What is the Scottish Executive’s position on the Act of Settlement?
The Act of Settlement was debated by members of the Scottish Parliament on 16 December 1999. The following motion was passed by the Parliament:
"That the Parliament believes that the discrimination contained in the Act of Settlement has no place in our modern society, expresses its wish that those discriminatory aspects of the Act be repealed, and affirms its view that Scottish society must not disbar participation in any aspect of our national life on the grounds of religion."
A government amendment to the motion was also passed which added to the motion the additional text: "recognises that amendment or repeal raises complex constitutional issues, and that this is a matter reserved to the United Kingdom Parliament."
The official record of the debate
What work has the Scottish Executive undertaken to bring faith groups together?
The Scottish Executive Equality Unit set up the Core Liaison Group in 2004. This group was set up to enable closer working and consultation with church and faith groups and provides a good vehicle for inter and intra faith working. Work has also been undertaken with the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations to tackle sectarianism.
What will you achieve by working with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations?
We recognise that there are a range of voluntary groups working at grassroots level to tackle sectarianism. These groups have the trust of the communities they serve and are able to help them articulate their views and aspirations. Working with SCVO will enable us to reach these organisations and help them share information on what is the best method for tackling sectarianism within their areas and what further action is required to meet their specific needs.
Is the Executive doing anything to tackle Islamophobia?
The Scottish take the issue of Islamophobia very seriously and are working to build stronger links with Muslim and other faith and minority ethnic communities in Scotland. Meetings have taken place with a wide range of representatives from the Muslim community to get a broader feel for local concerns across Scotland and this will inform future work in Scotland.