Former Labour MSP for Dundee West
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to encourage convenience stores and retailers in Dundee to promote healthy food. (S2O-11696)
Does the minister agree that making healthy food available in deprived communities does not in itself change the culture of unhealthy eating? Is he aware of the great work that Dundee healthy living initiative is doing to teach people basic cooking skills on a budget and to allow them to experiment and try healthy food at no cost to them? Unfortunately, that successful scheme has no...
I speak strongly against Michael McMahon's amendment 86. If we insert the provision that it proposes into the bill, we will give a green light to adoption agencies to discriminate. The main priority of any adoption agency, faith-based or otherwise, should be the good of the children with whom they are dealing. If we give any agency the right to discriminate, that will not be the case.
No, I am not happy with the guidance. Two wrongs do not make a right. The anti-discrimination legislation that will come into force next year will take care of that and will probably make the provision that amendment 86 would insert obsolete anyway. If any organisation feels that for ethical or moral reasons it cannot conduct its business within the law, it should not be in that business. I...
Like other members of the Health Committee, I think that the post-legislative scrutiny was a useful exercise, and the way in which it was structured meant that it was thorough. We had an event at the start to set the remit, then went on visits to speak to service users and take lots of evidence. I am probably in a minority of one, because I was not a great fan of the free personal care...
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise public awareness of the opportunities for registering as a potential bone marrow donor. (S2O-10358)
Is the minister aware that, in England, first-time blood donors are asked whether they would like to go on the register of potential bone marrow donors? Since that started, the number of potential bone marrow donors has increased and people have not been put off giving blood. Will the minister consider taking such proactive steps in Scotland to raise public awareness of the routes to...
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to ensure that services currently funded through its temporary funding initiatives, and which are beginning to have a positive impact in the most deprived communities, continue to receive its financial support. (S2O-10298)
