Category: Parliamentary Updates

The Public Petitions Committee in the Scottish Parliament has published a report into improving youth football in Scotland. A full copy of the report is available below or you can click here to download the report.

I spoke in the Remembrance Commemorations debate in the Scottish Parliament this year and highlighted the importance of honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The way we did so was different this year and we applaud those people who stood at their doorsteps on Sunday, laid wreaths at war memorials or went to church […]

I have raised concerns in the Scottish Parliament about the large number of iconic birds of prey that “disappear” over driven grouse moors in Scotland.  I raised this issue following the suspected death of another bird of prey on a driven grouse moor in Highland Perthshire earlier this year, where a young golden eagle’s satellite […]

I have urged the Justice Secretary to go back to the drawing board to address fundamental problems with the Scottish Government’s proposed Hate Crime Bill. The draft legislation has drawn criticism from across civic Scotland, with concerns being raised by the Law Society, the Scottish Police Federation, the Catholic Church and the National Secular Society. […]

The UK Internal Market Bill sees Boris Johnson playing fast and loose with the UK union. It is difficult to believe that the Scottish Tories are willing to put Johnson and his interests before the interests of the people of Scotland. The devolved Governments must now show that Boris Johnson and his Tory cabal cannot […]

Local authorities powers In terms of overgrown gardens, local authorities have limited powers to intervene to compel a property owner to remove overhanging branches/trees etc. from land which he or she owns. Relevant legislation would be section 91 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 which gives a local authority power to serve a notice requiring […]