Govan Law Centre launches parliamentary unit
6 Oct 05
Community law centre aims to serve charity, voluntary and trade union causes
Govan Law Centre today launches a new parliamentary unit serving Scotland's charity and voluntary sector and the trade union movement.
The unit will undertake the drafting of legislation within the UK and Scottish parliaments including private members' bills, 10 minute rule bills, amendments to Scottish Executive and UK Government legislation, so long as the proposed law reform aims to alleviate poverty, tackle social or some other form of human disadvantage or discrimination, or promote democracy and community participation in the UK political process.
The self-funding unit will provide its service on a not-for-profit, cost-only basis subject to available resources. It will also assist individual MPs and MSPs in bill projects which fall within the strategic policy objectives of the Govan Law Centre Trust.
The unit is managed by GLC's principal solicitor Mike Dailly, with support from GLC solicitors. Mr Dailly has previously drafted the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Act 2001, and the Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Act 2005, and assisted in the drafting of bills including the School Meals (Scotland) Bill, the Family Homes and Homelessness Bill, and the Bank Arrestment (Scotland) Bill.
The Parliamentary Unit is currently contracted to draft the Scottish Gypsy Traveller (Law Reform) Bill and the Direct Elections to NHS Boards Bill, to be presented to the Scottish Parliament, and the Race Relations Amendment Bill (also relating to gypsy travellers) and the Bank Charges Bill, to be presented in the House of Commons.
Mike Dailly said: "We want to help Scotland's voluntary sector and trade unions engage in the parliamentary process to benefit their communities and members. That may mean drafting bills or strategic amendments to government legislation where organisations can then ask politicians to support. As an experienced community law centre we think we can develop practical solutions that will work on the ground.
"Our project has two key aims: first, to help the law reform process benefit from the experience of Scottish charities and the trade union movement; secondly, to contribute to improving the quality and workability of Scottish law reform."