Scottish Labour candidate for the Central Scotland Region: This website was established while I was a Member of the Scottish Parliament. As the Parliament has been dissolved there are no Members of Parliament until after the election on 5 May 2016
The voting age for Scottish elections has been lowered to 16.
This means that if you’re 16 or over on 5 May 2016, you’ll be able to vote at the Scottish Parliamentary Election (as well as in future local government elections).
You just need to register first. It only takes a few minutes and you can do it online at http://www.gov.uk/registertovote.
During the week of 7 – 11 September schools and colleges across Scotland will be helping 15-17 year old students register to vote by taking time out to get #in during class time.
You’ll need to provide your date of birth and bring your National Insurance number to school that day (you will only need your National Insurance number if you are 16 or over), which you can find on official documents such as letters from HM Revenue and Customs. Otherwise, for help you can visit: gov.uk/ lost-national-insurance-number.
I am deeply concerned to learn of some of the projects that have been granted funding in 2012/13 in order to tackle sectarianism in Scotland.
I asked this question as we must be proactive in tackling the scourge of sectarianism. We must look beyond the football stadium and acknowledge that the way to break this societal cycle is to educate young people from an early age in its ills. I was disappointed that rather than outlining educational programmes on offer the Minister directed people to a website. I believe this approach is wholly unsatisfactory and does nothing to comprehensively tackle the underlining societal problems which allow sectarianism to flourish.
It is incumbent on the Government to provide a comprehensive agenda to tackle sectarianism, with education at its heart. Sectarianism is not an innate quality, it is learned and can with proper educational programmes in place, be eradicated from our society. The administration is complacent on this issue; by directing anti-sectarian resources through the internet, teachers are missing out on the classroom resources to tackle the problem.
Further to this point, I submitted a question, which can be viewed on the link below at 34 minutes and 52 seconds:
On 15 March 2013 I asked the Government to break down which projects it has funded to tackle sectarianism in each of the last two years, the written answer from Roseanna Cunningham MSP can be found below:
It is clear that education is not the priority of the Scottish Government. Nearly £800,000 has been awarded to the Football Co-ordination Unit Scotland (FoCUS) clearly demonstrating that this Government thinks that sectarianism originates in the Football Ground. We will never tackle the scourge of sectarianism in our society with such an approach. This is not only worrying but highly depressing.
Further to this some of the organisations that have been awarded funding in 2012-13 have no proven track record in this field. I hope that the Scottish Government will now provide an answer as to why substantial amounts of money were awarded to these groups in favour of those who have been working in this field, with success, for years.
I believe the Government is guilty of complacency on this issue. The Offensive Behaviour Act does not make any attempt to address the underlying societal problems which lead to sectarianism. Government must redirect resources to the classroom to stamp out this problem as quickly as possible.
Siobhan with Abbie McGonigal, winner of this year's Christmas card competition
I was delighted to receive so many excellent entries to my inaugural Christmas card competition.
I invited pupils from primary schools in Central Scotland to design a Christmas card, with the winning entry becoming my official festive missive for 2011.
The standard was very high, and I would like to congratulate everyone who entered on their artistic endeavours.
However, somebody had to win, so congratulations to Abbie McGonigal, of Westquarter Primary School in Falkirk, whose stylish design saw off the opposition to achieve first place!
Special mention must also go to runners-up Callum Mair, of Laurieston Primary School in Falkirk; Erin Scott, of Avonbridge Primary School in Falkirk; and Connor Hartel, of Wallacestone Primary School in Falkirk.
I hope everybody had an merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Siobhan with Connor Hartel, runner-upSiobhan with Callum Mair, runner-up
Siobhan with Lauren, Alison, Jordan, Sara, Ben and Ross
In May 2010 a group of pupils from Airdrie Academy spent 10 days staying with local families on the Spanish island of Mallorca, as part of the Comenius school exchange project.
Last week I visited the school to talk to Lauren, Alison, Jordan, Sara, Ben and Ross about their experiences. They staged a powerpoint presentation featuring information and photos, and took it in turns to explain what they had gained from the project, both as individuals and as a group.
The pupils gained a working knowledge of Spain’s language – performing well above average in their Spanish Standard Grade exam – traditions and culture, and forged close bonds all with their Spanish peers. Despite initially struggling to adapt to staying with a strange family in a strange land, the pupils made a swift transition and, by the end of their stay, with many new friends and a wealth of new experiences, were reluctant to leave.
In just 10 days they had experienced the “real mallorca”, visiting many different villages, eating Spanish food and learning about Spanish music. They left emotionally, educationally and culturally enriched, determined to make the most of their experiences.
In January 2011 they returned the favour, inviting their former hosts to experience at first hand the joys of a Scottish winter. In playing host themselves, the Airdrie pupils were able to learn from their own experiences of travelling abroad, and do their best to ensure that their guests were not afflicted by loneliness or homsickness, as some of them had been. This in itself showed an impressive level of maturity, and throughout the presentation I was struck by the poise and composure on display.
The pupils all took different things from the project, and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to them. I would like to congratulate them on a first class presentation, and to wish them all the best for what I am sure will prove a very successful future.
Siobhan with fellow MSP and Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith, Louise Peardon, of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, Ben McKendrick of the British Heart Foundation, Healthy Lifestyles Coordinator Charles Fawcett, and local pupils
I was delighted that I was able to use my first Members’ Business Debate in the Scottish Parliament to highlight the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) “Heartstart” campaign to introduce Emergency Life Support training in schools throughout Scotland. Coverage of the debate can be viewed on Democracy Live, and the speeches can be read in full on the Scottish Parliament’s Official Report. I would like to thank Ben McKendrick, of the British Heart Foundation, and Charles Fawcett, of Healthy Lifestyles Scotland, for helping to organise the debate.
The debate was well attended by fellow members across all parties, and there was a large degree of consensus regarding the general principles of the motion and the BHF’s campaign.
Thanks to a lot of hard work by a number of individuals, there are already some excellent examples of ELS training models in Scotland, and, as a Central Scotland MSP, I am proud to say that at the vanguard of these is the North Lanarkshire Heartstart scheme, led locally by the Healthy Lifestyles Coordinator Charles Fawcett.
Established in 2008, the North Lanarkshire programme provides ongoing support and advice for schools on ELS training, with support from, amongst others, the British Heart Foundation and St Andrew’s Ambulance Association.
A model piloted in St Ambrose High School in Coatbridge and other North Lanarkshire schools provides instruction in ELS techniques and trains pupils to act as peer tutors. I was fortunate enough to meet some of these pupils, namely Vicky McDowell, Monica Berry, Gemma Daly, Lauren Owens, and Kerryn Breen, at the event in Holyrood last month, hosted by my colleague Helen Eadie MSP. They exhibited great skill and knowledge in demonstrating a range of ELS techniques, including how to use a defibrillator, a vital piece of life saving equipment.
Thanks to the hard work and commitment of a number of partner agencies, not least North Lanarkshire Council, Emergency Life Support training is now available in 90% of North Lanarkshire’s schools – a shining example to the rest of the country.
Emergency Life Support training is hugely popular with pupils, parents and teachers; adheres with the aims and spirit of the Curriculum for Excellence; it is cost-effective, and, crucially, it can, it will, save lives. I hopethat other councils will follow North Lanarkshire Council’s lead and ensure that ELS training is available in schools throughout Scotland.
I am was very disappointed at the decision to withdraw preferred bidder status from St Philip’s Secure Unit in Plains, Airdrie. Not only will this lead to the closure of the unit, it may also render the other two facilities on the St Philip’s site, the residential school and St Francis Day Unit, financially unsustainable.
St Philip’s was only opened five years ago, at a cost of £15 million, £5 million of which was borne by the taxpayer. It has an excellent record of providing first-class care, and staff have been praised for their commitment and dedication. However, in this instance, and to the detriment of both staff and children, cost has been placed before care.
With the decision unlikely to be altered, the priority moving forward is to ensure the appropriate transitional arrangements are in place to ensure continuity of care for the vulnerable children who are facing considerable upheaval. Additionally, St Philip’s highly trained should not be abandoned.
I was surprised to hear that, despite assurances to the contrary from both local MSP Alex Neil and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, Skills Development Scotland were not immediately informed of the situation. I understand that PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) is now involved, but at the request of St Philip’s management, not the Scottish Government.
It is disappointing that the Scottish Government have failed to back their words with action, and I fully appreciate the frustration and anger felt by staff and children alike. If the Scottish Government is serious about providing the best care and guidance to vulnerable young people, it must realise that this comes at a cost. Cutting corners now will only store up problems for the future.
Since 2008 secondary school pupils throughout North Lanarkshire have benefited from annual 2 hour training sessions in Emergency Life Saving (ELS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques. The programme is delivered by a North Lanarkshire Council Heartstart Co-ordinator who oversees training and provides advice and support to schools across the region.
Heart Disease remains Scotland’s biggest killer and, for every second that passes without CPR, the chances of survival are reduced by 10%. However, immediate CPR can triple the chances of survival.
I have lodged a Parliamentary Motion congratulating the British Heart Foundationand North Lanarkshire Council for their efforts in this area, and urging other Scottish local authorities to follow suit and ensure that this vital training is available to pupils across the country.
Siobhan McMahon for Central Scotland 