Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant calls the First Minister to account for the Scottish Human Rights Commission report on Human Rights in the Highlands and Islands.
During First Ministers Questions, Rhoda Grant MSP said that the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s spotlight project into the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands made for “desperate reading” and highlighted their urgent calls to address rooflessness and hunger in the region.
This report has been compounded by the recent shelving of the Human Rights Bill.
She then urged the First Minister to work with her on her Right to Food Bill which would enshrine the Right to food into Scots’ Law which would directly target people going hungry and food bank dependency.
Although the First Minister agreed to work with Rhoda Grant on her Bill he then shockingly listed existing measures that allegedly target the Scottish Human Rights findings and then said those measures will remain the focus of the Government.
Speaking after First Minister’s Questions Rhoda Grant MSP said:
“The answer from the First Minister misses the entire point.
“This report highlights that more measures and attention are required to meet minimum human right obligations in the Highlands and Islands.
“For the First Minister to minimise the report like this is insulting to the Scottish Human Rights Commission, their hard work, and is offensive to communities who engaged proactively in this report.
“I will continue my work on my Private Members’ Bill on the Right to Food so that no one in Scotland – including in the Highlands and Islands – will have to choose between heating and eating ever again.”
