In England, Scotland, and Wales, it's not illegal for someone between the ages of five and 17 to drink alcohol at home or on other private premises. But this does not mean it is recommended. The best advice for young people's health and wellbeing is an alcohol-free childhood.
It was brought to my attention by Police Scotland and social services that children are allowed to consume alcohol from age 5 in their home or private premises.
There is a focus to increase the cost of alcohol to help tackle problems. Scotland has issues with many adults abusing alcohol. I believe this situation doesn't help. We need to support our children to make the right decisions and not hide behind loop-holes in the law but instead change them.
Review and update the Scottish Ministerial Code
- 7 Signatures
I think the changes set out above would strengthen public standards in Scotland.
Through a statutory code (which Northern Ireland and partly Canada has), a First Minister (FM) would be unable to not have a Code.
Through self-initiated investigations by the IA, a FM could not block such investigations.
A statement in Parliament would enable an explanation as to why a FM has not taken the IAs advice.
The IAs should be able to offer their views on any potential short-comings of the Code itself so to improve it.
The IAs title gives an impression of judicial involvement which is misleading.
Ministers making public oaths would improve public confidence in adhering to it.
I also recommend the following reports which are useful reading:
* [Upholding Standards in Public Life – Published Report] (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/upholding-standards-in-public-life-published-report)
* [Institute for Government | Updating the ministerial code] (https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/report/updating-ministerial-code)
* [UK Governance Project – final report] (https://www.ukgovernanceproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Governance-Project-Final-Report-31.1.24.pdf)
Improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects
- 2,220 Signatures
Communities across North East Scotland have serious concerns about the quality and transparency of the public consultation accompanying SSEN Transmission’s East Coast 400kV Phase 2 project.
SSEN’s engagement with communities has been rushed, and insufficient effort has been made to understand and communicate the full impact of the proposals to impacted communities. There have been inconsistencies between information presented in SSEN’s published material and their contact with community representatives. Many affected residents were unaware of the plans and it has fallen to local campaigners to raise awareness.
These concerns have had a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of residents, who are worried about their health, businesses, property value, cultural heritage, and the loss of prime agricultural land.
The Scottish Government must use all available levers to improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects and ensure they are carried out with the consent of the affected communities.
Stop More National Parks in Scotland.
- 2,123 Signatures
Using the two existing National Parks (NPs) in Scotland as examples:
Over 10 years each new NP will cost the Scottish taxpayer £130m. Inappropriate use of money when public finances are weak. The new NP, will be bureaucratic, employing 100+ people, with a paid board of approximately 20, mostly unelected, directors.
The NP will not help with the major issues that already exist in rural Scotland, i.e. roads, medical services, schools needing urgent investment. In areas such as Skye & Lochaber, Small & Western Isles, there is already over-tourism in the summer period and poor road & ferry networks. A NP will only make this problem worse. The Scottish Government requires the local communities to be keen to have a new National Park in their region. It is felt locally that fewer than 10% of local people near Lochaber are engaged. At public meetings, radio phone ins, the response to press articles, & social media engagement the vast majority of people are not in favour of another National Park in Scotland.
We are a Children's Mental Health Charity who work with families whose children are on waiting lists for CAHMS for anything up to 2 years. This significantly affects their child's education as they refuse to attend school or when they do they struggle and are unable to concentrate or engage.
We believe that access to a CAHMS worker and a nurse in secondary schools will allow children to be identified early when they are struggling with their mental health, and have referrals completed correctly and efficiently. They could also link in with the local primary schools and early education facilities, as early intervention for our children's mental wellbeing is key.
Pass a law making exercising a dog in a cemetery an offence
- 261 Signatures
I am a father who lost his 3-year-old son in 2020. We live opposite where our son is buried and visit his grave at least once a day. Whilst visiting my son’s grave, my family have witnessed up to 100 people exercising their dogs daily with dogs being let off-lead or on long leads, resulting in them urinating and defecating on graves, including that of my own son, and damaging teddies left by the public.
I have approached dog walkers to explain my issue. Most of the time I have been met with hostility and even threats of violence.
We witness some dog walkers driving to the cemetery, obviously from another area, just to exercise their dog.
Pre-Covid the Edinburgh Council rule was no dogs apart from assistance dogs.
We feel this is not enough of a deterrent, and a law is needed with an exception for dogs with mourners and assistance dogs.
Review the council tax system
- 31 Signatures
Council tax should be based on everyone using services, rather than property values. Adult children still living at home earning a reasonable income use services but don’t make any contribution.
Many of us have worked hard during our careers to provide ourselves with a nice house. However, the current level of council tax is like a mortgage that can never be repaid. I am aware of some people whose annual payment is 15-20% of their annual income.
In my opinion, the poll tax was a far better system. There were failings in how it was rolled out and most councils failed in their ability to collect from non-payers.
If the system became a per capita payment I believe this would be far fairer.
Commercial properties aren’t currently protected under property factor laws, nor is there a complaint procedure to take action against a commercial factor for failing to provide minimum service standards.
My property is an office in Glasgow, where the factor has failed to meet the minimum service standard set out in the 2011 Act. However, this Act only allows homeowners to seek a property factor enforcement order.
The roof of the building has come in and the property insurance was going to be voided. I’ve complained in writing and confirmed the factor has no contract with anyone in the building. They have no provision in the title deeds of the property, yet they continue to bill and mismanage the property.
Due to the gap in the legislation, there’s no punishment for them as the property is entirely commercial. We would only be able to get help from the First-tier Tribunal if one or more of the property occupants was residential. It’s a massive loophole that’s being exploited.
Update the legislation granting permission for Digital Display Boards
- 41 Signatures
The existing planning laws are not adequate and generally result in a default go ahead for any application covering an existing display site. These display boards are bright, intrusive and affect public amenity. Within 200 yards of my home, there are now four such displays, one in particular is very large and is positioned 20 feet in front of a small row of terraced houses. Another two face across the main road into a residential square, three sides of flatted accommodation. I mention these two examples, along with my own home, as being entirely residential on a street that is also largely residential apart from a short stretch owned by a company. The guidance for applications to upgrade existing display boards to Internally Illuminated Display boards does carry within a proviso that these would normally be granted where the existing boards were in an already busy commercial area. I think I have highlighted that the four around me are clearly not in a busy commercial area. There is no requirement for "neighbours" to be informed in order to object.
To be well adjusted and under its owner's control, an XL Bully needs 2 hours of outdoor exercise daily, both walking to heel on a lead and a small amount of running off-lead. Without the ability to "run off" energy each day, excess energy builds up and a well-adjusted dog can quickly become an anxious dog, resulting in it becoming more dangerous in the home.
Vital control commands cannot be practised effectively on a leash or with a muzzle. A trusting bond is built up between owner and dog through daily off-leash practice of basic recall and other commands including "stop", "leave" (which prevents the dog from picking up an item of interest or chasing potential prey) and "drop it".
It is important that regulations do not curtail these existing successful strategies, which would result in owners losing the level of command, and dogs quickly becoming de-skilled and much more dangerous, not safer.