Christine Grahame
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding whether any of the support announced in response to the increased cost of heating oil will help the agriculture sector and other rural industries in Scotland that are dependent on that fuel. (S6O- 05695)”
“At a recent First Minister’s question time, I raised the matter of the successful prosecution against the Hamiltons, who are part of the cruel puppy- farm trade. That case was concluded after a five- year investigation by the SSPCA that started when 33 puppies were found in dreadful conditions.”
“Of course, some can go online or use an app, but there will be many who cannot, and for them, it is essential that they speak to a real person at the bank, not a chatbot. Therefore, I would impress upon the Bank of Scotland the need for it to take up my suggestion of reintroducing mobile services, which I understand it abandoned in 2024.”
“My first prize at school was for an essay on animal welfare, but being a vet was out of reach for a girl from a council house scheme. However, I got to the right place at last, chairing the cross- party group on animal welfare for more than a decade, with two acts of Parliament—the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Welfare of Do…”
“I made my first speech in June 1999, and one Mary Scanlon, a Conservative, broke my peroration—I thought that I was doing rather well—with a point of order that challenged the relevance of my contribution to the motion. I was devastated, but I ploughed on.”
“The Scottish Sentencing Council is developing guidelines for environmental and wildlife crime, but companion and farm animal welfare cases, which make up the vast majority of investigations, are not included.”
The complete record
Every one of 727 lines we hold for Christine Grahame, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 15.
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the housing secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding arrangements for accessing pension funds as a source of investment to build affordable and social housing. (S6O-05318) The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan): I have discussed with ministerial colleagues the work of the housing investment task force, which included the utilisation of pension funds, along with other sources of finance, to increase investment in affordable housing. I have also had direct discussions with pension funds and the Scottish National Investment Bank on how we can build on what has been done to date. That includes significant direct investment in registered social landlords, in partnership with the Scottish Government.”
“For me, that is the spirit of a local business, which is replicated throughout my constituency. During those tough Covid years, and during the tough days now due to inflation and the economy, they can flourish—but they will always need local support. 18:07”
“It is a great opportunity for local businesses to showcase what they are doing, and it draws local people back to the heart of Penicuik. In those towns and across the Borders and Midlothian, the common ridings not only emphasise the local history and culture but help the tills to ring and provide work for blacksmiths, stables and hospitality. I know many of my local businesses. For me, it would be invidious to name some and not others, but, following Douglas Ross, I will make one exception and name the Central Bar in Peebles, which is a free house that is small but perfectly formed. During Covid, Roddy MacKay, the owner, did not qualify for a bean in financial support. However, he did not lie down in defeat—he spruced up the interior, and there are now hanging baskets outside. He recently won an award for his little pub.”
“In Gala, the first festive gala was on Saturday 29 November, with live performances, markets, creative activities and the grand tree light-up. The gala brought a real sense of energy, with thousands of people choosing to spend their day in the town centre, which translated into meaningful support for local businesses. Indeed, many enjoyed an exceptional trading day, with several reporting record takings. There is an endeavour now to replicate that at different times of the year. Penicuik town centre precinct hosts many local events. There is a very active community council that runs regular street fairs, summer fairs, the pumpkin patch and, of course, the biggest event of the year—the Christmas fair and Christmas lights switch-on.”
“I am pleased that the Public Audit Committee is already initiating an inquiry, that the minister is on the case and that there is a willingness to work together across the parties. I welcome that, but I also gently remind the Opposition that there was once co-operation between the Conservatives and the SNP in here, which brought about the small business bonus scheme, meaning that some businesses pay no rates at all. Those were good days. There are particular challenges in Gala and Penicuik, both of which have major supermarkets right on their doorsteps—Tesco and Asda in Gala, and Tesco and Lidl in Penicuik. However, I am not bashing supermarkets. They have their place, but their arrival has changed those town centres, although the town centre businesses are fighting back.”
“I, too, congratulate the member on securing the debate and wholly endorse the vital role of small businesses in sustaining the town centre and local economy. They are embedded in communities and support local events, football clubs and charities. They come in all shapes and sizes: shops, cafes, takeaways, pubs, manufacturers, a local cinema, a bingo hall—and that list is not exhaustive. Many survived the Covid years, which was tough going, and I thank them all for that. From Peebles to Penicuik and from Galashiels to Gorebridge, small businesses give our towns local employment and their character. In passing, I note the exchanges on the issue of revaluations, which has been raised by my constituents.”
“Much of what the centre provides is reflected in the bill, and I could see Broomlee providing just such experiences. Many moons ago, as a working-class child, my first time away from my parents was with the girl guides, camping at North Berwick. Later, as a teenager, I went on a fortnight’s retreat to Iona. They were invaluable experiences, so blame the girl guides and Iona for the way I am today. Finally—other members have said this, but I am not just saying it because they have said it—Liz Smith’s retiral next year will, of course, be a loss to the Parliament, as I also said about Maurice Golden. They are both MSPs whom I value in this Parliament. However, I really must not make a habit of saying such things. 17:26”
“In the stage 1 debate, I referenced the Broomlee outdoor education centre near West Linton, which I have visited on several occasions. It provides residential outdoor experiences for young people—life-changing experiences in the outdoors for children facing the pressures and anxiety of a post-lockdown world, coupled with the difficulties of a cost of living crisis, given that most of them are from less well-off areas. At the time of that debate, the centre manager, Richard Gerrish, wrote to me. He said: “This issue is clearly very close to our hearts ... because we have witnessed first-hand the ever-increasing numbers of children from economically disadvantaged areas who are missing out on these valuable experiences”. I have abbreviated what he said.”
“Their emotional and mental wellbeing is taking a hammering. In my youth—yes, Mr Rennie, I did have one— there was little telly and no internet; there were just a few parked cars on the street, which became our ad hoc playground. We were exercising outdoors without knowing it. When we were exhausting my late mother’s patience, her mantra—“Go outside: the fresh air will do you good”—turned out to be true. Introducing the requirement in schools is right and timely, particularly—but not only—because of the explosion in the number of children with additional support needs. The member in charge will recall that, in the stage 1 debate, I supported the principle of the bill but caveated my support on the issue of funding, so I am heartened to hear the exchanges today on that.”
“I, too, congratulate Liz Smith. I know the work that is needed for a member’s bill. It involves testing the member’s commitment and dealing with obstacles that are put in their way—they just have to navigate their way round them. I did, just as Liz Smith has done, and I can assure everyone that that does not apply just to Opposition members’ bills. Such bills are very personal and close to the member’s heart—as this one is. I heard the member in charge of the bill on the radio, referring to more and more children finding traditional education a challenge and saying that outdoor activities can be fun in themselves but also therapeutic. I quite agree. Even before Covid disrupted young people’s educational and social experiences, that generation already had challenges that I did not have in my long-lost youth.”
“The Scottish Greens will support the bill, and I hope that we will treat it not as the end of the journey but as part of a clear programme of work to protect animals, support responsible ownership and prevent suffering across Scotland. 15:43”
“Finally, it is worth remembering that Scotland already has strong foundations in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering, places a duty of care on those responsible for animals and provides powers that can be used to regulate activities to protect welfare. We should use the powers that we have, and strengthen them where needed, to raise standards and prevent harm. The Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill will help. It recognises the harm of the crime, provides for tougher consequences and improves our ability to measure what is happening through reporting.”
“I believe that, as others have said, we should bring the framework together through a modern, breed-neutral dog control bill that simplifies welfare rules, makes it easier to intervene early, and supports consistent, effective enforcement, focusing on behaviour, responsibility and risk, not on the look of a dog. Times have changed since some of our laws were written. We now have thriving dog grooming, boarding and walking sectors that remain largely unregulated. Most providers are responsible, but a lack of baseline standards means that not every dog gets the treatment that it should, which can lead to inadvertent harm.”
“We need tighter regulation of fireworks, because we know the unnecessary suffering, which is predictable and preventable, that they cause to pets, livestock and wildlife. We need to streamline and strengthen dog legislation. Responsible authorities currently work across multiple overlapping regimes—the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 and wider welfare law—and those often have different tests, thresholds and processes. That complexity makes enforcement harder than it needs to be and it can leave victims feeling as though no one is accountable. We should ensure that the police and local authorities have clear guidance and the resources to enforce the rules.”
“In particular, we need the Scottish Government to ensure that Mark Ruskell’s Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill is given ample opportunity to pass before the end of this session. Greyhound racing remains a glaring omission in Scotland’s animal welfare landscape. If we are serious about preventing suffering, we cannot keep leaving that gap unaddressed. Beyond that, there are clear next steps that we should take. We need to ban shock collars for cats and dogs. Training and behaviour should not rely on pain or fear and Scotland should draw a clear ethical line. We need to crack down on puppy smuggling and on poor breeding practices that put profit before welfare, so that people who are trying to buy responsibly are not misled and animals are not traded as commodities.”
“A family member is taken, routines are shattered and owners are left with the awful uncertainty of not knowing where their animal is or whether it is safe. Again, I thank Maurice Golden for pursuing his member’s bill and for listening to stakeholders as it has progressed. The bill sits within a wider pattern of legislation in this session of Parliament of members introducing practical reforms to improve dog and pet welfare. We saw that with Christine Grahame’s Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, which has strengthened responsible dog ownership by improving the information and safeguards that are in place for people buying a dog. Although there has been progress, more needs to be done, some of which needs Government time and leadership.”
“I will briefly parachute in another point: the festive season is not the time to buy a dog or a puppy, and, when people buy a dog or a puppy, they should do so only from a reputable source. Going back to my script, I also agree that it would be a good idea in the next parliamentary session to introduce a consolidation bill on all laws that relate to dogs. On that note, again, I congratulate Maurice Golden. As a postscript, I say that I know that the member is not seeking re-election. He will be a great loss to this place. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We now move to closing speeches. 15:39 Ariane Burgess: As we close this debate, I want to return to the human impact. When a dog is stolen, it is not just a theft.”
“I appreciate that the possibility of recording dog theft as a specific crime may offer challenges, but those are not insurmountable—I will leave it at that. I will conclude my speech with a few words about my very late dog of 40 years ago, Roostie— my delightful, kindly Irish setter. She let the cat sleep on top of her—for her body warmth, not his. My sons, who are now fathers themselves, used her as a pillow for comfort as well as for fun. She dragged us out for walks in the pouring rain and we felt the better for it. She was never—ever— property or a “corporeal thing.” Her impact on my life can be measured by the fact that, 40 years on, she is keen in my memories. She taught my sons how to behave and respect her, just as she taught me how to be a good and responsible owner. The reciprocated love and affection of a dog is invaluable.”
“We have moved a long way from viewing animals—including pets—as property. There is also specific reference in the bill to “assistance dogs” and “helper” dogs. The heartbreak may be the same or be of a more professional nature if those dogs are stolen, so that classification is important. I welcome the penalties and the aggravation that would be introduced if it is a helper dog, which helps children and adults in their daily lives, that is stolen. Helper dogs can also be used to detect drug smuggling and explosives, and can possibly alert individuals to the presence of cancer. Therefore, an aggravation of the crime in those circumstances—and that is by no means an exhaustive list—would be very welcome.”
“This offence can be used to prosecute dog theft incidents.” For balance, I will also quote the Law Society’s comments that “Judges in Scotland have the tools to assess and sanction appropriately dog theft offences, considering the harm that such behaviours may cause to the animal’s welfare and the dog’s owners and family.” I recall from my days in practice as a solicitor that, when a relationship broke down, although issues with the monetary assets could be resolved, there was often a fight about the family dog, and there were even circumstances in which the family dog was used in a coercive manner. The rub is the concept of a dog as a “corporeal thing”. It may break our hearts to have a valuable or sentimental piece of property stolen but, in my book, that by no means equates to having a family dog stolen.”
“I am delighted to speak in this debate in support of my colleague Maurice Golden’s bill, and not only because I was the additional member in charge of the bill—that is a smart title but, to be honest, I was not actually required to do anything. I know how much determination is needed to introduce a member’s bill, having successfully introduced two of my own. During the early stages of the bill, the Law Society of Scotland stated: “Theft is already an offence under the common law, defined as ‘to appropriate moveable, corporeal things belonging to another person, without the consent of that person, where the accused knows that those things belongs to another and intends to deprive the owner of their use permanently, indefinitely or (in certain circumstances) temporarily’.”
“That engagement will include local authorities, Police Scotland and others to look at differences between variable speeds and at different rural areas, where there are already some roads whose limit is 50mph and some whose limit is 60mph.”
“Fiona Hyslop: I agree with Christine Grahame that this Government consults and that it responds to consultations. I do not think that that is the position of the Conservatives, who would have the Government consult on what it already wanted to do. This is a responsive Government. However, when we are considering road safety, we have to take people with us. The member is right that some roads in the Borders already have staggered speed limits. We are taking steps to increase HGV speed limits precisely because of issues with frustration and overtaking. We will work with Scottish Borders Council and others to consider the impacts that different types of roads and different standards of single carriageways have on road casualties.”
“I say to Sue Webber that the Government did the right thing. It consulted and, more important, it listened. Having experienced decades of driving on roads in the Borders and Midlothian—for example, the twisting A7 and A701 roads—I am pleased that the Scottish Government is not pursuing the 50mph speed limit. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the welcome introduction of variable limits—for example, a limit of 40mph on the approach to a village that reduces to 20mph as vehicles pass through the village. Does she agree that reducing the national speed limit might have caused more problems than it would have solved—for example, by causing even more unsafe overtaking—and that, as all drivers should know, the 60mph limit is a limit, not a recommendation?”
“The First Minister will be aware of the significant financial pressures in the voluntary sector, with inflationary energy and food costs and, of course, increased national insurance payments. That increase in national insurance will cost the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals an extra £400,000 a year, which has led to it having to look for voluntary redundancies. Does the First Minister share my concern that the Scottish SPCA will have to cut its services at the very time—after the festive season—when there will be an upsurge in demand as unwanted pets, given as Christmas presents, are rejected and abandoned when the novelty wears off? I declare an interest as convener of the cross- party group on animal welfare.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Christine Grahame: I do not quite know how to react. That went a wee bit too far in praising me, but I will take it. The Arniston club has a home at Gore Glen pavilion and an astro facility at Arniston park. Next, I hope that we will see boys and girls teams running right through the youth age groups. Football is not just about the Hampdens, roaring full on a Saturday, but about local parks that are bursting with excitable teams and youngsters. There are more than 160,000 grass-roots players across the country. Most of them are under 18—all dreaming, playing, learning, and building the future of the game. The Scotland team is an inspiration to those youngsters and—I say this to Mr Whittle—as a sports agnostic, I wish the Scotland team and our ambassadors, the tartan army, well.”
“Football also gives them a place to belong. It is not just about boys football anymore; girls football in Penicuik is booming, with dedicated squads in multiple age groups, matching the national picture, where female participation is now at a record high. Arniston Rangers Youth Football Club in Gorebridge has some 300 youngsters between the ages of 2 and 16 playing. The number is growing rapidly each year given Gorebridge’s ever- expanding population, mostly of young families. There are games for many age groups, with Gore Glen being a great place to watch football each weekend. There is a girls section, with teams playing across age groups. Brian Whittle: I cannot pass up the opportunity to welcome you into the fold of sport, now that you have been converted to recognise the power of sport.”
“I will come to what that means for youth football but, first, I will say that I have been here before. I embraced Ally’s army during the 1978 world cup. Then, it was about panache, style and razzamatazz and not so much about skill. We were all full to the brim with the overrated and oversold expectations of the charismatic Ally MacLeod—bless him. I repeat that today’s squad have heart and determination as well as skills. Their impact on the younger generations will be hugely positive. Penicuik Athletic Football Club has been part of the town since 1888, built on volunteers, families and local sponsors. Penicuik Athletic Youth Football Club now runs more than 20 boys and girls teams—from the tiny early touches for four and five-year-olds through to the teenagers—so hundreds of young people are growing up active and confident.”
“I, too, congratulate Keith Brown on securing this debate. Having confessed previously and publicly that sport, either as a participant or fan, is not in my DNA, colleagues might wonder—or perhaps not— why I have opted to speak in this debate. My motivation was that there appeared to be not one woman down to speak, and I thought that I had better step in, so I welcome the company of Carol Mochan. Even the sport-immune Christine Grahame cheered at the Scotland team securing that elusive place in the world cup, and doing it with such style, so here I am. At first, it seemed that defeat was going to be snatched from the jaws of victory, which is so often the way of things with a Scotland team, but then—wow—those two extraordinary goals. The team played with heart and determination as well as flair.”
“I was not going to contribute, but I have managed to get some free time this evening and it is a very important debate. I agree with much that Sue Webber said, but I will start with the “Highway Code”, which is UK wide. If you look up e-bikes, it says that you do not need a licence, and the bike does not need to be registered, taxed or insured— presumably, along with all that, it does not need to have an MOT. We start from that position. If we had a registration or licensing system and addressed all the other issues such as insurance, we would be starting with a sound grounding, rather than simply saying that we need more police.”
“I know that our police do their absolute best, but let us use the powers that we have in the Parliament to back them and give those in our justice system the resources and the tools that they need. 18:19”
“Part of the solution is to have more visible policing and patrols, particularly on our high streets, such as Union Street, because that will ensure that such behaviour is not perpetrated there. Nonetheless, Christine Grahame is absolutely right that there needs to be a whole-city and whole-system approach, and that is what she will find in my justice paper. Scottish Conservatives absolutely would target the organised crime and vehicle-based offending that Sue Webber identified and would make it easier to disrupt the gangs. As Clare Adamson said, we must ensure that there are real consequences for repeat offenders, and we must address the issue of community payback orders being breached. I congratulate Sue Webber on lodging the motion. This is a real issue for the people of Scotland.”
“My concern relates to the member suggesting that more visible police—or more police on the beat, as we might say—is somehow a solution. I propose to him that it is not much of a solution, because these kinds of people will simply get on their mobile phones and say, “There’s police about there,” and evade them. That happens in all circumstances; it just moves the problem somewhere else. Liam Kerr: I respectfully disagree with Christine Grahame. I understand her point—that we cannot swamp one area with police and move the problem to a different area. However, the approach that I described is part of the solution. I am perfectly happy to send her a copy of my justice paper, because I think that she would enjoy it.”
“One of the group’s aims is to encourage more open conversations about death, not just emotionally but in practical and mental terms, with an emphasis on preparedness and reducing the silence that often surrounds grief and loss. The group’s motto is “Life grows around your grief”. That is a kind and compassionate thought. Although it is a difficult path, with steps forward and many steps back, those organisations and others help to keep folk on a forward path. 17:40”
“The group meets monthly in person in Galashiels, with on-going private online support available at any time, including on difficult days such as anniversaries or in those moments of grief that arise quite unexpectedly. Members also organise social activities such as walks, cinema outings and coffee meet-ups— simple but powerful opportunities to find connection and presence amid profound loss. The group is entirely volunteer run, and all members of the team are themselves widowed. Over the past three years, the group has grown to nearly 480 members, offering a lifeline to many who are facing isolation and continual heartbreak. Its approach is centred on providing sustained support over the long term, not just in the immediate aftermath of bereavement.”
“Sitting together chatting, just incidentally, led to starting conversations about the loved one they had lost to suicide and about mental health, their own wellbeing and how to cope—sharing with others in the same boat as themselves. The quilt tours the Lothians, helping to start conversations about mental health and suicide, in the hope that it will help those who have lost a loved one and perhaps also save lives. Recently, it was my privilege to meet two Borders widows who are members of the Scottish Borders widowed community, which is a peer-to- peer support group that offers long-term compassionate support to men and women across the Borders who have lost a partner. As the only group of its kind in the region, it provides a much- needed space for people to connect with others who truly understand what it means to be widowed.”
“Some throw themselves into work or projects. Sometimes that works, but sometimes it is grief deferred. The loss of a child through an accident can bring parents together, but it can also tear a relationship apart. With the suicide of a loved one, there is guilt. There is no script, and no road map that will suit everyone. That is where individual bereavement counselling services come in, and I will refer to two such services. It was humbling to view the “Lothians speak their name” quilt memorial in Parliament. The quilt was hand-crafted, to remember loved ones who took their own lives, by a group of 49 friends and family members. I heard about how those who helped to create that beautiful memorial found strength in the new community that they had formed.”
“I congratulate my colleague on securing this debate on what can be a taboo issue: grief and bereavement, which are two sides of the same coin. Grief can be immediate; it can be there even when your loved one is still alive, in the last, sometimes painful, days, or even weeks, of life— bereavement can begin even then. Of course, at funerals, memorials, anniversaries, Christmas and new year, grief can be anticipated, but it can pop up even years later; a certain melody, or the scent of a flower and, out of the blue, you are heavy with sadness. These days, those we have lost are immortalised in our social media, and that is also tough. It is wrong for someone to say, “It’s been nearly a year—you’d think they’d have moved on.” Some do; others do not. Some drink their way out of grief—that does not usually work.”
“Christine Grahame: I am in my last minute. The international staff I have referred to are not just filling labour gaps—they are the backbone of care in many communities in Scotland. All these issues have been neatly dodged by Dame Jackie Baillie. I will quote my favourite man, Wes Streeting, who himself has said that “all roads … lead back to Westminster”. He has also said that “The NHS is in crisis” and that the “decisions that are taken in Westminster don’t just affect England, but Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.” I could not say it better myself. 15:30”
“Against that, we have Westminster’s hostile approach to immigration, which, as has been mentioned already, could spell disaster for Scotland’s care sector. According to Scottish Care’s latest workforce survey, from May 2025, international staff make up at least 26 per cent of the current care workforce, and international workers make up more than 90 per cent of the workforce at some organisations. More than 6,800 of those workers are on visas, and they would be directly affected by proposed changes to UK immigration policy by the current Labour Government. It is all about funding, migration and the economy, and nobody on the Opposition benches wants to attribute any of those issues to the difficulties facing the public sector throughout Scotland and in other parts of the UK. Jackie Baillie: Will the member give way?”
“No wonder hospitals are under threat. Jackie Baillie: Will the member give way? Christine Grahame: I am afraid that the member has chosen to have a very short debate about what she calls an emergency, so I am going to continue. The Scottish Government has introduced a 21.5 per cent increase in the independent living fund, which provides crucial support to disabled persons to enable them to live fulfilling and independent lives. The Government has increased the voluntary sector short breaks fund by 62.5 per cent to £13 million, giving short-break support for adults and young carers. It is expanding hospital at home services. We have free personal care and no prescription charges, neither of which is available in England. That is all preventative spend—and I should also point out that there is no resident doctors strike here.”
“We have had the continuation of decades of austerity, exacerbated by the damaging actions of Liz Truss; we have had continuing inflation of food and energy costs; and we have had the financial impact of increased employer national insurance contributions. All of those have affected the health, care and voluntary sectors, including hospices. Finally, we have Brexit, and now damaging migration policies. All those things are at the hands of Westminster. The national insurance increases are costing the NHS £191 million each and every year for its directly employed staff, and a further estimated £40 million for contracted services such as GPs, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists. We are seeing an additional recurring burden of £84 million to the care sector and £75 million to the voluntary sector year on year.”
“I would like to give the debate some context, of which members will be well aware. Covid still casts a long shadow over health and social care services—that is true across the UK. It has not only caused delay; there is no doubt that, because of the restrictions during the pandemic, some people found their health deteriorating even more. That has brought additional pressures on the NHS and care sector. Of course, we must add to that our increasingly ageing population, of which I am one. Much of that can be attributed to the UK’s economic climate. Funding has been mentioned, so I will talk about that.”
“On accessibility, improvement is much needed, because, all too often, there are only stairs, which means that there is no access at all. I thank the member for securing this debate. There are, of course, far more serious obstacles than those that I have met, but even having this recent but permanent taste of what is involved in simply getting from here to there while maintaining one’s dignity and, importantly, one’s individuality has been a lesson for this politician, and I am still learning. 17:42”
“At Halifax airport in Nova Scotia, I was offloaded and abandoned for some time, waiting for some poor soul to locate me and deposit me at customs. It is all a bit rough and ready and undignified, unless one is prepared to see the funny side of it. My walking stick was suspiciously and scrupulously examined at customs in Canada on account of its having a place for a light at the end. The whole shebang took so long that my poor family—complete with “Welcome, Granny Scotland” banners—had to wait 45 minutes before I appeared, now with walking stick, to an all-but-empty airport foyer. However, there are kind people who offer help, even if someone is trying to do something for themselves, such as getting luggage on to the rack. On balance, in my case, such actions have, so far, outweighed the lack of consideration.”
“On one occasion, my assistance, which had been booked, did not make an appearance, but I managed to capture a member of staff to help me to my distant carriage. Edinburgh airport has an assisted passenger desk, but that is well away from the entrance, so people have to struggle to it before they are allocated the most basic sort of wheelchair, which feels as if it and its user will part company quite easily. At the gates, the assisted passenger must wait conspicuously with others for their rickety transport to be placed on a lorry-like platform, which raises them up like a wheelie bin on to an even more rickety vehicle, which then deposits them on the plane. At the end of the flight, they are, of course, the last to come off.”
“Recently, when I was out with my walking stick, I found that I had to step aside to let others pass, not the other way round, even though, as is the case for others, pain is always my unwelcome companion. That lack of consideration makes me angry. I will talk about annoyances, such as having to rely on others to, for example, simply pass through entrances. Doors here and elsewhere in public areas should open easily and comfortably for those with mobility aids. Lift doors should be timed to stay open long enough to allow people with mobility issues to enter safely. Able-bodied folk filling lifts when there is no need for them to do so, leaving disabled people to wait, is simply wrong. The experience of being an assisted passenger at railways and airports is also annoying. Waverley station is a mixed bag.”
“Doors have to be held open by someone else and the lift is small and hidden. I have to say, however, that I have followed Pam Duncan-Glancy, who has exposed hidden accessible routes, which I now use. I say “now” because, until fairly recently, I would not admit to being in a minor way disabled. My disability is minor, but it has opened my eyes to what others have had to accept in how they access places and transport. Some people have been kind, some experiences have been annoying and some experiences have been, frankly, hilarious—at least, that was the best way to react. My mobility scooter is now regularly seen as I navigate the Parliament. However, in a world in which a mobile phone has to be scanned all the time, I find myself having to shout all the time to clear a pathway, because my horn is sadly pathetic.”
“I congratulate Pam Duncan-Glancy on securing this debate. To put it mildly, she knows far more than I do of the difficulties of those with physical disabilities, although she never lets her circumstances impinge on her contributions. She is clever, articulate and a fearsome parliamentary adversary—but enough of that praise. Disabilities take many forms. We had a debate last week on Tourette syndrome, which is a much misunderstood disability. We have had members with hearing impairments and we had Dennis Robertson, who was blind. This place of work has tried to provide facilities to suit those individual needs, but, even here, the arrangements for accessing spaces in a wheelchair or, in my case, a mobility scooter needs improvement. People cannot travel from the public area to the garden lobby without accompaniment and the use of a lift.”
“Finally, my bill would improve data collection so that the Scottish Government and authorities would have a clearer picture of which communities are affected more than others, such as the disabled or black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. My bill has been backed by the third sector and survivors of domestic abuse. Tomorrow, the Criminal Justice Committee will take evidence on it, and I hope that it is supported by members from all parties at stage 1 and stage 3. I hope that members can come together for once and agree that the current model is simply not good enough. Things will not change overnight but, as parliamentarians, it is our duty to ensure that no more lives are lost to sex-based violence. 15:46”