Tackling Fuel Poverty as Winter Approaches
Mark Griffin has called on the Scottish Government to do ore for vulnerable people in Central Scotland as winter approaches.
Mr Griffin made the call as he welcomed OFGEM to the Scottish Parliament recently to highlight the top 10 ways they are working to assist vulnerable people across Scotland, especially in the winters months.
Mark said:
"I was pleased to speak to OFGEM officials recently and welcome the work they are trying to do.
"However, the fact remains, year after year in the winter months, people in our communities are forced to choose between heating their homes or having an evening meal as a consequence of fuel poverty. The Scottish Government pledged to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016 and it is a sad indictment that instead of falling, the figure is actually rising. 490,000 households are in fuel poverty in Scotland. That is an unacceptable figure and must be tackled."
Do not water down our human rights
Mark Griffin comments on the UK Government's plans to replace the Human Rights Act with a UK Bill of Rights.
"I welcome the broad range of support for the Human Rights Act, which extends beyond party politics, and it is so important that we fight the current UK Government's plans to replace it with a Bill of Rights.
"We all have universal rights and freedoms and I will continue to oppose any ideological attempts to water down our human rights."
Scottish Parliament Pass Mark's BSL Bill
Scotland’s Deaf population is celebrating after Scottish Labour MSP Mark Griffin’s Bill on British Sign Language received the unanimous support of the Scottish Parliament and will now become law.
Experts have called it “the most progressive legislative step to promote signed language” in UK history, and it has united the Deaf community and MSPs of all political parties.
The Bill seeks to increase awareness of BSL and improve access to services available for Scotland’s Deaf and Deafblind population. Under the plans, Scottish Ministers will be required to develop a BSL National Plan for Scotland, with public authorities producing plans in line with the National Plan. While retaining collective responsibility of ministers, the Scottish Government will assign BSL to a minister, who will have responsibility for updating Parliament on the progress of the National Plan and the public authority plans, highlighting best practice and naming and shaming those who were failing to take action. A National Advisory Board made up predominately of BSL users will also be established to advise Government Ministers on the National Plan.
Speaking after the passage of his Bill, Mark Griffin said:
“I am absolutely delighted that the Scottish Parliament has united to pass my BSL Bill. It has been a long process, with a terrific level of input from BSL users, Deaf organisations and other stakeholders, from across Scotland and beyond.
“BSL is the first language of many Deaf and Deafblind people in Scotland. It is the only language some have ever known, or ever will know, yet getting access to basic information in BSL is incredibly difficult. Simple things that so many hearing people take for granted, such as arranging doctor appointments, or reporting a crime to the police, are incredibly difficult for those who communicate in BSL. This has to change, and I am confident that having passed this Bill, we can begin to break down the barriers facing Deaf and Deafblind people on a daily basis.”
Professor Graham Turner, Director of the Centre for Translation & Interpreting Studies in Scotland, added:
“This is the most progressive legislative step to promote signed language that the UK has ever seen. What's more, it perfectly reflects the collaborative, participatory nature of Scottish public life. BSL users have always been ready to make a distinctive contribution to society, and by promoting their language, Scotland will enable this to happen.”
Heather Gray, National Deaf Children’s Society Director (Scotland and Northern Ireland), said:
“The British Sign Language (Scotland) Bill marks an historic moment for the deaf community in Scotland, many of whom have British Sign Language as their first or preferred language. The National Deaf Children’s Society strongly believes this landmark legislation will become a key driver in Scotland towards more effective service provision, better opportunities, and improved life chances for deaf children and young people.”
Janis McDonald, Chief Officer of the Scottish Council on Deafness added:
“The Scottish Council on Deafness is strongly supportive of the efforts of Mark Griffin MSP. The Bill is focussed on promoting and supporting the development of British Sign Language (BSL) and now that is has passed will take us all a step closer to a more inclusive society.”
BSL Bill to Face Final Parliamentary Hurdle
Mark Griffin MSP's BSL Bill will face its final Parliamentary hurdle on Thursday 17th September. If passed by MSPs, it will become law.
Mark said:
"I am confident that MSPs will support the Bill on Thursday. I thank everyone who has contributed to the process, which has engaged Deaf and hearing people across Scotland and beyond.
“BSL is the first language of many Deaf people in Scotland. It is the only language some have ever known, or ever will know, yet getting access to basic information in BSL is incredibly difficult. Simple things that so many hearing people take for granted, such as arranging doctor appointments, or reporting a crime to the police, are incredibly difficult for those who communicate in BSL. This has to change, and I am confident that by passing this Bill, we can begin to break down the barriers facing Deaf people on a daily basis.”
Mark Seeks Answers on Cumbernauld Academy Debacle
Mark Griffin MSP has hit out at the Scottish Government for failing to provide certainty on funding for the new Cumbernauld Academy.
The Scottish Government, via its investment arm the Scottish Futures Trust, indicated in early 2015 that is was minded to fund two thirds of the Cumbernauld Academy project.
However, a recent review of the Scottish Futures Trust by the Office of national Statistics and a tightening of European Union rules pertaining to publicly-funded buildings have led to fears that the Scottish Government have been flawed in the way they are funding public infrastructure.
The lack of answers from the Scottish Government has left the Council in limbo on the schools funding.
Mr Griffin, who is also Shadow Schools Minister, has written to the Education Secretary to seek answers on when she will resolve the debacle:
Mark said:
“I have written to Education Secretary Angela Constance to try and get some answers on this matter.
“I was pleased to learn that the Scottish Government were considering pledging financial support to the project, but it seems now, due flaws with their own funding model, they have run into difficulty.
“No one wants unnecessary delay in this project, but I fear that unless the Scottish Government can sort out their own mess and provide the council with a decision, it could happen.”
Abronhill, Kildrum and the Village Councillor Stephen Grant, added:
“This is a significant project in the Cumbernauld area and pupils, parents and staff have been promised a state-of-the-art school. I know the council are keen to get moving on it, but are in of limbo because of the Scottish Government. Ministers cannot provide answers to allow the project to remain on course."
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