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£300,000 funding for Scottish Civic Forum
29/10/1999
Scottish Finance Minister Jack McConnell, today announced funding of £300,000 for the Scottish Civic Forum over a 3 year period.
Declaring the funding, Mr McConnell said: " I am very pleased to be able to confirm this financial assistance for the Civic Forum. It is a sign of our commitment to the new politics of participation. It is of course not the only means of involving civic society in the new politics but it is a vital part of the new Scotland."
In response to a PQ from Karen Gillon MSP for Clydesdale asking what action the Scottish Executive proposes to take in relation to support the Scottish Civic Forum, Mr McConnell answered:
"The concept of the Civic Forum was endorsed by the all party Consultative Steering Group (CSG) on the Scottish Parliament as one of several means of helping the participation of civic society in the decision making process.
"Two members of Scottish Office staff were seconded to the Scottish Civic Assembly in March 1999 to assist with the development of the Civic Forum.
"The Executive's commitment to supporting the Civic Forum is set out in both the partnership Agreement and the Programme for Government.
"In addition to the support already given, the Executive intends to provide funding to the Scottish Civic Forum over a 3 year period. A pro rata amount will be made available for the remainder of the current financial year with slightly more than £100,000 being made available in the following 2 years. Discussions will continue to agree the details of our agreement and we will keep the Parliament informed."
BACKGROUND
The CSG stated that a Civic Forum would make a contribution to one of their main proposals - that the Scottish Parliament be "accessible, open and responsive and should develop procedures which make possible a participate approach to the development, consideration and scrutiny of policy and legislation."
News Release: SE1098/1999
29 Oct 1999