Two members' bill proposals put out for public views

Support for disabled children transitioning to adulthood, and for remote rural communities, is the focus of two new proposals for members' bills intended to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

Johann Lamont (Labour) and Gail Ross (SNP) have each opened public consultation on their plans to assess the level of support.

Ms Lamont's bill would require the Scottish ministers to introduce, and to implement, a National Transitions Strategy to improve outcomes for children and young people with a disability in the transition to adulthood, with a dedicated minister having responsibility; and require local authorities to introduce a transitions plan to ensure each child and young person with a disability receives appropriate care and support before, and during, the transition to adulthood.

Introducing her proposals, she states that by age 26, disabled people are more likely to be out of work than their non-disabled peers, and are three times more likely to feel hopeless and to agree that "Whatever I do has no real effect on what happens to me".

Her consultation (click here to view) closes on 22 January 2020.

Ms Ross wants to enhance the consideration given to remote rural mainland communities by public bodies in Scotland. She believes that despite increased focus on remote rural communities, feelings of isolation and of being left behind urban centres of population are still prevalent there, and that an Act to take into account remote rural areas will further complement other legislation such as the Islands Act, the Community Empowerment Act, the Land Reform Act and the recently passed South of Scotland Enterprise Agency Act.

Her consultation (click here to view) closes on 31 January 2020.