Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne MSP was widely praised across all parties in the parliament this week for introducing key amendments to the Adoption Bill.


The South of Scotland MSP has been campaigning since 2003 on the rights of family members such as grandparents to receive the same allowances as foster parents if they adopt children from their own family. Currently foster parents do receive financial help if they care for children but grandparents and other family members do not. Rosemary’s forcing of the issue means that from now on the family members WILL receive the allowance.


Her amendments had been rejected by the committee at stage two on the understanding that the Minister would bring forward an amendment covering this issue. It emerged before the debate that the Minister had failed to do this so Rosemary tabled her amendment again. The debate that followed forced the Executive to introduce their own amendment to ensure that this rule change went ahead. This will now mean that many children will be able to stay with grandparents and other family members who previously have not been able to do so due to financial constraints. The Solidarity MSP said:


" I am delighted to have helped to change the law in Scotland to bring much needed help to hard pressed family members who have been shouldering the burden of supporting children when their parents were lost due to death or other reasons. I know from the many families and groups I have met how important this is and last Saturday at the Kinship Care Conference this change was widely welcomed."


This is only the second time since devolution that an intervention by a socialist MSP has led to a change in law. The first time was in 2000 when Solidarity Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan’s bill to abolish warrant sales was passed.