra White, David Torrance, Clare Adamson, Fulton MacGregor, Willie Coffey, Ruth Maguire
|
|
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, Ruth Maguire
|
|
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
|
|
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, Ruth Maguire
|
|
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, Ruth Maguire
|
|
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
|
|