The Scottish Conservatives will today call on the SNP Government to back the UK’s Down’s Syndrome Bill.
The Bill, introduced in the UK Parliament by Conservative MP Dr Liam Fox, has passed through the Houses of Commons and Lords and is now awaiting Royal Assent.
Once enacted, it will help around 40,000 people with Down’s Syndrome in England and Wales.
Edel Harris, Chief Executive of learning disability charity Mencap, explained that the Bill’s unifying purpose is “for the UK to be the best place in the world to live a happy and healthy life, if you have Down's Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, or any other form of learning disability.”
Scottish Conservative disabilities spokesman, Jeremy Balfour, has questioned why the Scottish Government has refused to back the “landmark” Bill north of the border, after a motion he submitted on the Bill gained cross-party support.
Scottish Conservative disabilities spokesman, Jeremy Balfour MSP said: “This landmark Bill has been hailed by charities and campaigners across the UK for improving the rights and provisions of people with Downs Syndrome – yet the SNP have refused to back the Bill in Scotland.
“This means that in a few months’ time, Scots with Downs Syndrome could be at a disadvantage compared with their counterparts in England and Wales.
“The Bill has gained cross-party support here in Holyrood and the SNP have provided no clear reasoning as to why they are refusing to get behind this progressive and much needed Bill.
“It seems as though the SNP are simply wasting time and resources trying to be different from the rest of the UK, when they should be adopting this beneficial legislation and working to improve the lives of people with Down’s Syndrome in Scotland, right now.
“From public facilities to government employment schemes, the needs of disabled people have been neglected and overlooked by the SNP for years.
“I am bringing a debate to the Scottish Parliament to hold the SNP to account over these failures and urge them to adopt the Bill, as quickly as possible.”
Notes:
Disability charity Mencap has supported the Bill in England and Wales. Mencap Chief Executive, Edel Harris explained that the Bill ‘aimed to benefit 40,000 people with a learning disability and could be a stepping-stone to benefit the wider population of 1.5 million’. She said, “The important thing here is that political differences of opinion do not get in the way of focusing on our unifying purpose which is for the UK to be the best place in the world to live a happy and healthy life, if you have Down's Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, or any other form of learning disability.” (Link).
Jeremy Balfour raised a motion welcoming the UK Down’s Syndrome Bill in January 2022, which received cross party support. (Link).