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Donate to our crowdfunderPatricia Ferguson: Thank you, Presiding Officer. As you are aware, Parliament holds this parliamentary debate every year on or around Commonwealth day. Although the motion that we are considering tonight was lodged in my name, it is not solely my debate but one that is sponsored by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association branch executive. We will hear from my colleagues on the branch executive, Margaret...
Patricia Ferguson: I congratulate George Adam on securing the debate and on hosting the reception that we all enjoyed so much last night, particularly given that, on this issue, there is such consensus in the chamber. If we ever needed evidence of the fragility of farms and farming in the developing world, we need only look at the situation in Malawi following the recent devastating flooding that occurred...
Patricia Ferguson: The chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recently asserted that all staff live within one hour’s journey of the Southern general hospital. Many of my constituents would need to take at least two buses, if not one other mode of transport, before they even got to the fastlink service. If the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is so out of touch with where his staff...
Patricia Ferguson: 3. To ask the Scottish Government how many referrals of children and adolescents with mental health issues to specialist child and adolescent mental health services have been rejected by those services in the last quarter. (S4O-04064)
Patricia Ferguson: Does the minister believe that it was appropriate for CAMHS to reject 1,400—or almost 20 per cent—of all referrals in the last quarter, which mainly came from hard-pressed general practitioners? Does he know the outcome for the children and young people who were rejected? If not, will he make a commitment to Scotland’s young people that he will commission urgent research to reassure...
Patricia Ferguson: I congratulate Linda Fabiani on securing the debate. I add my welcome to hers to all the volunteers and the staff who are with us for this evening’s debate and reception. It was a great privilege to attend the new Marie Curie hospice’s official opening in Springburn following its completion in 2010, because many of us who live in the north of the city have reason to be grateful for the...
Patricia Ferguson: I thank my colleague Jenny Marra for securing this debate to recognise the significant achievements of Mary Slessor. Colleagues have spoken about Mary’s life and about the important work that she did as a missionary in Nigeria. Like her hero David Livingstone, Mary had to work hard from a very early age. As we have heard, she began work at the age of 11 and often worked 12-hour days in...
Patricia Ferguson: As colleagues have said, it is entirely fitting that we debate the issue of FGM on the eve of the international day of zero tolerance of FGM. I, too, thank all the organisations and individuals who have raised their voices about FGM and worked hard to support those who have been victims of it or who think that they might be in the future. FGM is of course an abhorrent practice that is both...
Patricia Ferguson: 7. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the Glasgow curriculum and estates plan’s proposed transfer of activity to the city centre does not have a detrimental effect on the training needs of people from deprived communities in Maryhill and Springburn. (S4O-03987)
Patricia Ferguson: I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer and for the information about access courses, which is welcome. However, a great deal of uncertainty has been caused by a lack of clarity in the plan, as it suggests that some specialties or skills and training opportunities will not be available in the local communities where they are most needed. I would be grateful if the cabinet secretary was...
Patricia Ferguson: Will the member give way?
Patricia Ferguson: I, too, congratulate Jim Eadie on securing the debate. His interest in international development is recognised by us all. We should celebrate the 35th anniversary of Mercy Corps and, in doing so, we acknowledge the excellent work that the organisation and its staff have done in those 35 years. We acknowledge, too, all the aid organisations that operate out of Scotland. Jim Eadie’s motion...
Patricia Ferguson: Over the past few days, the people of Malawi have been affected by severe flooding in a number of areas in the south of the country and in Rumphi and Karonga in the north. It is reported that at least 48 people have been killed and that 69,000 people have lost their homes or been forced from them. The President has declared a state of natural disaster and has appealed for international help...
Patricia Ferguson: It is probably true to say that no one expects to need the emergency services—we all imagine that it is only others who will need them—but that we feel safer knowing that they are there and ready to bring their considerable expertise and skill to our aid if needed. When something goes wrong, the police, ambulance service or fire and rescue services are our first port of call. My...
Patricia Ferguson: I congratulate Malcolm Chisholm on securing this debate on an issue about which I know he cares deeply and to which he brings considerable knowledge. I thank the RCN and its members for their sterling work to highlight a problem with which we are all too familiar, and for doing so in a practical way and suggesting how change might be achieved. I agree with the motion, which recognises the...
Patricia Ferguson: I congratulate my colleague Paul Martin on securing this very worthwhile and important debate. The motion is about creating jobs in Glasgow’s east end, of course, but I am sure that the Presiding Officer will appreciate that my constituency stretches from the north-west of the city to the east and that, in fact, at several points Mr Martin’s constituency and mine run along opposite sides...
Patricia Ferguson: I appreciate all efforts to encourage and support young people into employment, but the kind of people who have particularly benefited from Tesco’s initiatives are those who have been out of the job market for a long time and struggle with issues of confidence and skills. Those people are probably the hardest to reach—to use a clichéd phrase—but are most genuinely in need of that kind...
Patricia Ferguson: As far back as 2009, Transport Scotland indicated to me that Gilshochill station would not be considered because of its relatively—I use that word advisedly—low passenger usage. At that time, it was number 199 out of 343 stations. If that is the only criterion that can be used, the Scottish Government would be well advised to consider taking up with the Department for Transport the...
Patricia Ferguson: Next Sunday, Glasgow will host the BBC sports personality of the year awards. It will be the first time that that prestigious event has been held in Scotland, and it will provide an opportunity to mark the end of a marvellous year for tourism and a year in which Scotland has shone on the sporting stage. Some 12,000 people will attend the event, which will give another modest boost to our...
Patricia Ferguson: Will the member give way?