Advocacy in Scotland
A rejuvenated Parliamentary Liaison Group is to advise on Quaker concerns
The growing legislative power of the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh has prompted Quakers in Scotland to develop their work in advocacy. General Meeting for Scotland has decided to reconstitute a Parliamentary Liason Group to advise on Quaker concerns and to work with other churches.
Robin Waterston, clerk of General Meeting for Scotland, said: ‘When people in Scotland talk about “the parliament” they increasingly mean the parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh and not the one at Westminster in London’.
The Scottish parliament has substantial powers delegated to it by Westminster. In the future more authority will be devolved to Holyrood. Scottish Quakers believe that the time is right to improve advocacy there.
Robin added: ‘All Scottish criminal justice issues, for example, are now devolved to Holyrood. This means that long standing Quaker concerns, such as women prisoners and the children of prisoners, are dealt with here and not in London.
‘We have been actively working, with other religious groups, on the subject of same-sex marriage. This is now before the Scottish parliament and is another issue on which we can offer a Quaker perspective. It is becoming increasingly important for us, as Scottish Friends, to have a strong and distinctive Quaker voice at Holyrood.’
