Scotsman
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen has said he wanted a "fundamental" change in approach to how failed asylum seekers are dealt with...
But Scottish Socialist leader Colin Fox said: "It has been six weeks since the First Minister first flagged up this prospect and raised false and ultimately cruel hopes for one community in Drumchapel.
"Any protocol won't make a blind bit of difference to an asylum policy which sees 13-year-old girls dragged from their beds in the dead of night in their pyjamas and sees 15-year-olds handcuffed and slammed into the back of a waiting van."
Friday, October 28, 2005
Holyrood threatens rights of smaller parties
BBC NEWS: "Independent MSPs and smaller parties are claiming the Scottish Parliament's Corporate Body (SPCB) is trying to make it harder for them to present bills.
The SPCB, which boasts representatives from the four main parties, wants to tighten the rules on independent legislation.
Critics said the plans were designed to prevent minority parties from presenting bills of any significance.
But the SPCB said limits on independent bills amounted to good housekeeping.
Independent legislation has brought about a ban on dog fouling, and could bring the abolition of prescription charges."
The SPCB, which boasts representatives from the four main parties, wants to tighten the rules on independent legislation.
Critics said the plans were designed to prevent minority parties from presenting bills of any significance.
But the SPCB said limits on independent bills amounted to good housekeeping.
Independent legislation has brought about a ban on dog fouling, and could bring the abolition of prescription charges."
Monday, October 24, 2005
Meter Running in McLetchie Taxi Row
The Observer
When he returns from his holiday on Wednesday, McLetchie will face four probes into his travel expenses. The Scottish Socialist Party leader has written to Standards Commissioner Jim Dyer and the Electoral Commission urging them to investigate the use of the Tory leader's former legal offices for political work.
Mike Dailly of the Govan Law Centre has also asked Audit Scotland to pore over his taxi claims, and said he will contact the police if no inquiries are made.
It was reported yesterday that Lothian and Borders police have begun inquiries into claims that McLetchie used public funds for non-parliamentary business.
A spokeswoman confirmed that a letter of complaint had been received and officers were looking into the matter.
When he returns from his holiday on Wednesday, McLetchie will face four probes into his travel expenses. The Scottish Socialist Party leader has written to Standards Commissioner Jim Dyer and the Electoral Commission urging them to investigate the use of the Tory leader's former legal offices for political work.
Mike Dailly of the Govan Law Centre has also asked Audit Scotland to pore over his taxi claims, and said he will contact the police if no inquiries are made.
It was reported yesterday that Lothian and Borders police have begun inquiries into claims that McLetchie used public funds for non-parliamentary business.
A spokeswoman confirmed that a letter of complaint had been received and officers were looking into the matter.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Pressure rises over travels by McLetchie
The Scotsman: "Alan McCoombes, a policy co-ordinator for the Scottish Socialist Party, said: 'If there are irregularities and abuses of the system and he doesn't go down the same road as Henry McLeish, then the Scottish Conservative Party will continue its demise at an even faster speed than it already has been doing.
'That the Scottish taxpayer pays for a visit of a Scottish MSP to the Tory Party conference is ridiculous and he needs to face up to the consequences.'"
'That the Scottish taxpayer pays for a visit of a Scottish MSP to the Tory Party conference is ridiculous and he needs to face up to the consequences.'"
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Frances Curran calls for action on Lupus
The Times As part of Lupus Awareness month being held throughout October, Frances Curran, MSP, Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Lupus, is to write to Andy Kerr, the Health Minister, to highlight the plight of lupus sufferers and to ask that a register of sufferers be established in Scotland.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Solidarity with Earthquake Victims
We include below this urgent appeal from working class organisations in Pakistan regarding the recent devastating earthquake that has hit the region.
Pakistan Progressives in Need of Help
by Khalid Mahmood
Dear Friends,
A strong earthquake, the most powerful in 100 years, hit Pakistan yesterday at 8:52 am. More than 20,000 deaths and around 50,000 injured are reported so far, toll may rise to thousands more. Due to the destruction of communication means and bad weather, actual figures are not known so far. Kashmir is the worst hit area, where many villages have been completely destroyed. NWFP province and northern areas of Pakistan are also severely hit. We in Lahore also felt strong earthquake, many huge buildings have got cracks and one three story building was collapsed.
Large scale rescue and relief efforts have been carried out by government and civil society organizations.
Labour Education Foundation in collaboration with Women Workers Help Line, National Trade Union Federation and Labour Party Pakistan is setting up relief camps in Lahore and Karachi to help victims in the worst hit areas. We will be working closely with our contact organizations and persons in these areas to coordinate joint efforts. We will be collecting money mainly for medicine and food.
You can help in relief efforts by sending money to Labour Education Foundation. You can also send medicine and food items directly to our offices in Lahore and Karachi or camp sites. Details of Camp sites will be sent to you tomorrow.
In solidarity,
Khalid Mahmood
Programme Manager,
Labour Education Foundation,
Sufi Mansion, 7- Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tel: 0092 42 6303808 Fax: 0092 42 6271149 Cell: 0092 321 9402322
Karachi Office: 628- Mashriq Center, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi. Tel: 0092 21 4854643
Pakistan Progressives in Need of Help
by Khalid Mahmood
Dear Friends,
A strong earthquake, the most powerful in 100 years, hit Pakistan yesterday at 8:52 am. More than 20,000 deaths and around 50,000 injured are reported so far, toll may rise to thousands more. Due to the destruction of communication means and bad weather, actual figures are not known so far. Kashmir is the worst hit area, where many villages have been completely destroyed. NWFP province and northern areas of Pakistan are also severely hit. We in Lahore also felt strong earthquake, many huge buildings have got cracks and one three story building was collapsed.
Large scale rescue and relief efforts have been carried out by government and civil society organizations.
Labour Education Foundation in collaboration with Women Workers Help Line, National Trade Union Federation and Labour Party Pakistan is setting up relief camps in Lahore and Karachi to help victims in the worst hit areas. We will be working closely with our contact organizations and persons in these areas to coordinate joint efforts. We will be collecting money mainly for medicine and food.
You can help in relief efforts by sending money to Labour Education Foundation. You can also send medicine and food items directly to our offices in Lahore and Karachi or camp sites. Details of Camp sites will be sent to you tomorrow.
In solidarity,
Khalid Mahmood
Programme Manager,
Labour Education Foundation,
Sufi Mansion, 7- Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tel: 0092 42 6303808 Fax: 0092 42 6271149 Cell: 0092 321 9402322
Karachi Office: 628- Mashriq Center, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi. Tel: 0092 21 4854643
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Taxi for McCletchie
Sunday Herald
SCOTTISH Conservative leader David McLetchie may have broken electoral law and Holyrood’s code of conduct by using the premises of his legal company to work as an MSP.
The embattled Tory politician, whose taxi invoices are set to be published this week, did not declare the use of his office at Edinburgh-based Tods Murray as a gift or a donation.
But a senior official at the Electoral Commission, the elections watchdog, said the rental value of McLetchie’s stints at the firm could have been a “permissible donation” if he had used the office for political work, which should have been declared. He also said the MSP should “be honest” about the aggregated cost of rent at the plush Queen Street property and urged McLetchie to “total up” the value of his stays.
Scottish Socialist Party leader Colin Fox has complained to the Electoral Commission about McLetchie’s office arrangements, as well as demanding that Holyrood standards commissioner Jim Dyer investigate.
SSP leader Fox will this week write to standards chief Dyer, asking him to investigate. He said: “It is a disgrace that McLetchie billed the taxpayer for cab rides to Tods Murray and I will be asking parliament to investigate whether these trips were for parliamentary business.
“I also want Jim Dyer and the Electoral Commission to look at whether he broke the rules by not declaring this other office. I’m not letting this go.”
SCOTTISH Conservative leader David McLetchie may have broken electoral law and Holyrood’s code of conduct by using the premises of his legal company to work as an MSP.
The embattled Tory politician, whose taxi invoices are set to be published this week, did not declare the use of his office at Edinburgh-based Tods Murray as a gift or a donation.
But a senior official at the Electoral Commission, the elections watchdog, said the rental value of McLetchie’s stints at the firm could have been a “permissible donation” if he had used the office for political work, which should have been declared. He also said the MSP should “be honest” about the aggregated cost of rent at the plush Queen Street property and urged McLetchie to “total up” the value of his stays.
Scottish Socialist Party leader Colin Fox has complained to the Electoral Commission about McLetchie’s office arrangements, as well as demanding that Holyrood standards commissioner Jim Dyer investigate.
SSP leader Fox will this week write to standards chief Dyer, asking him to investigate. He said: “It is a disgrace that McLetchie billed the taxpayer for cab rides to Tods Murray and I will be asking parliament to investigate whether these trips were for parliamentary business.
“I also want Jim Dyer and the Electoral Commission to look at whether he broke the rules by not declaring this other office. I’m not letting this go.”
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