MEMO is produced by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities
in partnership with BEMIS. It provides an overview of information of interest to minority ethnic communities in Scotland, including parliamentary activity at Holyrood and Westminster, new publications, consultations,
forthcoming conferences and news reports.
ContentsImmigration and Asylum
Race Relations
Race Equality
Racism
Other Holyrood
New Publications
Other News / Bills in Progress
Consultations
Job Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Events/Conferences/Training Courses
Useful Links
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Immigration and Asylum
Holyrood DebateAsylum Seekers
Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): I begin by thanking all the members who have stayed on to discuss such important issues and those who signed my motion, which enabled me to secure the debate. I also thank the Scottish Government for setting out its position on asylum seekers, which I am happy to say echoes the changes that are called for in the motion.
I welcome the people who should be in the public gallery by now—they must have been delayed; they are travelling through from Glasgow—many of whom have first-hand knowledge of the many difficulties that asylum seekers face. I hope that other people in their position and organisations that work with them, such as the Scottish Refugee Council in Glasgow and other voluntary organisations, will take heart from the fact that the first members' business debate after the summer recess will highlight the fact that in Scotland the situation of asylum seekers is an issue of the utmost importance and one that is taken extremely seriously by the Parliament.
Speech continues on next page
Immigration and Asylum
Holyrood Debate (continued)
Speech continued from previous page:
Today I will concentrate on the motion before us and, in particular, on what it says about the right to work. Simply by granting asylum seekers the right to work, we can radically change how they are perceived and the conditions in which they find themselves. It is clear that granting asylum seekers the right to work offers fundamental benefits. Rightly or wrongly, many people perceive asylum seekers to be a burden on society and think that their sole purpose in coming to Scotland is to claim benefits, to the detriment of society as a whole. As we all know, such attitudes lead to a fractured society, in which asylum seekers are viewed with distrust and, often, open hostility.
Members of the Scottish Parliament and people outside the Parliament have worked and continue to work towards creating a Scotland that is free from prejudice or hatred. To that end, let me dispel the myth that asylum seekers are simply benefit seekers. Asylum seekers want to work. Research shows that the money generated for the local economy by asylum seekers would far outweigh the cost of benefits. The message is clear: by granting asylum seekers the right to work we can help to grow the economy and, which is more profound, help to create more harmonious communities throughout our areas.
To continue reading the debate see:
Holyrood Parliamentary Motion
Sandra White (S3M-345):Asylum Seekers in Scotland—That the Parliament welcomes discussions between the Scottish and UK governments aimed at tackling the situation of asylum seekers in Scotland and to this end supports calls for asylum seekers to be granted the right to work whilst seeking asylum, which has been backed by Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Refugee Council which comments that "It just makes absolutely no sense to have people sitting at home in enforced idleness when they could be contributing to the economy", and further believes that an amnesty for asylum seeker families who have been in Scotland since before March 2006 would be one which rightly acknowledges that in Glasgow these families have become a valued part of the local community and the vast difference between the situation in Scotland, where roughly 1,500 families would be granted asylum, compared to over 400,000 in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Press Release
Opening up Scotland to international students
Immigration and Asylum (continued)
News
Tories critical of immigration plan
Bid to quash fear of modern-day slavery
Lib Dems urge immigrant amnesty
Asylum play scoops award
Immigration 'too high' - Cameron
Number of immigrants 'too high' - Cameron
Immigrants put public services under pressure, says Cameron
Fabiani aims funds at enticing overseas students to stay here
Immigration, the taboo word that will cost Cameron dear
Makro meets demand for Polish goods
Deportation poster reeks of Nazi-style racism say critics
Poles get tuned in
Dungavel families forced to live with hardened criminals
‘God forbid if there was a mass escape. People are desperate’
Immigration and Asylum
News(continued)
Children are not criminals
First lesson: how to enter the UK
Four out of five asylum seekers 'live in poverty'
Poles build on city's need for tradesmen
Skilled immigrants to be made to learn English
Migrants will be forced to learn English
Immigrants forced to learn English in new crackdown
Migrant workers face English test
Door opens for migration debate
Immigration is key to victory
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Race Relations
NewsControversial shared-campus schools are given top marks
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Race Equality
Press ReleaseScotland Committee members appointed to new Commission for Equalities and Human Rights
News
Police target Mela in effort to attract Asians to force
Ten years ago you rarely saw any black faces on Scottish TV
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Racism
Holyrood Parliamentary QuestionsBill Butler (S3W-3010): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to continue to challenge sectarianism in and around sports grounds.
Reply from Stewart Maxwell: As one of the actions in the strategy to tackle sectarianism in football – Calling Full Time on Sectarianism – a nationwide anti-sectarianism weekend of action will take place at SPL football grounds on 24 and 25 November 2007 followed by a four week awareness campaign.
Bill Butler (S3W-3011): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to bring forward to challenge sectarian attitudes in universities and further education colleges.
Reply from Fiona Hyslop: In academic year 2006-07 the Scottish Executive funded the National Union of Students Scotland to deliver a campaign to both raise awareness of the issue of sectarianism in further and higher education and to challenge sectarian belief and behaviour amongst students. This has produced a resource base of campaign materials which can continue to be used, including a website and a training package for student officers.
There are currently no plans to extend this campaign.
Bill Butler (S3W-3012): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been charged under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, broken down by local authority area.
Reply from Kenny MacAskill: The available information about charges reported to procurators fiscal where the charge involved a religious aggravation is given in the following table.
Number of Charges Received by Procurators Fiscal where the Charge Included a Religious Aggravation in Terms of Section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, 2003-04 to 2006-07
Area / Procurator Fiscal Office / 2003-04 / 2004-05 / 2005-06 / 2006-07 / Grand Total
Argyll and Clyde / Campbeltown / 1 / 0 / 10 / 3 / 14
Dumbarton / 1 / 3 / 9 / 33 / 46
Dunoon / 0 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 3
Greenock / 0 / 8 / 6 / 12 / 26
Oban / 0 / 3 / 1 / 4 / 8
Paisley / 4 / 4 / 12 / 11 / 31
Rothesay / 0 / 1 / 0 / 5 / 6
Area total / 6 / 20 / 38 / 70 / 134
Table continues on next page
Racism
Holyrood Parliamentary Questions(continued)
Table continued from previous page:
Ayrshire / Ayr / 4 / 5 / 10 / 26 / 45
Kilmarnock / 3 / 9 / 34 / 24 / 70
Area total / 7 / 14 / 44 / 50 / 115
Central / Alloa / 0 / 2 / 5 / 1 / 8
Falkirk / 2 / 2 / 12 / 8 / 24
Stirling / 4 / 8 / 6 / 12 / 30
Area total / 6 / 12 / 23 / 21 / 62
Dumfries and Galloway / Dumfries / 1 / 2 / 1 / 4 / 8
Kirkcudbright / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1
Stranraer / 0 / 2 / 1 / 11 / 14
Area total / 1 / 4 / 3 / 15 / 23
Fife / Cupar / 0 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 3
Dunfermline / 3 / 3 / 5 / 9 / 20
Kirkcaldy / 0 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 3
Area total / 3 / 5 / 7 / 11 / 26
Glasgow / Glasgow A / 51 / 61 / 100 / 72 / 284
Glasgow C / 11 / 23 / 28 / 64 / 126
Glasgow E / 31 / 120 / 163 / 69 / 383
Glasgow G / 39 / 40 / 163 / 124 / 366
Area total / 132 / 244 / 454 / 329 / 1,159
Grampian / Aberdeen / 5 / 3 / 1 / 4 / 13
Banff / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Elgin / 0 / 0 / 3 / 1 / 4
Area total / 5 / 4 / 4 / 5 / 18
Highland and Island / Dingwall / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1
Inverness / 0 / 3 / 0 / 8 / 11
Lerwick / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1
Lochmaddy / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 2
Area total / 0 / 4 / 1 / 10 / 15
Table continues on next page
Racism
Holyrood Parliamentary Questions(continued)
Table continued from previous page:
Lanarkshire / Airdrie / 40 / 55 / 32 / 54 / 181
Hamilton / 34 / 75 / 54 / 60 / 223
Lanark / 0 / 8 / 4 / 7 / 19
Area total / 74 / 138 / 90 / 121 / 423
Lothian and Borders / Duns / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Edinburgh / 5 / 14 / 10 / 34 / 63
Haddington / 0 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 3
Jedburgh / 0 / 2 / 0 / 3 / 5
Linlithgow / 9 / 5 / 13 / 17 / 44
Selkirk / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Area total / 14 / 24 / 25 / 54 / 117
Tayside / Arbroath / 1 / 2 / 0 / 4 / 7
Dundee / 22 / 3 / 7 / 4 / 36
Forfar / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2
Perth / 0 / 4 / 8 / 5 / 17
Area total / 24 / 10 / 15 / 13 / 62
Grand Total / 272 / 479 / 704 / 699 / 2,154
Notes:
1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management system. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a procurator fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.
2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.
Bill Butler(S3W-3013): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been successfully prosecuted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, broken down by local authority area.
Reply from Kenny MacAskill: The available information about charges reported to the procurators fiscal which involved a religious aggravation and where a conviction was recorded is given in the following table. The figures exclude charges where no verdict has yet been reached.
Reply continues on next page
Racism
Holyrood Parliamentary Questions(continued)
Reply continued from previous page
Number of Charges (where the Charge included a Religious Aggravation in terms of Section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003) where a Conviction was Recorded, 2003-04 to 2006-071
Area / Procurator Fiscal Office / 2003-04 / 2004-05 / 2005-06 / 2006-07 / Grand Total
Argyll and Clyde / Campbeltown / 0 / 0 / 4 / 3 / 7
Dumbarton / 1 / 2 / 4 / 7 / 14
Dunoon / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1
Greenock / 0 / 5 / 5 / 10 / 20
Oban / 0 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 4
Paisley / 2 / 2 / 6 / 4 / 14
Rothesay / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3
Area total / 3 / 11 / 20 / 29 / 63
Ayrshire / Ayr / 4 / 4 / 6 / 4 / 18
Kilmarnock / 3 / 5 / 27 / 21 / 56
Area total / 7 / 9 / 33 / 25 / 74
Central / Alloa / 0 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 4
Falkirk / 1 / 1 / 8 / 7 / 17
Stirling / 1 / 5 / 4 / 7 / 17
Area total / 2 / 7 / 14 / 15 / 38
Dumfries and Galloway / Dumfries / 1 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 4
Kirkcudbright / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Stranraer / 0 / 1 / 1 / 9 / 11
Area total / 1 / 2 / 1 / 11 / 15
Fife / Cupar / 0 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 3
Dunfermline / 2 / 1 / 3 / 4 / 10
Kirkcaldy / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Area total / 2 / 3 / 5 / 4 / 14
Glasgow / Area total / 78 / 162 / 248 / 143 / 631
Grampian / Aberdeen / 3 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 5
Banff / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Elgin / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 2
Area total / 3 / 3 / 2 / 0 / 8
Table continues on next page
Racism
Holyrood Parliamentary Questions(continued)
Table continued from previous page:
Highland and Island / Dingwall / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1
Inverness / 0 / 1 / 0 / 4 / 5
Lerwick / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1
Lochmaddy / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Area total / 0 / 2 / 0 / 6 / 8
Lanarkshire / Airdrie / 20 / 35 / 12 / 19 / 86
Hamilton / 25 / 49 / 33 / 31 / 138
Lanark / 0 / 0 / 2 / 3 / 5
Area total / 45 / 84 / 47 / 53 / 229
Lothian and Borders / Duns / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Edinburgh / 3 / 8 / 5 / 14 / 30
Haddington / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1
Jedburgh / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 2
Linlithgow / 6 / 2 / 8 / 8 / 24
Selkirk / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Area total / 9 / 14 / 14 / 22 / 59
Tayside / Arbroath / 0 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 4
Dundee / 3 / 1 / 4 / 1 / 9
Forfar / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2
Perth / 0 / 2 / 5 / 2 / 9
Area total / 4 / 6 / 9 / 5 / 24
Grand Total / 154 / 303 / 393 / 313 / 1,163
Notes:
1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management system. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a procurator fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.
2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.
3. The figures for 2003-04 to 2005-06 exclude charges which reached a verdict after 14 September 2006. The figures for 2006-07 exclude charges which reached a verdict after 23 August 2007.
Racism
Holyrood Parliamentary Questions(continued)
Bill Butler (S3W-3016): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support further academic research into sectarianism in Scotland.
Reply from Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that academic research can make in helping to develop work to tackle sectarianism and religious intolerance. While we do not directly support academic research our own analytical services teams have commissioned a range of research projects in relation to religious intolerance – such as the analysis of religious aggravations under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 – and I have asked my officials to consider what further research can usefully add to the development of work in this area.
Margaret Curran (S3W-2742): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the First Minister has discussed sectarianism with the partners who participated in the Summit on Sectarianism.
Reply from Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will continue to build on initiatives like the two Summits on Sectarianism by maintaining meaningful relationships with the partners involved in these events. This was confirmed by the First Minister on 19 June 2007 when he hosted a reception at Edinburgh Castle to acknowledge the achievements of those who have worked to tackle sectarianism over the past three years. All of the partners who participated in the summits were invited to attend the reception.
Johann Lamont (S3W-3762): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is proposed to be spent between August and December 2007 on publicising its anti-racist strategy.
Johann Lamont(S3W-3763): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent between August and December 2006 on publicising the previous administration’s anti-racist strategy.
Johann Lamont (S3W-3764): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent between May and July 2007 on publicising its anti-sectarian strategy.
Johann Lamont (S3W-3765): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is proposed to be spent between August and December 2007 on publicising its anti-sectarian strategy.
Johann Lamont (S3W-3766): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent between August and December 2006 on publicising the previous administration’s anti-sectarian strategy.
Racism (continued)
Press Release
Report on Racism and Xenophobia in the Member States of the EU
New publication
Report on Racism and Xenophobia in the Member States of the EU
News
Race-bias claim dismissed
Man loses race fight over refugee council job
Woman's headscarf pulled in suspected racist attack
Kidnap victim admits to racial abuse
Nothing about Larkhall is black and white
Joiner who 'played race card' hit with £5,500 legal bill
Waiter fined for racially abusing club doorman
BBC one of the 'most racist' institutions, says TV writer
'Black sheep' ad at centre of race row
Racism
News (continued)
City worst for bigots
Racism fears as city school opens for black pupils only
Fury as Foulkes accuses SNP of stoking racism
Foulkes under fire over SNP racism claim
Foulkes snubs McLeish's call to apologise for SNP 'racism' claim
Police charges expose great bigotry divide
TOP
Other Holyrood
Parliamentary Statement and DebateScottish Government’s Programme
Press Releases
Programme for Government
The Scottish Government - it's official
Other Holyrood (continued)
New publications
Principles and Priorities: The Government's Programme for Scotland
Findings from a Citizens’ Jury on Scottish Executive Communications
News
Salmond outlines government plans
Legislative programme at-a-glance
In quotes: Government bills reaction
SNP unveils grand plan - but critics call it 'policy lite'
Salmond pulls 11 new bills but no rabbits out of the hat
Salmond reveals his plans
Art of the possible
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New Publications
Faith and voluntary action: an overview of current evidence and debatesNew publications(continued)
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator: Annual Review document
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator: Rolling review pilot report
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator: Briefing note: Use of the terms ‘charitable’ and ‘charitable purposes’ in constitutions
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Other News
Plan to build new mosque is sunk by flooding fearsMSPs In Clash Over Travellers' Stop-Over
Traveller site needs £1m revamp
Site for travellers on agenda
Muslim ‘anti terror’ lessons
Regulator reports on first year
£365,000 to study effect of religious education
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Bills in Progress
** New or updated this weekBills in Progress
Westminster
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill
Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public Authority) Bill
Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill
UK Borders Bill
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Consultations(closing date)
** New or updated this week
** closes this week!
Changes to Section 9 of the Race Relations Act 1976 (14 September 2007)
Review of allowances at the Scottish Parliament(21 September 2007)
Priorities for the Ministers for Women Session 2006/2007(30 September 2007)
Gift Aid (30 September 2007)
Consultations(continued)
United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study: Ethnicity Strand (30 September 2007)
The Governance of Britain, Flag Flying(9 November 2007)
and
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Job Opportunities
Click here to find out about job opportunities advertised in MEMO+ RecruitmentTOP
Funding Opportunities
Show Racism the Red CardClosing date for applications: 18 September 2007
To help fund the organisation of events or activities during October Show Racism the Red Card(SRTRC) has joined forces with the Scottish Executive as part of the 'One Scotland' campaign and Unison – the public services trade union to offer grants of up to £1000 for community-based initiatives. SRTRC has targeted the grants at innovative projects that challenge racism, celebrate diversity or overcome exclusion throughout Scotland. The total sum of money available will be £40,000, which is a 100% increase from 2006. Grants are available to non-statutory organisations includingcommunity groups, schools, youth clubs, fans associations, tenants associations and other grassroots bodies that are working to engage with young people, ethnic minorities, excluded groups, football fans, and refugees and asylum seekers. For information on how to apply see
Funding Opportunities(continued)
Voluntary Action Fund: Go4Volunteering
Applications may be submitted at any time – there is no closing date
The majority of voluntary organisations in Scotland depend on volunteers for the services they deliver, the activities they run and the huge range of work they carry out in their local communities. GO4Volunteering helps the management committees and staff of local grassroots organisations to build their skills around recruiting and supporting their volunteers. Examples of what could be funded are:
- training programmes for voluntary management committees
- training programmes for volunteers
- visits to more established organisations to share their experience of what works well with volunteering
- consultation with volunteers so that organisations know more about what volunteers need and value
- publications,subscriptions or the cost of undertaking investors in Volunteers through Volunteer Development Scotland
- the cost of professional support or consultancy to help develop useful volunteer policies or training packs, including policies on equality and diversity
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Events/Conferences/Training Courses