A selection of motions that Joe has submitted or signed can be found below, or a full search can be found on the Scottish Parliament’s website here.
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That the Parliament congratulates Professor Sir Philip Cohen of the University of Dundee for his recent recognition in the award of Leading Individual Contribution to Life Sciences in the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Awards 2009; recognises his vast contribution to the field as the most cited bioscientist in Europe; welcomes the Scottish Government’s investment of £10 million in the new Scottish Institute for Cell Signalling under his direction, and acknowledges the importance of the life sciences sector to the economy of both Dundee and Scotland as a whole.
That the Parliament notes reports about the future of the Dunfermline Building Society, possible losses and its exposure to the commercial property market; further notes that the Dunfermline has for 130 years been a solid and trusted mutual and is now Scotland’s largest building society; expresses concern that building societies are being penalised by the increased capital requirement and funding formula for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and calls on the Scottish and UK governments to do everything in their power to keep the Dunfermline as a strong independent Scottish mutual.
That the Parliament welcomes proposals by Ofgem to limit the scope of energy companies to charge unjustified prices; notes that the poorest and most vulnerable groups continue to pay higher prices for electricity and gas, particularly those with prepayment meters where charges amount to an average differential of £118 compared to customers paying by direct debit, and that a significant percentage of some groups at risk of fuel poverty use prepayment meters, including 22% of households with an income of less than £10,000; calls for tighter regulatory laws in the future, including windfall taxes or fines as a tool of regulation for utility companies that fail to comply, and believes that Ofgem could go further by insisting that energy companies absorb the comparatively small operational costs for prepayment meters and standard credit payment methods in order to achieve a more level and fairer system of pricing.
That the Parliament expresses deep concern over the alarming figures published by Amnesty International showing that in 2008 at least 2,390 people were executed by states across the globe, including China, the United States of America and Japan, compared to 1,252 in 2007; believes that capital punishment, which includes beheadings, electrocutions, hangings, lethal injections, shootings and stonings, is the most inhumane form of punishment and has no place in the 21st century; notes that Belarus is the only country in Europe where executions still take place; further notes that the European Union (EU) is the only major global economic and political power where capital punishment is illegal and condemned, and calls on the EU as a major promoter of peace in the world to stand by its principles of respect for human dignity and strongly condemn all forms of capital punishment in Belarus and across the globe.
That the Parliament calls on all local authorities to back the Scottish Government’s fight to put a halt to HM Government’s proposals to slash £500 million from the Scottish Budget in each of the next two financial years as, if implemented, this £1 billion cut would have a hugely detrimental effect on the provision of public services to the people of Scotland.
That the Parliament supports the request by the rector of the University of Dundee, Craig Murray, to give evidence to the Westminster Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights on the subject of the UK Government’s policy on receiving intelligence obtained by torture abroad and considers that Mr Murray is offering first-hand eye-witness testimony with documentary proof of a secret and reprehensible policy of attempting to benefit from torture, endorsed and directed by UK ministers.
That the Parliament believes that retained firefighters provide an invaluable service to communities across Scotland, particularly those in remote and rural areas, such as the north east and Highlands and Islands; believes that setting a 48-hour maximum to the working week as currently proposed in relation to retained firefighters could greatly reduce the hours for which they would be available for duty, to the detriment of fire services in many remote and rural communities; recognises the concerns raised by the Retained Firefighters Union in relation to the recent European Parliament vote to end the UK opt-out to the EU working time directive; agrees with the STUC and Fire Brigades Union that, as the issue is now subject to negotiations at European level, there is no immediate threat to fire provision, and hopes that the mature and responsible joint efforts by the Scottish and UK governments will ensure that any future changes to the EU working time directive ensure the flexibility required to allow the continuation of retained firefighters and the protection of workers’ rights.
That the Parliament notes the continuing debate at Westminster about the possible part-privatisation of the Royal Mail; further notes that over 170 MPs, including over 140 Labour members, have signed the Early Day Motion in the name of Geraldine Smith MP opposing the plans; welcomes the leading role played by the Communication Workers Union in the campaign against the proposals, and believes that any privatisation of the Royal Mail will have a detrimental effect on postal services in central Scotland and across the country.
That the Parliament notes proposals from the Government of Norway to establish two new funds with a total capital of NOK100 billion (approximately £10 billion), designed to improve access to loans for companies and households and to help stabilise the financial market; further notes the range of measures that the Government of Norway, which is an independent country with a population comparable to that of Scotland, has taken to insulate the country’s economy against the global economic downturn; considers that there is no evidence whatsoever that Norway is, or is about to become, insolvent, and therefore believes that the actions of the Government of Norway are an example of why independence for Scotland is even more necessary in the face of global recession.
That the Parliament expresses its concern, following the revelation that, despite official assurances to the contrary, terror suspects detained by British soldiers in Iraq were secretly flown by the United States of America to Afghanistan; states its belief that extraordinary rendition is an errant practice with no legal basis, in which no decent government should engage, and calls on the UK Government to accede to the numerous demands for a full inquiry into the various allegations that the United Kingdom has been involved in facilitating the extraordinary rendition of individuals to countries where they face torture.
That the Parliament congratulates the University of Edinburgh on its fifth year as a leading Fairtrade University; notes that Dundee, Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh Napier and St Andrews universities are all running events promoting Fairtrade Fortnight on their campuses; recognises the very positive impact that fair trade has on producers in developing countries, and urges all higher education institutions in Scotland to take steps to back the Fair Trade Nation campaign.
That the Parliament notes with concern the comments of Colin Macdonald, Studio Manager for Dundee-based computer games developer Realtime Worlds, who recently expressed concern for the future of the industry; recognises that despite the current economic situation the computer games industry is continuing to grow, however that in terms of games development the United Kingdom is falling behind; notes that UK firms must pay tax on research and development, while in countries such as Canada and France rebates are given; further notes the importance to the economy of Dundee and Scotland of computer games developers who have produced award winning titles such as Crackdown, which recently sold over 1.5 million units, and believes that games development in Scotland will suffer under the current tax regime.
That the Parliament congratulates publishers DC Thomson and Co on the 90th birthday of The Sunday Post; notes that The Sunday Post was created in 1919 from The Post Sunday Special, a newspaper that was originally produced to ensure that lists of World War One casualties, which were released on a Saturday evening, could be available as soon as possible; further recognises that The Sunday Post is a Scottish institution enjoying an impressive readership of 950,000 and is home to Scottish icons The Broons and Oor Wullie; looks forward to its continued longevity and success in future years, and wishes everyone connected with The Sunday Post, both past and present, all the best.
That the Parliament notes the continued relevance of Holocaust Memorial Day, the international day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and of other genocides; further notes that Renfrewshire Council, chosen to host the Scottish National Holocaust Memorial Day, marked the day with, among other things, a series of events under the positive title, One Great Tapestry; A Celebration of Diversity, at which a major theme was “stand up to hatred”; believes that an appreciation of peoples and cultures the world over should be an integral part of the Scottish identity, as suggested by this title, and expresses the hope that Scotland will continue to welcome those fleeing persecution, stand up to hatred and have the courage to condemn all those who infringe human rights.
That the Parliament pays tribute to the moving courage and sacrifice of Scottish missionary Jane Haining who, following the outbreak of the Second World War, ignored orders to return to Scotland from Budapest, refusing to leave the Jewish orphans in her care, and, as a result, was arrested by the Nazis and died in Auschwitz-Birkenau in July 1944; celebrates the example of moral courage that her actions set for young people today; recognises the honour bestowed on her by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial authority, in naming her as Righteous Among the Nations, non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazis, and supports the Holocaust Educational Trust, The Scotsman and others in calling for a posthumous honour for Jane Haining and other heroes of the Holocaust in recognition of their bravery and selflessness.
That the Parliament supports Beating Bowel Cancer’s Be Loud! Be Clear! campaign, formerly the Loud Tie campaign, on the charity’s 10th anniversary; notes that the campaign aims to raise awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms, dispelling the embarrassment so often associated with the disease; also notes that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Scotland, with around 1,600 people dying from the illness and over 3,500 new cases being diagnosed each year; further notes with concern that 75% of those under the age of 35 recently polled by YouGov were not aware that bowel cancer was the United Kingdom’s second biggest killer cancer; recognises that early clinical detection and intervention could save the lives of 90% of those diagnosed if detected early enough; welcomes the continuing roll-out of the national screening programme in Scotland to people aged 50 to 74; urges people to take part in the national screening programme by returning their self-test kits; notes that while the risk of bowel cancer increases with age it also affects a significant number of younger people; supports further improvements in bowel cancer services in Scotland that build on increased patient involvement and public awareness delivered through managed clinical networks, and encourages MSPs to support the Be Loud! Be Clear! campaign between 26 January and 1 February 2009 on behalf of Beating Bowel Cancer.
That the Parliament condemns the decision by the BBC, a publicly funded body, not to air the appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) for humanitarian aid for Gaza; notes that ITV and channels 4 and 5 will air this appeal and commends them for doing so; considers that refusing to air this appeal leaves the BBC in a minority and brings into question the independence of the BBC, and draws attention to the fact that people who wish to contribute to the DEC Gaza Crisis Appeal can do so by contacting DEC on 0370 60 60 900 or at DEC Gaza Crisis, PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA or by visiting www.dec.org.uk.
That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the Active Scotland website, www.activescotland.org.uk, which has been developed by NHS Health Scotland as a tool to support the physical activity workforce when working with patients, clients or pupils to answer the question “where do I go to be active?”; notes that the site captures a range of local physical activity opportunities in the form of spaces, places, services and contacts that can help the people of Scotland become more active; welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to a healthy Scotland as promoted in Healthy Eating, Active Living: An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity (2008-2011), and calls for continued progress to ensure that the people of Scotland enjoy the benefits of an active life.
That the Parliament notes with sadness the death of Eddie Thompson, who passed away on 15 October 2008 after a long battle with cancer; remembers his dedication to Dundee United FC as chairman and his work in the Scottish retail industry; notes his many achievements with Dundee United, which included reaching the Scottish League Cup Final in 2008 and bringing FC Barcelona to play at Tannadice; expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Eddie Thompson, and hopes that the good work that he carried out at Dundee United will inspire those at the club for many years to come.
That the Parliament congratulates the Dystonia Society for its efforts over the past 25 years in raising awareness about this little-known but severely debilitating neurological disorder, which can cause involuntary, sustained and painful muscle spasms in various parts of the body; further congratulates the society on its sustained fundraising efforts, which have culminated in two specialist physiotherapists being based in Scotland working with those suffering from cervical dystonia; is concerned that, according to the Dystonia Society, there are at least 38,000 sufferers in the United Kingdom who sometimes have to wait years for a correct diagnosis due to a lack of awareness on the part of general practitioners (GPs), and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that adequate information is given to GPs so that a correct and timeous diagnosis can be made and to provide resources for research into the causes of dystonia.
That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) publication Ending Mass Rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo: The Role of the International Community, which highlights that sexual violence and other human rights abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ruin countless lives and threaten the peace and security of the troubled region; notes that in Shabunda region of South Kivu 70% of the women have been raped and that 50% of those women raped are aged under 18; further notes that the high number of rapes are a direct result of the continuing conflict in the eastern region of the DRC, which involves Congolese forces, neighbouring countries – including Rwanda and over 20 independent militias; condemns the use ofrape as a tool of war to humiliate and destroy communities, and calls on the UK Government to step up its efforts to end this horror and increase desperately needed care for survivors.
As an amendment to motion S3M-2699 in the name of Claire Baker (Congratulations on Scottish University World Rankings), leave out from second “notes” to end and insert “congratulates the University of Dundee for being shortlisted as the only Scottish institution for the Times Higher Education Award of University of the Year; also congratulates its Politics Department, which came top for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey this year, and welcomes the investment being made by the Scottish Government in restoring Scotland’s reputation for having a world-class education system.”
That the Parliament welcomes President Obama’s announcement of a strategic move towards a “nuclear-free world” through bilateral and multilateral disarmament; hopes to see the newly inaugurated president make good on this pledge in a constructive and practicable way, and believes that a fitting beginning to this new strategy necessitates the cessation of the shipment of vital bomb components by US weapons makers to the United Kingdom, historically sanctioned by US presidents, thus bringing about the end to the folly of Trident.
That the Parliament recognises that one of the major aims of any government is to facilitate sustainable economic growth; acknowledges that the current lack of fiscal powers limits the Scottish Government’s ability to react to changing conditions in a way that is attuned to Scotland’s distinct circumstances; notes that the Northern Ireland Assembly can borrow up to £2 billion, and calls on the UK Government to listen and respond to the growing demands from both inside the Scottish Parliament and beyond for borrowing powers and to take any action necessary to put those powers in place so that Scotland can emerge from the current economic downturn in a strong, competitive position.
That the Parliament recognises the significance of the President of the United States of America calling for a 120-day suspension of military court proceedings for inmates at Guantánamo Bay; welcomes his intervention so early in his presidency, and calls for all detainees who are held at Guantánamo Bay to be brought into the mainstream of the USA justice system in order that the rest of the world can be confident as to the methods used to obtain a confession and that justice is not only done but is seen to be done
That the Parliament expresses concern at the UK Government’s continued commitment to renewing the aging Trident system at a cost of £20 billion and notes that the former head of the armed forces, Field Marshal Lord Bramall, argued in a letter to The Times on 16 January 2009, also signed by General Lord Ramsbotham and General Sir Hugh Beach, that nuclear weapons have shown themselves to be completely useless as a deterrent to the threats and scale of violence we currently face, or are likely to face, particularly international terrorism.
That the Parliament welcomes the Memory Matters roadshow, which will visit Dundee and Glasgow from 30 September to 3 October 2008 to offer educational information about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and practical advice on the local support services available to both patients and carers; notes that one in 14 people over the age of 65 will have some form of dementia, with over 56,000 sufferers in Scotland; further welcomes the availability of dementia-specialist nurses at the roadshows; further notes that early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and dementia is vital, and applauds the work of Alzheimer Scotland in raising awareness of these diseases and providing a support network for patients, their relatives and carers.
That the Parliament notes with concern the decision of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to withdraw its referees from the Dundee Saturday Morning Friendly League due to its lack of affiliation; recognises that this decision has ramifications for friendly leagues across Scotland, which now face an uncertain future; notes with further concern that this decision has threatened the viability of a league which has for 15 years proved to be a resounding success based on the principles of fair and friendly play; recognises the value of this league not only in raising money for local charities but also as income for Dundee City Council in pitch and facilities fees; believes that the approach taken by the SFA whereby registered referees can participate in any other non-affiliated league except this one is inconsistent and simply unfair, and applauds the organisers of the Dundee Saturday Morning Friendly League for their drive and determination to make sure the league continues in spite of the SFA’s position.
That the Parliament expresses concern over the unjust decision by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to demote the Dundee youth team, along with Dunfermline Athletic and Ross County, from the elite performance level of its Youth Football initiative; notes that the decision to demote Dundee was made on a technicality as a second youth licence holder was not employed at the club for a few weeks due to an employee moving on and a new licence holder taking time to recruit; understands that the decisions made against Dunfermline and Ross County were due to a technicality in disclosure of which they were not informed until an audit but have now rectified; notes with concern reports that the SFA have allowed Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs to remain at performance level even though these clubs do not meet the criteria; regrets the impact that this decision will have, leading to reduced playing opportunities for budding young local footballers in Dundee, a reduction in youth development creating a gap between clubs outwith the SPL and the possible demise of youth development at Dundee FC; calls on the SFA to revisit its decision on the demotion of these three teams, and urges the Scottish Government, which provides the funding for the elite performance level Youth Football initiative, to investigate this matter.
