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<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">Monday this
week started with a meeting
at the NFUS Orkney offices
on Junction Road. Issues
covered included the
Scottish Government’s plans
for reform of payments and
regulation through a
long-awaited Agriculture
Bill, goose management and
the ongoing review of
livestock transport. The
meeting ended abruptly when
news came through from the
Mart that the <strong>major
livestock sale was ‘on
hold’ after a dozen
‘buyers’ were left
stranded</strong> in
Aberdeen due to a delay in
the flight. I spent the next
hour or so <strong>on the
phone to Loganair, NFUS
and the Mart</strong>
trying to find a resolution.
Eventually the sale of
around 900 cattle went ahead
three hours late after a
number of the buyers agreed
to delay returning south
until the next morning. With
further key sales due to
take place over coming
weeks, there is
understandable concern that
these too may be affected by
flight disruption. It is
something I have followed up
again with Loganair, along
with many of the other cases
raised with me by
constituents affected by
delayed and cancelled
flights recently.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Later on Monday, Alistair
and I had an online meeting
with Community Energy
Scotland to discuss the
importance of encouraging
the <strong>community-owned
energy sector</strong> and
concerns over recent UK
Government measures that
appear to exclude
Scottish-based projects.
Orkney is already home to a
number of excellent projects
that are very effective at
recycling benefits back into
the local community. You
can find out more about CES
<a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790441/427305095/331579956?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
The rest of the afternoon
was spent dealing with
casework, and taking part in
an opinion survey in return
for which a donation will be
made to the Orkney Foodbank,
which I know has seen a
sharp rise in demand over
recent months. There was
still time to pop along to
St Magnus Cathedral to see
for myself the wonderful Sun
exhibition that has been the
stand-out from this year’s <strong>Orkney
International Science
Festival</strong>. Photos
of the installation have
been cropping up on social
media over the past week or
so and it really didn’t
disappoint. After another
highly successful festival,
I was happy to lodge a
parliamentary motion
recognising that success,
which you can read <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790442/427305096/1015489760?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
On Tuesday morning I flew
down to Edinburgh where my
first engagement was a
meeting with the speaker and
‘presidium’ of the Faroese
‘Løgting’, which is their
devolved parliament. The
Faroe Islands have strong
cultural and historical
links to Scotland, in
particular the Northern
Isles. While it was only a
short meeting, it was a
pleasure to welcome the
speaker and her delegation
for what was the first
official visit to Holyrood.
I was also very grateful for
the invitation I received to
visit Faroe, an offer I
fully intend to take up,
hopefully next year.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Back in my office, I caught
up on emails, including a
number from constituents
concerned about the
potential closure of the
mobile cinema, Screen
Machine. Over the last 25
years, Screen Machine has
been a popular visitor to
communities across the
Highlands & Islands,
including here in Orkney, as
I know from personal
experience. As such, <strong>I
have offered my support to
the campaign for the
Scottish Government to
work with the operators in
finding funding to allow
Screen Machine to continue</strong>.
I’ve lodged a motion in the
Scottish Parliament, which
has gained cross party
support. You can find my
motion <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790443/427305097/1015620835?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>,
and read my further comments
<a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790444/427305099/-610767888?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
After Parliamentary Bureau
and my weekly meeting with
the Scottish Lib Dem
parliamentary team, I joined
my Shetland colleague
Beatrice Wishart MSP for a
meeting with David
Richardson, development
manager for the Federation
of Small Businesses in the
Highlands and Islands. It
was useful to hear about the
results of the FSB’s latest
survey of business opinion
in the region. You can find
out more about FSB’s work <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790445/427305100/-208047798?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Business in the afternoon
started with a ministerial
statement on Drugs Deaths,
which you can read <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790446/427305101/-465008472?meeting=15430&iob=131639&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
I was then in the chair for
a Scottish Government debate
celebrating the resilience
of Scotland’s food and drink
sector, which focussed on <strong>the
contributions of farmers
and SME business owners</strong>
to ensuring Scottish
products are exported across
the country and the world,
playing a key role in our
domestic economy and
providing jobs. As usual, it
provided a good excuse for
MSP colleagues to namecheck
a wide array of food and
drink businesses from their
constituencies and regions.
You can watch that debate <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790448/427305102/1192352508?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>,
and read the transcript <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790449/427305103/-465008472?meeting=15430&iob=131643&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
Following decision time,
there was a Members’ Debate
on child poverty, which I
also chaired, and which can
be found <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790450/427305104/598913482?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>
and <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790451/427305105/-465008472?meeting=15430&iob=131646&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
That evening, I attended a
parliamentary reception
celebrating the importance
of volunteering in Scottish
sport. The event highlighted
<strong>how crucial
volunteering is to the
delivery of grassroots
sports in communities
around Scotland</strong>,
and how much it helps bring
those communities together.
I certainly see that very
vividly here in Orkney where
we are fortunate to have a
thriving mix of sports clubs
and organised activities,
thanks to the work done by
an army of volunteers and
helpers. On a personal
level, I am really enjoying
my new roles as a football
referee and carrying out bar
duties at Orkney Rugby Club.
As well as thanking those
who already volunteer their
time, I’d encourage others
to get involved in whatever
capacity. Meantime, you can
find out more about the work
of the Scottish Sports
Association <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790452/427305106/571849516?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
I sloped away before the end
of the reception in order to
find a pub in which to watch
Scotland take on England in
a friendly marking the 150th
anniversary of the first
clash between the teams. The
less said about the game the
better, but the defeat will
hopefully have stiffened
Scotland’s resolve to seal
qualification for the next
Euro Championships,
following an unbelievable
run of form.</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Wednesday began at the EICC
and the annual congress of
the Association of
Anaesthetists, where I took
part in a <strong>panel
discussion about my
Assisted Dying Bill</strong>.
The panel included a
palliative care doctor from
Melbourne in Australia,
where voluntary assisted
dying has been in place for
over five years, and a
medical professor from
Oxford University. During
the course of the panel
discussion, the 250 congress
attendees were polled on
various questions relating
to assisted dying. The
results showed that <strong>just
under 80% supported a
change in the law</strong>,
believing the current
options available for those
at the end of life were
inadequate. This reflects a
growing shift in opinion
across the medical
profession in support of
change, with another recent
study finding that
six-in-ten surgeons support
assisted dying. Moreover,
organisations like the
British Medical Association
and the Royal College of
Physicians have moved from a
position of opposition to
neutrality, which is very
welcome and better reflects
the variety of views amongst
the respective memberships.
I hope to introduce my bill
to parliament by the end of
the year.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Once back at parliament, I
took part in briefing
meetings with my Presiding
Officer colleagues, before
taking the chair for the
start of afternoon business
in the form of Portfolio
Questions, first on Rural
Affairs and then Health. You
can find those <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790453/427305108/-1558156462?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>
and <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790454/427305109/-386692952?meeting=15433&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
The main business of the
day, however, was a
well-trailed debate on the
government’s <strong>short-term
lets legislation</strong>.
Locally and nationally, the
new requirements have proved
extremely
controversial. What was
originally a proposal
designed to deal with ‘party
flats’ in Edinburgh has come
to pose a risk to vital
tourism infrastructure
across the country,
including here in Orkney. As
well as ‘growing arms and
legs’, <strong>the
legislation has proven to
be more rigid and onerous
than previously promised
by Ministers</strong>, who
have been unwilling to
rethink their approach.
Having recently joined cross
party MSPs in writing to the
Housing Minister urging a
pause, <strong>I voted to
support a delay</strong>
of 12 months to allow for a
review of proposals that
have been subject to
multiple legal challenges.
In the event, SNP and Green
MSPs voted to proceed as
planned. Former SNP
Minister, Fergus Ewing
rebelled, as did a couple of
other SNP Ministers, albeit
by mistake, but it wasn’t
enough to alter the outcome.
You can watch the debate <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790455/427305110/732309420?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>,
or read the transcript <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790456/427305111/-386692952?meeting=15433&iob=131670&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
I remained in the Chamber
after decision time for a
members debate on the
Bairns’ Hoose. As a member
of the Justice Committee in
the last session, I was
involved in cross party
efforts to see the adoption
in Scotland of the Icelandic
‘Barnahus’ model for <strong>supporting
children who have been
victims or witnesses of
crime</strong>. Currently
in Scotland, these
vulnerable young people will
have to tell and re-tell
their story up to a dozen
times, to social workers and
child protection officers
and judges, often in
unfriendly or even hostile
settings. This process can
often ‘re-traumatise’
already vulnerable children.
The Barnahus model provides
a single space that brings
child protection, health,
recovery and justice
services under one roof,
reducing the need for
reliving traumatic memories
many times and even allowing
victims to pre-record
testimony to avoid hostile
cross-interrogation in a
courtroom. After many years
of hard work (especially by
the organisations Children
1st and Victim Support
Scotland), the first
Scottish “Bairns’ Hoose” has
opened north of Glasgow.
During a very positive
debate, I asked the Minister
to <strong>look at how this
model can be rolled out to
other parts of the
country, including our
island communities</strong>.
In response, the Minister
confirmed that this would
form part of the
‘pathfinder’ element of the
process. You can watch my
speech <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790457/427305112/-647611601?clip_start=17:43:13&clip_end=17:48:12&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>,
or read my further comments
<a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790458/427305113/488090993?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
You can also watch and read
the entire debate <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790460/427305114/-61347519?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>
and <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790461/427305115/-386692952?meeting=15433&iob=131673&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">Thursday
morning saw me in the office
early to catch up on emails
and casework. In my Deputy
Presiding Officer role, I
then welcome the Slovakian
Ambassador on his first
visit to the Scottish
Parliament. Like the Faroese
Speaker, the Ambassador
expressed a keen interest in
visiting Orkney at some
point in the future. </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Following meetings with my
Presiding Officer
colleagues, parliamentary
business got underway with
General Questions, followed
by FMQs, where Humza Yousaf
sparred with Douglas Ross
over possible delays in the
roll out of bodyworn cameras
by police officers in
Scotland. Anas Sarwar once
again focused on
health-related issues, this
time highlighting figures
showing a marked increase in
Scottish patients paying to
go private for treatment and
operations, including for
cancer treatment. You can
watch proceedings <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790462/427305116/-1445530914?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
I remained in the Chamber
after FMQs to chair an
extremely busy members
debate, where MSPs from all
parties were united in
calling for a <strong>ban
on single use vapes</strong>.
Use of such vapes has grown
exponentially, particularly
amongst children and young
people, who have been the
target of marketing of these
products. This undermines
any claim that these vapes
assist in smoking cessation
and MSPs set out the <strong>damaging
impacts in terms of
health, the environment
and even public safety</strong>,
given incidents of lithium
batteries igniting after
disposal. In response, the
Minister confirmed that
joint efforts are underway
with UK and Welsh government
counterparts to see a ban
introduced across the UK.
You can find out more about
the campaign on single use
vapes <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790463/427305118/446954295?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
While I grabbed a bite to
eat over lunchtime, and
tackled my inbox, afternoon
business got underway with
Portfolio Questions on
Social Justice followed by a
short debate on the Scottish
Government’s intention to
reintroduce a bill <strong>bringing
the United Nations
Convention on the Rights
of the Child into Scottish
law</strong>. An earlier
attempt to do this was ruled
by the courts to exceed the
devolved competence of the
Scottish Parliament and was
struck down. This second
attempt at incorporation is
more restricted to take
account of that ruling, but
will hopefully bring about
positive changes to the
rights of children in
Scotland. You can watch the
debate <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790467/427305119/1356725363?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Business for the week
concluded with a debate on <strong>‘The
Role of Football in
Scottish Society’</strong>,
which was originally
intended to allow parliament
to express its collective
opposition to proposed
restrictions put out to
consultation by the Traffic
Commissioner of the UK which
were directed at football
fans travelling to games.
The fury that greeted these
proposals last week prompted
a hasty and welcome retreat
by the Commissioner, so the
debate instead focused on
the important role that
football plays in our
communities and Scotland’s
national psyche. Sadly, as I
was in the chair for the
debate, I was unable to
contribute, but you can
watch the debate <a
href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69790468/427305124/-872719558?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjhkZTY3NDIxLWU1NTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=AgAYSW61EbsDNk6Y230bDMs5-Aga7_JcO27ElzmNOZk=&emci=127d7e49-d653-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=8de67421-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
This morning I flew north
ahead of a day of meetings
with constituents. I also
had a meeting with the chair
and chief executive of
Voluntary Action Orkney to
discuss concerns over <strong>the
decision to discontinue
VAO’s adult befriending
service</strong>. I know
how much this service has
been valued within the
community, not only by users
of the service but by staff
and volunteers as well. The
reaction to the announcement
has left <strong>little
doubt about the public
support in Orkney for its
continuation</strong> and
I am keen to explore options
for allowing this to happen.
</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">I had an
online meeting with
representatives from Open
Seas about their work
monitoring Marine Protected
Areas, including the one
around Papay. It was useful
to hear about the nature of
the work being done by
groups like Open Seas, and
what more they believe is
necessary.</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">Next week</p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p
style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
On Monday I will be remotely
attending the first meeting
of the new Cross-Party Group
on Ukraine. Down in
Edinburgh on Tuesday I have
a meeting with the Housing
Minister and local
stakeholders to discuss the
housing needs in Orkney
before hosting an event
where we will hear from
medical practitioners
involved in the assisted
dying process in Australia
and Canada. Wednesday
includes a meeting with the
Food Standards Agency about
food crime as well as a
Cross Party Group on Malawi,
while Thursday looks like
involving quite a bit of
chairing duties, including a
debate on tackling online
child abuse.
</p>
</div>
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