Minority Ethnic Matters Overview 16 July 2007 / Issue 92

MEMO is produced by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communitiesin partnership with BEMIS. It provides an overview of information of interest to minority ethnic communities in Scotland, including parliamentary activity

at Holyrood and Westminster, new publications, consultations, forthcoming conferences and news reports.

ContentsImmigration and AsylumRace RelationsRace EqualityRacismOther WestminsterOther News

Bills in ProgressConsultationsJob OpportunitiesEvents/Conferences/Training CoursesUseful Links

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The Scottish Parliament is in recess until 2 September 2007. Note that some weblinks, particularly of newspaper articles, are only valid for a short period of time, usually around a month.

Please send information for inclusion in MEMO to MEMO@j-scot.org.uk and requests to be added to circulation to mail@bemis.org.uk

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Immigration and Asylum

Westminster Parliamentary Questions

Nick Clegg (149570): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the conclusions of the Race Equality Impact Assessment into the changes in the immigration rules for postgraduate doctors and dentists will be taken into account when reviewing any future rule changes in this area.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmordbk1/70712w01.htm

Immigration and AsylumWestminster Parliamentary Questions (continued)

Bob Spink [147902]: What assessment [the Secretary of State for the Home Department] has made of progress on the implementation of her new Department’s immigration review; and if she will make a statement.

Reply from Jacqui Smith: I have had several discussions with the chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency since my appointment. Progress has already been made in meeting our key priorities, which are to strengthen our borders, to fast track asylum decisions, to encourage and enforce compliance with our immigration laws and to boost Britain’s economy through managed migration. Agency status for the BIA, including a new regional structure, is encouraging greater focus on delivery, flexibility and speed of decision making.

Bob Spink: I welcome the Home Secretary to her new position and wish her good luck in it, and I thank her for her response. We have been impotent or unwilling to deport immigrants who are undesirable or who may pose a security threat to us. In light of the recent terrorist attacks and the increased threat level, will she adopt a tougher, more proactive policy on deporting “doctors of death”, or Muslim clerics who seek to radicalise young men in Britain?

Reply from Jacqui Smith: Public protection and security has to be at the heart of our approach to immigration policy. The hon. Gentleman slightly underestimates the action that has already been taken. We have signed memorandums of understanding, which include assurances, with Jordan, Libya and Lebanon, and we have agreements with Algeria; they will enable us to deport suspects to those states. Nine people have been deported on national security grounds in the past two years, and 124 people from the UK have been excluded on national security grounds in the same period. We take the threat very seriously. We will do what is necessary and, by taking action and by making changes to the law when necessary, we will ensure that we can continue to do it.

Neil Gerrard: My right hon. Friend will recall that the review identified what have become known as legacy cases—the 400,000 to 500,000 cases that were supposed to be cleared within up to five years. However, will she look at how the issue is being handled, because people applying for extensions of leave and humanitarian protection, rather than making fresh claims, are simply getting a standard letter saying, “It will be decided within five years, ” which is very unhelpful both to the constituent and to those of us who deal with their cases.

Reply from Jacqui Smith: My hon. Friend is right. We have made a commitment to deal with all those cases—roughly 450,000—in the next five years. My predecessor set out the priority order on which that would be done, starting with harm first. Obviously, I will want to look carefully at the progress that is being made on that programme and I will take into consideration points made by my hon. Friend. We expect to be able to report on progress on that work later this year.

To read the continuation of this lengthy question and answer session see:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070709/debtext/70709-0001.htm#0707095000017

Immigration and AsylumWestminster Parliamentary Questions (continued)

Nigel Evans [147909]: What steps [the Minister of State] is taking to enhance the effectiveness of the measures in place to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the UK.

Reply from Liam Byrne: There are two key steps to countering illegal immigration: biometrics to lock visitors down to a single identity, and intercepting and stopping illegal immigrants as far from our shores as possible.

Nigel Evans: I endorse what the Minister has said, but Migrationwatch UK states that there are 875,000 illegal immigrants in the country, and that 50,000 of them are detected every year but only one in four are returned home. We should thank goodness that we are an island. May I suggest three steps? First, we should link fingerprints to passport details in the worst offending countries so that no one can say, “I’ve lost my papers”, in between boarding an aeroplane and getting off it. Secondly, we should have a national border police so that we can secure our borders better. Finally, when illegal immigrants are detected and they fail asylum procedures, 100 per cent. of them should be returned to their country of origin.

Reply from Liam Byrne: I saw some of the news associated with that Migrationwatch report. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, since exit controls were phased out from 1994 it has been difficult to know how many illegal immigrants are in the country; that is why we are introducing a system to count people in and out. I think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that it is a good idea to keep the problem as far away as possible from our shores. We are now introducing biometric visas, which have already led to us finding 4,000 people with an immigration history we had reason to be suspicious about who were trying to get back into the country. E-borders, which screens people at check-in, is already up and running and has already resulted in 1,000 arrests. Increasing our offshore border control will be an important part of what we do. However, more money is needed in order to remove more people who are here, but when we brought forward proposals this year to raise visa charges to provide an additional £100 million for immigration policing, Front-Bench Members of the hon. Gentleman’s party sat on their hands in Committee.

To read the continuation of this question and answer session see:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070709/debtext/70709-0003.htm#0707095000023

Westminster Grand Committee (House of Lords)

Lord Bassam of Brighton rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Asylum (Designated States) Order 2007.The noble Lord said: This is now the fifth order that we have brought forward adding countries to the list of those countries to which the non-suspensive appeal provisions in Section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 apply. This section allows the Secretary of State to add a country to the list if he or she is satisfied that in general there is no serious risk of persecution of persons entitled to reside there and that removal to that country of persons entitled to reside there will not in general breach the United Kingdom’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.Speech continues on next page

Immigration and AsylumWestminster Grand Committee (continued)

Speech continued from previous pageIt also provides that an unsuccessful asylum or human rights claim made by a person entitled to reside in a designated state must be certified as clearly unfounded, unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that the claim is not clearly unfounded. The effect of such a certificate is that a person must leave the United Kingdom before appealing the decision to refuse their claim, while still having an out-of-country right of appeal.Since their introduction, powers to add countries to the list have been used on a progressive basis to ensure that the provisions work well and are successful in stopping people making unfounded applications for asylum and unnecessarily prolonging the appeals process. The evidence to date on the 14 countries already on the list demonstrates that this is indeed the case and that the powers have made a significant impact on reducing the number of asylum applicants from those countries. For example, the intake of new applications from the countries that were designated in the 2002 Act—the then 10 EU accession countries—fell by 86 per cent over the first six months in which the provisions were in place and by 93 per cent over the course of the first year. Between the powers being introduced in October 2002 and April 2004, when the countries concerned became members of the EU, and the non-suspensive appeals designation effectively ended, intake fell by 97 per cent, with the overall intake during that period falling by 70 per cent.There was a similar drop in intake for the countries that were added to the list on 1 April 2003, namely Albania, Jamaica, Macedonia, Moldova and Serbia and Montenegro. In those countries, intake fell by 86 per cent from March 2003 to March 2007, with overall intake during that period falling by 57 per cent. The figures include Montenegro, which was effectively removed from the list on 3 June 2006 following the dissolution of the old state union between it and Serbia. Noble Lords will be aware that statistics supplied in respect of asylum claims from Montenegro, as an addendum to the explanatory memorandum to the draft order, combine the number of claims from Montenegro and Serbia together. We have now extrapolated the figures for Montenegro, which we will supply to Members at a later date, if and when required.To continue reading the Committee proceedings see:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70710-gc0004.htm#07071062000009

News

UK defends its border procedures http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6283090.stm

Funds for Polish integration project http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=17780006&folderPk=85696&pNodeId=149221

Doric group now in Pole position http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6283410.stm

Immigration and AsylumNews (continued)

Russian to offer north migrants aid with English http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=17779924&folderPk=85696&pNodeId=149221

Books in Polish line the shelves http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1077692007

Probe as landlords accused of exploiting Poles http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1080642007

We should welcome the dawn of the migration agehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2122548,00.html

Call for immigrant amnesty in UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6899348.stm

Do immigration amnesties work? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6899594.stm

Asylum seekers form quarter of terror suspects http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2076120.ece

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Race Relations

Westminster Parliamentary Question

Andrew Dismore (149285):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the contribution of the Holocaust Educational Trust's Lessons from Auschwitz project to (a) community cohesion, (b) race relations, (c) faith groups relations and (d) the understanding of the Holocaust by young people; and if she will make a statement.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmordbk1/70711w01.htm

Race Relations (continued)New publications

Promoting Interaction Between People from Different Ethnic Backgrounds   http://www.cre.gov.uk/downloads/interaction.pdf

The State of the Nation: Respect as a Justification for Policy   http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/file/State%20of%20the%20Nation%20Review.pdf

News

Tories accused of mounting a 'racially divisive' Election campaign http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=468461&in_page_id=1770

Mosque stirs racial passion in Germany http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2126622,00.html

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Race Equality

Press Release

Senior team appointed to tackle equality and human rightshttp://www.cehr.org.uk/resources/filer.rhtm/455131/new+smt2.doc

News

Race chief may quit in row over Brown's all white Cabinet http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=468480&in_page_id=1770

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Racism

Westminster Parliamentary Questions

David Simpson (149241): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which his Department is responsible have been (a) investigated and (b) upheld in the last 12 months.The same question was also put to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Secretary of State for International Development, the Secretary of State for Justice, the Secretary of State for Transport, the Leader of the House, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State for Wales, and the Solicitor General.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmordbk1/70711w01.htm

Damian Green (149709): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people convicted of racist or racially aggravated crimes were granted British citizenship in each of the last 10 years.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmordbk1/70712w01.htm

Damian Green (149710): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people convicted of crimes relating to religious extremism were granted British citizenship in each of the last 10 years.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmordbk1/70712w01.htm

News

Racist abuse hurled at shop staff http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6284544.stm

N-word declared dead and buried http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/foreign/display.var.1531783.0.0.php

Race campaigners 'bury' the N-word http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1071932007

Witness plea to racist abuse of two shop workers http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1075112007

RacismNews (continued)

Racist thug in bottle and knife attack http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1538318.0.racist_thug_in_bottle_and_knife_attack.php

Racism isn't going awayhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2123346,00.html

Indefinite detention for firebomber who targeted Asians http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1098172007

'Racist' Tintin is banished to the adult section of bookshopshttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=467757&in_page_id=1770

Sales of 'racist' Tintin Congo book soar http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1102382007

Ban Tintin? It's not a black and white matter http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/07/15/do1504.xml

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Other Westminster

Parliamentary Questions

Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government: [HL4606] Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 9 May (WA 276), what action they will take to ensure that women living in communities in the United Kingdom that have accepted Sharia law will, in practice, have recourse to the United Kingdom courts.

Reply from (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Every person living in the United Kingdom, man or woman, of any religion or none, is entitled to have access to the courts on any matter that is justifiable.

Reply continues on next page

Other WestminsterParliamentary Questions (continued)

Reply continued from previous page:The availability of the courts to resolve civil and family disputes in England and Wales is widely advertised, through the providers of community and advice services (for example, citizens advice bureaux and women's organisations), through the legal professions and the police service, and in material distributed by the Legal Services Commission (in a number of languages) and by Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS). So, too, is the availability of the police service and of support for the victims of crime. Information can also be found on the HMCS website (www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk ).Such material makes it clear that our courts are available to every citizen and visitor, regardless of the community in which she or he may live.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70710w0002.htm#07071033000016

Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government [HL4718]: What action they will take to ensure that citizens of the United Kingdom are free to exercise their right to change their religion without threat of violence or death.

Reply from Baroness Andrews: The United Kingdom has a long-held commitment to the freedom of worship and belief. Our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights are incorporated into the Human Rights Act 1998. There is already extensive public order legislation that deals with threats of this kind; it is an offence under the Public Order Act 1986 for anyone to use unlawful direct harassment or threats against another, whatever the reason. The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 makes it an offence to use threatening words or behaviour with the intention of stirring up religious hatred. There is also the protection afforded by common-law offences which outlaw inciting the commission of any criminal offence, and by statutory offences of soliciting to murder.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70711w0003.htm#070711102000014

Early Day Motion

Julie Morgan (1881) Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision - That this House notes that the Local Government Association (LGA) Gypsy and Traveller Task Group report has called for a clear and tight timetable with agreed milestones for the implementation of the new planning circular on Gypsy and Traveller sites in the first round of the regional spatial strategies and local development frameworks; further notes that the LGA calls for the Government to extend funding for the Gypsy sites refurbishment grant beyond 2008 and the money available for regional housing boards for site provision; welcomes these recommendations and the growing cross-party consensus on this issue; and urges the Government fully to support these recommendations.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmedm/70710e01.htm

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Other News Salmond to give MSP’s salary to community trust fund http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.1531815.0.0.php

Terror debate raises stark views http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6282636.stm

SNP 'is open to idea' of state schools for Muslims http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1081232007

The hidden plight of Asian women http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6290868.stm

New Management Board and Chair for Fundamental Rights Agencyhttp://fra.europa.eu/fra/index.php?fuseaction=content.dsp_cat_content&catid=9

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Bills in Progress ** New or updated this week

Bills in ProgressWestminster

Criminal Justice and Immigration Billhttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmbills/130/2007130.pdf

** Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Billhttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldbills/079/2007079.pdfSecond reading (House of Commons)http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070710/debtext/70710-0013.htm#07071064000001 proposed amendmentshttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmbills/129/amend/1291207a.3-5.html

Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public Authority) Billhttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmbills/043/2007043.pdf

Bills in ProgressWestminster (continued)

Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Billhttp://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=140183&Rendition=Web

** UK Borders Billhttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldbills/068/2007068.pdfproposed amendmentshttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldbills/068/amend/ml068-iii.htm Grand Committee consideration of amendments (House of Lords)http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70712-gc0001.htm#07071267000002

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Consultations (closing date)

** New or updated this week

** Discrimination - Does it matter? (no closing date given) [very short online questionnaire]http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=Discrimination&lang=EN

Reorganisation Draft Guidance (31 July 2007)http://www.oscr.org.uk/PublicationItem.aspx?ID=2060a713-e322-4007-bf06-b3e7ce15b1ac Response formhttp://www.oscr.org.uk/PublicationItem.aspx?ID=b61f921e-bbd4-45fd-82a4-d6c642a99dd4

Scottish Elections Reviewhttp://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections/scotelecreviewconsul.cfm

Prevention Of Illegal Working: Consultation On The Implementation Of New Powers To Prevent Illegal Migrant Working In The UK (7 August 2007)http://bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/6356/17715/preventionofillegalworkingc1.pdf

** Safeguarding Children who may have been Trafficked (16 August 2007)http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDocument.cfm?consultationId=1497

Draft Guidance on the design of sites for Gypsies and Travellers (22 August 2007) http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/560/DraftGuidanceonthedesignofsitesforGypsiesandTravellersAConsultationPaper_id1510560.pdf

Consultations (continued)

Simplifying Immigration Law (29 August 2007)http://bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/6356/17715/immigrationlawconsultation

A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/244/AFrameworkforFairnessConsultation_id1511244.pdf

Changes to Section 9 of the Race Relations Act 1976 (14 September 2007)http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/changesracerelations/consultation

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Job Opportunities

Click here to find out about job opportunities advertised in MEMO+ Recruitment

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Events/Conferences/Training Courses ** New or updated this week

** this week!Article 8: the asylum legacy case review and the role of the lead professional18 July 2007 in Glasgow (6.00 – 8.30)Scottish Refugee Council / LSA / STUC seminar to enable lawyers and those involved in advocacy and related policy work to gain an understanding of how recent legal decisions by the Border and Immigration Agency may impact on future cases. For information and booking form see http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/

** Mixedness & mixing: New perspectives on mixed-race Britons4-7 September 2007 “e-conference”Online conference organised by the Commission for Racial Equality, in partnership with the Runnymede Trust, London South Bank University's Families and Social Capital Research Group, and the Department for Communities and Local Government, to look at issues relating to Britain's mixed-race population ('mixedness') and mixed families ('mixing'). The events will bring together a wide variety of perspectives to identify and discuss new approaches, ideas and experiences, and to consider how these can best be used to formulate policy that delivers equality to all mixed-race people. For information see http://www.mixedness.org.uk/

Events/Conferences/Training Courses (continued)

The changing face of equalities in the 21st century5 September 2007 in Glasgow (9.30 – 4.30)SCVO seminar to explore the implications of the change in focus from single identity anti discrimination agendas to the shared equalities agenda of the 21st Century. For information contact Denise Gildea 0141 221 0030 / equalities@scvo.org.uk

** Equalities training for voluntary organisations12 September 2007 in Inverness 9.30 – 4.00)SCVO seminar to help Project Leaders / Management Committees become more aware of the key concepts of equality, gain an understanding of equalities legislation and the implications for the organisation and help identify personal and organisational methods to help implement equalities. For information contact Nan McCluggage 0141 225 8013 / nan.mccluggage@scvo.org.uk

** Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) Meet the Regulator events19 September 2007 in Kirkwall26 September 2007 in Lerwick1 October 2007 in Dumfries24 October 2007 in LairgAdditional events will be held in Edinburgh, Orkney, Western Isles and Dumfries.A series of half day training events intended for charity trustees and administrators of smaller charities (those with an income of less than £100,000). The programme will include a general introduction to OSCR, the 2005 Act and supporting regulations, Consents and Notifications, Accounts workshop (receipts and payments) and Trustee Duties. For information contact OSCR 01382 220446 / info@oscr.org.uk or see http://www.oscr.org.uk/EventsCalendar.stm

ESOL and Citizenship - Delivering Citizenship programmes for ESOL learners in Scotland20 September 2007 in Glasgow (9.30 – 4.30)SCVO seminar for organisations working with migrant workers or refugees who are speakers of other languages. For information contact Jane Baillie 0131 474 8019 / jane.baillie@scvo.org.uk

Current Issues in Asylum: Fighting for Human Rights Against the Tide 8 October 2007 in Glasgow (10.00 – 4.00)Legal Services Agency seminar for to look at the latest developments in European Community law as the Procedures Directive comes into effect; to look at the latest human rights cases to see whether the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) retains the potential to bolster the rights of asylum-seekers; to examine legal tools to help asylum-seekers and their lawyers establish credibility.; to look at the particular plights of women asylum-seekers and and of asylum-seekers who have become destitute after the system has failed them; and to get a foretaste of the results of important research on the impact of the recent overhaul of the appeals system. For information see http://www.lsa.org.uk/currentissuesinasylumiii.aspx

Events/Conferences/Training Courses (continued)

Delivering equalities through effective monitoring and evaluation7 November 2007 in Glasgow (9.30 – 4.30)SCVO seminar to understand the relevance and implications of monitoring, evaluation and mainstreaming equalities in organisations. For information contact Denise Gildea 0141 221 0030 / equalities@scvo.org.uk

Approaching equalities through a Human Rights lens5 December 2007 in Edinburgh (9.30 – 4.30)SCVO seminar to explore the implications of a human rights approach to equalities. For information contact Denise Gildea 0141 221 0030 / equalities@scvo.org.uk

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Useful Links Scottish Parliament http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/home.htm

Scottish Executive http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Home

Westminster Parliament http://www.parliament.uk/

Directgov (links to UK Government Departments) http://www.direct.gov.uk/Dl1/Directories/AToZOfCentralGovernment/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10013528&chk=8b2gQw

European Parliament http://www.europarl.eu.int/parliament/public.do?language=en

One Scotland Many Cultures http://www.onescotland.com/onescotland/osmc_display_home.jsp?pContentID=2&p_applic=CCC&pElementID=1&pMenuID=1&p_service=Content.show&

Commission for Racial Equality http://www.cre.gov.uk/index.html

Equal Opportunities Commission www.eoc.org.uk

Commission for Equality and Human Rights http://www.cehr.org.uk/

ACAS www.acas.org.uk

SCVO http://www.scvo.org.uk/scvo/Home/Home.aspx

Useful Links (continued)

Volunteer Development Scotland www.vds.org.uk

Social Economy Scotland http://www.socialeconomyscotland.info/content/index.asp

Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) http://www.oscr.org.uk/Index.stm

Central Registered Body for Scotland (CRBS) http://www.crbs.org.uk/

Disclosure Scotland http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/

BBC News24 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/default.stm

BBC Parliament online http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/default.stm

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