24January2017
Appointment of Members to the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland
The Minister for Transport and the Islands, HumzaYousafMSP today announced the appointment of JoanneFairweather,DrAnneFindlay, DrGeorgeMowat-Brown and MichaelTornow as Members of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland(MACS).
JoanneFairweatheris a mother of threechildren who has been involved in Enable as a Committee Member for 10years. She attended and became a Member of the Scottish Council and Ace Committee. She belongs to a number of social clubs and is keen on presenting her views and those of others. She is also a volunteer at the local Red Cross shop.
DrAnneFindlay graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University in1981. She undertook further specialist training and qualifications in paediatrics, public health, international health and tropical medicine. She has worked both in a clinical capacity and in public health roles at local, national and international level. DrFindlay has undertaken consultancy work for the World Health Organisation as well as working for aid agencies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. More recently she has been a member of various tribunals which deal with appellants who have a range of disabilities. She is also a main carer for a relative with both visual and physical impairments.
DrGeorgeMowat-Brownis a freelance lecturer, writer, researcher, musician, occasional broadcaster and speaker. His work involves him in frequent multi-modal travelling throughout the UK. His writing encompasses the arts, industrial history and medical issues and he tutors postgraduate students for the Open University in Scotland and occasionally lectures for the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford. DrMowat-Brown has been involved since its inception with the Scottish MS Incidence Register having given a talk on the history of MS in Scotland at its launch. He has been a Member of the Steering Group and Chairs the Patients Reference Group for the Register. He took an active part in highlighting the deficiencies of the Disability discrimination act in relation to MS that led to the clarifications of2005.
MichaelTornow was appointed this summer as Senior Health Improvement Officerat NHS Health Scotland and is currently leading portfolios of work on housing and dementia. Before that, he worked for NHS Health Scotland as Health Improvement Officer, supporting the NHS and others to promote physical activity. MrTornow previously worked for NHS Health Scotland’s Equality Team, and before that for the Disability Rights Commission and Glasgow Housing Association. He has a BAHonours Degree in Sociology from Stirling University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Housing, also from Stirling. He has a Master’s Degree in Equality and Human Rights from Glasgow University and is currently studying Physical Activity for Health part-time at Edinburgh University. In2013, MrTornow became a Trustee of the charity, Partners in Advocacy, and is currently a member of the National Institute for Health Care Excellence’s Public Health Advisory Committee, which is updating good practice guidelines on making people more physically active.
Appointments
The appointments are for fouryears. DrFindlay and DrMowat-Brown’s appointments run from 1January2017 until 31December2020. MsFairweather and MrTornow’s appointments will run from 1October2017 until 30September2021.
Members receive a fee of £101.00per day for a time commitment of a minimum of oneday per month (up to twelvedays per year).
The appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
Ministerial Appointments
DrFindlay is currently a General Member of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland which attracts remuneration of £398per day for a time commitment of twodays per month. She is also a Medical Member for the Pension Appeals Tribunal for Scotland which attracts remuneration of £473.69per day for a time commitment of oneday per month and the Social Entitlement Chamber which attracts £383per day. This role has a variable time commitment.
MsFairweather, DrMowat-Brown and MrTornow do not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
Political Activity
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last fiveyears (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
MsFairweather,DrFindlay, DrMowat-Brown and MrTornow have not undertaken any political activity in the last fiveyears.
The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland
The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland(MACS) was set up under the Transport (Scotland) Act2001 to advise Scottish Ministers on disability issues in relation to transport. MACSprovides independent advice. While supported by Transport Scotland, MACSoffers its views independently of government and we expect there will be times when that advice challenges government to do more or to do things differently. Equally, MACSis expected to reflect the views of disabled people and organisations representing disabled people, but it works independently of those individuals and organisations.
MACS aims and objectives
The vision of MACSis for a Scotland where anyone with a mobility problem due to some physical, mental or sensory impairment can go when and where everyone else can and have the information and opportunities to do so. MACShas a number of key strategic aims which it will pursue:
- give Scottish Ministers advice on aspects of policy affecting the travel needs of disabled people;
- take account of the broad views and experiences of disabled people when giving advice;
- encourage awareness amongst disabled people in Scotland of developments which affect their mobility, choices and opportunities;
- work closely with the Scottish Government and ensure our work programme complements the work being undertaken by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, the Scottish office of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and other organisations, voluntary and statutory agencies;
- promote the travel needs of disabled people with transport planners and operators so that these are fully taken into account in the delivery of services; and
- monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our work against the above aims and objectives in improving travel opportunities for disabled people in Scotland.
The role of MACS
The convener and members have collective responsibility for the effective operation of MACSunder the leadership of the convener. The convener must provide active and effective leadership, direction, support and guidance to ensure that MACSdelivers its functions effectively and efficiently, consistent with Ministers’ priorities.