{"id":1117,"date":"2015-12-10T16:59:29","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T16:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=1117"},"modified":"2015-12-10T16:42:30","modified_gmt":"2015-12-10T16:42:30","slug":"weekly-round-up-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=1117","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Round-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Clare Adamson MSP welcomes legislation which will help modernise the criminal justice system<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>A new law setting out improvements to the criminal justice system has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking after the Stage 3 debate, Ms Adamson said:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u201cI am delighted that the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill has been approved by the Scottish Parliament today.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">I believe the Bill strikes the right balance between strengthening the powers available to police and prosecutors while protecting the rights of the accused and it takes forward a wide range of proposals all designed to modernise and improve our current criminal justice system in Scotland\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>A new code of practice to underpin how Police Scotland uses stop and search will be introduced and the maximum sentence for handling knives and other offensive weapons will be raised from four to five years.<\/p>\n<p>Following recommendations made by Lord Bonomy, the Scottish Government accepted that it was not appropriate to continue with corroboration reform as part of this legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Other key measures contained in the Bill are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The modernisation of arrest, custody and questioning procedures including enhanced protections for child and vulnerable adult suspects<\/li>\n<li>Creation of a clear framework for the fundamental police powers to arrest, hold in custody and question people suspected of having committed a crime<\/li>\n<li>Improving the right to legal advice for individuals taken into police custody<\/li>\n<li>Making greater use of technology in criminal procedure<\/li>\n<li>Establishing a Police Negotiating Board for Scotland for the negotiation of police officer pay and conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill takes forward a range of proposals to modernise and improve efficiency within the criminal justice system. The new legislation includes a number of important reforms and responds to the work of four independent reviews of criminal law and practice.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>UN Climate Change Summit: \u00a312 million pounds for Climate Justice<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>At the UN global climate change summit in Paris on 7<sup>th<\/sup> December 2015, First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon announced that an extra \u00a312 million will be invested over the next four years to help reduce the impact of climate change in the world\u2019s poorest communities.<\/p>\n<p>SCIAF\u2019s Director Alistair Dutton responded:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u201cWe welcome the increase to the Scottish Government\u2019s Climate Justice Fund. It\u2019s a clear recognition that wealthy industrialised countries like Scotland have a clear responsibility to help poor countries cope with the huge climate challenges they face. It sets a positive example to other wealthy nations meeting in Paris.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Scottish Government\u2019s Climate Justice Fund is directed at lessening the impacts of climate change on some on the worlds\u2019 poorest and most vulnerable people.\u00a0 This new funding will allow the Climate Justice Fund to double in size and will additionally support projects in countries such as Malawi and Zambia.\u00a0 Over the last five years, the Climate Justice fund has already invested \u00a36 million for 11 projects in four sub-Saharan African countries.<\/p>\n<p>Following the announcement, the Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Professor Allan Miller commented:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u201cWe welcome the First Minister\u2019s speech today. There needs to be an urgent global response dealing with the consequences of climate change, ensuring the explicit recognition of human rights in the new Climate Agreement. We are already seeing the effects of climate change impact on people\u2019s human rights, especially in countries where their population has done the least to contribute to climate change. Vulnerable people in developing countries with historically low carbon footprints suffer a disproportionate burden of climate change &#8211; increased incidence of droughts, flooding, violent weather patterns, desertification, crop failures and diseases spreading into new areas.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u201cThe Scottish Government has already committed to promote the concept of climate justice in its work. This helps to ensure that the developed countries \u2013 like Scotland and the UK &#8211; understand their responsibility to mitigate their own carbon emissions, recognise the right to development, and support a low carbon path of development for developing countries.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Cameron\u2019s Carbon Capture Hypocrisy <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The UK Government announced on 25<sup>th<\/sup> November 2015 that it would cancel funding for carbon capture and storage in Peterhead.\u00a0 \u00a0The UK government cancelled this grant just six months before it was due to be awarded as part of the Conservative party\u2019s election manifesto.\u00a0 This \u00a31 billion grant could have created 600 jobs while also helping Scotland to become a global leader in clean energy technology.<\/p>\n<p>Following this announcement, at the UN Climate Conference in Paris on 1<sup>st<\/sup> December 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron emphasized that <em>\u201cwe should be taking action today\u201d <\/em>instead of making excuses for the future.\u00a0 Having cancelled carbon capture funding only the week before, his statement clearly contradicted his approach towards renewables in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>In response to this statement, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u201cFor David Cameron to try and lecture others on the environment just days after his government\u2019s decision to cut the CCS funding in Peterhead is nothing less than rank hypocrisy \u2013 something which we\u2019re getting all too used to from this Tory government\u2026The Tory decision to cut the vital \u00a31bn carbon capture and storage project won\u2019t just cost 600 jobs in the North East of Scotland \u2013 but is a huge missed opportunity to help Scotland become a global leader on green energy technology and is just the latest example of the failure of the UK Government to support Scotland\u2019s energy industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Response to Storm Desmond Flooding<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>On 8<sup>th<\/sup> December 2015, Flooding Minister, Aileen McLeod paid tribute to emergency responders who have worked vigorously to help communities affected by severe flooding following Storm Desmond.<\/p>\n<p>McLeod agreed to activate the Bellwin Scheme on December 7<sup>th<\/sup> in order to provide support for local authorities to assist with immediate and unforeseen costs of dealing with the latest flood damage.\u00a0 Scottish Borders Council has indicated that they intend to apply for emergency funding under the Bellwin Scheme in order to help deal with the costs of flood damage.<\/p>\n<p>While visiting Hawick, McLeod saw the impact of the flooding on the local community and was able to hear about the Scottish Borders Council\u2019s flood management procedures.\u00a0 Over the past 6 years, the \u00a342 million identified for flooding in the local authority capital settlement has allowed local authorities to build seven new flood protection schemes.\u00a0 Hawick is next in line for a protection scheme, and the Council is currently developing a scheme in which they will seek feedback and input from the public via consultation exercises.<\/p>\n<p>In regards to her visit, Dr McLeod said:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u201cIt is also important we recognise the impact of our significant investment in protecting people\u2019s homes and livelihoods from such extreme conditions. All of Scotland\u2019s existing flood defences worked over the weekend. This justifies the Scottish Government\u2019s commitment to continue investing in flood defences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>First Minister\u2019s Christmas Card<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The First Minister\u2019s 2015 Official Christmas card will feature a special festive illustration of Katie Morag by Mairi Hedderwick.\u00a0 The card includes the star of the books welcoming children from around the world to the First Minister\u2019s residence, Bute House.\u00a0 The original illustration will be auctioned off next year.\u00a0 Proceeds will be shared between Enable Scotland, Children 1<sup>st<\/sup>, Books Abroad, and the Scottish Refugee Council.<\/p>\n<p>The First Minister added:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u201cSince we launched the charity Christmas card initiative in 2007, sales of artwork and prints have raised more than \u00a3168,850 for good causes across Scotland. I\u2019d like to extend my thanks to all the artists, including Mairi, whose time and generosity have made raising so much money possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For the first time, special packs featuring Christmas cards from previous years will go on sale in National Galleries of Scotland shops in Edinburgh.\u00a0 Profits will be split between 2014\u2019s charities; the Catherine McEwan Foundation, The Mackintosh Appeal, Legion Scotland, Scotland\u2019s Charity Air Ambulance, and Yorkhill Children\u2019s Charity.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Opportunity Missed in EU Vote at Westminster<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>On 8<sup>th<\/sup> December 2015, The House of Commons rejected an amendment to the European Referendum Bill.\u00a0 This amendment would have enabled 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the EU referendum which is to be held before December 2017.<\/p>\n<p>In November, the House of Lords voted by 293 to 211 to amend the Bill and allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the referendum.\u00a0 The amendment from the House of Lords was voted down in the House of Commons, which means there will be no further opportunities to extend the vote on the UK\u2019s future membership of the EU.<\/p>\n<p>SNP European Affairs spokesperson, Stephen Gethins MP, commented on this missed opportunity by saying:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;The SNP has always argued that the EU referendum should meet the gold standard set by Scotland\u2019s independence referendum, where 16 and 17 year olds were allowed to vote and participate in such an important democratic decision for the first time &#8211; and which was shown to be a fantastic success. It would have been completely appropriate for that model to have been repeated for the EU vote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe SNP will continue to make the positive case for Scotland remaining part of the EU with voters of all ages and we will work hard to ensure that Scotland is not taken out of the EU against its will.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clare Adamson MSP welcomes legislation which will help modernise the criminal justice system A new law setting out improvements to the criminal justice system has been passed by the Scottish Parliament. Speaking after the Stage 3 debate, Ms Adamson said: \u201cI am delighted that the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill has been approved by the Scottish Parliament today. I believe the Bill strikes the right balance between strengthening the powers available to police and prosecutors while protecting the rights of the accused and it takes forward a wide range of proposals all designed to modernise and improve our current criminal justice system in Scotland\u201d. A new<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=1117\">Read More &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,8,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["entry","author-triciafw","post-1117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-clare-adamson","category-press-release","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1117"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1122,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1117\/revisions\/1122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}