SNP MSP John Mason has urged community groups in Shettleston to apply for a new £2 million fund to help local communities have a greater say in decision-making.

The Scottish Government’s Community Choices Fund will allow community groups to organise participatory budgeting events. These events give communities the opportunity to make decisions on how and where investment is spent in their area.

Participatory budgeting is recognised internationally as a way for local people to have a direct say in how, and where, public funds can be used to address local needs.

The Community Choices Fund is the latest step in the Scottish Government’s roll-out of participatory budgeting across Scotland.

Commenting, SNP MSP John Mason said:

“Every community in Scotland has different needs and challenges. We want to see more decision-making handed to local people – especially in choosing local spending priorities – and groups in Shettleston shouldn’t miss out.

“The new Community Choices Fund is a real opportunity for communities to vote on investment, shape services and address the issues that are important in their area.

“Participatory budgeting is gaining real ground in Scotland with a large number of councils taking the lead to date and helping to organise over 50 events this year. These events have included decisions on housing revenue, roads capital spending, and the procurement of a bus service.

“However, it’s important that community organisations and community councils are also able to take the lead and reach out to people in communities across our Constituency and Scotland. 

“The SNP want to give communities more control to shape their futures – and I hope there is a range of ideas and applications from organisations across the Shettleston Constituency.”

That the Parliament notes the publication of figures showing that Scotland is a world-class destination for junior doctors, with an increase in recruitment; welcomes the more than 5,700 junior doctors who have chosen to train in Scotland in 2016-17; understands that the figures, which come from NHS Education Scotland, showed a 27% rise in the number of students choosing Scotland as their first preference, with an 18% rise in the number of doctors who had graduated up to two years previously; believes that the increase is related to the dreadful treatment of junior doctors by the UK Government; congratulates the Scottish Government on its positive relations with the health sector, and once again welcomes all who seek to make a career in the Scottish NHS.

That the Parliament welcomes the restoration of relations between Israel and Turkey after a six-year break; believes that this can set an example for other nations in the region to improve relations between one another; further welcomes the news that, as part of the deal, Turkey has already shipped 11,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid destined for Gaza, and hopes that more nations can work together to overcome past difficulties to build a lasting peace in the region.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the industrial action at ScotRail.