Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson will be visiting New Byth Primary School tomorrow (Friday) at 9.00am as part of MPs’ Back to School Day, organised by the Global Campaign for Education, a worldwide coalition working to end the injustice where approximately 100 million children throughout the world get no school education.
The Global Campaign for Education includes the Scottish Education Trade Unions and charities including Oxfam in Scotland and Save the Children, as well as many other trade unions and organisations from around the world.
Speaking before the visit, Mr Stevenson said:
“It is important for our young people to realise the importance of education and the implication of a life without the chance to learn. MPs’ Back to School Day is connecting them with local democracy and with children worldwide to make a difference.
“Basic education is a human right. It is scandalous that so many children have never had the chance to go to school. World leaders have promised to tackle this problem but until they pledge the necessary funds, too many children will continue to miss out
“The message to world leaders is clear – Get all children into school!”
Thursday 22 April 2004
STEVENSON SUPPORTS EQUALITY CAMPAIGN
Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has supported the Equal Opportunities Commission campaign for pay equality for women. Research carried out by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has shown that women working full-time earn, on average, less than £559 per month than men. They have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the issue.
Commenting on the issue, Mr Stevenson said:
"Even if the level of skill, effort and responsibility is the same, women can still get paid less for their work than men. Indeed women tend to be offered lower starting pay and often miss out on benefits, bonuses and pensions too.
"Years of second class treatment often mean women's pensions can reflect years of discrimination also. This sexism must end. "To think that women are still being disadvantaged in this day and age is disgraceful. The reality has been swept under the carpet and many women are not aware they are actually being discriminated against, as the subject is taboo.
"If there is any doubt over pay and entitlement issues discreet enquiries can be made to the Equal Opportunities Commission."
Commenting on the issue, Mr Stevenson said:
"Even if the level of skill, effort and responsibility is the same, women can still get paid less for their work than men. Indeed women tend to be offered lower starting pay and often miss out on benefits, bonuses and pensions too.
"Years of second class treatment often mean women's pensions can reflect years of discrimination also. This sexism must end. "To think that women are still being disadvantaged in this day and age is disgraceful. The reality has been swept under the carpet and many women are not aware they are actually being discriminated against, as the subject is taboo.
"If there is any doubt over pay and entitlement issues discreet enquiries can be made to the Equal Opportunities Commission."
STEVENSON SHOWS SUPPORT FOR MS AWARENESS WEEK
Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has signed his SNP colleague, Tricia Marwick’s Parliamentary Motion highlighting MS Awareness Week.
Commenting on the issue, Mr Stevenson said:
“Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an incurable neurological condition, which usually strikes at the prime of life and it is estimated that 2,500,000 people in the world have MS - and, of those, over 10,000 are in Scotland. Around 50 people, usually between 20 and 40 years of age, are diagnosed every week.
“Medical research has uncovered many probable factors in MS, such as the environment, a genetic link, and a trigger virus. However the cause has yet to be conclusively identified. Symptoms can range from mild and occasional illness to severe and rapid deterioration. Fortunately for most people with MS, the pain lies somewhere in between the two extremes. The most common symptoms include extreme weakness, slow speech, blurred vision, nerve pain in the face, ringing in the ears or hearing problems, pins and needles or numbness in the legs, feet, arms or hands, muscle pain, loss of memory and difficulty in concentrating.
“The good news is that MS is manageable. Symptoms differ in severity from individual to individual. There are drugs that lessen and control specific symptoms plus physical therapies and practical or psychological techniques. Some people experience what's called remissions and relapses. These are periods when their symptoms disappear or get worse. For others, their symptoms are there all the time. Mobility equipment, such as a wheelchair or a specially adapted car, can give back some sense of independence to those with more severe MS.
“It is therefore vital that we pay tribute to the work carried out by the Multiple Sclerosis Society in helping thousands of people with multiple sclerosis across Scotland. It must also be noted that there remain serious shortcomings in treatment and support for multiple sclerosis in Scotland. The Scottish Executive should therefore develop a national standard of care for people with multiple sclerosis to ensure that levels of treatment and support are the same regardless of where in Scotland they live.”
Commenting on the issue, Mr Stevenson said:
“Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an incurable neurological condition, which usually strikes at the prime of life and it is estimated that 2,500,000 people in the world have MS - and, of those, over 10,000 are in Scotland. Around 50 people, usually between 20 and 40 years of age, are diagnosed every week.
“Medical research has uncovered many probable factors in MS, such as the environment, a genetic link, and a trigger virus. However the cause has yet to be conclusively identified. Symptoms can range from mild and occasional illness to severe and rapid deterioration. Fortunately for most people with MS, the pain lies somewhere in between the two extremes. The most common symptoms include extreme weakness, slow speech, blurred vision, nerve pain in the face, ringing in the ears or hearing problems, pins and needles or numbness in the legs, feet, arms or hands, muscle pain, loss of memory and difficulty in concentrating.
“The good news is that MS is manageable. Symptoms differ in severity from individual to individual. There are drugs that lessen and control specific symptoms plus physical therapies and practical or psychological techniques. Some people experience what's called remissions and relapses. These are periods when their symptoms disappear or get worse. For others, their symptoms are there all the time. Mobility equipment, such as a wheelchair or a specially adapted car, can give back some sense of independence to those with more severe MS.
“It is therefore vital that we pay tribute to the work carried out by the Multiple Sclerosis Society in helping thousands of people with multiple sclerosis across Scotland. It must also be noted that there remain serious shortcomings in treatment and support for multiple sclerosis in Scotland. The Scottish Executive should therefore develop a national standard of care for people with multiple sclerosis to ensure that levels of treatment and support are the same regardless of where in Scotland they live.”
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