Related Links

Presiding Officer

Voluntary organisations thanked

20 November 2007

The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP thanked Scotland’s disability organisations for their hard work, in an address to the Scottish Disability Equality Forum in Dunfermline today.

Speaking at the Forum’s annual general meeting in his first speech as its Patron, Mr Fergusson told delegates that Scotland has a vibrant civic society of some 45,000 voluntary organisations built on the compassion of the Scots.

Mr Fergusson also told delegates that the Parliament worked especially hard to ensure that all of Scotland’s voice is heard including the voice of disabled Scots.

Mr Fergusson said:

"The Scottish Parliament belongs to all of Scotland’s people. Disabled people form some 20 percent of Scotland ’s people and it is important that they feel valued, listened to, and as equal as any other Scot.”

However Mr Fergusson added that disabled people still face barriers to full participation in Scottish life.

He said: “Sadly, disabled people have to continuously challenge the issue of access and of equality when that is nothing less than their human right.”

Mr Fergusson talked about the Parliament’s plans to mark the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities, through its first Equalities and Diversity week, which will start next Monday and aim to develop a better understanding among members and staff of discrimination and the barriers that people face in participating equally in society.

Mr Fergusson also discussed the Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee plan to monitor progress on the implementation of the extensive Disability Inquiry report released by the predecessor committee in April this year.

The Inquiry report drew on consultations held across Scotland and contains 156 recommendations aimed at addressing barriers to participation for disabled people in work, further and higher education, leisure and the arts.

For further information, the Scottish Parliament media contact is:

Kallon Basham: 0131 348 6088
RNID Type talk calls welcome
Email: kallon.basham@scottish.parliament.uk