A MOTION calling for the minimum age of military recruitment to be raised to 18 has been lodged by figures across the SNP, increasing its chance of being debated at the party conference.
It notes that the UK is currently the only European and Nato country to recruit 16-year-olds into the armed forces, which it says is in conflict with the internationally recognised United Nations Rights of the Child.
It says that men and women who join the armed forces under the age of 18 are more likely to be killed or injured, or suffer from alcohol abuse and mental health issues than older recruits.
Alex Neil, Linda Fabiani, Richard Lyle, Ash Denham, Ivan McKee, James Dornan, Stuart McMillan and Ronnie Cowan are among the parliamentarians who have backed the resolution.
Promotion of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects features in a potential resolution submitted by higher education minister Shirley-Anne Somerville and MSP Gillian Martin.
It calls for the setting up of a Scottish STEM ambassador network and urges the Scottish Government to work to address “the gender bias in young people’s career options which leads to the under-representation of women in STEM courses and careers”.
Mid Fife and Glenrothes Branch have submitted a motion calling for all school children to be given free membership of Historic Environment Scotland.
It says the properties managed by the body – including Edinburgh and Stirling Castles -are valuable educational resources and “recognises that these facilities could be used more by school children as a means of learning but many are disadvantaged due to cost of admission”.
There is also a motion supporting World Mental Health Day on October 10, the last day of the conference. This year World Mental Health Day will promote good mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
It was put down by health spokeswoman Philippa Whitford and NEC member Toni Giugliano and notes the Mental Health Foundation’s research that around half of employees with a mental health problem choose not to disclose it to an employer for fear of discrimination.
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