Constituency

Parliament to debate “medieval” rape clause policy

SNP MP, Alison Thewliss, will today (Wednesday 12th October) force the UK Government to turn up to Parliament and account for its medieval rape clause and pernicious two child policy, which would limit tax credit payments to the first two children in a family.

The campaigning MP has applied for a parliamentary debate to force UK Ministers to come before MPs and account for the plans, which have been condemned by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Speaking in advance of today’s Westminster debate, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“Whilst the campaign to scrap the rape clause has been gathering momentum, endless unanswered questions about this medieval policy have been piling up in Whitehall.

“Since spotting this proposal buried in the 2015 budget, it has been my firm belief that, as well as being fundamentally immoral, this is also completely unworkable.

“I am pleased that today will afford me the opportunity to forensically question Ministers in Parliament and, crucially, on the public record.

“Earlier in the year, I had an utterly woeful private meeting with the Welfare Minister, Lord Freud, who failed to answer very basic questions and, worse still, he suggested that physically and sexually abused women should just ‘flee’ from such situations. This demonstrated a blatant ignorance of the dehumanising nature of domestic and sexual abuse.

“The 2015 budget document suggested that the DWP would develop “protections” for women with more than two children, when that third child was conceived as a result of rape. Despite pressing Lord Freud on this, it was clear the Government don’t really know in practice how such a policy would work.

“For example, would a woman have to prove that she had conceived a child as a result of rape? If so, who would arbitrate on that? Would that information be retained on her DWP files? If so, would all and any DWP staff be able to access that information?

“It was suggested by the Government during the meeting that a letter be issued to survivors of rape which they could keep to prove they were exempt from the two child policy and could be presented as and when required. Does the UK Government genuinely think this is appropriate?

“One question this Government can’t answer is how limiting tax credits to two children per family fits in with its family test for policy. Put simply, this policy is anti-family and will stigmatise children.

“I’ve already had conversations with faith leaders who believe that this policy would directly discriminate families who, for religious reasons, might have larger families.

“There are just far too many unanswered questions and concerns around this policy; the Government wrote to me and confirmed that they still hadn’t figured out the detail of how their plans could be implemented.

“Theresa May’s new Government hasn’t been shy about making policy u-turns and ditching some of David Cameron and George Osborne’s prized policies. The rape clause and two child policy should be next to be thrown onto this new Government’s bonfire and I’m giving Ministers that very opportunity today, when they can come to the chamber and scrap these wicked plans.”

MP Thewliss celebrates Toryglen housing development

Toryglen’s MP, Alison Thewliss, joined Scottish Government Housing Minister Kevin Stewart MSP, local councillors Jim Scanlon & Jahangir Hanif, as well as GHA tenants in North Toryglen this week to celebrate the phase one opening of their new build housing development.

The £9.9m GHA development, built by contractors Crudens, is a mix of 66 houses and 34 flats, with 10 of the homes designed to wheelchair standard.

Future regeneration plans for North Toryglen include 49 homes for private sale and new shop units.

Commenting, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“I am absolutely thrilled that the SNP Scottish Government provided £4.6 million of grant funding to ensure this project could go ahead in my constituency. There has been great partnership working between the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, GHA and Wheatley Group and the private sector in Crudens. These 100 affordable, high-quality new homes have made a real difference in the community already, giving local people access to affordable, warm, modern homes.

“The contrast between Scotland and England on provision of affordable housing for social rent and for sale couldn’t be greater. The Scottish Government is working hard to turn round the toxic legacy of Margaret Thatcher’s disastrous right to buy policy, by reinvesting in social rented homes. The regeneration of Toryglen is another step forward in addressing the housing gap.

“The SNP Government is committed to delivering 50,000 more affordable homes over the course of this Parliament, backed up with investment of more than £3 billion.”

Alison Thewliss MP is supporting Meningitis Awareness Week

Alison Thewliss MP is helping to raise awareness of meningitis in Glasgow Central during national Meningitis Awareness Week (19-25 September 2016) to ensure that people are aware of the symptoms, know to be vigilant and act fast.

Meningitis Awareness Week is run by Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF). The charity estimates that there have been on average around 3,200 cases of meningitis and septicaemia every year in the UK. They are deadly diseases that can strike without warning, killing one in ten, and leaving a quarter of survivors with life altering after-effects ranging from deafness and brain damage to loss of limbs. Babies, toddlers and young adults are most at risk, however these diseases can strike anyone of any age at any time.

Symptoms of meningitis can develop rapidly. The first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell. Limb pain, pale skin, and cold hands and feet often appear earlier than the well-known rash (which doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it), neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights and confusion. Although a rash is often the most well-known symptom, it is often a sign that the disease is advancing rapidly and it is therefore crucial not to wait to for it to appear before seeking medical attention.

Commenting on the campaign, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“Meningitis is a devastating disease and it’s important that people act fast if they see someone displaying the early symptoms of meningitis. It can lead to life-threatening blood poisoning and can lead to permanent nerve and brain damage, which may also lead to loss of limbs.

“Meningitis vaccines can offer some protection from various types of meningitis and I would urge everyone to make sure that they are immunised against various forms of meningitis. I have a number of universities in my constituency and I would encourage all new students who are eligible for the meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine to make getting vaccinated a priority during Freshers’ Week.

“The speed at which meningitis symptoms can advance means that it is critical that more and more people are able to recognise the symptoms and signs of meningitis. That’s why I am delighted to support Meningitis Awareness Week and the Meningitis Research Foundation in raising awareness of meningitis.”

MRF Chief Executive, Vinny Smith said:

“We are so grateful to Alison Thewliss MP for raising awareness of meningitis. MRF funds vital scientific research into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia but there are still some forms of the disease which are not covered by vaccines so it is vital that people are aware of the symptoms. We encourage everyone to be vigilant and to get medical help if you spot the symptoms.”

New university students are also being encouraged to get vaccinated against a type of meningitis that has been on the rise in this age group. The meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine is available from the GP for those who are eligible. The vaccination programme covers all 14 to 18 year olds and 19 to 25 year olds starting university for the first time.

You can check that you know the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia at help to share the Meningitis Awareness Week campaign by visiting www.meningitis.org/maw2016 and using #MRFAwarenessWeek on social media.

For any questions about meningitis, septicaemia and vaccinations that can prevent the diseases call MRF’s free helpline on 080 8800 3344 or visit www.meningitis.org.

How communities can help look after our green spaces

(This blog was published on the Heritage Lottery Fund’s website on 23/09/16)

The name of the city I am proud to represent, Glasgow, derives its meaning from the old Gaelic word Glasgu, meaning “dear green place”.

Glasgow is home to over 90 parks (eight award winning) and gardens. That’s more than 1,900 acres of land – 25% of the Glasgow area as a whole.

Protecting our parks and green spaces is of paramount importance to the health and wellbeing of the city of Glasgow, and many of these themes are picked up in the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) report State of UK Public Parks 2016.

The report notes that, even in challenging economic times, where funding for projects and services is being squeezed across all areas of government, regenerating parks enjoys widespread support, with 57% of adults using their local parks at least once a month or more.

The Communities and Local Government Committee, of which I am a member, wants to expand on this with our inquiry into public parks across the UK. We want to hear the views of everyone across the UK about the state of their public parks and how they can be improved. Write to us by Friday 30 September to ensure your voice is heard: contact details are on the Parliament website.

Having a say

The HLF report also notes that the management of parks will increasingly vary as local authorities seek to make savings through the disposal of land and other assets.

I am clear that this disposal should not be done to satisfy the commercial interests of larger companies, but instead should involve communities at every stage of the parks management process.

The Scottish Government’s Community Empowerment Act gives communities powers to purchase surplus assets and request participation in the management and running of community assets. This means they can have the opportunity to exert greater control over their own neighbourhoods and green spaces.

With financial backing of the Scottish Land Fund, which supports bids for community purchase of assets, we can address some of the points made about the diversification of management in a bottom-up, community-led fashion.

Glasgow Green

Community budgeting can also play a role here and there are many successful pilot projects across Glasgow where communities have been able to decide spending priorities for services in their area, including on the creation and management of parks and green spaces.

In my own constituency of Glasgow Central I am delighted to have Glasgow Green, the oldest public park, containing the iconic Doulton Fountain, McLennan Arch, People’s Palace and Winter Garden. The park has benefited from over £8million of HLF support for restoration works, and from community groups who support the park’s heritage and development.

Alongside HLF support, the Friends of Glasgow Green continue to come up with new and innovative uses for the space. In particular, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Trisha Ingram, Chair of Friends of Glasgow Green and their members and supporters in taking the first steps to raise funds for an outdoor gym in Glasgow Green, which seeks to replace the original equipment which was donated to the park in 1860.

They have already raised £12,000 for the new facility and are hoping to double that amount through a crowdfunding campaign.

More generally, Glasgow Green benefits from being part of the MyParkScotland network, which helps people to find out what’s going on in their local park. This was one of Nesta’s HLF-supported 11 Rethinking Parks projects. Through the MyParkScotland network Glasgow Green benefits from the chance to donate securely to individual park projects. I would encourage local authorities and independent park trusts across the UK to adopt this feature when planning and managing the financial resources of green spaces.

Citizen satisfaction

It’s clear from the conclusions of the report that, when local authorities and communities are both invested in protecting and maintaining our green spaces, the payoff in terms of citizen satisfaction with public parks and park quality is significant.

It’s also clear that, when parks are prioritised by local authorities, citizens and other stakeholders, cities become better and healthier places to live. If cities across the UK are to retain high quality public parks, then we must give communities the opportunity and autonomy to nurture and protect the green spaces they care about, and I pledge to be an “elected champion” for parks and green spaces in my constituency.

While there is a lot of work to do to ensure that park maintenance and quality remains of a high standard, I am confident that Glasgow will continue to live up to its name of “dear green place” for many years to come.

Run, jog, walk or volunteer at local parkruns says Alison Thewliss MP

Alison Thewliss MP  encourages everyone in Glasgow Central to run, jog, walk or volunteer at a ‘parkrun’ on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of October, to help celebrate the 12th anniversary of the running phenomenon. There are parkruns currently taking place in 440 Constituencies each weekend, with more events launching every week.

parkrun UK supports local volunteers to establish and deliver free, weekly, timed runs for their communities, which are accessible to both runners and walkers of all ages and abilities.

Saturday 5k events are open to everyone, and 2k junior parkrun on Sunday is for children aged from 4-14.

Since the first parkrun in London’s Bushy Park in 2004, more than one million people in the UK have taken part. Each weekend sees around 90,000 runners and walkers participating in the free 5k and 2k events, thanks to the contribution of 10,000 volunteers.

Commenting, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“parkrun and junior parkrun are two of the most accessible activities you will find anywhere. They are completely free, open to anyone and perfect for families because they can participate together.

“The fact that parkrun is a run not a race, and finishes with people enjoying tea and coffee together, shows that it is as much about bringing the local community together each week as it is running.”

Chief Operating Officer for parkrun UK Tom Williams said:

“Our aim is to break down the barriers to regular physical activity and volunteering, both for organisers and participants. We are proud to support local volunteers in more than 500 locations around the UK who provide parkrun to their communities every weekend.

“We know that many MPs are already regular participants at their local parkruns, and we’ve been delighted to hear from so many others who will be going along on the first weekend in October to see first-hand the amazing contribution that parkrun volunteers are making in their constituencies.”

Earlier this month around 50 MPs attended a parkrun Parliamentary Reception hosted by Graham Evans MP, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Running. The Reception provided parkrun UK with an opportunity to explain more about how it is supporting local communities to promote regular physical activity and volunteering.

Alison Thewliss MP supports the Get Your Kit On campaign for grassroots sport

Last week I took part in the inaugural Parliamentary Sports Fair to support the #GetYourKitOn campaign, run by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, for grassroots and community sport and recreation. As politicians, we have a responsibility to consider the wider implications of the decisions we take, the causes we promote, and the impact they will have on our constituents. Grassroots sport and recreation is one such cause which I am proud to champion.

At a time when our local services are under enormous pressure, and demand is growing, we should look to alternative and innovative solutions to help us tackle the challenges and opportunities facing society.  Sport has a significant social value, which is often under-appreciated; it can make us healthier, happier and help to create close community bonds. It can teach us valuable life-skills and it can inspire us to try new things and challenge ourselves.

The success of the GB teams in the Olympic and Paralympic Games highlight the depth of talent and passion for sport that we have in this country. However, without accessible facilities, trained coaches and valued volunteers, those aspiring champions and recreational enthusiasts would not have an outlet for their talents. Ensuring local communities have such facilities is of primary importance to the future health of our nation.

I was excited to see the Sport and Recreation Alliance launch their Get Your Kit On – A Guide to Grassroots Sport and Recreation at the event today. I look forward to working with the Alliance and their members to help support sport and recreation in my own constituency in order for the true benefit of sport to be felt by everyone in the local community.

 

Parklives in Parliament

It was great to take part in the ParkLives in Parliament event on 7th September. Parklives offer great opportunities for free outdoor activities in Glasgow and I would encourage everyone to take up the opportunity to get fit and have fun in Glasgow. I had loads of fun with the hula hoop!

Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband

Many thanks to the team at Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband today for giving me the opportunity to unveil a brand new fibre cabinet in my constituency and for spending time with my constituents in my office talking to them about the planned rollout of superfast broadband across Scotland.

You can find out more about the technology behind superfast broadband and when it will be coming to your area on the Digital Scotland website.

MP wants more support for families affected by domestic violence

Alison Thewliss MP at Bridgeton Cross

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, today (Thursday 15th September) called for greater support within the criminal justice system for women and children who have experienced domestic violence.

In a parliamentary debate on domestic abuse and the family courts, Ms Thewliss highlighted new action by the Scottish Government to tackle domestic violence, as well as noting the need for the courts to review their processes to make the hearing of child contact cases safer for women and children who have escaped domestic abuse.

Ms Thewliss used part of her speech to draw attention the work of Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre and Glasgow Women’s Aid. She also praised projects which support those affected by domestic violence, including Power Up Power Down, a joint project between Scottish Women’s Aid and the Scottish Children and Young People’s Commissioner to make sure children’s voices are heard in court cases involving domestic abuse.

Commenting on the debate, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“Domestic violence shatters women’s confidence and undermines the lives of families across the UK. It was heart-breaking to hear stories of women fleeing domestic abuse, only to have to deal with their abusive ex-partners during court proceedings. This situation can clearly be very distressing for those affected by domestic violence, particularly when an abusive ex-partner is seeking to maintain contact with the children.

“There is much good work being done to tackle domestic violence in Scotland. I welcome the announcement in the First Minister’s Programme for Government that new legislation will be brought forward to recognise and tackle the coercive and controlling nature of psychological abuse, which can often be hidden from sight but can be just as damaging as physical violence.

“With the introduction of new legislation, our court processes must continue to evolve to ensure that they are providing the best possible support to victims of domestic abuse and to protect and support children who have been traumatised by domestic violence.

“I commend the work of many support services, including Scottish Women’s Aid to promote safety and recovery for domestic violence victims and I hope the courts will consider their recommendations carefully.”

Unsolicited Marketing Communications (Company Directors) Bill

Delighted to support my colleague Patricia Gibson MP’s Bill to clamp down on unsolicited telemarketing calls by making company directors accountable for these calls. I know that many constituents, often vulnerable people, are being targeted by unwanted marketing and sales calls and I hope that the Bill will receive cross-party support. I also support Which’s Calling Time on Nuisance Calls campaign, which seeks to name and shame repeat offenders to the ICO’s office.

I’m also keen to see the outright banning of marketing calls that offer high-cost consumer credit products, such as payday loans. In response to a written parliamentary question, the UK Government has confirmed that a review will be published by the end of the year, and I look forward to seeing tough action against companies who target vulnerable people with products that can push them further into debt.