Fighting for a Future Fair for All
Patricia Ferguson MSP joined school pupils from primary schools in Milton for a 2k fun run at the start of March. The event is one of a number of fun runs for school pupils in the north of Glasgow to…
Patricia Ferguson MSP has welcomed a group from the Maryhill Citizens Advice Bureau Asylum Seeker & Refugee Project to the Scottish Parliament. The Maryhill MSP gave the visitors a tour of the Parliament building, including a look round the Debating…
Patricia Ferguson MSP has called on the Scottish Government to back her bid to regulate property factors. Leading a debate in the Scottish Parliament the Labour MSP highlighted cases from her Maryhill constituency as evidence of the need for…
Following my recent parliamentary motion, I am pleased to say that I was successful in my efforts to secure a debate on the future of Fairtrade in Scotland.
In recent years, Scotland has made great strides towards attaining Fairtrade nation status. I am proud to say that, through the efforts of church groups, charities, schools and individuals promoting the benefits of Fairtrade, Scotland has made a positive difference to the lives of thousands of people and communities across the globe.
However, there is still much to be done, and it is incumbent upon the Scottish Government to set an example by devoting a significant proportion of its own catering budget to Fairtrade produce, and by increasing public sector use of Fairtrade goods. During the debate, I urged Ministers to sign up to the Scottish Fair Trade Forum’s ‘Final Push’ campaign to allow Scotland to emulate Wales and obtain Fair Trade Nation status.
I hope the debate focused minds and encouraged the Scottish Government to take the lead in this process. Following the debate, which took place during ‘Fair Trade Fortnight’, MSPs invited campaigners, including pupils from Stonelaw High School in Rutherglen, to attend the inaugural meeting to establish a new Cross Party Group on Fair Trade: it is hoped that the CPG will significantly strengthen Scotland’s bid.
All of the above initiatives constitute valuable steps towards attaining Fairtrade status and, in so doing, playing a valuable role in the struggle to alleviate global poverty.
Filed under: Fair Trade, General Issues Tagged: Fair Trade, Holyrood 
I have obtained evidence from the Scottish Government which reveals that the expenditure on consultants by the SFT, a body which has yet to build a school or hospital after being launched by the First Minister in 2007, has nearly quadrupled over the past six months.
Despite spending over £2000 a day on consultancy fees its website still boldly claims the SFT will “reduce the reliance on expensive consultants.”
Payments made by the Scottish Government’s flagship body include: £137,289 to PriceWaterhouseCooper for financial advice; £121,457 to Pinsent Masons for legal advice (despite the Scottish Government having over 120 in-house lawyers); and £55,200 to Hays Recruitment to employ nine members of staff (bypassing the Government’s own recruitment services)
It’s the latest in a series of damaging revelations regarding the quanqo.
Last year I obtained figures which showed how the SFT had spent nearly £120,000 on consultants over a four month period and uncovered its attempt to ‘bury’ on its website over the Christmas holidays details of the £1 million salary package enjoyed by 12 senior staff members.
Many people ask me what SFT actually stands for – based on this evidence it must be ‘Still Fleecing Taxpayers.’
If the SFT provides ‘in house expertise’ how come it is shelling out over £2000 a day for external legal and recruitment advice, especially when the Scottish Government already has well staffed legal and recruitment departments which it could utilise? To top it all, it recently advertised for its own ‘spin doctor’!
It beggars belief that an organisation which has not caused a single brick to be laid shells out £1 million pounds a year on senior staff salaries yet still needs additional assistance.
This is Alex Salmond’s pet project.
He must step in, stop this dependency on consultants and see to it that the SFT starts to deliver for Scotland.
Filed under: General Issues, SFT Tagged: Consultants, SFT 
Ann McKechin MP is encouraging shoppers in Glasgow to buy Fairtrade products during this Fairtrade Fortnight (22rd February – 7th March).
Ann welcomed the Labour’s plan to boost funding for the Fairtrade labelling system and urged local shoppers to look for the Fairtrade Mark on food, gifts and other products in the shops.
Over 4,500 products have been licensed to carry the Fairtrade Mark and there are over 460 producer organisations selling to the UK, representing more than 1.5 million farmers and workers in developing countries. Labour’s latest investment will bring another 1 million producers into the scheme and enable 7 million more people in poor countries to benefit from a better deal offered by Fairtrade.
Ann McKechin said:
“Small changes in our shopping habits can make a big difference to the world’s poorest people. By buying food, gifts and other products from developing countries we will help grow their economies and reduce poverty.
“When consumers and retailers act together to promote and buy goods from developing countries, we can make a real difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people.”
Douglas Alexander, Labour’s International Development Secretary, said:
“Ann has been a passionate campaigner on fair trade. I hope shoppers across Glasgow will join Ann during Fairtrade fortnight and take the chance to swap their usual shopping for Fairtrade products.“
“Small changes in our shopping habits can make a big difference to the world’s poorest people. By buying food, gifts and other products from developing countries we will help grow their economies and reduce poverty.
“When consumers and retailers act together to promote and buy goods from developing countries, we can make a real difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people.”
Patricia Ferguson MSP has hosted a special information event to make sure community groups and organisations in her constituency get their fair share of cash available through the Big Lottery Fund Scotland. The Maryhill MSP brought together representatives of over…
A bill that would give people more say about the services they receive from factors is one step closer. The legislation proposed by Maryhill MSP, Patricia Ferguson, received support from more than 40 MSPs from all parties represented at Holyrood…
Bill welcomes the McLaughlin Family to Parliament prior to Commitee Meeting
Victory was confirmed at the last meeting of the Public Petitions Committee (of which I’m a member) for Drumchapel teenager Ryan McLaughlin and his ‘Shine on Scotland’ campaign.
Over the last year I have been supporting Ryan’s campaign to tackle the threat of MS. I was delighted to learn that Ryan’s petition had been successful and that the Scottish Government has agreed to a co-ordinated programme of action with NHS Health Scotland to produce guidance on vitamin D.
This programme will include campaigns to educate women on its importance, to consider different messages for different groups of people and to ensure health professionals are giving out correct and consistent advice to pregnant women and new mothers in relation to vitamin D.
I have got to know Ryan and his family well during the campaign. I am delighted that the Committee has been able to persuade the government to listen to the very sensible suggestions contained in their petition.
The family are a credit to Glasgow, and Scotland.
Link to Public Petitions Report:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/petitions/docs/PE1259.htm
Filed under: Drumchapel, General Issues, Shine on Scotland Tagged: Drumchapel, Ryan McLaughlin, Shine on Scotland 
Signing the pledge
I believe that educating young people has a crucial part to play in the ongoing battle against prejudice. I was therefore proud to pledge my support to Anne Frank Scotland, a new education programme launched by The Anne Frank Trust UK.
The centrepiece of the programme is the travelling exhibition Anne Frank; A History of Today.
Currently touring schools, churches and community centres across the country, the exhibition features excerpts from Anne’s famous diary; recounts the wartime experiences of Anne and her family; and describes the persecution suffered by various minority communities during the Nazi era.
It also includes a series of workshops designed to link Anne’s opinions and experiences with those of today’s young people, allowing them to express their own thoughts, feelings, and anxieties regarding prejudice in a safe and non-judgemental learning environment.
The campaign is one of a number which highlight the danger of prejudice. I have supported similar campaigns which seek to tackle racism, sectarianism and bigotry such as Nil by Mouth and Show Racism the Red Card.
I campaigned to ensure that Red Card’s “Islamophobia” package was funded by government as an educational resource in all schools.
I also helped secure £20,000 of funding for the Iona Community’s rehabilitation project for offenders convicted of religious hate crimes.
Thanks to the ongoing work of these projects we can continue the progress made the fight against religious and racial prejudice.
Filed under: General Issues Tagged: Anne Frank Trust UK, Nil by Mouth, Show Racism the Red Card 
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