Christina spoke in the Scottish Government debate on 10 September:

“There was a long-term trend of reducing the number of fire deaths, but since the 2005 act came into force that has tended to reverse. In 2007, fire deaths increased to the same level as in 1959, and the number has increased further since. None of us wants that to continue…The increase is a worrying development, and even more so when we consider that the number of fires has continued to decline. That is a salient point—the number of fires has declined, but the number of deaths has increased. The immediate temptation is to conclude that fires are now more dangerous, with fewer fires causing a greater number of deaths and injuries. That might be the case, but I ask the minister to have the evidence examined, so that we know for sure the cause of the increase in fatalities, which will allow us to take the necessary steps to address the problem.”

To read the full text of Christina’s speech, go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0910-02.htm#Col19471

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie has condemned a vote by Labour and Lib Dem members of the Scottish Parliament Education Committee to deprive vulnerable adults within the Children’s Hearing system of legal support to enable them to participate fully in proceedings. The vote leaves the Scottish Government and the Children’s Hearing system in potential breach of European Human Rights Law.

The Scottish Government was seeking to ensure the system is compliant with European Human Rights Legislation by ensuring parents who may not be able to follow proceedings – for example due to learning disability, in cases where their children may be taken from them – have access to state funded legal advice.

Legal support is already allowed within the system – but state support for those whose circumstances make representation essential was not previously available.

The Scottish Government had introduced the measure during the summer, in light of a court case currently before the Court of Session, bringing the system into line with ECHR – however Parliamentary approval is required for it to continue. The decision of opposition members on the Education Committee to vote to annul the statutory instrument now leaves the hearings system and its members facing a potential breach of Human Rights legislation.

Education Committee member Ms McKelvie said:

“I am deeply disappointed with the actions of my fellow committee members. This should be about children not politics.

“By voting this move down opposition parties leave Scotland facing a slopping out situation all over again, where the opportunity to correct a human rights wrong is not taken and the decisions of the Children’s Panel and the actions of the government could be subject to review, appeal and compensation cases.

“Labour and the Lib Dems have voted to remove support for vulnerable people to participate in fundamental decisions over the future of their families.

“Participants in the Children’s Hearing system have long been entitled to legal representation and despite acknowledging that circumstances exist where state support for vulnerable adults is appropriate, opposition politicians continued to vote against the Government’s move to put that representation in place. Now legal representation is only available to those who can afford it, not those whose circumstances mean they need it.

“They have acted with complete disregard to EU human rights legislation and to the consequences of their decision.

“This is about caring for people in poverty facing major decisions on their families future – it is a real sign of how far Labour and the Lib Dems have come from their principles that they would vote this measure down.

“By playing politics with sensitive issues, opposition politicians have put the Children’s hearing system and its decisions at risk and created a ’slopping out mark two’ situation.”

Christina spoke in the debate on Wednesday 2 September.

“I welcome the bill in great measure. It is a welcome development that will give parents and communities some say in how the schools in their area are organised…I particularly welcome the involvement of children in the consultation. Many of the rights that are enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child—in articles 12, 28 and 3, as we have heard—are met fully in the bill. The incorporation of the convention into as much of Scots procedure as possible is very important to me, and I am proud of the fact that those rights are in the bill…

Consultation right across communities that are affected by changes to schooling in their areas is appropriate and right, and I congratulate the cabinet secretary on ensuring that such consultation will take place. She is being brave in putting ministerial action at the front and centre, requiring the minister to be aware of changes to school provision and to be responsible for calling in any closure decision that falls outwith the provisions of the bill. That is brave, but it is the right thing to do.”

To read the full text of Christina’s speech, go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0902-02.htm#Col19133

S3M-04677 Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research— That the Parliament welcomes the opening of The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research and the arrival of Siddharthan Chandran as Professor of Neurology at the University of Edinburgh and director of the centre; considers that Professor Chandran’s appointment and the pooling of international expertise at the centre offers an excellent chance of advancing the knowledge of degenerative diseases and the practice of regenerative medicine, and looks forward to the centre producing novel interventions to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from degenerative diseases and to extend the time during which patients can enjoy that improved quality of life.

Central Scotland MSP Christina McKelvie, who earlier this year was closely involved in the successful campaign to save the National Trust for Scotland-managed David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre from closure, has commented on the announcement today of the resignation of Shonaig MacPherson as chair of the National Trust for Scotland, following a motion of no confidence tabled by Trust members. Ms McKelvie said:

“Shonaig MacPherson has done the right thing in stepping down. This motion of no confidence can hardly have come as a surprise to her after National Trust for Scotland members mobilised in an unprecedented way to oppose the programme of property closures and staff redundancies that Ms MacPherson wanted push through.

“I welcome the fact that the National Trust for Scotland has said that it will act quickly to replace Ms MacPherson. New leadership is clearly required to bring a fresh start for NTS, redress the legacy of mismanagement which led to the current crisis and restore the confidence of Trust members.

“The David Livingstone Centre was saved, but other properties remain under threat. I hope that the Trust’s new chair will seek to work with all those who care about Scotland’s heritage to find a way to save these treasures for the nation.”

Central Scotland MSP Christina McKelvie has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating the young athletes, swimmers, footballers and tennis players of ‘Team Lanarkshire’, on their outstanding performance at this year’s International Children’s Games in Athens. The team came home with an impressive medal haul of one gold, two silvers and four bronzes.

Christina said:
“Everyone in Scotland should be proud of this performance by Team Lanarkshire, which is why I have highlighted their achievement in the Scottish Parliament.

“As Scotland’s only representatives at the International Children’s Games, among 36 other countries, the team members had a lot riding on their young shoulders. They were acting as sports ambassadors, not only on behalf of their county but also for their entire nation. They succeeded brilliantly and deserve three cheers from us all.

“The excellent individual and team performances that secured medals are particularly to be commended, but the whole team’s participation at the Games shows that Scotland’s future sporting success is in very capable young hands, feet and legs. It bodes extremely well for when Lanarkshire comes to host the International Children’s Games in two years time.”

The full text of Christina McKelvie’s Scottish Parliament motion is:
Congratulations to Team Lanarkshire
That the Parliament congratulates Team Lanarkshire, Scotland’s only representatives at the International Children’s Games in Athens, on their magnificent tally of one Gold, two Silver and four Bronze medals; notes that the girls’ 4×100m relay team stormed home to win gold; further notes that the silver medal-winning boys’ football team only narrowly missed out on gold following a penalty shoot-out; further notes that East Kilbride athlete, Rachel Whittle, not only contributed to the gold medal relay performance, but also took silver in the individual 100m and bronze in the high jump; and believes that Rachel’s achievements along with those of Emma Brown and Ciaran Johnston from East Kilbride, Mhairi Hendry from Hamilton, Arlene Barr from Cambuslang, Darren Brownlie from Bellshill, Dean McLean from Carluke, Craig Moore from Uddingston, Jack Smith from Carfin, Anthony Brady from Glenboig, Ross Burnett and Calum Baxter from Airdrie, Euan Alston, Lynn Macarthur and Leanna Marshall from Cumbernauld, Jonathan Stuart from Blantyre, Rochelle Callan from Coatbridge, Emily Lauder from Bargeddie and Charlotte Walker from Bothwell reflect highly on the quality of Scotland’s young athletes and bode well for the success of the 2011 International Children’s Games when they take place in their home county of Lanarkshire.