The ALLIANCE Policy work 2021 review

The Policy team had a busy year sharing members’ views across a wide range of issues to influence policy.

A major focus of our policy activity during the first half of 2021 was to influence political parties’ commitments in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament election. Informed by our members, the ALLIANCE published our ‘Equally Valued’ manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election, engaged with the parties’ manifesto teams, and in partnership, hosted six candidate hustings events. This resulted in 33 pledges in the main parties’ manifestos fully reflecting ALLIANCE manifesto asks and the priorities of disabled people, people living with long-term conditions and unpaid carers. Since the election we have worked to build relationships with the new intake of MSPs, relevant party spokespeople and Committee Convenors, including a series of ALLIANCE Live podcasts with new MSPs with lived experience.

Human rights remains a priority area of focus for the Policy team. Through our activity, including publication of a report, submitting evidence and a joint statement signed by 126 organisations, the ALLIANCE successfully convinced the Scottish Government to commit to full incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into Scots Law, alongside a number of other range of human rights instruments. We look forward to working with the Scottish Government to progress this historic legislation during this Parliamentary term.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continued throughout 2021, we worked to make sure issues facing disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers were raised and addressed. We published a well-received report on ALLIANCE members’ priorities for an independent inquiry into the Scottish Government’s handling of COVID-19. This led to subsequent discussions with officials, and helped influence the remit of the inquiry. We plan to continue our positive engagement with the inquiry as it develops, and to ensure that the voices of people with lived experience continue to be at its heart.

The ALLIANCE’s policy activity on Long Covid developed throughout the year. This included publishing a response to the ‘Scotland’s Long Covid Service’ paper, and participation in Scottish Government working groups. This activity will support wider ALLIANCE work to support the engagement and involvement of people living with Long Covid in policy and service development.

In addition, we have ensured that the views of disabled people, people living with long-term conditions and unpaid carers are taken to account by policy-makers, through preparing a total of 8 briefings and 26 responses to relevant consultations. These included a briefing on COVID-19 Status Certificates sharing members’ views and concerns; and consultation responses on proposals for a Patient Safety Commissioner, the independent review of the Human Rights Act, Adult Disability Payment regulations, gender and mental health inquiry; the Scottish Government’s budget for 2022-23; Health and Disability Green Paper; the impact of ending of freedom of movement on adult social care; and the COVID-19 Recovery Consultation. We were also invited to give oral evidence to Scottish Parliament Committees on COVID-19 status certificates, and on the Scottish Government Budget.

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