REPORTING FROM THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

The Scottish Parliament is gearing up to a new administration and a new legislative programme. Many new laws have been debated and agreed in Scotland during eight years of devolved government, making a difference to education, health, transport and other policies. The work done by the STUC with the Trade Union Week in the Scottish Parliament in December 2006 highlighted the opportunities for trade unionists to work with the government, whilst still reserving the right to speak up independently for workers’ interests. The Rights of Relatives to Damages (Mesothelioma) (Scotland) Bill was the final piece of legislation considered in this session of the Scottish Parliament. This Bill was passed on March 21, with full cross party support, making a huge difference for mesothelioma sufferers and their families. It will now be possible for a victim to claim damages during his lifetime, without preventing the family and close relatives also subsequently making claims for damages after the death of that person. Over the last eight years, campaigns by families, trade unions, groups such as Clydeside Asbestos Group, and parliamentary debates from Labour members Duncan McNeill MSP (Greenock) and Des McNulty MSP (Clydebank) have all highlighted the difficulties faced by workers and their families, and tribute was paid to them all in the parliamentary debate in March. Thompsons Solicitors assisted with drafting the legislation. Workplace justice Another issue of concern to the trade union movement regards effective culpable homicide legislation in Scotland. Since the Larkhall Transco gas explosion in December 1999, local MSP Karen Gillon has been pursuing the need for those responsible for failure to be held to account. Employers must also be held accountable for workplace deaths. Trade unions in Scotland, including RMT, supported her recent proposal for a Culpable Homicide (Scotland) Bill, and the STUC will continue to press for robust Scottish legislation in the new Parliamentary session. The Corporate Manslaughter Bill at Westminster is running into difficulties, and in any event does not go as far as the ‘Expert Panel’ in Scotland recommended. As STUC general secretary Graham Smith said when opening congress in April, committing to work with the FACK (Families Against Corporate Killing) campaign: ‘Not one individual company or director in Scotland has been convicted of corporate homicide, an appalling indictment on our Scottish justice system’. We can expect this isue to come back to the Parliament in the new session. BILLS Private Members’ Bills on other topics also continue to give MSPs the opportunity to link up with trade unions and the wider community in Scotland. Although the Provision of Rail Passenger Services (Scotland) Bill brought forward by Tommy Sheridan MSP and supported by RMT, fell at the first stage, it brought the campaign for public funding of our rail services to the fore, and will hopefully help shape the discussions in the years to come about the future of Scotland’s railways. Another Member’s Bill on a policy supported by the STUC came from Frances Curran MSP on provision of free school meals, which was again defeated. However, the Scottish Executive brought forward legislation introducing statutory requirements on improving nutritional standards in primary and secondary schools, and agreed to widen the entitlement for free school meals. The Scottish Parliament has spent a significant time in its last year considering new transport projects. Legislation has been passed enabling work to commence on the Airdre- Bathgate rail line, the Waverley line in the Borders, the Edinburgh Airport link, and the Glasgow Airport Link The Transport and Works Bill, passed by the Parliament in February 2007, agreed a new and quicker system for approving major transport projects, and we can expect to see other new rail infrastructure investment in Scotland in the years ahead. Other initiatives aimed at supporting public transport include the Scottish Executive’s launch of a scheme for concessionary travel for all 16- 18 year olds, with a third off fare prices on trains and buses in Scotland. Since 2003, 14 per cent of the total number of Bills passed by the Scottish Parliament has concerned transport, third after People and Society (17 per cent) and Justice (18 per cent), a reflection of policy and investment commitments. RMTnews :: may 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk 32 REPORTING FROM THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT RMT Scottish Parliamentary officer Ann Henderson looks back on trade union achievements in the devolved chamber