Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the subject of protecting tenants’ deposits. I thank Patrick Harvie for recognising the growing importance of the issue surrounding the private rented sector, and I congratulate him on securing time in the chamber to consider the implementation of the new tenancy deposit schemes in greater detail. Protecting the deposits of tenants in privately...
Anne McTaggart: As a member of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee, I am delighted to contribute to this debate on Scotland’s third national planning framework and to consider how best we ensure that planning contributes to wider economic recovery. I am keen for the third framework to build on the commendable principles that were contained in previous planning strategies, and I encourage the...
Anne McTaggart: Well, we have all learned something new today. I would like to extend my support to the themes of supporting sustainable development and the transition to a low-carbon economy. I acknowledge the benefits that are brought to the overall strategy through the close working relationships that have been developed with VisitScotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, ClimateXChange and other key...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to this important debate on challenging negative racial and religious stereotypes and to add my congratulations to Amina—the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre. I welcome people from it to the chamber, including Faten Hameed, who is one of its directors. We are here to talk about the launch and success of the I speak for myself campaign. I thank my colleague...
Anne McTaggart: 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed procurement reform bill will seek to ensure that public sector contracts should be awarded only to companies that pay the living wage. (S4O-02266)
Anne McTaggart: As the cabinet secretary has explained, the forthcoming procurement reform bill provides an opportunity to amend the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012 to enable local authorities to promote payment of the living wage among organisations that are in receipt of public funding through local authority internal procurement processes. Can the cabinet secretary confirm that she has...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the subject of the recently announced credit union expansion project. I congratulate John Wilson on securing time in the chamber to consider the positive effects of the project for people on low incomes. I welcome to the public gallery members from the Scottish Parliament cross-party group on credit unions and the director of the Association of...
Anne McTaggart: I congratulate Alex Ferguson on securing today’s debate. I am pleased to hear that Dalbeattie high school will be involved in such an exciting challenge and wish them all the best with their endeavours. I, too, welcome our guests to the Scottish Parliament. I take this opportunity to mention the different learning styles that are available to not only children and young people, but adults...
Anne McTaggart: 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether it is meeting its targets to reduce air pollution. (S4O-02356)
Anne McTaggart: The cabinet secretary will be aware that recent studies of the subway system in Glasgow have highlighted dangerously high levels of air pollution and a concentration of tiny metallic particles that is well in excess of recommended safety limits. In light of that discovery, what action has the Scottish Government taken to reduce levels of pollution and increase air quality for commuters in Glasgow?
Anne McTaggart: The budget represents another significant real-terms reduction in the resource grant for local government. Will that not inevitably result in more job losses on top of the 37,000 jobs already lost under this Government?
Anne McTaggart: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this stage 1 debate on the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill. First, I wish to highlight that how the referendum is seen in the eyes of the general public is paramount in the whole process of conducting it. I am pleased that the bill’s objective is to provide a truly democratic process. Bearing that in mind, the Parliament’s aim in...
Anne McTaggart: 4. To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that people who care for stroke patients are given a carer’s assessment. (S4O-02385)
Anne McTaggart: Recent studies have recognised that depression and a range of other mental health conditions are often consequences of stroke for stroke survivors and their carers. In light of that fact, will the minister advise the chamber of the progress that has been made in assisting the thousands of primary carers who are both suffering from and supporting others who are in significant psychological...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the important subject of families who are affected by alcohol-related issues. I commend Gordon MacDonald for securing time to congratulate Al-Anon Family Groups on its fantastic work to support families who are affected by alcoholism. As a former addiction counsellor with Glasgow Council on Alcohol, I understand the devastating impact that drug...
Anne McTaggart: Corroboration is not only an important and unique feature of Scots criminal law, but a cornerstone of Scots law. The University of Strathclyde school of law professors John Blackie and Donald Nicolson have recently produced a research paper that studies the likely consequences of this profound change to the system of criminal justice in Scotland. They state: “Whether or not the...
Anne McTaggart: Every member in the chamber is passionate about the rights and wellbeing of children and young people. I hope that the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill will prove to be a positive step in making Scotland the best possible place for children to grow up in. However, I am cautious about the named person proposal. I have spoken with a wide range of professionals from across the board on...
Anne McTaggart: This feels rather like the graveyard shift. I speak in the debate for a number of reasons. First, as nearly all members said, the 1974 act is almost 40 years old and, although it has undergone review, a major review is long overdue, particularly in relation to the provision of genuine learning and skills development opportunities for offenders. Secondly, in the years since the 1974 act was...
Anne McTaggart: I am happy to contribute to this discussion and thank Joan McAlpine for opening the debate. I also thank Fiona McLeod for gaining an allocation of the chamber’s time for her motion, and I wish her a speedy recovery. I also thank the group for coming along today, for being in the public gallery tonight and for their outstanding display. I am happy to participate for a number of reasons in...
Anne McTaggart: I congratulate Malcolm Chisholm, as other members have done, on bringing this debate to the Parliament, which is about furthering awareness of an issue of which many people in Scotland are perhaps not as aware as they should be. People might have heard of spina bifida, but many will not understand its causes and how it might be prevented. The Scottish Government began its report “Improving...
