Mark welcomes Scottish Government super-prison U-turn
Mark has welcomed the change of heart by the Scottish Government over the proposed women’s super-prison.
The prison, which would have cost an estimated £70Million, was due to be built in Inverclyde.
Labour MSPs have been calling for the proposed prison to be scraped, referencing the effects that prison has, on families.
65% of women in jail have children, while 76% of custodial sentences imposed on women are for periods of six months or less.
70% of women offenders who received a prison sentence of three months or less are reconvicted of an offence within two years compared to 27% given a community sentence.
Mark said:
“The overwhelming evidence shows the huge impact that locking up mothers has on children’s lives.”
“While custodial sentences are right for the most serious crimes, the high percentage of short sentences suggests that we should be looking at more community-based sentences.”
“We need to think about the effects on families and communities as to the most effective ways to reduce crime ensuring only those who are a persistent danger to public safety are given custodial sentences.”
Mark says no to fracking in Scotland
Mark Griffin has joined other
Labour MSPs in calling for a halt to onshore fracking in Scotland, arguing that
the environmental and safety case for fracking has not been made.
The Scottish Government in Edinburgh already has powers to stop fracking in
Scotland through the planning process. Now, with other decisions on shale gas effectively
devolved, Labour MSPs are calling for an end to fracking in Scotland.
A future Scottish Labour Government would introduce a
triple-lock system to halt any onshore fracking taking place in Scotland until
environmental and health safeguards are in place. This involves:
• A local referendum before final planning approval is given;
• Halting any fracking in Scotland until the lessons of fracking in the rest of the UK are learned;
• A comprehensive review of the baseline conditions before any planning application is granted;
Mark said:
"I fully support plans to block fracking. We must ensure that all safety
and environmental concerns are satisfied before any applications are approved
in our communities.”
"I believe local people know what is best for their communities and so
power should be devolved not just from Westminster to Holyrood, but to local
people themselves.”
"It is because of this principle, and the concerns raised by experts about
the effects on local communities, that we should ensure that any projects would
also require the support of local people through a referendum before it could
take place."
New Role for Mark
Scottish Labour Leader Jim Murphy has appointed Mark the Party’s Shadow Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages.
Mark said:
“I am delighted with the outcome of the Scottish Labour Leadership election.
“I think Jim Murphy and Kezia Dugdale present a positive image to voters and I am honoured to be part of their new education team.
“Having a background in engineering, I know how important it is that the educational opportunities are available for young people across Scotland who are looking to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), an area crucial for economic growth and job creation. I will be working hard to ensure that the Scottish Government is doing all it can to address this issue.
“I am also delighted to take on the languages brief, an area I have been heavily involved in recently with my British Sign Language Bill.”
Mark Griffin MSP backs Organ Donation Bill
Mark Griffin MSP is backing a bill in the Scottish Parliament that would amend the current ‘opt-in’ system of organ donation in Scotland, whereby those wishing to become a donor are encouraged to add their name to the NHS Organ Donation Register.
The Organ
and Tissue Donation (Scotland) Bill instead proposes that the way people
register be replaced with an ‘opt-out’ system, whereby people can choose
to opt out of organ donation if they wish to.
Mark said:
“I fully support this Bill by my colleague Anne McTaggart MSP. Moving to an opt-out system will help to reduce the current waiting list for organs in Scotland, saving lives.”
“The Bill will give those who do not wish to partake in organ donation the opportunity to do so, and respects people’s choice not to do so, while also addressing the fact that many people who would be willing to donate have not signed up to the donor register.”
“There is strong evidence that many people want to donate their organs, but don’t get round to signing up to the organ donation register, and sadly this costs lives, this Bill will help to over-come that hurdle.”
David McColgan, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at British Heart Foundation Scotland said:
“Too many lives are being lost in the current system. To prevent families going through the heartache of losing a loved one, when a donor organ might save them, the law has to change. I also think that change to a soft opt-out system would encourage all of us to speak to our nearest and dearest about our views on organ donation so that our wishes are carried out.”
Dr Sue Robertson, a member of the BMA's Scottish Council and a renal physician, said:
"The BMA has long been a supporter of a move to an opt out system of organ donation, not only because we believe that it would have a positive effect on donation rates, but also because it gives added protection to those who do not wish to donate and makes it more likely that those who are willing to donate will be able to do so.
“There has been welcome progress in the number of people signing up to the Organ Donor Register and donation rates, but despite this rise, there are still people in Scotland waiting for an organ transplant. Some of these people will die while they are waiting, whilst others will have died without even reaching the list. “We believe that more can be done and more lives can be saved."
Bus Regulation Bill Gets Support from Campaigner and Politicians.
Mark Griffin MSP and Gregg McClymont MP have joined with Andrew Stephen of the Cumbernauld Commuters Association to back a bill on bus regulation in the Scottish Parliament lodged by Iain Gray MSP.
This comes as proposed cuts to services in Kilsyth are set to leave commuters to Bishopbriggs, Stobhill and Springburn with just an hourly service and local concerns that FirstBus have plans to remove X3 and X5 services from Cumbernauld in January.
Iain Gray’s bill would give local authorities the power to create a better system of bus service provision rather than bus companies operating the most profitable routes.
In order to win contracts on the more lucrative routes, bus companies would have to commit to providing lifeline, community services.
Mark Griffin MSP said:
“I think this piece of legislation could make a massive difference to commuters in areas that are overlooked by bus companies. It’s simply not acceptable that large bus companies can operate the most profitable routes while ignoring the lifeline services our communities rely on.
“It is time to end the public transport postcode lottery. I fully support my colleague Iain Gray’s Bus Regulation Bill and would urge other MSPs and commuters to do the same.”
Gregg McClymont MP:
"De-regulation of buses services is not working for the people of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.
“For too long bus companies have been able to operate the most profitable routes and cancel the services people rely on to get to work, go to medical appointments or just do their weekly shopping. I hope the Scottish Government will support this bill which will improve local services.”
The bill has also had the backing of the Cumbernauld Commuters' Association.
Andrew Stephen, who has long campaigned for tighter regulation to ensure the needs of passengers are put first, said:
“This Bus Regulation Bill is long overdue.”
“Large national companies choose bus routes which are 'money-spinners', often forcing long-standing, locally loyal service providers off the road. This often leaves the public bereft of the essential services upon which they rely.”
“This is particularly relevant as we have already seen cuts to services to Monklands hospital, and it is suspected that FirstBus intends to withdraw its X3 and X5 services in the Cumbernauld area.
“We trust that all MSPs will support this piece of legislation.”
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