What important issues have your MSPs raised this week in Holyrood?
GLASGOW MSPs have been involved in questions and debates on a range of issues at Holyrood this week.
We are taking a weekly look at what the city’s MSPs across parties have been raising with the Government.
This week’s topics include asylum seeker contracts, Covid rules and support, attacks on emergency workers and violence against women, drug deaths and women’s health.
On Thursday, Labour MSP Paul Sweeney asked the First Minister about reports that Glasgow City Council intends to extend the ban on asylum seekers coming to Glasgow because of the constraints of accommodation.
He said it was an “abdication of responsibility … to some of the most vulnerable people in the world”.
Nicola Sturgeon replied: “Glasgow City Council is probably the last organisation that deserves to be criticised for how asylum seekers are treated.”
Sandesh Gulhane, Conservative MSP and a GP, asked Justice Secretary Keith Brown about attacks on emergency workers.
He said “they deserve better protection” and asked for an end to the presumption of short prison sentences for NHS staff assaults.
Brown replied that legislation on assaults was opposed by the Tories and said he would “not take lessons” from the Conservatives.
John Mason, Shettleston SNP MSP, asked about action on violence against women and prostitution. He said if men are purchasing sex, they are guilty of violence against women and should be criminalised. Community Safety Minister Ash Denham agreed it is a form of commercial sexual exploitation and was violence against women.
Pauline McNeill, Labour MSP, asked about the impact of delays in court trials on victims, especially in rape and sexual assault cases.
Brown said remand has been an issue because of the backlogs and said he would work with McNeill on it.
In a debate on drug deaths, Sweeney said the Government should be “finding a legal pathway to safe consumption” facilities.
McNeill also spoke on drug consumption rooms and said they can “operate within the existing law” and backed reform of drug laws highlighting decriminalisation in Portugal.
Annie Wells, Conservative MSP, said her party would put forward a Right to Recovery Bill to give people “a right, enshrined in law, to the necessary addiction treatment they seek”.
Pam Duncan-Glancy, Labour MSP, asked about the “incorporation of various human rights treaties into legislation to strengthen rights of people who experienced drug use, in accessing community care services”.
In a debate on women’s health, Wells raised endometriosis, breast cancer and cervical cancer, calling for “targeted resources dedicated to tackling the backlog and addressing lengthy waiting times”.
Gulhane also contributed, saying: “The root of the problem is that health and care systems have been designed by men for men.
“In a lot of cases, white Caucasian men are the default patients, research models and target demographic.”
On Wednesday, Green MSP Patrick Harvie asked about the Government meeting tenants’ unions to discuss the private rented sector strategy.
Wells asked about Covid support for the arts and cultural sector in Glasgow. Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said the Government provided through fund.
Sweeney, in a debate about Brexit and the skills impact, said: “Polish nurses and Romanian cleaners are just as much a part of the working class as their colleagues who have British passports.”
Harvie said EU citizens in Scotland make a critical contribution to our society, especially in sectors that suffer from widespread job insecurity, low pay and poor working conditions.
In Topical Questions, Gulhane asked about subsidising defibrillators at amateur sports facilities and CPR training after Christian Eriksen collapsed during a Euro 2020 match.
Sport Minister Maree Todd said that was the responsibility of £18 million in Glasgow Creative Scotland’s relief sport governing bodies and that CPR training was delivered in schools.
Duncan-Glancy asked about setting up a programme to tackle racism and disablism in schools, like the Time for Inclusive Education to tackle LGBT bullying.
James Dornan, Cathcart SNP MSP, asked the First Minister if the UK Government’s delay in tightening the borders contributed to the Delta variant “getting loose” in the UK.
McNeill asked about starting a pilot to help pub performers and wedding bands get back on stage.
Mason asked for an update on how the first few days of the Euro Fan Zone had gone.
Sweeney asked about making it a statutory offence to not comply with quarantine rules.
Glasgow Council is last group you should criticise for asylum seekers