That the Parliament notes with concern that, in October 2010, Scottish Enterprise committed to provide a grant worth £200,000 to Eden Springs UK Ltd, which it understands is owned, managed and controlled by Eden Springs Ltd, a company extracting water resources from the Syrian Golan; notes that the Syrian Golan territory has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967 in violation of international law and numerous UN resolutions; further notes that the Hague Convention of 1907 prohibits the use of natural resources from occupied territory for commercial gain (article 47) and the privatisation of these resources (article 55), and calls on the Scottish Government to direct Scottish Enterprise to withdraw any grant monies not yet delivered and to issue clear guidance so that, in future, Scottish Enterprise will not support or deal with Eden Springs or any other company that is considered to be in breach of international law.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes with concern that, in October 2010, Scottish Enterprise committed to provide a grant worth £200,000 to Eden Springs UK Ltd, which it understands is owned, managed and controlled by Eden Springs Ltd, a company extracting water resources from the Syrian Golan; notes that the Syrian Golan territory has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967 in violation of international law and numerous UN resolutions; further notes that the Hague Convention of 1907 prohibits the use of natural resources from occupied territory for commercial gain (article 47) and the privatisation of these resources (article 55), and calls on the Scottish Government to direct Scottish Enterprise to withdraw any grant monies not yet delivered and to issue clear guidance so that, in future, Scottish Enterprise will not support or deal with Eden Springs or any other company that is considered to be in breach of international law.
Supported by: Jean Urquhart, Patrick Harvie
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That the Parliament considers that access to green open space is a benefit to health and wellbeing and is essential to supporting more sport and physical activity; notes new research from the OPENspace Research Centre in Edinburgh that, it believes, strengthens the evidence that more green space is linked to less stress in deprived communities; notes that the City of Edinburgh Council has identified 24 parks and woodlands as possible Diamond Jubilee Fields for protection in perpetuity, and supports calls from members of the Portobello community in Edinburgh to protect Portobello golf course from future development by designating it a Jubilee Field or granting it similar protection.
Current Status:
That the Parliament considers that access to green open space is a benefit to health and wellbeing and is essential to supporting more sport and physical activity; notes new research from the OPENspace Research Centre in Edinburgh that, it believes, strengthens the evidence that more green space is linked to less stress in deprived communities; notes that the City of Edinburgh Council has identified 24 parks and woodlands as possible Diamond Jubilee Fields for protection in perpetuity, and supports calls from members of the Portobello community in Edinburgh to protect Portobello golf course from future development by designating it a Jubilee Field or granting it similar protection.
Supported by: Angus MacDonald, Richard Lyle, Gil Paterson, Patricia Ferguson
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As an amendment to motion S4M-02904 in the name of Shona Robison (Meeting the Challenge, Physical Activity and its Contribution to Tackling Obesity), after first “active” insert “; considers physical activity among children and young people to be a priority; recognises the important role that the design of the built environment, active travel and access to open space have in promoting a culture of informal physical activity; considers improving facilities and reducing costs to users to be preventative spend and key to enhancing participation in sport and physical activity”.
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-02904 in the name of Shona Robison (Meeting the Challenge, Physical Activity and its Contribution to Tackling Obesity), after first “active” insert “; considers physical activity among children and young people to be a priority; recognises the important role that the design of the built environment, active travel and access to open space have in promoting a culture of informal physical activity; considers improving facilities and reducing costs to users to be preventative spend and key to enhancing participation in sport and physical activity”.
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That the Parliament supports Pedal on Parliament’s eight-point manifesto; notes that Pedal on Parliament plans to gather at the Meadows in Edinburgh at 2 pm on Saturday 28 April 2012 and cycle en masse to the Parliament; congratulates the organisers of the event, which, it understands, will gather cyclists from across the nation to tell politicians that cycling matters, that there is a need for safer cycling and to call for a Scotland that is fit for cycling; encourages everyone who cycles in Scotland, or who would like to cycle, to join the event, with or without their bikes; believes that this event will help boost safe cycling in Scotland; welcomes the Scottish Government’s target of 10% of journeys being made by bike by 2020; regrets that less than 1% of the transport budget in Scotland is allocated to cycling infrastructure; notes that the Scottish Government’s report, Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2010-22, The Report on Proposals and Policies, has proposed allocating £1.32 billion over 11 years for active travel, and believes that 10% of the transport budget should be spent on active travel.
Current Status:
That the Parliament supports Pedal on Parliament’s eight-point manifesto; notes that Pedal on Parliament plans to gather at the Meadows in Edinburgh at 2 pm on Saturday 28 April 2012 and cycle en masse to the Parliament; congratulates the organisers of the event, which, it understands, will gather cyclists from across the nation to tell politicians that cycling matters, that there is a need for safer cycling and to call for a Scotland that is fit for cycling; encourages everyone who cycles in Scotland, or who would like to cycle, to join the event, with or without their bikes; believes that this event will help boost safe cycling in Scotland; welcomes the Scottish Government’s target of 10% of journeys being made by bike by 2020; regrets that less than 1% of the transport budget in Scotland is allocated to cycling infrastructure; notes that the Scottish Government’s report, Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2010-22, The Report on Proposals and Policies, has proposed allocating £1.32 billion over 11 years for active travel, and believes that 10% of the transport budget should be spent on active travel.
Supported by: Malcolm Chisholm, Helen Eadie, Jim Hume, John Lamont, Kezia Dugdale, Patrick Harvie, Neil Findlay
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That the Parliament believes that the widespread exploitation of coal bed methane, shale gas and underground coal gasification are incompatible with Scotland's carbon reduction targets; notes the findings of the report published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on 17 April 2012, which states that earthquake tremors in Lancashire resulted from hydraulic fracking and are highly repeatable; believes, however, that the central concerns about unconventional fossil fuel extraction remain the climate change impacts of burning the extracted fuel, the promotion of continued fossil fuel dependence and serious water pollution risks; is concerned that no regulatory regime appears to assess the climate change impacts of unconventional fossil fuel extraction and that wells in Cannonbie, Dumfries and Galloway, are able to operate without an environmental impact Assessment, and calls for a moratorium on coal bed methane, shale gas and underground coal gasification until a full independent environmental assessment has been done on their cumulative effect on both the local environment and Scotland's climate change targets.
Current Status:
That the Parliament believes that the widespread exploitation of coal bed methane, shale gas and underground coal gasification are incompatible with Scotland's carbon reduction targets; notes the findings of the report published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on 17 April 2012, which states that earthquake tremors in Lancashire resulted from hydraulic fracking and are highly repeatable; believes, however, that the central concerns about unconventional fossil fuel extraction remain the climate change impacts of burning the extracted fuel, the promotion of continued fossil fuel dependence and serious water pollution risks; is concerned that no regulatory regime appears to assess the climate change impacts of unconventional fossil fuel extraction and that wells in Cannonbie, Dumfries and Galloway, are able to operate without an environmental impact Assessment, and calls for a moratorium on coal bed methane, shale gas and underground coal gasification until a full independent environmental assessment has been done on their cumulative effect on both the local environment and Scotland's climate change targets.
Supported by: Neil Findlay, Patrick Harvie, Elaine Smith
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That the Parliament congratulates the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) on organising a Global Day of Action on Military Spending on 17 April 2012; understands that the UK currently spends around £39 billion per year on its military, more than any other country in the world apart from the United States of America and China, at a time when it considers spending on welfare and local services is being drastically cut and many people around the world remain in hunger and poverty; notes that CAAT seeks an end to UK arms export subsidies, estimated at £700 million per year, and a just transition for arms industry employees; considers that the skills and technical expertise of workers in communities that are heavily reliant on the arms industry, such as Edinburgh, Fife and the Faslane area, could be redeployed to the growing renewables sector, which it understands is itself in need of more engineers, and believes that there is now majority support in the Parliament to rid Scotland of what it sees as costly and unnecessary nuclear weapons.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) on organising a Global Day of Action on Military Spending on 17 April 2012; understands that the UK currently spends around £39 billion per year on its military, more than any other country in the world apart from the United States of America and China, at a time when it considers spending on welfare and local services is being drastically cut and many people around the world remain in hunger and poverty; notes that CAAT seeks an end to UK arms export subsidies, estimated at £700 million per year, and a just transition for arms industry employees; considers that the skills and technical expertise of workers in communities that are heavily reliant on the arms industry, such as Edinburgh, Fife and the Faslane area, could be redeployed to the growing renewables sector, which it understands is itself in need of more engineers, and believes that there is now majority support in the Parliament to rid Scotland of what it sees as costly and unnecessary nuclear weapons.
Supported by: Fiona McLeod, Jean Urquhart, Maureen Watt, Linda Fabiani, Jamie Hepburn, John Finnie, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Patrick Harvie, Dave Thompson, John Mason, Jim Eadie, Mike MacKenzie
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That the Parliament welcomes the growing number of cyclists in Scotland and the 12% drop in cycling accident casualties between 2000 and 2010; believes that investing far more in infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians will boost jobs, reduce business costs, cut congestion and climate-changing pollution and improve Scotland’s health by improving air quality and reducing obesity; recognises the central importance of cycling safety and the perception of safety on the road to encouraging more people to cycle; considers that active travel is a cross-cutting priority for central and local government and that active travel champions should be represented on relevant transport and land-use forums, and calls on the Scottish Government to place active travel at the heart of the planning system, to work with local authorities to implement a rolling programme to upgrade infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists as part of every road improvement, to expand the use of 20 mph zones in residential and shopping streets, to consider reviewing all urban speed limits and simplifying the Traffic Regulation Orders process, to provide the necessary support to ensure that all road users have access to increased cycling safety training and to work with local authorities to ensure that every child in Scotland has the opportunity to undertake on-road cycle training by 2015.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes the growing number of cyclists in Scotland and the 12% drop in cycling accident casualties between 2000 and 2010; believes that investing far more in infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians will boost jobs, reduce business costs, cut congestion and climate-changing pollution and improve Scotland’s health by improving air quality and reducing obesity; recognises the central importance of cycling safety and the perception of safety on the road to encouraging more people to cycle; considers that active travel is a cross-cutting priority for central and local government and that active travel champions should be represented on relevant transport and land-use forums, and calls on the Scottish Government to place active travel at the heart of the planning system, to work with local authorities to implement a rolling programme to upgrade infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists as part of every road improvement, to expand the use of 20 mph zones in residential and shopping streets, to consider reviewing all urban speed limits and simplifying the Traffic Regulation Orders process, to provide the necessary support to ensure that all road users have access to increased cycling safety training and to work with local authorities to ensure that every child in Scotland has the opportunity to undertake on-road cycle training by 2015.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29/03/2012
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That the Parliament congratulates the Marine Conservation Society and the 589 volunteers who took part in Scotland in the Beachwatch Big Weekend 2011, the biggest beachclean and survey event in the UK, which aimed to protect wildlife from litter and raise awareness; is pleased to note that the survey results published this week suggest that sewage-related debris on beaches has decreased by 67% in Scotland from 2010; notes, however, that 1,696 pieces of litter were collected for every kilometre of beach surveyed in Scotland and is concerned particularly by plastic litter, which, it understands, continues to be a major problem on beaches and remains in the marine environment continuing to be a threat to wildlife who ingest it or become entangled in it; notes that a University of London study of the Clyde found that 83% of nephrops, or langoustines, studied had plastic in their stomachs; endorses the Marine Conservation Society's calls for action on reducing plastic litter, and urges the Scottish Government to stick to its pledge and publish a consultation on a Scottish marine litter strategy as soon as possible in 2012.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates the Marine Conservation Society and the 589 volunteers who took part in Scotland in the Beachwatch Big Weekend 2011, the biggest beachclean and survey event in the UK, which aimed to protect wildlife from litter and raise awareness; is pleased to note that the survey results published this week suggest that sewage-related debris on beaches has decreased by 67% in Scotland from 2010; notes, however, that 1,696 pieces of litter were collected for every kilometre of beach surveyed in Scotland and is concerned particularly by plastic litter, which, it understands, continues to be a major problem on beaches and remains in the marine environment continuing to be a threat to wildlife who ingest it or become entangled in it; notes that a University of London study of the Clyde found that 83% of nephrops, or langoustines, studied had plastic in their stomachs; endorses the Marine Conservation Society's calls for action on reducing plastic litter, and urges the Scottish Government to stick to its pledge and publish a consultation on a Scottish marine litter strategy as soon as possible in 2012.
Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, John Finnie, Patrick Harvie, Jamie Hepburn, Dennis Robertson, Kenneth Gibson, Iain Gray, Hugh Henry, Nanette Milne, Jean Urquhart, Jackie Baillie, Elaine Murray, Claudia Beamish
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That the Parliament notes with sadness that, since 2000, 16 cyclists have died and many others injured in accidents in Lothian; understands that almost all of these accidents involved a motorised vehicle; believes that cycling is generally a safe activity and that the best way to improve safety is to get more people on their bikes to form a "critical mass" on the roads; considers that, in order to make them safer for cyclists and pedestrians, there is need for a radical rethink of how streets are designed; believes that training for all key road users must be improved and funding for cycle proficiency training for school pupils must be increased, and considers that, to see what changes can be made to make Scotland a leader in cycle safety and to help minimise the chances of another tragedy on the country's roads, a cycle safety summit with key partners is urgently required.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes with sadness that, since 2000, 16 cyclists have died and many others injured in accidents in Lothian; understands that almost all of these accidents involved a motorised vehicle; believes that cycling is generally a safe activity and that the best way to improve safety is to get more people on their bikes to form a "critical mass" on the roads; considers that, in order to make them safer for cyclists and pedestrians, there is need for a radical rethink of how streets are designed; believes that training for all key road users must be improved and funding for cycle proficiency training for school pupils must be increased, and considers that, to see what changes can be made to make Scotland a leader in cycle safety and to help minimise the chances of another tragedy on the country's roads, a cycle safety summit with key partners is urgently required.
Current Status: Fallen on 18/05/2012
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That the Parliament is concerned at the scale of illegal fishing activity by the pelagic fleet over the last decade; understands that 17 boats out of the entire pelagic fleet of 26 boats were engaged in a major breach of regulations resulting in the illegal landing of at least £45 million worth of fish between January 2002 and March 2005; considers that this level of illegal activity can only have continued for so long as a result of what it considers an unacceptable ethos of tolerance in the industry as a whole; congratulates the criminal investigation team and progress in the industry on compliance; calls on the Scottish Government, in light of the many years that it has taken for these infractions to come to court, to explore ways to ensure that there are swift prosecutions for future breaches of EU fisheries regulations; welcomes the proposals for improved enforcement in the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill consultation, such as powers to inspect at sea and dispose of property such as illegal electro-fishing equipment, and welcomes innovative finance proposals to ensure that Marine Scotland is adequately resourced to enforce new and existing regulations.
Current Status:
That the Parliament is concerned at the scale of illegal fishing activity by the pelagic fleet over the last decade; understands that 17 boats out of the entire pelagic fleet of 26 boats were engaged in a major breach of regulations resulting in the illegal landing of at least £45 million worth of fish between January 2002 and March 2005; considers that this level of illegal activity can only have continued for so long as a result of what it considers an unacceptable ethos of tolerance in the industry as a whole; congratulates the criminal investigation team and progress in the industry on compliance; calls on the Scottish Government, in light of the many years that it has taken for these infractions to come to court, to explore ways to ensure that there are swift prosecutions for future breaches of EU fisheries regulations; welcomes the proposals for improved enforcement in the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill consultation, such as powers to inspect at sea and dispose of property such as illegal electro-fishing equipment, and welcomes innovative finance proposals to ensure that Marine Scotland is adequately resourced to enforce new and existing regulations.
Current Status: Fallen on 18/05/2012
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