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Just to address the issue of the renewable energy source I outlined last week, I have decided to conduct a bit more research, so as I can properly lay out a lamens terms design for you guys to consider. With that in mind it will take a little longer for me to get the info up than I first expected. I don't want the idea to be sold short by bad explaination or design. So please excuse the delay.
Now onto my exciting first trip to Scottish Parliament...Joy. In actual fact it turned out to be a most enjoyable day out, and most educational. As you guys are aware I have very harsh words to say about some politicians, so now that I've been I can actually speak with a little more authority on those subjects. Myself and 3 members of my class were assigned a group report on the procedure of a parliamentary committee, which were formulating Scottish Legislation. I'm not going to bore you with the procedure, however I'm going to address a few issues which came about during the debate, and my trip round the 'famous' new Scottish Parliament.
I had before seen various shots of the Parliament building, and had come to the conclusion that it was an eyesore, however I was quite prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt. As I reached the building, I stood out front stepped back as far as I could, and almost puked. No, it wasn't the effects of alcohol poisoning, it was more the disbelief that the people of scotland could have allowed the spending of some £450million of our hard earned on that monstrosity. Nevertheless, I was prepared to give the inside a chance. Errrr, that was in fact worse. While the committee room its self was well laid out, reasonably comfortable and well kitted with the latest technology, as a long term servant of the construction industry I have a bad habit (some would say) of paying particular attention to detail. The corridors were actually bare concrete, of the type that you would see in a high rise car park. Laminated paper signs showed the way to various areas (rather than decent brass ones), the lifts were too small, and some of the finishing decorating left alot to be desired. Some of the rooms are so odd shaped, I can understand why the building took so long to construct and also why it cost so much.
In any case, the committee were reviewing the Family (Scotland) Bill, and were discussing further amendments at stage 2 of the legislative process. This is a piece of subordinate legislation, which applies specifically to Scotland, however still needs the approval of Westminster before it will be passed. The debate was interesting. Should co-habitees be allowed some of the same rights as married couples, i.e. Succession Rights, division of goods on seperation, etc, so it was something that has ramifications for both hetro, and homosexual relationships. At one point one of the members used an argument provided by the Catholic Church in Scotland, which compared the amendments to the Bill, which potentially amends the position of the sanctity of marriage, as 'Rape, Murder and Theft', which only goes to affirm the Church as a draconian system with only its own interests at heart. Perhaps the minister should consider his use of public consultation more carefully in the future.
The meeting then turned into a bit of a sham, when one ex-lawyer stated 'If scottish parliament doesn't know what its doing, then how are the people of scotland expected to?' I was mortified that he would say something so bloody stupid publically, but then since it has taken 6 years to get to this stage of amending the bill, and when the Executive member spoke he was clearly ill prepared for his statements, and had to answer the committees questions with the aid of his legal advisors, maybe its a question that we should all be asking ourselves.
Take the time to visit and find out exactly what your money is being wasted on. Lets have full power in Scottish Parliament, or none at all. What we have in between is something of nothing!!
Sadly, it seems, it is more nothing than something. I used to watch the Scots Parliament when ti was broadcast live and I was working from home, that diminished quickly to the odd snippet and then none at al due to the acute embarrassment I felt whilst watching.
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