29th September at the Douglas Arms Hotel Castle Douglas
Chair - Jill Flye SCVO
10am – 11am – Speakers
Alasdair Morgan MSP spoke about the National Conversation – including that after nearly ten years of devolution we have an SNP Government has been elected and people are now discussing, eg through the National Conversation, what may be next for Scotland –further powers devolved to Scotland, or independence.
Scotland would be not unique in moving towards independence – other countries have taken that step and have become independent – from Ireland, to Norway, to Romania. There would not be an issue with Borders, or with the transport stopping at a border – other countries have dealt with these issues, there is no ‘Border control’ on entering Ireland, and there is considerable freedom of movement in Europe. Relationships with England and Wales would not suffer as a result of our becoming independent, and may be improved as a result.
The Scottish Government is of the view that the people of Scotland are the ones who need to take this decision, and that is what the ‘Conversation’ is about. There has been a massive number of hits on the National Conversation website, and Choosing Scotland’s Future, the Scottish Government white paper is stimulating a lot of debate. Events are taking place all over Scotland, and all parts of Scottish civil society are getting involved in debating the issues. A referendum will take place in 2010. Alasdair encouraged organisations to look at the issues from the point of view of their communities and to get involved in the debate.
Elaine Murray MSP spoke about the Calman Commission – eg that the Commission (full title The Commission on Scottish Devolution) was formed after a parliamentary debate in December 2007 when the different opposition parties came together in agreement that there needs to be an independent review of devolution, which doesn’t start from the particular viewpoint that what is needed is independence. It is chaired by senior academic Sir Kenneth Calman, and its members include voluntary sector, union and business sector representatives. It started to meet in April 2007, and will make an interim report towards the end of this year, and then a final report with recommendations in 2009. The commission is interested in devolution, and changes which may need to be made to the devolution settlement, but will not be looking at either repealing the Scotland Act to reverse devolution or at independence.
She said that the commission is interested in hearing viewpoints, eg from voluntary organisations, and is holding meetings in different parts of Scotland and taking written submissions, and had held a meeting very recently in Dumfries.
Stephen Maxwell, SCVO spoke about where voluntary sector interests may lie. He explained that SCVO has long had an interest in constitutional matters. In the 1990s SCVO consulted the sector and found overwhelming support for a Scottish Parliament with tax varying powers, and its policy committee agreed to support the "Yes, Yes" vote. Behind the support for a Scottish Parliament was recognition of the opportunities it would provide for legislation and policies more responsive and relevant to voluntary organisations in Scotland. Since the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 policy makers are now much more accessible, and there are many more opportunities for influence. SCVO is keen that the voice of voluntary sector organisations should be heard in the current debate, and aims to encourage discussion and contributions to the relevant consultations from the points of view of voluntary organisations. It is not too party political for a voluntary organisation or charity to be looking at the debate from the point of view of the needs of its members and the community or interests it represents. Voluntary organisations that may have a particular interest would include environmental organisations, those tackling poverty, or working in overseas aid. But many organisations may have an interest in, for example changes to powers over the lottery, or equalities, or potential impacts on the economy.
Jill Flye, SCVO summed up and spoke about SCVO’s work to date on this topic, which is supported by the Scottish Government – eg the Future Scotland website, www.scvo.org.uk/futurescotland which has links to relevant sites, collated media articles, Frequently Asked Questions, reports from events, details of future events, discussion threads and voluntary sector viewpoints. It is a new website and the discussion threads have not yet taken off – delegates were encouraged to join in or start new threads.
Events have taken place on the topic with the third sector Policy Officer Network, at the voluntary sector Gathering in Glasgow, and an event on similar lines to this took place on Uist earlier in the month, where delegates came to the view that the Scottish Parliament has a better understanding of rural aspects of life than Westminster, and that Scotland needs to have more control over factors that could influence the potential for the population of the islands to grow, and that would support the voluntary sector that is so vital to the sustainability of their communities.
11.15 am – 1pm – Small Group Discussions
Much of the discussions in response to the questions (below) focused on how to further devolve powers to communities, and how to find ways to better influence policy under the current arrangements, and ensure more transparent government processes and more reliable funding for voluntary organisations, and better recognition of the vital work that they do. There was also interest in devolving powers further over: - taxation, to allow Scotland to make better use of its own funds; the Lottery to allow for a Scottish lottery; equalities, to allow for better policing/ enforcement at a Scottish level, and there was discussion concerning whether transport fully devolved would allow for better integration across different forms of transport, and more leeway over local needs and services, or whether there would be difficulties/ complexities in dealing with issues concerning borders.
Present were 13 delegates from the following organisations:
WRVS Scotland
Dumfries and Galloway Federation of CVS
Stewartry CVS
Annandale Transport Initiative
Wigtown CVS
Dumfries and Galloway Coalition for Disabled People
Turning Point Scotland
Annan Initiative
Holywood Trust
Parents Inclusion Network
Questions and Responses
Q. 1 What is your vision for a future Scotland?
The following issues were raised:
Carer issues
- Maintain free personal care
- Financial recognition for carers (employed and family)
Education/ young people
- Maintain free university fees
- Added assistance for students
- Education for all and appropriate placements – not just mainstream
- More leisure supplies and funding for youth projects
Energy
- Local energy staying in Scotland with lower prices, not higher as at present
Housing
Health
- Better use of local health centres (e.g. out of hours)
Voluntary sector/ general
- Retain ownership of our essential services
- A fairer distribution of money for third sector
- A level playing field
- Stop of short-term funding for projects - Longer term funding to enable better planning.
- Better ‘ring fencing’ for third sector funding with monitoring inbuilt
- Needs-led services, not monetary-led
- Funding allocated in a more realistic way, taking into account geographical and rural locations not per capita
- Voluntary organisations funded and respected properly
Rural
- Central government (Scottish/Westminster) recognises rural isolation and subsequent issues in Scotland (especially southern Scotland)
- More regional/localised government
Transport
- Increased rural transport
- Rail links reassessed
- Bus passes to access all public/community transport
Q.2 – In what ways could constitutional change help bring about your vision? - Or hinder achievement of your vision?
The following issues were raised:
Changes to constitution
- The constitution needs to be able to change the way Scotland is able to use their own funds – e.g. taxes (company and personal), import/export duties, energy
- Scottish government for Scotland with more powers within the constitution
- Constitution needs to provide for a more transparent governing system with the ability to scrutinise private and government organisations
- We need to create a level playing field between national and international companies with offshore registered companies paying correct taxes
- Equalities legislation, if devolved, could be better enforced by a Scottish government
- Transport should not be devolved – Border movement
- Or - If transport were devolved it could perhaps give a Scottish government more leeway over local needs and services and more powers to integrate all transport methods
EU
- Comment on burden of EU legislation
Local govt/ devolution at a local level
- Local solutions for local needs: need element of devolved powers to enable this to happen
- More importance attached to the voluntary sector contributes to local communities (third sector does not mean third rate)
- Government should set national standards for councils to meet
- Devolve job search and support services away from central control
- We need full and proper consultation with individuals affected when changes are introduced
Other
- More direct funding streams between government and voluntary sector
- More protection of natural resources
- Legislation has to be meaningful and have resources to enable it to be enforced.
- Greater scrutiny of existing legislation and powers to ensure they are properly utilised – i.e. Direct grants etc., individual payments
Q.3 Could an increase in powers mean an increase in influence for the sector?...or otherwise?
- What we need is increased powers and influence over local authorities and health boards as to how they commission services
- Those with power need to realise the importance of full cost recovery and transparency on commissioning services
- Third sector’s conscience is being abused
- Funding processes should be made easier
Q. 4 – What might a ‘voluntary sector constitution’- or a constitution that works for voluntary organisations in Dumfries and Galloway be like?
- More influence on reserve powers – defence, employment
- Scottish lottery needed
- Employment legislation staying within Westminster, but services more devolved
- Should voluntary sector be devolved – or does this mean its power is being reduced! Compact in E&W. Needs discussion!