Spring Conference Aberdeen 28th - 30th March 2014
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Welcome to Conference Our party has a rich heritage in the North East. Its strong liberal spirit has fed our party and, in return, we have stood up for the region whilst others have taken it for granted. We return to Aberdeen ahead of a critical political year. The country will decide whether we are for In. We are the party of In. In Europe: To back anyone else in the European elections could threaten our place in Europe. In Britain: To retain and reform our three hundred year old partnership with the UK. The progress we are making in Westminster and Holyrood will be marked at the conference. In government we've made progress with 130,000 Scottish jobs created by our plan that some said would never work, tax cuts that others said could never be afforded and pension rises that no-one else said were a priority. And punching above our weight in Holyrood we won the argument for an expansion of childcare, free school meals and more funds for colleges. Our positive case for Britain and Europe and our progress in delivering a stronger economy and fairer society will be key features of our gathering. Enjoy Aberdeen. I look forward to catching up with many of you across the weekend. Best wishes,
@Willie_Rennie Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
/WillieRennieLibDem
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Welcome to Aberdeen It is a huge pleasure to welcome the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ 2014 Spring Conference to Aberdeen and the North East. I am delighted that the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ Conference is being held in our city and, in particular, in the part of Aberdeen so ably represented in the UK Parliament by Sir Malcolm Bruce MP. The next twelve months will be exciting and challenging ones for Liberal Democrats in Aberdeen, the North East and across Scotland. We will be working to re-elect George Lyon MEP in just a few weeks’ time, to secure a convincing “no” vote in September’s referendum and to return the maximum number of Liberal Democrat MPs in 2015’s UK Parliament election. I know that, working together, we can achieve all these objectives. I wish you an enjoyable and successful conference and hope that you enjoy your visit to Aberdeen.
Leader, Liberal Democrat Group Aberdeen City Council
@IanYuill
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Agenda at a glance Training 10.00-11.00 SC1: Welcome address SC2: Mental health and Scotland’s criminal justice system SC3: A stronger economy through gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 12.30-14.00 12.45-13.45
Lunch Fringes
SC4: Giving youth a voice: political education and democracy for young people SC5: Meet our new candidates SC6: Speech by Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister SC7: Emergency motion/topical issue SC8: Support for business SC9: Speech by Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury 17.15-18.15
Fringes
SC10: Liberal Democrat vision for Early Years’ Childcare SC11: End the cruelty of gay conversion therapy SC12: Speech by Alistair Carmichael MP, Secretary of State for Scotland SC13: Building a stronger Scotland SC14: Road to the referendum 12.00-14.40 12.10-13.10 13.30-14.30
Lunch Fringes Fringes
SC15: Emergency motion/topical issue SC16: Speech by Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats SC17: In Europe, in work SC18: Electronic cigarettes SC19: AGM & Party Business 17.30-18.30 Fringes
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Agenda at a glance
SC20: Manifesto roadshow SC21: Speech by George Lyon MEP SC22: First aid and defibrillators SC23: Protecting the rights and safety of sex workers SC24: Closing remarks from Sir Malcolm Bruce MP & Party awards Training 13.00-14.00
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We’ve cut income tax bills by £700 and taken almost three million people on low pay out of paying any income tax altogether.
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NICK CLEGG MP Leader of the Liberal Democrats Deputy Prime Minister @NickClegg
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Information Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB23 8BL Telephone: 01224 824 824
There are extensive and spacious car parking facilities at the AECC. Car parks 2 and 4 will be allocated to our event. Parking charges are as follows: · 0930hrs – 1800hrs = £3.00 per car · 1800hrs – 2330hrs = £5.00 per car · All day parking (0930 – 2330) = £5.00 per car Ticket machines are located in the car parks. They accept all major credit and debit cards and cash (coins only). Please note machines take exact change only; no change will be given. For all day parking you can also use Parkmobile to pay in advance. Call 020 3003 2526 and quote location code 90001. All day parking costs £5 + 20p for cars. www.parkmobile.co.uk The Scottish Liberal Democrats have been advised by Police Scotland regarding security measures for our Spring Conference 2014. As a result an enhanced security operation will be running for the duration of the conference. All those attending conference must have a pass issued by the Party in order to gain access to the conference venue. Conference photo passes must be worn visibly at all times within the AECC. Anyone found in the secure area without a valid pass will be escorted from the building. Everyone will be subject to a search process at the entry point which may include physical searches of bags by security staff. Boxes and packages should be left unsealed wherever possible. Under no circumstances will any large bags or suitcases be allowed into the AECC. Any bag left unattended will be brought to the attention of the police and may be removed and/or destroyed.
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In order to process through security as quickly as possible, please only bring essential items with you into the AECC. Please be aware that you will be searched each time you enter the venue so allow extra time. Coat racks will be available for storing outdoor clothing.
Please remember to bring your conference pass as replacement passes will be charged at a cost of £5. The registration desk will be located in the concourse of the AECC. Passes must be worn visibly at all times throughout conference.
This will be published on each day of conference and will include last minute changes to the order of business, amendments, topical issues and emergency motions. Please pick one up as you arrive each day.
Amendments to motions: Midday on 25th March Emergency motions: 5pm on 27th March and 5pm on 28th March
: For times call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950. : Local bus services are run by Firstgroup who can be contacted on 01224 650 000. Stagecoach also run services from local towns in the area and can be reached on 01224 597 591. : For long distance services contact National Express on 08717 818 178, Citylink on 0871 266 3333 or Megabus on 0900 1600 900. : Taxis can be booked for transfers from the station/city centre ComCab 01224 353 535 Rainbow City Cabs 01224 878 787 Aberdeen Cab Company 01224 595 959
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Information The AECC is equipped to welcome visitors with all needs. The conference building has automatic doors at the entrance with a lowlevel push pad suitable for wheelchair users. If you are a ‘blue badge’ holder, please use the designated parking spaces nearest the venue, unless otherwise directed by a parking steward. Lifts are available throughout the AECC. These can be found at concourse level (leading to floors 1-3), at Crombie/Boyd Orr (leading to the Gordon Suite), and at the Fleming auditorium. Wheelchair seating will be available in the auditorium. There is an infrared hearing system in the auditorium. Both hearing and seeing guide dogs are welcome at AECC and may enter the auditorium. If you require any additional assistance, please telephone the venue on 01224 824 824 or Linda Wilson on 0131 337 2314 in advance of your visit.
A café will operate inside the Crombie Suite of the AECC serving refreshments throughout conference. Lunchtime and evening fringes may provide complimentary refreshments.
Sheila Thomson (Convener) Euan Davidson Callum Leslie Jenni Lang Jennifer Jamison Ball Paul McGarry Ross Stalker Sandy Leslie (Co-opted) Andrew Nisbet (Executive Rep) Jo Swinson (MP Rep) Willie Rennie (MSP Rep) George Lyon (MEP Rep) Willie Wilson (ASLDC Rep) Jenni Lang (Fed Conference Rep) Jacquie Bell (SLDW Rep) Daniel O’Malley (LYS Rep)
Party Manager: Linda Wilson Campaigns Director: Adam Stachura Communications Director: Adam Clarke Campaigns Officer: Kristian Chapman Admin Assistant: Colum Bannatyne
Many thanks are extended to all the staff at the AECC; VisitAberdeen; Aberdeen City Council; Paramount Printers; Stuart Mackinnon and his security team; Metro for their AV expertise; and Kirsty Smith as ever for her work behind the speakers’ desk.
There is free wifi available throughout the building.
Office Bearers Willie Rennie MSP Malcolm Bruce MP Alistair Carmichael MP Craig Harrow Caron Lindsay Hugh Andrew Sheila Thomson Katy Gordon
Leader President Deputy Leader Convener Treasurer Vice-Convener (Policy) Vice-Convener (Conference) Vice-Convener (Campaigns & Candidates)
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Exhibitors Raising awareness, understanding and support of people with disabilities, within and outside the Liberal Democrats. Championing disabled and able-bodied advocates’ opinions and the positive opportunities available to the party and society.
Community Land Scotland represents Scotland’s existing and aspiring community landowners. Together the 41 members of Community Land Scotland manage some 500,000 acres of land, home to some 25,000 people. Community Land Scotland supports communities taking control of their land and reaping the benefits of that community ownership.
LDDA WELCOMES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT SCOTTISH MEMBERS! All carers and supporters welcome. You can join at the LDDA’s stand at the Scottish Spring Conference Exhibition or online at: www.disabilitylibdems.org.uk
www.facebook.com/groups/149700901745741 The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is Scotland’s largest teaching trade union with almost 60,000 members employed in nursery, primary, special, secondary, further and higher education.
Liberal Youth Scotland is the Youth Wing of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. As an associated organisation we build campaigns around the issues our members care about. We also have representatives at all levels of the party and contribute to campaigns and recruiting members. Come and see what we do!
The EIS represents over 80% of all teachers and lecturers in Scotland and campaigns to protect and improve their pay and conditions of service as well as seeking to promote “sound learning” across all sectors.
Delivering your message to voters - it’s what we do. Paramount combines 50 years’ experience, unique equipment and people who understand the complexities of handling political campaigns.
My Life My Death My Choice is the campaign to support the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill that is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament. The Bill will allow people with terminal or lifeshortening illnesses to obtain assistance in ending their life. The Bill will ensure each individual is able to make an informed choice about ending their life, with opportunities to reflect at key stages before moving forward and with strong safeguards to protect vulnerable groups.
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With advice, design, print and distribution we’re Scotland’s single source for newsletters, surgery mailings, consultations, questionnaires, calling cards and pop-up banners - all tailored to deliver your message. Contact details: Gordon or Dario sales@paramountprinters.co.uk 0131 667 4441
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Exhibitors The Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland is the leading charity helping blind and partially sighted people to live as fully and independently as possible. RNIB Scotland provides advice, support, training and aids and equipment. It also campaigns to help improve the life chances of people with sight loss. Contact: Ian Brown, Senior Communications Officer, RNIB Scotland, 12 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh EH7 5EA, tel 0131 652 3140
In 2012 The Home Rule and Community Rule Commission recommended that a variety of taxes on wealth and income be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust is now funding further research into the best use of this basket of taxes. Come and express your views.
RSPB Scotland is the charity that promotes the conservation of birds and other wildlife. We carry out scientific research, education, land management and policy advocacy in areas such as agriculture, marine, flooding, planning, energy, forestry, species and habitats, sustainability and climate change. Contact details: Thomas Quinn, Parliamentary Assistant, 0131 317 4100 thomas.quinn@rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/scotland
The Scottish Police Federation is the staff association that represents over 99% of the police officers in Scotland; currently over 18,500 members. With a remit for both the welfare of our members and efficiency of the service we are the only statutory consultative body for the police service in Scotland. Contact us: Tel: 0141 332 5234 | www.spf.org.uk Follow us on Twitter: @scotspolfed
The RCPE is an independent standard-setting body and professional membership organisation for medical specialists with over 12,000 members. We aim to improve the quality of patient care through developing standards of medical care and training and using the practical experiences of our members to inform health policy. Contact details: Lindsay Paterson, Policy Manager, RCPE, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JQ l.paterson@rcpe.ac.uk 0131 247 3673
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
SFHA promotes the work of housing associations and co-operatives across Scotland, which provide housing for over 250,000 households. Our members own or manage rented housing in our urban and rural areas. They develop affordable housing for rent and part-ownership and provide care and support to their tenants and others. Contact Maureen Watson, mwatson@sfha.co.uk www.sfha.co.uk
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Exhibitors Shelter Scotland works to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing. Our free helpline 0808 800 4444 and advice website shelterscotland.org.uk, provide advice, information and advocacy to people in housing need. We campaign for lasting political change to end Scotland’s housing crisis. For more information contact: Debbie King Tel: 0844 515 2447 Email: debbie_king@shelter.org.uk
Better Together is campaigning to keep Scotland a strong and secure part of the United Kingdom. With less than seven months until the referendum we are focusing on getting our positive message to undecided voters across the country. We will have a phonebank running throughout conference and we hope you will play your part to help keep Scotland within the UK.
UNISON is Scotland’s largest union. Our 160,000 members work to provide vital public services.
Come and find out what Scottish Liberal Democrat Women (SLDW) are doing to help get more women elected, increase female influence on policy and make the party a more equal place. Do you want to be an MP, lead a committee or change party policy? We can show you how!
Our Public Works campaign shows there is an alternative to cuts. It is the Scottish arm of UNISON’s Million Voices campaign for a fair society, with quality public services delivered by trained and properly resourced in-house teams.
Wheelchairs for Ukraine is a new Scottish charity that will recycle and refurbish second hand wheelchairs. It will employ disabled service veterans. It will give the wheelchairs to disabled people in Ukraine who cannot afford to buy one. It will establish a special relationship between Scotland and Ukraine.
www.unison-scotland.org.uk
Tel: 07907 169 953.
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SCOTTISH POLICE FEDERATION The Voice of Scotland’s Police Service
It’s what we do Tel: 0300 303 0027 We face and deal with events and tragedies others struggle to imagine.
We place ourselves in harm’s way so you don’t have to.
To watch the videos, visit:
#itswhatwedo
Follow us on Twitter @ScotsPolFed
itswhatwedo.org.uk
We make split second decisions every day.
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Fringe 12.45 - 13.45 Room 1
17.15 - 18.15 Board Room A/B What can we do about genocide?
Take part in the debate on the future of the Private Rented Sector in Scotland - the Scottish Government is considering ideas to reform the private rented sector including giving greater security of tenure to tenants in their homes. Come and hear the views of Shelter Scotland, Scottish Association of Landlords and the Scottish Liberal Democrat party. Chaired by Jim Hume MSP, Spokesperson for Health and Housing.
A joint meeting by Liberal International in Scotland and the Scottish Liberal Club. Come and hear a panel of political and academic experts discuss today’s conflicts that descend into destruction of whole populations. Light refreshments will be served.
Lunch will be provided. CLUB
12.45 - 13.45 Room 3/4
17.15 - 18.15 Room 2
Liberal Democrats should vote no to both. No to leaving the United Kingdom and no to leaving the EU. Speakers: , Scottish Editor of the Daily Telegraph
For the first time in many years LGBT+ Liberal Democrats will be meeting up together at Scottish conference. We are hoping to re-establish ourselves as a group within the party so anyone who’s interested in fighting for equality is more than welcome to come along and hear what we are all about. There will be speakers from Liberal Youth Scotland, Stonewall and the Equality Network.
Buffet and wine will be provided.
17.15 - 18.15 Room 1 Annual General Meeting. Open to all members under the age of 26.
18.30 - 20.00 Concourse
17.30 - 18.30 Room 10 See page 20 for details.
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The SNP didn't want to boost childcare until after the referendum. It was the Liberal Democrats who made them change their minds.
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WILLIE RENNIE MSP Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats @Willie_Rennie
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Fringe 12.10 – 13.10 Room 3/4
12.10 – 13.10 Boardroom A/B
Join us at our fringe event to hear more about the importance of the fouryear undergraduate degree offered by Scotland’s higher education institutions. Part of the discussion will be around how its flexibility helps to widen access to all those with the ability to succeed, with student speakers from Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen.
On 18 September this year voters at the referendum will have their say on the future of Scotland and they should have every confidence in the result. Come along to this session to find out more about how the Chief Counting Officer and the Electoral Commission are planning for the referendum.
Speakers include: Professor Pete Downes, Convener, Universities Scotland and the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ Education Spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP.
Speakers include: John McCormick, Electoral Commissioner, The Electoral Commission Andy O’Neill, Head of Office Scotland, The Electoral Commission Sue Bruce, Depute Chief Counting Officer and Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council
Delicious buffet with wine available.
12.10 – 13.10 Room 1
13.30 – 14.30 Boardroom A/B
Chair: Cllr Robert Brown Speakers: Jim Hume MSP (spokesperson on Health) Clare Jewell (vision support manager, RNIB Scotland) Ken Reid (chair, RNIB Scotland)
With just six months till the referendum, polls suggest many Scots still don't feel properly informed and feel detached from the debate on Scotland's future. Are the Lib Dems successfully engaging with the public and is their vision for Scotland connecting with voters?
Imagine being told you were losing your sight. What would it mean to you, your family, the life you’ve known? Every day in Scotland ten people begin to lose their sight, but few receive support and counselling. Hear our plans to develop vision support services so noone need face sight loss alone…
Join us for what will be a lively conversation with Willie Rennie MSP, former chair of Liberal Youth Scotland, Sophie Bridger and John Barrett, former MP for Edinburgh West. Chaired by Vice-President of the Law Society of Scotland, Alistair Morris. Refreshments will be served.
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Fringe 13.30 - 14.30 Room 1 The Home Rule and Community Rule Commission recommended that a variety of taxes on wealth and income be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. How should they be used? Come and participate in the discussion. Speakers include: Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael, Dr. Alan Trench, Dr. David Comerford.
13.30 – 14.30 Room 3/4
The impact of poor mental health on older people is considerable and accessing the right services can be difficult. Come and hear why we continue to support a range of actions, to reduce the impact of poor mental health on older people in Scotland. Chair: Jim Hume MSP Speakers: Dr Tom MacEwan, Consultant Psychiatrist and guests Buffet and drinks provided.
17.30 - 18.30 Boardroom A/B Imagine you were suffering a terminal or severely lifeshortening condition. Wouldn’t you want to talk openly and honestly about your options with your doctor and make your own decisions about your life and your death? This session will explore the issues around the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament and provide more information on the many different aspects of this highly topical debate. Speakers will include: Liam McArthur MSP Tim Maguire, Humanist Society Scotland Scott Rennie, Minister at Queens Cross Church, Aberdeen Buffet and drinks provided.
17.30 - 18.30 Room 1 9 in 10 people across the UK support organ donation - only 3 in 10 ever join the Organ Donation Register. Every day 3 people die waiting for a transplant - nearly 7,200 are waiting right now. Join British Heart Foundation Scotland today to discuss our support for a Soft Opt-out system. #OptforChange There will be a buffet and drinks available.
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Fringe
17.30 - 18.30 Room 3/4
13:00 - 14:00 Room 1 Come along and have your say at the AGM of the Association of Scottish Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners. Guest speaker, Cllr James Baker, ALDC Development Officer for North of England and Scotland
This meeting will provide a forum to discuss the progress made since the creation of the Police Service of Scotland, including what we got right, what we got wrong and the challenges that lie ahead. Buffet and wine will be available.
13:00 - 13:30 Room 3
19.30 to late Gordon Suite
Prayers for Scotland. A chance to gather with Liberal Democrat Christian Forum members and pray together.
With guest speaker, Christine Jardine, PPC for Gordon. Tickets cost ÂŁ40 and are only available in advance from linda.wilson@scotlibdems.org.uk or 0131 337 2314.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats would like to thank Visit Aberdeen for their support and help organising Spring Conference 2014
19.30 to late Room 15/16 You can expect a battle of minds, and of wits, special guests, prizes and the odd drink or two. ÂŁ5 entry
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Training and consultative sessions
The Liberal Democrats are the only Party in Britain whose policy is developed democratically by our members. This is your opportunity to let us know what you think should be in our 2015 Manifesto.
Come along and hear some top tips on how to write and deliver a great conference speech, then how to ensure you get called to speak. Trainer: Katy Gordon, Convener of Campaigns and Candidates Committee
Making the most of the fundraising circles of benefit, constituency events plus direct mail and email to raise big money for your campaign.
The 2012 US Presidential elections yet again showed us that conversations with voters matter and can be the difference between winning and losing.
Trainer: Victoria Marsom, Head of UK Strategic Seat Operations
This session will draw on key lessons from the USA and Eastleigh, how to use CONNECT to make your voter ID smarter and more effective and the importance of a strong GOTV operation in the European elections. Policy motions are the life-blood of Liberal Democracy. Learn about the essentials of writing a good motion, Trainer: Baroness Sal Brinton, Vice Chair of the Federal Conference Committee
Trainer: Adam Stachura, Director of Campaigns
Your chance to participate in the Party’s policy making process. How can we make our public services affordable, accessible and joined up? A repeat of the Friday session.
Your opinions will be taken into account when the final policy paper is drawn up so come along and have your say.
Trainer: Adam Stachura, Director of Campaigns
Chair: Cllr Robert Brown Copies of the consultation paper by the Public Services Working Group can be collected in advance from the registration desk.
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Civic Reception
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Friday 28th March The morning session runs from 11.15 to 12.30
Aberdeen City Council @IanYuill #sldconf
Mover: Alison McInnes MSP
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Summator: Jim Hume MSP
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Conference notes: a) Official Scottish Prison Service (SPS) figures that there were 13 apparent suicides in 2010/11, eight in 2011/12, and seven in 2012/13. b) That all but one of these were male prisoners. c) There had been 61 attempted suicide incidents over the same threeyear period. d) The 2008 Scottish Prisons Commission report ‘Scotland’s Choice’ which found that 7 out of 10 prisoners had suffered from at least two mental disorders, that 2 out of 10 male prisoners have previously attempted suicide and that 37% of women prisoners had attempted suicide. e) That two of the 28 prisoners who committed suicide and some of those who attempted suicide in Scotland’s prisons between 2010 and 2013 were placed on the SPS's suicide prevention strategy, ACT 2. f) That between June 2012 and November 2013 37 women were held in Cornton Vale's separation unit with four of these women incarcerated alone for many months. g) The high rates of self-harm amongst prisoners. h) That the Scottish Government has not carried out an urgent review of the provision and resourcing of services for women in prison with borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder contrary to the recommendation of the Commission on Women Offenders’ final report of April 2012.
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Conference welcomes the progress made since the publication of ‘Scotland’s Choice’ in tackling mental health in our criminal justice system, but remains concerned that we continue to deal with mental health issues, addiction and poverty in our prisons rather than through early intervention and appropriate health and social care.
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Conference believes that the Scottish Prison Service must ensure that staff are able to identify the early warning signs and that the NHS and Scottish Prison Service must work together to ensure that vulnerable individuals with complex needs get the help and support they need across multiple-agencies. Conference further believes that the prison population being at its highest ever is affecting prisoner care.
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Conference calls for: a) Mental health professionals to be available to those in custody whether in police custody or in our prisons, or in alcohol or drug treatment centres. b) Funding for mental health services to be improved and sustained with mental health services within the criminal justice system also being properly funded. c) The Scottish Government to carry out an urgent review of the provision and resourcing of services for women in prison with borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. d) Options for diverting people into treatment rather than prosecution if they suffer from mental health problems. e) Members of the judiciary to be trained about mental health issues as part of ongoing training and best practice guidance. f) The Scottish Government to work with service users, healthcare professionals, the judiciary, the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish Court Service and other partner organisations and third sector groups to build a framework for tackling mental health issues within the criminal justice system in Scotland.
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Conference puts a premium on effective treatment and rehabilitation within our criminal justice system which can help us to build a fairer society and treats those suffering from mental health issues as people needing high quality help and support.
#sldconf
@ScotLibDems @Willie_Rennie /Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Friday 28th March Mover: Katy Gordon
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Summator: Christine Jardine
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Conference notes that in spite of the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 women still face gender inequality in education, training and employment and that this is particularly prevalent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas.
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Conference believes that the pace of change in the position of women has been disappointingly slow and that there is an urgency to address gender inequality as part of the Liberal Democrats’ aim to build a fairer society in which everyone has the chance to get on in life.
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Conference notes: a) Despite rough parity in study of STEM subjects at school, women are lost to the STEM workforce and academia at every level, from entry to senior positions and are consequently hugely underrepresented at senior levels. b) Only 4 of the FTSE 100 companies in the UK are led by women. c) Women continue to be under-represented in leadership positions within professions, across parliaments and the public sector and throughout business. d) The United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women, which designated 'Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women's equal access to full employment and decent work' as its priority theme during its fifty-fifth session in 2011. e) The Careerwise Scotland initiative, which aims to encourage girls to widen their future career choices by choosing the right subjects at school. f) A study by the Girl Guiding Association in 2012, which found that certain careers such as engineering were being dismissed as "jobs for boys" and that one in six girls said they were put off an engineering career because they did not know of many women who worked in the industry. g) The 2012 report of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, which concludes: I. Doubling of women’s high-level skill contribution to the economy would be worth as much as £170 million per annum to Scotland’s national income. II. Scotland’s employers in the science and technology sectors are unable to find sufficient qualified, skilled and experienced workers.
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III. In part the problem lies in “the lack of a concerted and sustained strategy and a commitment to change.�
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Conference welcomes: a) The report of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, which looked at practical advice on what can be done to increase the proportion of women in STEM by workforces as well as the number of women who rise to senior positions in universities, institutes and business. b) The work of the Science and Engineering Education Advisory Group (SEEAG), in particular recommendation 7.8 of their 2012 report which stated that employers should introduce practical programmes to attract and retain women in STEM careers. c) The delivery by the Liberal Democrats in government of shared parental leave which was a recommendation of the Royal Society report.
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Conference believes: a) Overcoming gender stereotypes across the board but particularly in STEM is in everyone's interests, and will help Scotland to thrive. b) The loss of highly trained women from the workforce is not only a loss of opportunity to individuals, but also represents a major, quantifiable loss to the economy and society.
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Conference calls for: a) The UK and Scottish Governments to work together to develop a coherent and comprehensive strategy to tackle gender discrimination in education, training and employment. b) The support of individuals, schools, career services, academic institutions, business and industry, women’s institutions and others in tackling gender discrimination. c) The Liberal Democrats to campaign at every level to ensure that woman and girls are given every opportunity and encouragement to reach their potential. d) The implementation of the recommendations from the Royal Society and SEEAG reports, in particular: I. An Action Plan aimed at retaining and promoting women in STEM. II. Practical, hands-on science learning for young people. III. Business and industry to introduce quality part-time employment at all levels for men and women. IV. Research funding linked to gender equality. V. Monitoring of universities and research institutions against the Athena SWAN principles which recognise and celebrate good practice in recruiting, retaining and promoting women in STEM.
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Friday 28th March Mover: Euan Davidson
Summator: Daniel O’Malley
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Conference notes: Ÿ The landmark decision to allow sixteen and seventeen olds to vote in the referendum on Scottish Independence. Ÿ Article 12 of the UN declaration on the Rights of a Child, which states that every child has a right to be consulted on decisions affecting them. Ÿ Research from the British Social Attitude Survey that shows less than a third of young people are interested in politics. Ÿ Less than half of all eligible eighteen to twenty five year olds turned out to vote at the last general election. Ÿ One of the major aims of the curriculum for excellence is to create active citizens.
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Conference believes: Ÿ That when young people are engaged and shown that politics affects their everyday lives and the issues they care about, many become enthusiastically engaged in the political process. Ÿ The education system should be designed to enable young people to become responsible and engaged citizens. Ÿ Empowering young people to make their own decisions is far more effective than merely telling them what to do without discussion or debate.
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Conference therefore calls on all elected Liberal Democrats: Ÿ To campaign to make sure that the decision to expand the franchise to sixteen and seventeen year olds is a permanent fixture, not merely a tokenistic one-off gesture. Ÿ To support compulsory citizenship education in high schools. Ÿ To support a culture shift in schools towards a system where young people become empowered participants, where their opinions are valued and taken into account.
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Furthermore calls on Liberal Democrats in local government: Ÿ To strongly support local youth democracy bodies such as youth councils and local members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. Ÿ To work with local authorities to make sure that engagement with young people is not tokenistic but genuinely engaging.
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Friday 28th March
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Deputy Prime Minister @Nick_Clegg #sldconf
New Campaign pack now available. Email the campaign department on Campaigns@scotlibdems.org.uk
FOR A
STR NGER SC TLAND WITHIN THE UNITED KINGDOM
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People in the North East are sick and tired of being short-changed by a First Minister with the wrong priorities.
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ALISON MCINNES MSP Justice Spokesperson North East of Scotland
@ScotLibDems
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Friday 28th March Mover: Mike Crockart MP
Summator: Christine Jones
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Conference welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs); believes that we are creating a stable, competitive tax system by cutting corporation tax and reducing tax rates to 20% for SMEs with profits up to £300,000, as well as cutting red tape to guarantee that regulation supports business growth.
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Conference notes: 1. That Liberal Democrats are helping businesses access the finance they need, creating the British Business Bank which will support up to £10 billion of new lending to SMEs. 2. The Funding for Lending Scheme which allows banks and building societies to borrow at cheaper rates from the Bank of England, passing savings on to businesses. 3. The £1.2 billion Business Finance Partnership scheme for less traditional lending. 4. The Enterprise Finance Guarantee which has offered loans to SMEs worth £2 billion and Enterprise Capital Funds offering equity to SMEs worth £300 million. 5. A tenfold increase in capital allowances which will allow firms to offset capital investment worth £250,000 against tax on their profits. 6. And believes therefore that we are delivering on our commitment in the Coalition Agreement to develop effective proposals to ensure the flow of credit to viable SMEs.
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Conference commends Liberal Democrats in government for creating more opportunities for job creation through a £2000 employment allowance available to every business and charity; notes that with the allowance businesses will be able to employ four adults or ten 18-20 year-olds full-time on the National Minimum Wage without paying any employer NICs; and is pleased to note that in 2015/16 75% of the total benefit of the policy will go to regions outside London and the South East.
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Conference celebrates the Small Business Saturday initiative as a chance for small businesses to promote themselves; notes the success of a similar event in the USA which generated $5.5 billion in sales in 2012, and welcomes the doubling of SMEs exporting with help from the UKTI and UK Government funding of £35 million. And conference notes that 8 out of 10 businesses want the UK to remain in the EU.
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Friday 28th March 37 38 39 40 41 42
Conference applauds the UK Government’s introduction of Product Surgeries designed to enable SMEs to pitch innovative products and services to senior decision makers in departments and the appointment of an SME Champion within each key division; and calls on the Scottish Government to consider whether there are similar opportunities to increase the participation of SMEs in government procurement.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury @DannyAlexander #sldconf
17.15-18.15
Fringe meetings
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS CONFERENCE 2014
DINNER & CEILIDH
Saturday 29th March Tickets cost ÂŁ40 Call 0131 337 2314
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Saturday 29th March .
Mover: Liam McArthur MSP
Summator: Cllr Kate Stephen
1 2 3 4
Conference recognises the research evidence which supports investment in quality early years’ education and the positive impact which this can have on a child’s life chances, and endorses the Liberal Democrat commitment to building a fairer society in which every child has a fair start in life.
5 6 7 8 9
Conference welcomes the extension in early years’ childcare for Scotland’s two year olds as stage 1 of our plan to see 40% of Scotland’s two year olds in free early education and childcare and the actions of the Scottish Liberal Democrats in Holyrood securing this extension which will see 27% of Scotland’s two year olds receive early education and childcare.
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Conference believes that the additional provision secured by the Scottish Liberal Democrats will help the life chances of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children and welcomes the reversal of the Scottish Government’s position that an extension could not be achieved without independence. Conference believes that devolution has delivered for Scotland’s children.
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Conference calls on the Scottish Government to now: 1. Work with the Scottish Liberal Democrats to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to provide childcare for eligible two year olds. 2. Work with the Scottish Liberal Democrats to ensure that the right number of staff are trained and that suitable buildings of a high quality are available. 3. And work with the Scottish Liberal Democrats and local authorities to ensure that parents know what they can expect from the policy and that take-up rates of those eligible are high.
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Conference reaffirms its commitment agreed in the ‘Access to affordable, high quality childcare and early education’ motion passed at Autumn Conference 2012 to continuing to work to extend childcare to 40% of two year olds in Scotland, bringing the provision in line with that offered in England; and believes that a revolution in childcare can and should be achieved without further delay from the Scottish Government.
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Saturday 29th March Mover: Euan Davidson
Summator: Hannah Bettsworth
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Conference notes: 1. The recent campaign by the TUC and Unison unions along with over forty LGBT organisations and other trade unions that presented two thousand and two signatures to the UK government calling for a ban on “gay cure therapies”, submitted on 12th July. 2. Research from the University of Swansea which showed that one in six psychiatrists had attempted to change or reduce a patient’s sexuality. 3. Gay conversion therapy is an intensely harmful practice which has been known to have led to despair, depression and even suicide in the past. The effect of gay conversion therapy is particularly damaging to young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who are often struggling to come to terms with their own sexuality. 4. Despite impressive progress many in the LGBT community continue to suffer day to day discrimination in their workplaces, schools, families and on the street. 5. The Liberal Democrats have often been at the vanguard of the movement for LGBT equality, from being the first party to call for decriminalisation of homosexuality to being the first major political party to embrace equal marriage.
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Conference believes: A. The LGBT community deserves full equality and protection from discrimination which cannot be achieved while a proportion of medical professionals and wider society believe sexuality is something which can or needs to be “cured”. B. Gay conversion therapy causes an unacceptable amount of damage, both to those undergoing it and to society as a whole. C. Gay conversion therapy serves to entrench the myth that being LGBT is an illness and a danger to society.
28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37
Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government: A. To legislate to ban medical professionals engaging in attempts to alter patients’ sexuality. B. To legislate to prohibit the offering of gay conversion therapies on a commercial basis. C. To legislate to prevent any organisation attempting to alter the sexuality of those under the age of sixteen. D. Increase public awareness that attempting to change a relative or friend’s sexuality can be intensively damaging. Furthermore conference calls on all elected Liberal Democrats to:
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Saturday 29th March 38 39
A. Campaign for an end to the barbaric practice of gay conversion therapy. B. Promote LGBT equality whenever the opportunity arises.
Secretary of State for Scotland @ACarmichaelMP #sldconf SC13: Building a stronger Scotland Mover: John Thurso MP
Summator: Alan Reid MP
1 2 3
Conference welcomes the news that the UK economy is now the fastest growing of the G7 countries and believes that in government Liberal Democrats are building a stronger economy in a fairer society.
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Conference further believes that by sticking to our plans in the national interest we will make sure that this is a recovery built to last, and that sustainable recovery is the best way to improve living standards.
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Conference notes that: 1. The UK Government is helping families with the cost of living by raising the income tax threshold to ÂŁ10,000 by April 2014 taking 2.7 million lowest paid taxpayers out of paying tax altogether, while also giving a tax cut of ÂŁ700 a year to more than 20 million low and middle earners; freezing fuel duty for the rest of the Parliament, and fixing the economy and delivering interest rates at historic lows. 2. Since the Coalition Government took office in 2010 there are 1.4 million extra people in work, bringing the total number of people in employment to 30 million including 120,000 more people in work in Scotland. 3. Scotland now has employment rates as high as anywhere in Britain. 4. Scotland has the strongest economy in Britain outside of the south-east of England.
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Saturday 29th March 20 21 22
Conference endorses the view that our future prosperity and success will be through a single market in the UK and Europe which makes trade easier and which allows business based on innovation and excellence to thrive.
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Conference welcomes the increase of more than £300 million to the Scottish Government’s budget over the next two years as a result of spending decisions in the Autumn Statement and calls on the Scottish Government to prioritise a stronger economy and a fairer society by investing in childcare, skills and housing.
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Conference notes that the economic recovery remains fragile and that a substantial impact on living standards is still to be experienced.
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Conference calls on the UK and Scottish Governments to: 1. Work together to promote further growth across the UK. 2. Foster increased participation in the workforce for future generations through educational opportunity. 3. Support female participation in all workforces, but in particular in science, maths and engineering where doubling the contribution of women would add ÂŁ170 million to national income. 4. Encourage excellence in manufacturing, engineering and entrepreneurship. 5. And support businesses to export to foreign markets.
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Conference holds that the best future for Scotland is as part of a United Kingdom, sharing the economic risks and rewards with our neighbours.
In conversation with:
@MichaelMooreMP @MingCampbellMP #sldconf
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Saturday 29th March The afternoon session runs from 14.40 to 17.20.
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Saturday 29th March
Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats @Willie_Rennie #sldconf
Mover: George Lyon MEP Summator: Michael Moore MP
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Conference believes that: 1. Scottish Liberal Democrats want Scotland to stay in the EU because we are working hard for a stronger economy - millions of jobs in the UK, including hundreds of thousands in Scotland, are linked to our trade with the EU; and being in Europe gives us more strength when negotiating trade deals with global players like the US, China, India and Brazil. 2. By working to keep Scotland in the EU, Liberal Democrats are defending jobs, working to create many more and putting thousands of pounds back in people’s pockets by making it easier for companies to export and slashing red tape for small businesses. 3. By working to keep Scotland in the EU, Scottish Liberal Democrats are fighting for safer communities by ensuring our police forces have access to key EU crime-fighting tools. 4. By working to keep Scotland in the EU, Scottish Liberal Democrats are fighting for a greener future by working with EU countries to combat climate change, create green jobs and reduce pollution. 5. The Scottish Liberal Democrats are the party of ‘in’ –In Europe, In Work.
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Conference further believes: 1. The Tories and UKIP are putting millions of British jobs and billions of pounds of investment at risk by undermining our membership of the EU. 2. Labour can’t be trusted with the economy at home or abroad - their reckless spending and failure to regulate the banks crippled Britain's economy while their MEPs support measures that would impose huge burdens on British businesses. 3. The SNP’s independence plans put our place in Europe at risk and threaten the advantageous EU membership terms that Scotland enjoys as part of a strong United Kingdom.
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Saturday 29th March 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64
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Conference resolves to support a strong manifesto for the European Parliament elections in May 2014 that commits Scottish Liberal Democrat MEPs to: 1. Creating more jobs by further opening up of the EU’s internal market, supporting new EU trade agreements with other trading countries, cutting red tape and ‘thinking small’ by exempting smaller businesses from legislation where appropriate. 2. Protecting the environment and creating green growth by committing to reduce the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030, urgently strengthening the EU Emissions Trading System, and pushing for more international grid connections between European countries to support Scottish renewables and ensure we can meet our climate change goals faster and at a lower cost; and continuing to support ambitious energy efficiency standards at European level. 3. Building a safer, stronger financial system by ensuring better quality of regulation in order to protect the economy, businesses and jobs, working for fairer rules that clamp down on the manipulation of energy and financial markets as exposed by the LIBOR scandal and Brent Oil fixing investigation, and implementing new tax transparency for multinationals, including banks and extractive industries, to show how much tax they pay in different countries. 4. Building a more sustainable future for rural communities and businesses by supporting continued reform of the Common Agricultural Policy with more devolution in agriculture policy, ensuring continued support for rural communities, particularly upland and less favoured areas and enforcement of European Union fishing rules by all member states to promote a more sustainable fishing industry in Scotland. 5. Getting a better, fairer deal for consumers by campaigning to abolish mobile phone roaming charges once and for all and supporting higher standards of food inspections and better country of origin labelling to protect against repeats of the horsemeat scandal. 6. Fighting cross-border crime and defending rights by supporting the European Cybercrime Centre, pressing for the European Union missing child alert system to be implemented quickly, setting up a European Union database of unidentified bodies to help families searching for missing loved ones and supporting measures to combat cross-border fraud, corruption and tax evasion.
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Saturday 29th March Mover: Trevor Escott
Summator: Cllr Kate Stephen
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Conference notes that in the UK there are around 100,000 deaths per year attributable to smoking, and that for every death caused by smoking there are another twenty smokers suffering from a smoking related disease.
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Conference further notes the rise in popularity of e-cigarettes, with an estimated 1.3 million of the UK’s 10 million smokers switching to e-cigarettes.
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Conference praises work by Liberal Democrat MEPs, including George Lyon, to raise the profile of e-cigarettes and to stimulate debate on the issue which has: A. Forced the European Parliament to decide that e-cigarettes should be regulated but not be subjected to the same rules as medicinal products unless they are presented as having curative or preventative properties. B. Ensured manufacturers and importers have to supply the competent authorities with a list of all the ingredients they contain. C. Made e-cigarettes subject to the same advertising restrictions as tobacco products.
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Conference notes that while e-cigarettes have been found to be as effective as nicotine patches in helping smokers to kick the habit, some groups have warned that not enough research has been conducted to be sure that e-cigarettes are safe. Conference acknowledges that this is a very complex situation, with opposing views from respected bodies but in particular notes that: A. The World Health Organization has advised that consumers should not use e-cigarettes until they are deemed safe and has said that the potential risks remain undetermined and that the contents of the vapor emissions have not been thoroughly studied. B. The British Medical Association has called for a ban on “public vaping” in the same way that public smoking was banned and has said that a strong regulatory framework is needed to restrict their marketing, sale and promotion to ensure that it is only smokers who are targeted, as a way of cutting down and quitting, and that marketing does not appeal to nonsmokers, particularly children and young people. C. Cancer charities have warned that e-cigarettes could “re-normalize” smoking.
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Conference accepts that e-cigarettes have value but believes that ongoing research is needed into the possible side-effects of chemicals used in them as well as work to properly understand how e-cigarettes can help to tackle smoking. Conference believes that one important way of helping people stop smoking is to make sure, meantime, that nicotine replacement products like e-cigarettes are
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Saturday 29th March 37 38 39
widely available and welcomes the decision not to regulate e-cigarettes as medicines which would mean that they could only be sold in pharmacies, making them harder to buy.
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Conference does however: 1. Believe that some regulation is necessary on the sale of e-cigarettes to ensure that they are used appropriately. 2. Welcomes the fact that the Advertising Standards Authority is to look at e-cigarette advertising and in particular protections for children. 3. Calls upon the Scottish Parliament to consider following the UK Government which has indicated that it intends to ban selling ecigarettes to people under 18 years old. 4. Believes that the Scottish Government should also consider legislation to prevent proxy buyers purchasing e-cigarettes for minors.
17.30-18.30
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Fringe meetings
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Lib Dems have secured billions of pounds of EU investment and delivered thousands of Scottish jobs in a strong UK.
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GEORGE LYON MEP Scotland’s liberal voice in Europe @GeorgeLyonMEP
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Sunday 30th March
@SalBrinton #sldconf
Scotland's Liberal Democrat MEP @GeorgeLyonMEP #sldconf
Mover: Paul McGarry
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Summator: Jim Hume MSP
1 2 3 4
Conference notes that the presence of universal healthcare in the UK has helped establish the UK as a leader in the provision of healthcare. Conference further notes that despite this we fall behind in terms of first aid provision and in particular first aid training in schools.
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Conference is concerned that according to ICM research nearly 60% of adults do not feel confident enough to try to save a life and that the St Andrew's First Aid charity reports that Scotland has the highest mortality rate for accidents. They estimate that 1 in 3250 dies as a result of accidents in Scotland compared to 1 in 4790 for the rest of the UK.
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Conference further notes that: 1. Fewer than 1 in 10 people in the UK have had any formal first aid training. 2. 89% of 11-18 year olds have been confronted with a medical emergency according to the British Red Cross. 3. People who have had first aid training at an early age are often more confident to act in first aid situations. 4. 86% of teachers in the UK think that emergency lifesaving skills should form part of the curriculum.
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5. In Norway where first aid is taught as a compulsory element in schools, and where 95% of citizens have first aid training, those who suffer a cardiac arrest away from a hospital have a 52% chance of survival compared to 18% in the UK. 6. One fifth of European countries have made First Aid training compulsory in Schools.
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Conference believes that: 1. Scotland needs a policy for First Aid in the community to promote the importance of first aid to preserve life and to ensure that nobody dies when the availability of good first aid could have made a difference. 2. Every state school in Scotland should teach first aid as a compulsory element. 3. The Scottish Government should continue to work with voluntary aid societies in developing a coherent first aid strategy. 4. That Scotland should be at the forefront of protecting our citizens by ensuring that we live our lives in the safest possible environments.
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To that end conference believes it is crucial that defibrillators are installed in public places where routine exercise is expected to take place and that staff are trained in defibrillation and notes with concern that less than 1% of primary schools and only 19% of secondary schools in Scotland have access to a life-saving defibrillator. Conference further notes that for every minute which passes after a cardiac event the chance of survival reduces by 10% without defibrillation, and that the survival rate is just 10% if effective CPR is administered; but that if a defibrillator is used immediately following a cardiac arrest the chances of survival can be as high as 75%.
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Conference calls on local authorities to install Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in all council controlled public buildings where exercise takes place.
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Conference further calls on the Scottish Government to: 1. Mandate the installation of an AED in every public building where exercise takes place. 2. Include first aid training as a compulsory element of the curriculum. 3. Work with voluntary aid societies to develop a comprehensive first aid strategy to enable Scotland to achieve the highest survival rates in cases of cardiac arrest.
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Sunday 30th March Mover: Ewan Hoyle
Summator: TBC
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Conference reaffirms the dedication of the Scottish Liberal Democrats to improving the well-being of individuals belonging to stigmatised and marginalised groups, as reflected in motions on mental health and drugs policy in recent years.
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Conference notes with concern: 1. That sexual assault can leave victims with severe, lasting, negative impacts on both their personal well-being and their wider interaction with society. 2. That sexual assault is one of the few forms of criminality in Scotland for which recorded offences are on the rise. 3. That sex workers are among those in our society who are at greatest risk of sexual and other assault. 4. The alarming actions of Police Scotland in raiding Edinburgh's licensed saunas and the threat to the future safety of Scotland's sex workers if current law continues to be enforced. 5. The worrying level of support expressed for Rhoda Grant MSP's failed bill seeking to make it a criminal offence to purchase sex in Scotland.
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Conference further notes: 1. Evidence from Sweden, where the purchase of sex has been criminalised, that sex workers have been further marginalised and endangered as a result. 2. Evidence from New Zealand, where sex work has been decriminalised, demonstrating a much improved relationship with the police and greater protection from exploitation. 3. The welcome and dramatic improvement in relations between Merseyside police and local sex workers since attacks on sex workers have been classed as hate crimes. 4. The extremely limited to non-existent availability of sexual psychology services on the NHS in different parts of Scotland.
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Conference believes: 1. Any attempts to legislate on sex work should be very careful to consider the diversity of sex work conditions, and the opinions of sex workers and their clients. 2. Current law is failing in its duty to protect sex workers from crime and ensure justice when crimes against sex workers are committed. 3. Those who pay for sexual services, rather than being viewed as criminal adversaries, would be better engaged as allies in the fight against non-consensual sexual exploitation.
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4. Not enough is being done to tackle the combination of poverty and addiction that motivates many of those sex workers who would prefer not be engaged in sex work. 5. Greater availability of sexual psychology services on the NHS could help prevent sexual assaults, reduce the trauma suffered by victims, and enable sex work clients to develop healthier attitudes and behaviour.
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Conference calls for the Scottish Government to: 1. Commission an investigation of decriminalisation and legalisation examples from international experience with a view to implementing evidencebased policy which will best protect sex workers from violence and other crime. 2. Develop a targeted campaign encouraging those who pay for sex to report suspicions of sex workers being victims of trafficking or other forms of coercion. 3. Designate crime against sex workers as hate crime. 4. Make available heroin-assisted recovery clinics for those sex workers who are addicted to heroin and wish to leave sex work. 5. Ensure that appropriate sexual psychology services are freely available and accessible to those that need them in all regions of Scotland.
Party President Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats @MalcolmBruce #sldconf
Training 13.00 to 14.00
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
Thanks for coming to Aberdeen. See you in the Autumn! 45
Standing Orders 1.1.
The Conference Committee shall be constituted as specified in Section E10 of the Constitution. The annual election of members by the conference shall be by Single Transferable Vote in a ballot of all members of the Party registered to attend Conference ('Conference Representatives').
1.2.
The Conference Convener shall be the Chair of the Conference Committee. At its first meeting after a new election under Section E10 of the Constitution, the Conference Committee may elect one or more Vice-Conveners.
2.1.
The Agenda for each ordinary meeting of Conference shall include time for: 2.1.1. Motions; 2.1.2. Emergency motions; 2.1.3. Topical issues; 2.1.4. A business session or sessions; and 2.1.5. any other business deemed appropriate by the Conference Committee. The time to be allocated to each type of business and the order of business shall be decided by the Conference Committee.
2.2.
The Conference Committee shall, before each meeting of the Conference, prepare a timetable which includes: 2.2.1. The closing date for the receipt of motions (other than Emergency or Topical motions), which shall not normally be less than eight weeks before the start of the meeting; 2.2.2. The due date for the publication of the Agenda, which shall not normally be less than six weeks before the start of the meeting; 2.2.3. The closing date for the receipt of topical issues, which shall not normally be less than two weeks before the start of the meeting; and 2.2.4. The closing date for receipt of amendments which shall not normally be less than two working days before the start of the meeting. 2.2.5. The Conference Committee may, in special circumstances, specify dates later than the normal dates under this Standing Order. It shall report to the Conference its reasons for doing so.
2.3.
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Submitting organisations shall detail at the time of submission the name and contact details of a person authorised to agree any redrafting of a motion or amendment and the name of the mover and summator of the motion or amendment, should it be selected for debate at Conference.
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Standing Orders 2.4
The Conference Committee shall decide which of the motions duly submitted shall be included within the Agenda. The proposers of the motions selected for debate shall be informed of the Conference Committee’s decision. The Agenda shall be circulated to Local Parties and other bodies entitled to submit motions and amendments under the provisions of Section E19 of the Constitution so that amendments can be tabled to these motions by such bodies. Copies of motions not selected for inclusion in the Agenda shall be available for inspection.
2.5.
The Conference Committee shall meet the day after the deadline for submission of amendments to motions on the Agenda and shall decide which amendments should be accepted and those rejected. The proposers of the amendments selected for debate shall be informed of the Conference Committee’s decision.
2.6.
The Conference Committee shall also prepare an agenda for the business session of each meeting of Conference. The Committee shall circulate this, with the text of proposed amendments to the Constitution in accordance with Section L of the Constitution, amendments to Standing Orders, and other party business motions, with the Agenda as per Section 2.4
2.7.
The Party’s Principal Committees may submit holding motions, which shall identify the issues to be dealt with within the motion but which may be amended and expanded upon later. Standing Orders 2 and 3 shall apply to holding motions as they would apply to ordinary motions, except that: 2.7.1. The final version of the motion shall be submitted not less than two weeks before the start of the meeting of Conference; 2.7.2. The text of the final version shall be circulated to Conference Representatives, Local Parties and other bodies authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E19 of the Constitution, who may submit amendments no later than two working days before the start of the meeting of Conference; and 2.7.3. The Committee shall make available to Conference Representatives the text of the final version and any amendments chosen for debate, either by their publication in the Conference Daily Bulletin or by any other means the Committee considers most appropriate.
2.8.
The Conference Committee may, if the circumstances require, propose to Conference a variation in the order of business as set out in the Agenda. Such variation shall be put to the vote and shall take effect if approved by a majority of those voting.
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Standing Orders 3.1. The Conference Committee may refuse to select a motion for the amendment of the Constitution or Standing Orders if, in the opinion of the Committee, it is similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate at the same meeting of Conference. All other motions in these categories shall be circulated with the Agenda. 3.2. No amendment shall be selected if, in the opinion of the Conference Committee, it is insubstantial, outside the legitimate scope of the motion or tantamount to a direct negative of the motion. 3.3. The movers of any motion or amendment that has not been selected shall be notified as soon as is practicable and may appeal to the Conference Committee in accordance with directions given by the Committee. If an appeal is allowed, the motion or amendment shall be treated as an emergency motion or amendment notwithstanding that it does not comply with Standing Order 5. 3.4. This Standing Order and Standing Order 2 do not apply to procedural motions under Standing Order 8. 3.5. No topical issue may be selected for debate at Conference unless the Conference Committee is satisfied that the content of the motion is such that it could not have been submitted in time for the deadline as set out in Section 2.2 for ordinary motions. No topical issue can be a holding motion from a Party Committee. Selection of topical issues for debate will be made at the same time as consideration of emergency motions for debate. However, Conference Committee reserves the right to consider topical issues earlier if required.
4.1. Special Conferences shall deal only with the business stated in the notice of requisition, save that the Conference Committee may allow time for emergency motions and for business which is formal or, in the opinion of the Committee, uncontentious. 4.2. The Conference Committee shall draw up an Agenda and circulate in line with Section 2.4. If the Committee deems it necessary the Agenda can be circulated with amendments to be submitted as Emergency Amendments. 4.3. The provisions of Standing Orders 2 and 3 shall, so far as they are not inconsistent with Standing Orders 4.1 and 4.2, apply to special meetings of the Conference.
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Standing Orders 5.1. An emergency motion or amendment must relate to significant developments which have occurred since the relevant closing date or so shortly before that date as to make it impracticable to submit a motion, topical issue or amendment in due time. It must be brief and specific. 5.2. An emergency motion or amendment may be submitted by five Conference Representatives or by any persons or bodies authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E9 of the Constitution. 5.3. The Conference Committee may, for each day of the meeting of Conference, set aside time convenient for the debate of Emergency Motions. In such an event, proposed Emergency Motions must be submitted to the Conference Committee, duly signed, by 5pm the day before they are to be debated. Emergency Amendments to motions already on the Agenda for that meeting of Conference must be submitted by 5pm the day before the motion is to be debated. 5.4. The Conference Committee may refuse to select an emergency motion or amendment if, in the opinion of the Committee, it is similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate at the relevant meeting of Conference. 5.5. The Conference Committee will choose the emergency motions or amendments which, in the opinion of the Committee, are most relevant to the concerns of the Conference and can be debated within the time available. The Committee shall make available the text of all emergency motions and amendments chosen for debate either by publication in the Conference Daily Bulletin or any other means the Committee finds most appropriate. 5.6. Amendments shall not normally be taken to the text of an Emergency Motion. However Conference Committee may consider amendments duly signed by 5 Conference Representatives or by any body authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E9 of the Constitution. These amendments must be brief, suitable for debate and of a similar emergency nature. The deadline for submitting amendments to an Emergency Motion will be listed in the Conference Daily Bulletin alongside the text of the Emergency Motion. The movers of the Emergency Motion must be given the opportunity to agree that the text of the amendment be accepted without debate or vote, and the text must be circulated to voting representatives before the start of the debate.
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Standing Orders 6.1. Length of Speeches
6.2.
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6.1.1.
The Conference Committee shall decide the time to be allocated for each debate. The Conference Committee shall determine the times allocated to speakers in debates.
6.1.2.
Movers of motions shall normally be allocated not more than 12 minutes to move and summate on a motion. Movers of amendments shall normally be allocated not more than 8 minutes to move and summate on a motion. Movers of emergency motions and topical issues shall normally be allocated 5 minutes to move the motion. Speakers from the floor shall normally be allocated 4 minutes but this may be varied at the discretion of the chair of the debate.
6.1.3.
The allocation of the time between moving and summating shall be at the discretion of the mover subject only to notification of the Chair of the debate before the start of the debate. In the absence of such notification the Chair shall be entitled to limit speeches to three quarters of the time allocation for moving and one quarter for summation.
Order of Debate 6.2.1.
The Conference Committee shall direct the order of debate. Generally, however, a motion will be moved and immediately thereafter the amendments will be moved in the order directed by the Committee. There will then be a general debate. The movers of amendments (or their nominees) shall have the right to summate in the same order, after which the mover of the motion (or their nominee) shall have the right to summate.
6.2.2.
Votes will be taken on amendments in the order in which they have been moved and finally, a vote shall be taken on the substantive motion.
6.3.
The Conference Committee may direct that parts of any motion or amendment or group of amendments may be the subject of a separate debate. The Conference Committee may also direct that a debate may comprise of more than one substantive motion. In this case it shall be up to the discretion of the Chair as to the allotment of speakers, save that the rights of movers of motions or amendments shall not be infringed.
6.4.
The Committee may authorise members of other State or Regional Parties to speak. The Committee may also, with the approval of conference, invite any person to address a Conference as a guest.
IN
, IN
, IN
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Standing Orders 6.5.
On any topical issue, policy motion or emergency motion not moved on behalf of the Policy Committee, the Policy Committee shall have the right to nominate one of its members to report to the Conference its views on the motions and/or amendments under debate. Such persons shall be called to speak at any time up to the conclusion of the debate and before any replies and shall be entitled to speak for the same length of time as the mover of the motion. The Executive Committee shall have similar rights on business motions or motions to amend the constitution and the Conference Committee shall have similar rights in relation to motions to amend Standing Orders or motions otherwise relating to the proceedings of the Conference.
6.6.
Save as provided in Standing Orders, no person may speak more than once in any debate.
6.7.
All members wishing to speak in any debate, including the movers and summators of motions and amendments, must submit a speaker’s card and indicate whether they wish to speak in favour or against a motion or amendment. The Chair of the session shall be responsible for providing a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the Conference. In circumstances where there is a preponderance of members wishing to speak on the same side in any debate, the Chair may announce a departure from this rule.
7.1.
Voting cards shall be issued to all Conference Representatives and shall be shown in respect of all votes taken. A count of voting cards will be taken when either: 7.1.1. This is felt necessary by the Chair of the session to resolve uncertainty as to the outcome, or 7.1.2. A request for a count has been made by 12 Conference Representatives standing in their places and showing their voting cards.
7.2.
In the event of a count of voting cards being required, the Chair of the session shall appoint tellers for the purpose. A recount will be held only if the Chair of the session is not satisfied that the first count was accurate.
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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Standing Orders 8.1.
8.2.
8.3.
Any voting member may rise on a point of order. A point of order shall be taken immediately, except that, during a vote no point of order shall be taken that does not refer to the vote itself. The decision of the Chair of the session on all points of order shall be final. References Back 8.2.1.
A voting member may, at any time before the end of speeches in reply to the debate, submit in writing a motion to refer back the motion under debate. Such a submission shall state to whom the motion is to be referred and shall include a short statement of the reasons of no more than 100 words.
8.2.2.
The Chair may decide either to take the motion to refer back immediately or defer it until the end of debate. If more than one request for a reference back is received, the Chair shall have the discretion as to which to take but shall give consideration to the appropriateness of the bodies to which the motion is being referred, the degree to which the stated reasons for reference back reflect views expressed in the debate and the order in which the requests were submitted, before exercising the rights of discretion. No more than one reference back shall be taken to any motion.
8.2.3.
The Chair shall, upon taking the motion to refer back, read it and the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to debate the motion. If the conference decides not to debate the reference back, the reference back automatically falls. If the conference decides, by a majority of those voting to debate the reference back the mover of that motion may speak and the mover of the substantive motion or their nominee may reply. The Chair shall have discretion whether to allow other speakers on the motion.
8.2.4.
The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If the substantive motion is referred to the Executive, Policy Committee or Conference Committee that body shall report to the next meeting of conference stating the action it has taken on the reference back.
Suspension of Standing Orders 8.3.1.
52
A voting member may, during any session of a conference, move for the suspension of Standing Orders. The mover shall submit the motion together with a written statement of its purpose, not exceeding 100 words, to the Chair who shall read them to the Conference.
IN
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, IN
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Standing Orders 8.3.2. No motion to suspend Standing Orders may suspend any requirement of the Constitution, not Standing Orders 2 and 3. 8.3.3. No motion to suspend Standing Orders to introduce a motion or amendment onto the Agenda can be taken unless the motion or amendment has been submitted to the Conference Committee in accordance with the published timetable and any right of appeal has been exercised. 8.3.4. The Chair shall read the statement of purpose and if the suspension is allowable, ask Conference whether it wishes to debate the request to suspend Standing Orders. If the Conference decides not to debate the request, it falls. If the Conference decides to hear the request the mover may speak and a representative of the Conference may reply. The Chair has the discretion to call other speakers and all speeches will be limited to two minutes. 8.3.5. A motion to suspend Standing Orders shall only be carried if supported by at least two thirds of voting Representatives present and voting. If the procedural motion is carried all Standing Orders shall remain in force except only for the purposes set out in the motion. 8.4. Separate Votes 8.4.1. A Separate Vote shall be taken on a part of a motion or amendment. 8.4.2. At the direction of the Conference Committee; or 8.4.3 At the discretion of the Chair, when requested to do so by a voting representative. Any voting representative may submit a request for a separate vote to the Chair of a debate. Such a request must be in writing and received before the commencement of the speeches in reply to the debate. The Chair has complete discretion in such a case on whether to take a separate vote. 8.5. These Standing Orders may be amended by a two-thirds majority of Conference Representatives present and voting on a motion duly submitted under the terms of Standing Order 3. Subject to any amendment they shall remain in force from Conference to Conference.
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
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“
We’ve cut fuel prices for remote islands and now want to extend that to mainland rural areas that suffer from similarly high prices.
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DANNY ALEXANDER MP Chief Secretary to the Treasury @DannyAlexander
54
IN
, IN
, IN
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Notes
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
55
“
Pensioners have had the biggest increase to their state pension in a generation. Our ‘triple lock’ means it will always increase.
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Jo Swinson MP Business Minister @JoSwinson
56
IN
, IN
, IN
.
Spring Conference 2014, Aberdeen
57
IN IN IN
“
To keep our streets safe, to protect our environment, to continue our economic recovery, I need your support. If you are for keeping Scotland in Britain and Britain in Europe, back the Scottish Liberal Democrats on 22nd May.
“
Willie Rennie MSP Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
@ScotLibDems
/Scottish Liberal Democrats
www.ScotLibDems.org.uk Published and promoted by Scottish Liberal Democrats, 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR. Printed by Paramount printers, 199 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PH