Spring Conference 22nd and 23rd February 2019 Hamilton Town House Agenda HELPFUL INFORMATION Venue Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow St, Hamilton ML3 6HH Please note: All bags will be subject to search. Transport The nearest train station is Hamilton Central which is a short walk from the venue. Taxis can be booked for transfers from the station. Cadzow Cars: 01698 891990 Wellman Cars: 01698 891313 Hamilton Toa Taxis: 01698 281144 Buses 107 and 255 pass by the Town House. Parking There is pay and display parking around Hamilton town centre. Conference passes These will be available for collection on arrival at the venue. They must be worn visibly at all times throughout conference. Deadlines for submissions Amendments to motions: 12noon 20th February Emergency motions: 5pm, 21st and 22nd February Please email amendments and emergency motions to hq@scotlibdems.org.uk Disabled access The facility is fully barrier free and offers level access to all areas outwith the upper circle in the Main Hall. The facility has 12 separate toilet facilities for the disabled, passenger lifts giving access throughout, low level service points, induction loop facilities at all receptions/service points, and infra-red hearing enhancement facilities in auditoria and ceremony rooms. There are ramps to each public entrance and entry doors are either automatically controlled or on 'hold open' mechanisms. There are also three designated parking bays in the main car park at the rear of the building. Please contact Scottish Liberal Democrats HQ if you have an queries relating to disabled access. Refreshments Refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the day. Lunchtime fringes may also provide some complimentary refreshments. If you have any dietary requirements, it would be helpful if you let us know in advance, so we can accommodate you. Accommodation Please email hq@scotlibdems.org.uk to request a list of nearby hotels and B&Bs. Registration You can still register. Registration is quick and easy online at www.scotlibdems.org.uk/s19register. If you are not able to register online please call us on 0131 337 2314 and we can register you over the phone. Further information If you require any further information about any aspect of Conference, please contact 0131 337 2314 or hq@scotlibdems.org.uk Thanks Many thanks are extended to all of the staff at the Hamilton Town House. Thanks also to Party Staff for all their support, Kirsty Smith for running the speakers table, MBM for printing the agenda, and to Metro for providing AV service. Conference Committee Paul McGarry (Convener) Ross Stalker (Vice-Convener) Rebecca Bell Yvonne Finlayson Christopher Wilson Jenni Lang Bruce Wilson Cass MacDonald Sheila Ritchie (Party Convener) Calum Paterson (SYL) Vita Zaporozcenko (Policy Committee) Jacqueline Bell (Scottish Executive) Scottish HQ Staff Jenny Wilson (Party Manager) Megan Wiseman (Admin Assistant) Paul Moat (Head of Campaigns) James Calder (Development Officer) Max Sefton (Press Officer) Katie Armour (Press Officer) Party Office Bearers Leader: Willie Rennie MSP Convener: Sheila Ritchie Deputy Leader: Alistair Carmichael MP Treasurer: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie Policy Convener: Cllr Isobel Davidson Conference Convener: Paul McGarry Campaigns & Candidates Convener: Cllr Alan Reid President: Cllr Willie Wilson The Venue Use entrance to the side of the Hamilton Town House on Lower Auchingramont Road, not the entrance on Cadzow Street Locations of Rooms: Main Hall: Level 3 - accessible by lift of stairs Exhibition Hall: Level 1 - accessible by lift or stairs Cadzow Room: Level 6 - accessible by lift or stairs Dance Studio: Please follow signs for location Brandon Room: Level 6 - accessible by lift or stairs Clyde Room: Level 6 - accessible by lift or stairs Conference first timer’s session Clyde Room, Friday, 09:15 - 10:00 Refreshments Available Is this the first time you have attended Scottish Conference? Come along to our 'First Timer's' session to find out more about how Conference works, meet other first timers and find out from experienced Conference goers how to make the most of Scottish Conference. Welcome to Hamilton - Cllr Robert Brown Welcome to Hamilton, the traditional county town of Lanarkshire. Our Council, South Lanarkshire, is hugely varied, reaching from the rural Borders right across to the M74 boundary with Dumfriesshire and up to Glasgow. It takes in the 4 localities of Clydesdale, East Kilbride, Hamilton and Cambuslang/Rutherglen. Rutherglen in particular has been continuously represented at Council level by Liberals/Liberal Democrats since 1977 and I currently represent Rutherglen South ward. The Party has also been successful at different times in Rutherglen North, Cambuslang West, Bothwell and Uddingston and part of East Kilbride - as well as being part of the Glasgow Regional seat in the Scottish Parliament which I represented from 1999 to 2011. Hamilton Town House is a superb Conference venue – an “A” listed building which benefited from a £9 million refurbishment in 2002-4. I hope you enjoy it as a Conference centre. There are many other attractions in the area including Strathclyde Park, Hamilton Mausoleum, the ancient Royal Burghs of Rutherglen (1126) and Lanark (1140) and Bothwell Castle. Our area boasts connections with luminaries as varied as Stan Laurel, Midge Ure, Robbie Coltraine, Magnus Magnusson, David Livingstone, William Wallace (who was betrayed here), Jock Stein, Jackie Bird and Mary Queen of Scots. Our conferences have always been great opportunities to catch up with old friends and meet new ones - not forgetting our primary purpose of debating great Liberal issues and putting the world to rights – something more than ever needed in these degenerate days of the Brexiteers. I hope we all have a great Conference. Welcome to Hamilton - Willie Rennie MSP We meet at our Scottish party conference at one of the most dramatic, turbulent and dangerous times for the UK. Liberal Democrats have been clear and united on the big issues facing the country. On opposition to Brexit we have led the argument, built support and refused to be cowed. Scottish Liberal Democrats have been out campaigning on high streets and in communities across the country. Whatever happens on Brexit we are clear that we are not going back to the way things were before in this country. People should demand better for the UK. People who play their part in their community should have the opportunity to get a decent job, afford their own home and rely on good public services, with a government on their side. That’s not the reality for millions of people in our country today. Scottish Liberal Democrats can be proud that we get things done. Our badgering got the SNP to switch position and support a people’s vote on Brexit. Years of campaigning by our MSPs got the Scottish Government to agree to make big changes in support of mental health, introduce extra childcare for children from the age of 2, and to bring in a pupil premium to help every child get the best start in education. We even persuaded the Scottish Conservatives that P1 testing of children was a bad idea. In councils across Scotland our councillors work hard for their local communities. Our MPs are campaigning for a fair deal for their constituencies, from maternity services to transport links. This conference is a chance to show Scotland that the Liberal Democrats are not only growing, but a positive force for our country. I hope to speak to as many of you as possible around the conference and I hope you will follow all the action on Facebook and Twitter with our conference hashtag #sldconf Fringes - Friday Lunch Working together for a new agricultural and rural policy Dance Studio 12:45 - 13:45 Guest speaker: Mike Rumbles MSP With a new system of agricultural support up for discussion, NFU Scotland is advocating a new system that has food production at its core and recognises the environmental credentials of Scotland’s farmers and crofters. Join NFU Scotland and Mike Rumbles MSP for a discussion on how agricultural, environmental and consumer groups can work with government on a system fit for the future. Food and refreshments provided LGBT+ Lib Dems - Come and Meet us Clyde Room 12:45 - 13:45 This fringe event is open to all, not just those who identify as LGBT+. Please come and join us for a sandwich or two, a cup of tea and a chat about what we do. We especially want to chat to local party exec members, local pride organisers and approved candidates about how we can work together to support LGBT+ members, candidates, campaigns and events in your local area. Food and refreshments provided Scottish Liberal Democrat Women AGM Brandon Room 12:45 - 13:45 Scottish Liberal Democrat Women are back! We will be holding an AGM to talk about our priorities and plans for the future, and we would welcome input from any interested party members, including those who aren’t currently SLDW members but would be interested in getting involved. Food and refreshments provided Brexit - the final countdown? Cadzow Room 12:45 - 13:45 With just five weeks until March 29th much is still unknown about life after Brexit. With Commons votes and amendments, rumours of resignations and backbencher deals as the clock runs down, how can Liberal Democrats make the most constructive impact? Law Society President, Alison Atack, chairs a panel debate – check the daily bulletin for details. Food and refreshments provided Fringes - Friday Evening Active Travel for All Cadzow Room 17:00 - 18:00 The Scottish Government has committed to increasing the levels of walking and cycling in Scotland for transport and leisure. Join us in discussing how new active travel infrastructure can be made safe and accessible for all. Food and refreshments provided Association of Scottish Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners AGM Clyde Room 17:00 - 18:00 Calling all ASLDC members: come along and have your say at our AGM! Zöe Franklin from ALDC will be speaking at the event. Scottish Liberal Democrats Friday Cadzow Room 18.30-19.30 Spring Conference 2019 Whisky Tasting Arranged by Rutherglen and Hamilton West Constituency Liberal Democrats and hosted by Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP in Hamilton Town House. To book your opportunity contact TOM BRYSON at tombryson2@aol.com as soon as possible. Don't delay in arranging this chance to test your tasting skill ahead of the Conference Dinner. Cost is £30 per entrant payable in advance or on the night. Saturday Lunchtime Fringe Central Scotland Liberal Democrats welcome you Clyde Room 12.45 - 13.45 “Central or Liberal?” Are the calls for a new centrist party a welcome return from polarising politics or a threat to Liberal Democrats requiring action? Come and join us at this digitally interactive session over a delicious lunch. Donations to our campaign fund appreciated! Food and refreshments provided Year of Young People Gathering Dance Studio 12:45 - 13:45 We invite you to come and hear braw tales from young people across Scotland about the impact of YOYP 2018. Get involved with us to build a real and lasting legacy from what was an incredible showcase of our youth generation. Food and refreshments provided Scotland’s nature on red alert: Climate proofing our future Cadzow Room 12:45 - 13:45 Every day brings new evidence of the risks of climate change to people and planet. Using the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report as its starting point, this session explores how climate change is affecting Scotland’s wildlife and the solutions needed to climate-proof our future. Food and refreshments provided Training Agents Training Friday 10.15-12.15, Clyde Room Saturday 10:00- 12:00, Clyde Room An essential training session for any campaign manager or agent to learn about the roles and responsibilities of being an election agent, and how changes to regulations affect what we do. If you are currently an agent, have been an agent in the past, or are thinking of being an election agent in the future, this really is must attend training session. ALDC - Getting Started with Social Media Friday 14:00 - 15:00, Brandon Room With more and more campaigning taking place online, come along to this ALDC training session to help learn the essentials of email and Facebook campaigning. This training will benefit all campaigners looking to improve their digital campaigning. PPERA Training Friday 15:00 - 16:00, Clyde Room Essential training for all local Party Treasurers - please come along to learn about the PPERA Guidelines. Data Protection Training Saturday 15:00 - 16:00, Clyde Room In depth training on the new GDPR rules. Essential for Membership Secretaries, Conveners, Treasurers and campaigners who handle personal data. Finding the Lib Dem Core Vote Saturday 11:00 - 12:00, Brandon Room Come and hear how you can use the party’s latest cutting edge research to find the most promising Lib Dem voters in your area. This session will help all local campaigners. ALDC - Installing and using Minivan Saturday 14:00 - 15:00, Brandon Room Join ALDC for a training session on how to use the MiniVan App to record your canvassing online. Please bring along either an iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet. This session will benefit anybody who wants to improve their canvassing by using Minivan. CONFERENCE AGENDA AT A GLANCE Friday 22nd February Morning session is from 10.00-12.30 • Welcome address • SC1: Delivering Early Years Education and Childhood [40] • SC2: Reshaping Scotland’s Railways [40] • Speech by Wendy Chamberlain, PPC for North East Fife • SC3: Improving Outcomes for Scotland’s Prisons and People [40] 12.30-14.00 Lunch 12.45-13.45 Fringe meetings Afternoon session is from 14.00-18.00 • SC4: Ending Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Scotland [60] • SC5: Closing the Attainment Gap in Scotland [30] • Speech by Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire • EM1: Emergency Motion [30] • SC6: Reversing the Closure of Public Toilets across Scotland [40] 17.00-18.00 Fringe Meetings Saturday 23rd February Morning session is from 09.30-18.00 • Party AGM and Business Motion [60] • Speech by Aileen Morton, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council • SC7: Housing and Domestic Abuse [45] • EM2/TI1: Emergency Motion or Topical Issue [30] 12.00-14.30 Lunch 12.15-13.15 Fringe Session 1 13.30-14.30 Fringe Session 2 Afternoon session is from 14.30-18.00 • Europe Session [60] • Speech by Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats • SC8: Trans Rights are Human Rights [40] • Party awards [15] 17.00-18.00 Fringe Meetings FRIDAY 22ND FEBRUARY The morning session runs from 10.00 to 12.30 10.00 Conference opens WELCOME ADDRESS SC1: Delivering Early Years Education and Childcare Submitted by North Edinburgh and Leith Liberal Democrats Mover: Bruce Wilson Summator: Emma Walker Conference notes that Accounts Commission research shows that: 1. Poor planning by the Scottish Government has put the prospect of meeting their target of doubling free childcare hours for three and four-year olds by August 2020 at significant risk; 2. Local councils are now expecting to have to fund a shortfall of up to £160 million by 2021/22 to deliver the policy; 3. Around ten per cent of two-year olds are registered for early years education and childcare hours despite an estimated quarter of two-year olds being eligible, due to not all eligible children being identified. Conference further notes that the UK is lagging behind EU and OECD neighbours in terms of maternal employment rates due to the unacceptable cost of childcare. Conference believes: 1. As early years education and childcare provision will have the effect of increasing tax revenue, it is appropriate for any funding shortfall to be fully met by the Scottish Government rather than impact on already stretched Council budgets. 2. Universal eligibility of early years education and childcare for two-year olds will ensure that no child is left behind, creating a fairer society for parents and children. Conference reaffirms the Scottish Liberal Democrat 2016 manifesto commitments to: 1. Double the number of funded early years education and childcare hours during this Parliament; 2. Extend eligibility to all two-year olds; 3. Provide extra support for the most vulnerable families from an earlier age. Conference calls on the Scottish Government to: 1. Urgently expand their plans for early-years education and childcare in order to address the risks to delivering the target on time that have been identified by the Accounts Commission; 2. Commit to filling any funding shortfall required to deliver the policy so that local Councils are not left footing the bill; 3. Extend the eligibility to all two-year olds rather than select groups; 4. Introduce a further target of extending eligibility of funded early education and childcare hours to all one-year olds during the next Scottish Parliament term. SC2: Reshaping Scotland’s Railways Submitted by Aberdeenshire West Liberal Democrats, Angus North & Mearns Liberal Democrats, and Aberdeen Central, South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats Mover: John Waddell Summator: TBC Conference notes: 1. The Beeching Report, Reshaping Britain’s Railways, published in 1963 which lead to the closure of nearly a third of the British rail network, predominantly in rural areas, concentrating instead on journeys between cities. 2. The Railways Act 1993, which privatised Britain’s railways. 3. Demand for rail travel has steadily increased since the 1990s, and is now at its highest since the 1920s 4. The reopening of some lines closed in the 1960s under the infamous ‘Beeching Cuts’, such as the Stirling–Alloa–Kincardine rail link, the Airdrie–Bathgate rail link, and the Borders Railway, in addition numerous local campaigns across Scotland to reopen their former railway lines 5. Some lines were saved from closure during the initial cuts, such as the ‘Far North Line’, due to successful community activism and lobbying 6. Since the Beeching cuts, road traffic levels have grown significantly 7. The replacement of railways with bus routes put a greater strain on our environment with an over-reliance on petrol and diesel engines 8. Railways are the best placed to transporting high numbers of passengers between larger population centres over relatively long distances at high speed and the transport of very high numbers of people within a city region through metro-style services. 9. Since the closure of railway lines in the 1960s, many of the areas that lost their railway line have since become important commuter areas and are entirely reliant on petrol and diesel cars and buses 10. The Scottish Government is responsible for the letting and management of the ScotRail franchise and for providing the strategic direction, and funding, for the maintenance, renewal and expansion of Network Rail owned rail infrastructure in Scotland. Conference believes: 1. Public transport is a necessary service, providing mobility and accessibility to those who cannot drive or cannot afford access to a car 2. Greater mobility and access to transport increases people’s quality of life by providing them with more opportunities 3. Public transport is preferable to individual travel due to the impact of cars and buses on the environment 4. Although it is not feasible to construct lines on some old railway routes, many are still undisturbed and even preserved as routes between towns and cities 5. The existence of current lines and the preservation of old railway routes provides opportunities to reconstruct railway lines in a way that is cost effective and with limited challenges, compared to forming entirely brand new railway lines 6. A feasibility study is a suitable mechanism for determining which routes are still suitable for railway lines to be reopened and which have been build upon for other uses Conference resolves: 1. The expansion of the rail network is of social and environment benefit to Scotland, particularly for those who live in rural areas that are no longer connected to the rail network 2. The re-opening of old railway stations, and the creation of new railway stations in towns currently on a railway but without a station, should be of greater priority for Transport Scotland 3. A feasibility study provides an opportunity for the Scottish Government, MSPs and local authorities to determine the best way moving forward to expanding the rail network, reopening closed railway lines, and determining new lines based on the existing network and previously closed lines. Conference calls for the Scottish Government: 1. To formally review all the railways closed in Scotland since 1945, particularly those closed as a result of the ‘Beeching Report’, with a view to commissioning feasibility studies on re-opening viable railway lines 2. To, where possible, reopen old railway stations and to open new stations in towns currently on the railway network but with no access to the lines on which they are situated Speech by Wendy Chamberlain, PPC for North East Fife SC3: Improving Outcomes for Scotland’s Prisons and People Submitted by Policy Committee Mover: Liam McArthur Summator: Isobel Davidson Conference notes: 1. The Scottish Government’s adoption of some longstanding Scottish Liberal Democrat policies to reduce reoffending, including commitments to reform the female custodial estate, strengthen and extend the presumption against short-term sentences to 12 months, and plans to introduce dedicated mental health professionals in police stations and prisons; 2. The Scottish Government has estimated that the total economic and societal cost of reoffending is £3 billion a year; 3. Public Health Wales NHS Trust reports that those with four or more adverse childhood experiences are 20 times more likely to be imprisoned during their lives; 4. Scotland has amongst the highest per capita prison population in Western Europe; 5. On any day, more than 1,000 people are in prison on remand awaiting trial, but only around 40% of those awaiting trial in summary proceedings receive a prison sentence; 6. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland has recorded people leaving prison with £75 in their pocket “with the prospect of having to wait several weeks before being eligible for basic benefits”, and that too many people on their day of liberation do not know where they will be living causing many to end up homeless; 7. The House of Commons Work & Pensions Committee found employment “significantly reduces the chances of reoffending” but that only 50% of employers would consider employing someone coming from prison. Conference believes: 1. The lack of throughcare and proper support for people leaving custody increases the amount of reoffending; 2. The use of remand, and the prison population as a whole, is too high; 3. For less serious offences, prison should be seen as an alternative to community-based sentences, rather than the other way around, and that judges need to be given confidence in this approach; 4. Maintaining family ties while a person is in prison reduces the likelihood of relationships breaking down, improves mental health and helps reduce the chance of reoffending; 5. People should so far as possible be given the chance to get on in life after leaving prison, having used their period incarcerated productively, and be given a level playing field with other candidates for opportunities and not be described in pejorative terms. Conference calls on the Scottish Government to: 1. Reinvest savings made through reducing the prison population into community-based options, commit to 3-year funding rounds for criminal justice programmes, recognise the importance of council budgets given their role in rehabilitating people, conduct an audit of existing compulsory requirements to establish which are effective, and extend City Deals to allow innovative measures to build community resilience and tackle reoffending; 2. Routinely record adverse childhood experiences, as recommended by Scottish Government advisor Sir Harry Burns; 3. Give people on remand the opportunity to undertake short-courses, with the assurance that their engagement with purposeful activity does not imply guilt; 4. Support people to keep their tenancies and other commitments where appropriate; 5. Work through the NHS and Scottish Prison Service to fulfil the objectives of the 2011 joint memorandum of understanding on healthcare provision, alongside implementing a healthcare plan for people suffering ill health within 2 weeks of their entering prison, giving them the best chance for their health, especially mental health, to be improved upon release and get on in life; 6. Make sure the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service begin fatal accident inquiries into deaths in prison within 12 months to ensure lessons that can save lives are learned; 7. Island proof prisons’ policies, including the expansion of video conferencing for families; 8. Support purposeful activity in prison to equip people for employment, including literacy and numeracy skills, accredited qualifications, and options aligned to shortages in employment, supported by occupational therapists; 9. Make sure people have a bank account and have had their social security eligibility assessed before they leave prison, if relevant, for example through a fit to work assessment before release; 10. Expand throughcare and mentoring, delivered by dedicated additional staff capable of working with people before and after they leave prison to provide continuity, alongside a new right to housing, welfare and healthcare appointments within 48 hours of release, underpinned by Housing First principles; 11. Work with justice partners, to measure whether people achieve positive post-prison destinations such as education, employment or training, and to publish the results alongside existing reconviction rates, to provide an evidence basis for the future introduction of a youth-guarantee equivalent; 12. Extend the Scottish Business Pledge to include a commitment to providing a level playing field for applicants who have completed a sentence. The deadline for amendments is 20th February Send amendments to: hq@scotlibdems.org.uk 12.15-13.45 Lunch 12.30-13.30 Fringe meetings The afternoon session runs from 14.00 to 18.00 SC4: Ending Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Scotland Submitted by 27 members Mover: Dr Jacci Stoyle Summator: Diane Robertson Martin CBE Conference notes that: 1. the NHS Scotland guidelines on Commercial Sexual Exploitation outline the harmful effects on women and men involved in prostitution: a. a majority suffer high levels of physical violence and rape; b. there is a significant effect on mental health (in research undertaken across five countries 67% of women in prostitution met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder); c. there is a significant link with drug misuse, which is often used as a coping mechanism for having unwanted sex. 2. research has demonstrated in countries where prostitution is decriminalised or legalised there is an associated increase in human trafficking, child prostitution and other forms of criminality. 3. the European Parliament in its policy on Gender Equality acknowledges that prostitution is a form of gender-based violence and that it ‘cannot be supported as a legitimate business because it is contrary to the principles enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights’. 4. in early 2014, the parliaments of the European Union and the Council of Europe both adopted nonbinding resolutions advocating member states to undertake an end demand approach to prostitution, i.e. the Swedish approach, commonly known as the Nordic Model. 5. the Nordic Model: a. perceives prostitution as a form of violence against women and recognises the unequal parity between the buyer who is in a position to exercise choice and the seller, who is often not able to exercise choice at all; b. aims to deter the purchase of sexual services by criminalising the buyers, who are otherwise law-abiding citizens who do not wish their partners, families and colleagues to know about their behaviour; c. decriminalises the sale of sexual services and provides funds for the sellers so that they can exit and are not left destitute. 6. the Nordic Model has been successfully pioneered in Sweden over the last sixteen years, and has been adopted in Norway, Finland, Iceland and more recently in Canada, Northern Ireland, France and the Republic of Ireland. In addition, it has been most successful when the Police have been given appropriate training to implement the law. Conference believes that: 1. as 90% of prostitution in Scotland now takes place indoors, the laws applying to solicitation and kerb crawling are becoming obsolete, so a radically different approach is called for. 2. although critics of the Nordic Model often say that it will drive prostitution ‘underground’, that is already the case as the numbers of women involved is unknown. 3. the current situation in Scotland is at odds with the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, and also with the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. 4. the most appropriate way for Liberal Democrat policy to reduce harm, defend the human rights of prostituted persons, focus police time and resources on those groomed, forced, or trafficked into the sex industry, and provide additional support for those wishing to exit, would be to adopt an ‘end demand’ Nordic model approach. Conference therefore calls for the Scottish Government to introduce legislation that: 1. decriminalises the sale of sexual services 2. criminalises the purchase of sexual services 3. offers appropriate support for those wishing to exit commercial sexual exploitation 4. provides a suitable training package to enable the Police to implement the law successfully. SC5: Closing the Attainment Gap in Scotland Submitted by Policy Committee Mover: Tavish Scott Summator: Isobel Davidson Conference notes: 1. There is an attainment gap running through Scottish education. Young people from poorer backgrounds exit education with lower qualifications than their richer classmates; 2. Extensive academic research has identified that a gap starts before formal schooling begins and widens throughout school years; 3. Scottish Liberal Democrat MSPs have pushed the Scottish Government to initiate steps to increase early education and to introduce a pupil premium in schools in order to add to the services available to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Conference believes: 1. It is a great liberal task to ensure that every individual achieves their potential; 2. It is to the wider benefit of Scottish communities and the economy for every individual, no matter what their background, to have the opportunity to succeed and excel; 3. Scottish economic productivity increases as Scottish educational attainment increases, and it would increase further if no person was held back from attainment and achievement because they come from a disadvantaged background; 4. The attainment gap cannot be eliminated by schools alone and effort is required across government; 5. Some recent Scottish Government initiatives, often after persuasion from Scottish Liberal Democrats, such as expanded nursery provision and the attainment fund (equivalent to the UK pupil premium), have proved successful, but a guard needs to be established that resources are not diverted from these in future; 6. Poverty remains a significant reason why individual children do not achieve in education - from the lack of a safe, warm home to prepare for learning, to the absence of parental support for schooling, to physical hunger and lowered expectations – and that Scottish and UK-wide change is needed to make sure fewer children grow up in poverty. Conference calls for: The Scottish Government and Scottish local authorities to develop those existing initiatives that are helping close the attainment gap, with vigilance to prevent funding dissipating over time: 1. Ensure that parents of children in more deprived areas of Scotland are able to access the same range and choice of pre-school provision as wealthier families, with information given to parents to make sure they understand the rights that they have, the choices that are available and the benefits that early education can bring; 2. Maintain a commitment to a nursery premium - increased funding - to make sure pre-school children from poorer backgrounds can be better supported when they start in education. 3. Ensure that the attainment fund is used in schools to transform the opportunities and attainment of children, sharing best practice widely, and not used to patch up funding to meet other demands elsewhere in schooling; 4. Share success in pedagogy and teaching practice from across the world so that children from poorer backgrounds can receive teaching that is appropriate and successful for their needs. Conference further calls for: The Scottish Government and local authorities to initiate new steps to create a government-wide focus on attainment, fostering high levels of individual achievement in the national interest: 5. A new programme, learning the lessons from and expanding family-nurse partnerships, to support parenting of children pre-natal to age 2; 6. A more securely funded youth work service to allow it to reach young people who are not engaged successfully in formal education, and to give those young people the confidence and skills to achieve highly in their lives; 7. Proper support for colleges as a means to achievement and attainment for those who missed out on qualifications earlier in life but who demand a better, second chance to achieve; 8. Promotion of colleges as the route to high-level technical qualifications for young people from all backgrounds; 9. Scottish universities encouraged to get more young people from poorer backgrounds through to completion of their courses, through outreach work in schools in disadvantaged areas and the use of role-models for children in those areas. Conference also calls on the Scottish and UK governments to work together and separately to tackle poverty: 10. Reverse the cuts to Universal Credit that threaten to bring more families into poverty; 11. Increase the provision of free meals for children, especially making sure breakfast is taken before learning starts; 12. Make sure support for clothing, equipment and free sanitary products is readily available for children from poorer backgrounds; 13. Adopt a formal UK-wide intention to end child poverty between the four UK administrations with each committing to use their powers and resources to such an end. The deadline for amendments is midday 20th February. Send amendments to: hq@scotlibdems.org.uk Speech by Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire EM1: Emergency Motion Deadline for this emergency motion slot is 5pm on 21st February. Send to: hq@scotlibdems.org.uk SC6: Reversing the Closure of Public Toilets across Scotland Submitted by Aberdeenshire East Liberal Democrats Mover: Trevor Mason Summator: David Evans Conference notes: 1. In recent years public toilets have been closing at an alarming rate in both rural and urban areas. 2. There is no obligation on local councils to provide public toilets, and unfortunately as councils have limited budgets, the high expense of maintaining public toilets is well down the list of priorities. 3. Many towns now have been bypassed in transport networks, taking away the footfall from the local public conveniences and forcing them to close. Trunk roads can go for miles without any facilities at all. 4. Not having access to a toilet can result in ‘waiting to go’ which research suggests can have adverse health effects over time, including stretching of the bladder walls and an increased risk of bladder or kidney infection. Conference believes: 1. That toilet facilities are an essential human need, necessary for use by everyone. 2. Public conveniences should be maintained to a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness. 3. Certain groups who have health problems, bowel problems, bladder problems etc. can feel trapped in their own home for fear of getting caught short in the street. Conference calls for: 1. The Scottish Government to: a. create a network of public conveniences across Scotland accessible with a single chipped card, paid for by subscription. b. ensure that this network is extensive enough that there is a public convenience (whether as part of this network or provided by other organisations) available within 20 minutes walking distance wherever people congregate in shopping areas, parks, beach areas, walks and cycle routes; and also, no more than 20 minutes’ driving distance from any point on a major trunk road (A road). c. Publicise this network in a pamphlet and points of interest for sat nav, and devise a distinctive a logo so the sites can be easily identified. 2. Scottish Local Authorities to: a. persuade local businesses to open their toilets to non-paying customers. b. survey and identify potential sites for new facilities. The deadline for amendments is midday 20th February. Send amendments to: hq@scotlibdems.org.uk Fringes Close of Plenary SATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY The morning session runs from 09.30 to 12.00 09.30 Conference opens Party AGM and Business Motion Speech by Aileen Morton, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council SC7: Housing and Domestic Abuse Submitted by Policy Committee Mover: Caron Lindsay Summator: Isobel Davidson Conference believes all social landlords should have policies on domestic abuse, and the experience of abuse or violence must not lead to someone losing their tenancy or becoming homeless. Conference notes: 1. The true scale of domestic abuse is difficult to determine as a large proportion of domestic abuse goes unreported, but studies suggest that many millions of people are affected every year, with domestic abuse being disproportionately experienced by women and perpetrated by men; 2. According to the Council of Europe, between one in three and one in five women will experience domestic abuse in the course of her lifetime; 3. In 2016-17, there were 58,810 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by Police Scotland and where gender information was recorded, 79% of all incidents of domestic abuse in 2016-17 had a female victim and a male perpetrator; 4. Across the UK two women are killed by their partner or ex-partner every week; 5. The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) campaign Make a Stand which gives housing organisations the chance to sign up to four commitments to help victims of domestic abuse; 6. New guidance for social housing landlords is currently being developed by CIH Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid and others; 7. The recommendation from the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group that “arrangements should be put in place so that tenancies can transfer seamlessly to the person who has experienced abuse, and reciprocal arrangements should be put in place to ensure people who experience domestic abuse can move to a safer place and have continuity of tenancy”; 8. Not all housing organisations have a policy framework which recognise domestic abuse with many incidents addressed through anti-social behaviour or rent arrears policies; 9. Some people experiencing domestic abuse may be made homeless by the services that are meant to help them, forced to leave their family home and then moved further multiple times. Conference believes: 1. Victims of abuse should be supported to stay in their own home if that is what they choose; 2. Where victims are moved to a new home it should be arranged through planned management transfers, and victims should not be made to go through the statutory homeless route and into temporary accommodation or refuges; 3. Victims should not be unnecessarily financially disadvantaged as a consequence of domestic abuse; 4. Scotland should have a gendered approach to housing and homeless that recognises the causes and solution to women’s homeless is different from men’s homelessness; 5. The Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981, designed to provide for the transfer of the tenancy of a matrimonial home between the spouses and cohabiting couples in certain circumstances, is no longer fit for purpose. Conference therefore calls for: 1. The Scottish Government to review and update the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 so that abusers can be swiftly moved out of the homes, while having their right to a home elsewhere unabridged; 2. All housing organisations to be required to make information about national and local domestic abuse support services available on their website for residents and staff, have in place an HR policy to support members of staff who may be experiencing domestic abuse, appoint a champion at a senior level to direct activity to support people experiencing domestic abuse and develop a stand-alone housing and domestic abuse policy; 3. The Scottish Government to introduce new national guidance that strengthens a victim’s right to stay in their home and negates the need for them to declare as homeless; 4. The Scottish Government to develop a new ‘Destitution Fund’ for people experiencing domestic abuse unable to access other sources of help as recommended by the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee in 2017. EM2/TI1: Emergency Motion or Topical Issue Deadline for this emergency motion/topical issue discussion slot is 5pm on 22nd February. Send to: hq@scotlibdems.org.uk 12.15-13.45 Lunch 12.30-13.30 Fringe meetings 12.00-13.00 Fringe meetings Session on Europe Speech by Willie Rennie, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats SC8: Trans Rights are Human Rights Submitted by Scottish Young Liberals Mover: Becca Plenderleith Summator: Caron Lindsay Conference notes that: 1. the response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) has been overwhelmingly positive, with: a. 65% of respondents from Scotland supporting a self-declaratory system for legal gender recognition; b. 66% of respondents from Scotland supporting lowering the age at which the gender recognition process can be accessed to 16; c. and 66% of respondents from Scotland supporting legal recognition of non-binary individuals. 2. the current requirements placed on transgender individuals by the GRA are so onerous that the majority forego legal recognition of their gender, even amongst those who have opted to undertake medical transition. 3. in response to Scottish and UK Government proposals to reform the GRA, several small groups have emerged that portray themselves as grassroots feminist movements, but are in fact mostly funded by large anonymous donations that almost certainly originate from socially conservative coalitions in the USA (as was seen during the recent campaign to repeal the 8th amendment to the Irish Constitution). These groups: a. promote a false narrative that the expansion of rights for transgender individuals can only be achieved at the expense of rights for cisgender individuals; b. use misleading statistics, innuendo and outright lies about the transgender community to invalidate trans identities and present trans people as threatening, particularly in order to falsely portray the existence of transgender women as a threat to the safety of cisgender women; c. publicise fringe theories that run counter to the overwhelming scientific consensus on the treatment of trans children, in order to portray healthy acceptance of trans identities as child abuse. 4. reputable women’s rights and anti gender-based violence organisations such as Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, Zero Tolerance and Women 50:50 have robustly rejected claims that reforming the GRA will threaten the safety and the rights of cisgender women. Conference believes that: 1. trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary identities are valid. 2. transgender and non-binary people should be able to live their lives free from disparagement and discrimination. 3. legal recognition of gender identity is a human right that should be contingent only on a sincere declaration by the individual concerned, not arbitrary tests that only serve to entrench gender stereotypes. 4. access to healthcare for transgender people is also a human right, but medical treatment for gender incongruence should be separate from recognition of gender identity, and one should not be a requirement for the other; medical interventions are a personal choice and the validity of transgender identities is not a function of individual healthcare decisions. 5. the recent surge in anti-trans propaganda is abhorrent, and is similar to the homophobic media onslaught that was directed at gay men and lesbians in the latter part of the 20th century; Liberal Democrats spoke out strongly then, and we must speak out strongly now. Conference calls for: 1. the Scottish and UK Governments to move forward with reform of the Gender Recognition Act without delay. 2. Liberal Democrat politicians and candidates, at all levels, to continue to be robust in their public support for the rights and the safety of trans and non-binary individuals, and their opposition to transphobic propaganda and hate speech. 3. media organisations to ensure that in their coverage, or in the sale of advertising space, they do not give a platform to organisations that promote transphobic narratives and have shown themselves to not be acting in good faith. The deadline for amendments is midday 20th February. Send amendments to: hq@scotlibdems.org.uk OTHER EVENTS AT CONFERENCE First time at conference? If you’ve not been to conference before you will receive an invitation to our first timers’ session. Come along and find out more about how conference works and meet other first time attendees. Forum for Councillors and Parliamentarians Conference Dinner Join us for our Spring Conference Dinner on Friday 22nd February at the Hamilton Town House. A delicious three course meal and the obligatory after dinner speech will be included. Tickets are £40 and can be bought from www.scotlibdems.org.uk. Exhibitions and Fringes Will be announced very soon! Scottish Liberal Democrats - Standing Orders 1. The Conference Committee 1.1. The Conference Committee shall be constituted as specified in Section E10 of the Constitution. The annual election of members by the conference shall be by Single Transferable Vote in a ballot of all members of the Party registered to attend Conference ('Conference Representatives'). 1.2. The Conference Convener shall be the Chair of the Conference Committee. At its first meeting after a new election under Section E10 of the Constitution, the Conference Committee may elect one or more Vice-Conveners. 2. The Timetable and Agenda - Normal Meetings 2.1. The Agenda for each ordinary meeting of Conference shall include time for: 2.1.1. Motions; 2.1.2. Emergency motions; 2.1.3. Topical motions; 2.1.4. A business session or sessions; and 2.1.5. any other business deemed appropriate by the Conference Committee. The time to be allocated to each type of business and the order of business shall be decided by the Conference Committee. 2.2. The Conference Committee shall, before each meeting of the Conference, prepare a timetable which includes: 2.2.1. The closing date for the receipt of motions (other than Emergency or Topical motions), which shall not normally be less than eight weeks before the start of the meeting; 2.2.2. The due date for the publication of the Agenda, which shall not normally be less than six weeks before the start of the meeting; 2.2.3. The closing date for the receipt of Topical Motions, which shall not normally be less than two weeks before the start of the meeting; and 2.2.4. The closing date for receipt of amendments which shall not normally be less than two working days before the start of the meeting. 2.2.5. The Conference Committee may, in special circumstances, specify dates later than the normal dates under this Standing Order. It shall report to the Conference its reasons for doing so. 2.3. Submitting organisations shall detail at the time of submission the name and contact details of a person authorised to agree any redrafting of a motion or amendment and the name of the mover and summator of the motion or amendment, should it be selected for debate at Conference. 2.4. The Conference Committee shall decide which of the motions duly submitted shall be included within the Agenda. The proposers of the motions selected for debate shall be informed of the Conference Committee's decision. The Agenda shall be circulated to Local Parties and other bodies entitled to submit motions and amendments under the provisions of Section E19 of the Constitution so that amendments can be tabled to these motions by such bodies. Copies of motions not selected for inclusion in the Agenda shall be available for inspection. 2.5. The Conference Committee shall meet the day after the deadline for submission of amendments to motions on the Agenda and shall decide which amendments should be accepted and those rejected. The proposers of the amendments selected for debate shall be informed of the Conference Committee's decision. 2.6. The Conference Committee shall also meet as soon as practicable after the closing date for the receipt of topical motions and shall decide which of the topical motions duly submitted shall be debated, and the proposers of topical motions selected shall be informed of the Conference Committee's decision. The text of any topical motions selected for debate shall be circulated to Conference Representatives, Local Parties and bodies authorised to submit motions. 2.7. The Conference Committee shall also prepare an agenda for the business session of each meeting of Conference. The Committee shall circulate this, with the text of proposed amendments to the Constitution in accordance with Section L of the Constitution, amendments to Standing Orders, and other party business motions, with the Agenda as per Section 2.4 2.8. The Party's Principal Committees may submit holding motions, which shall identify the issues to be dealt with within the motion but which may be amended and expanded upon later. Standing Orders 2 and 3 shall apply to holding motions as they would apply to ordinary motions, except that: 2.8.1. the final version of the motion shall be submitted not less than two weeks before the start of the meeting of Conference; 2.8.2. The text of the final version shall be circulated to Conference Representatives, Local Parties and other bodies authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E19 of the Constitution, who may submit amendments no later than two working days before the start of the meeting of Conference; and 2.8.3. The Committee shall make available to Conference Representatives the text of the final version and any amendments chosen for debate, either by their publication in the Conference Daily Bulletin or by any other means the Committee considers most appropriate 2.9. The Conference Committee may, if the circumstances require, propose to Conference a variation in the order of business as set out in the Agenda. Such variation shall be put to the vote and shall take effect if approved by a majority of those voting. 3. Submission of Motions and Amendments 3.1. The Conference Committee may refuse to select a motion for the amendment of the Constitution or Standing Orders if, in the opinion of the Committee, it is similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate at the same meeting of Conference. All other motions in these categories shall be circulated with the Agenda. 3.2. No amendment shall be selected if, in the opinion of the Conference Committee, it is insubstantial, outside the legitimate scope of the motion or tantamount to a direct negative of the motion. 3.3. The movers of any motion or amendment that has not been selected shall be notified as soon as is practicable and may appeal to the Conference Committee in accordance with directions given by the Committee. If an appeal is allowed, the motion or amendment shall be treated as an emergency motion or amendment notwithstanding that it does not comply with Standing Order 5. 3.4. This Standing Order and Standing Order 2 do not apply to procedural motions under Standing Order 8. 3.5. No Topical Motion may be selected for debate at Conference unless the Conference Committee is satisfied that the content of the motion is such that it could not have been submitted in time for the deadline as set out in Section 2.2 for ordinary motions. No Topical Motion can be a holding motion from a Party Committee. 4. The Agenda - Special Conferences 4.1. Special Conferences shall deal only with the business stated in the notice of requisition, save that the Conference Committee may allow time for emergency motions and for business which is formal or, in the opinion of the Committee, uncontentious. 4.2. The Conference Committee shall draw up an Agenda and circulate in line with Section 2.4. If the Committee deems it necessary the Agenda can be circulated with amendments to be submitted as Emergency Amendments. 4.3. The provisions of Standing Orders 2 and 3 shall, so far as they are not inconsistent with Standing Orders 4.1 and 4.2, apply to special meetings of the Conference. 5. Emergency Motions 5.1. An emergency motion or amendment must relate to significant developments which have occurred since the relevant closing date or so shortly before that date as to make it impracticable to submit a motion, Topical Motion or amendment in due time. It must be brief and specific. 5.2. An emergency motion or amendment may be submitted by five Conference Representatives or by any persons or bodies authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E9 of the Constitution. 5.3. The Conference Committee may, for each day of the meeting of Conference, set aside time convenient for the debate of Emergency Motions. In such an event, proposed Emergency Motions must be submitted to the Conference Committee, duly signed, by 5pm the day before they are to be debated. Emergency Amendments to motions already on the Agenda for that meeting of Conference must be submitted by 5pm the day before the motion is to be debated. 5.4. The Conference Committee may refuse to select an emergency motion or amendment if, in the opinion of the Committee, it is similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate at the relevant meeting of Conference. 5.5. The Conference Committee will choose the emergency motions or amendments which, in the opinion of the Committee, are most relevant to the concerns of the Conference and can be debated within the time available. The Committee shall make available the text of all emergency motions and amendments chosen for debate either by publication in the Conference Daily Bulletin or any other means the Committee finds most appropriate. 5.6. Amendments shall not normally be taken to the text of an Emergency Motion. However Conference Committee may consider amendments duly signed by 5 Conference Representatives or by any body authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E9 of the Constitution. These amendments must be brief, suitable for debate and of a similar emergency nature. The deadline for submitting amendments to an Emergency Motion will be listed in the Conference Daily Bulletin alongside the text of the Emergency Motion. The movers of the Emergency Motion must be given the opportunity to agree that the text of the amendment be accepted without debate or vote, and the text must be circulated to voting representatives before the start of the debate. 6. Conduct of Debate 6.1. Length of Speeches 6.1.1. The Conference Committee shall decide the time to be allocated for each debate. The Conference Committee shall determine the times allocated to speakers in debates. 6.1.2. Movers of motions shall normally be allocated not more than 12 minutes to move and summate on a motion. Movers of amendments shall normally be allocated not more than 8 minutes to move and summate on a motion. Movers of emergency and topical motions shall normally be allocated 5 minutes to move the motion. Speakers from the floor shall normally be allocated 4 minutes but this may be varied at the discretion of the chair of the debate. 6.1.3. The allocation of the time between moving and summating shall be at the discretion of the mover subject only to notification of the Chair of the debate before the start of the debate. In the absence of such notification the Chair shall be entitled to limit speeches to three quarters of the time allocation for moving and one quarter for summation. 6.2. Order of Debate 6.2.1. The Conference Committee shall direct the order of debate. Generally, however, a motion will be moved and immediately thereafter the amendments will be moved in the order directed by the Committee. There will then be a general debate. The movers of amendments (or their nominees) shall have the right to summate in the same order, after which the mover of the motion (or their nominee) shall have the right to summate. 6.2.2. Votes will be taken on amendments in the order in which they have been moved and finally, a vote shall be taken on the substantive motion. 6.3. The Conference Committee may direct that parts of any motion or amendment or group of amendments may be the subject of a separate debate the Conference Committee may also direct that a debate may comprise of more than one substantive motion. In this case it shall be up to the discretion of the Chair as to the allotment of speakers, save that the rights of movers of motions or amendments shall not be infringed. 6.4. The Committee may authorise members of other State or Regional Parties to speak. The Committee may also, with the approval of conference, invite any person to address a Conference as a guest. 6.5. On any topical motion, policy motion or emergency motion not moved on behalf of the Policy Committee, the Policy Committee shall have the right to nominate one of its members to report to the Conference its views on the motions and/or amendments under debate. Such persons shall be called to speak at any time up to the conclusion of the debate and before any replies and shall be entitled to speak for the same length of time as the mover of the motion. The Executive Committee shall have similar rights on business motions or motions to amend the constitution and the Conference Committee shall have similar rights in relation to motions to amend Standing Orders or motions otherwise relating to the proceedings of the Conference. 6.6. Save as provided in Standing Orders, no person may speak more than once in any debate. 6.7. All members wishing to speak in any debate, including the movers and summators of motions and amendments, must submit a speaker's card and indicate whether they wish to speak in favour or against a motion or amendment. The Chair of the session shall be responsible for providing a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the Conference. In circumstances where there is a preponderance of members wishing to speak on the same side in any debate, the Chair may announce a departure from this rule. 7. Voting 7.1. Voting cards shall be issued to all Conference Representatives and shall be shown in respect of all votes taken. A count of voting cards will be taken when either: 7.1.1. This is felt necessary by the Chair of the session to resolve uncertainty as to the outcome, or 7.1.2. A request for a count has been made by 12 Conference Representatives standing in their places and showing their voting cards. 7.2. In the event of a count of voting cards being required, the Chair of the session shall appoint tellers for the purpose. A recount will be held only if the Chair of the session is not satisfied that the first count was accurate. 8. Points of Order and Procedural Motions 8.1. Any voting member may rise on a point of order. A point of order shall be taken immediately, except that, during a vote no point of order shall be taken that does not refer to the vote itself. The decision of the Chair of the session on all points of order shall be final. 8.2. References Back 8.2.1. A voting member may, at any time before the end of speeches in reply to the debate, submit in writing a motion to refer back the motion under debate. Such a submission shall state to whom the motion is to be referred and shall include a short statement of the reasons. 8.2.2. The Chair may decide either to take the motion to refer back immediately or defer it until the end of debate. If more than one request for a reference back is received, the Chair shall have the discretion as to which to take but shall give consideration to the appropriateness of the bodies to which the motion is being referred, the degree to which the stated reasons for reference back reflect views expressed in the debate and the order in which the requests were submitted, before exercising the rights of discretion. No more than one reference back shall be taken to any motion. 8.2.3. The Chair shall, upon taking the motion to refer back, read it and the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to debate the motion. If the conference decides not to debate the reference back, the reference back automatically falls. If the conference decides, by a majority of those voting to debate the reference back the mover of that motion may speak and the mover of the substantive motion or their nominee may reply. The Chair shall have discretion whether to allow other speakers on the motion. 8.2.4. The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If the substantive motion is referred to the Executive, Policy Committee or Conference Committee that body shall report to the next meeting of conference stating the action it has taken on the reference back. 8.3. Suspension of Standing Orders 8.3.1. A voting member may, during any session of a conference, move for the suspension of Standing Orders. The mover shall submit the motion together with a written statement of its purpose, not exceeding 100 words, to the Chair who shall read them to the Conference. 8.3.2. No motion to suspend Standing Orders may suspend any requirement of the Constitution, not Standing Orders 2 and 3. 8.3.3. No motion to suspend Standing Orders to introduce a motion or amendment onto the Agenda can be taken unless the motion or amendment has been submitted to the Conference Committee in accordance with the published timetable and any right of appeal has been exercised. 8.3.4. The Chair shall read the statement of purpose and if the suspension is allowable, ask Conference whether it wishes to debate the request to suspend Standing Orders. If the Conference decides not to debate the request, it falls. If the Conference decides to hear the request the mover may speak and a representative of the Conference may reply. The Chair has the discretion to call other speakers and all speeches will be limited to two minutes. 8.3.5. A motion to suspend Standing Orders shall only be carried if supported by at least two thirds of voting Representatives present and voting. If the procedural motion is carried all Standing Orders shall remain in force except only for the purposes set out in the motion. 8.4. Separate Votes 8.4.1. A Separate Vote shall be taken on a part of a motion or amendment. 8.4.2. At the direction of the Conference Committee; or 8.4.3. At the discretion of the Chair, when requested to do so by a voting representative. Any voting representative may submit a request for a separate vote to the Chair of a debate. Such a request must be in writing and received before the commencement of the speeches in reply to the debate. The Chair has complete discretion in such a case on whether to take a separate vote. 8.5. These Standing Orders may be amended by a two-thirds majority of Conference Representatives present and voting on a motion duly submitted under the terms of Standing Order 3. Subject to any amendment they shall remain in force from Conference to Conference.