Five things you need to know today

Edinburgh North and Leith Labour MP, Mark Lazarowicz, is launching a new Private Members’ Bill this week in the UK Parliament to resolve the deadlock which has delayed new legislation in the Scottish Parliament to ban irresponsible parking that can be a major headache for people like wheelchair users, the visually impaired and parents with children in pushchairs.

The Bill would end uncertainty as to whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate on this issue after a Bill to introduce a Scotland-wide ban was delayed due to conflicting legal advice.

Mark said:-“This Bill would ensure that the Scottish Government has the power to make a real difference to our streets by tackling irresponsible parking that can block pavements, kerbs and crossings and choke the flow of traffic.

“It can be dangerous where for instance it pushes people into the road to get past or impedes a wheelchair user from crossing a street because someone had thoughtlessly blocked a dropped kerb.

“A Bill in the Scottish Parliament has had its progress delayed because of conflicting legal advice as to whether the power to legislate to tackle irresponsible parking is still reserved or not.

“I want to cut through that with this Bill which would specifically devolve this power once and for all to make a practical difference to the streets in our towns and cities in Scotland.”

Sandra White MSP has proposed a Bill to introduce a Scotland-wide ban on irresponsible parking. The Bill has support from a wide range of organisations such as Guide Dogs Scotland and Capability Scotland and has cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament.

Mark was one of 20 MPs who won the right to introduce a Private Members’ Bill in the draw for Bills which recently took place. He will introduce the Responsible Parking (Scotland) Bill on Wednesday.

The Bill has already won the support of MPs from other parties and Mark’s move has also been welcomed by Sandra White MSP.

Mark said:-“Although the fact that there are controversial Private Members’ Bills ahead of mine in the queue this year will make it a challenge to get mine through, the fact that my Bill has all party support will I believe give it a reasonable chance of making progress.”

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Former BBC international affairs journalist, Kate Adie, will join influential theatre director, Eugenio Barba at the ceremony where they will both receive an honorary degree from Queen Margaret University, later today at the Usher Hall.

Katie Adie will be awarded a Degree of Doctors of Letters in recognition of her contribution to news reporting and our understanding of world events.

Eugenio Barba is a theatre practitioner who has significantly influenced practice and critical thinking within the art form. Eugenio is director of Odin Teatret, a theatre company which he founded in 1964, and founder of the International School of Theatre Anthropology. Eugenio will be awarded a Degree of Doctors of Letters.

Both honorary graduates will be acknowledged for the relevance of their work to society at large, reflecting the university’s own commitment.

Queen Margaret specialises in professional education and research that informs the development of policy and practice in health, drama & creative arts, media & social science and business & enterprise. The expert knowledge developed at Queen Margaret touches people’s everyday lives.