BORDERS MP CALLS ON SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO SEE SENSE OVER ARMISTICE DAY PARADES

9.26.01am GMT Wed 6th Feb 2008

Borders MP Michael Moore has called on the Scottish Government to see sense over their approach to allowing Armistice Day parades to take place in towns across Scotland.

Under regulations contained in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, organisers of parades must apply for permission from the local authority and must give a minimum of 28 days' notice.

After discussions and correspondence with ex-servicemen in Hawick, and officials at Scottish Borders Council, Mr Moore wrote to the Scottish Government to request an exemption from the regulations for Armistice Day parades. However, the Minister responded that it was up to each individual local authority to submit a request for an exemption for a particular parade. The Minister would need to agree to the request, following which an order would need to be made at the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Moore understands that there are concerns over the lack of criteria and guidance for local authorities on how to decide whether an exemption for a parade is likely to be granted. He has called upon the Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill, to intervene to clear up the confusion.

He said:

"I fail to understand why there is so much confusion over the process for exempting Armistice Day parades from these regulations. While I applaud Scottish Borders Council for handling parade requests in a straightforward and speedy manner, it is frustrating that the Minister will not provide a simple exemption for these parades. I hope the Minister will intervene to ensure that the guidance for local authorities is much clearer. We need to bring some sense to this situation."