SELECT goes to Holyrood to keep safety issues at the forefront

SELECT has taken its campaign for regulation of the electrical industry to the Scottish Parliament this week in a bid to keep the issue firmly in the public eye.

SELECT has secured exhibition space at Holyrood, where it will spend three days engaging with MSPs and other groups about the urgent need for Protection of Title for the profession of electrician. Managing director Alan Wilson and other representatives from SELECT will be at Holyrood from Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 November, delivering their message at a special exhibition stand sponsored by MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston.

The association hopes to gather more political support for its fast-growing campaign, which has already garnered cross-party backing from MPs and MSPs from the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Greens and SNP.

The move comes amid concerns that ongoing uncertainty around Brexit and the upcoming general election could derail efforts to promote better safety standards in Scotland.

Wilson said he also feared that discussions over a possible second Scottish independence referendum could deflect from pressing local concerns.

He said, “We are delighted that so many individuals and organisations have already backed our Wall of Support campaign and recognised the need to regulate safety standards in the electrical industry. 

“We are also delighted that, as part of its 2019-20 Programme for Government released in September, the Scottish Government has pledged to publish a consultation on the regulation of electricians.

“However, larger political circumstances have now unfortunately overtaken most immediate domestic concerns. These wider, unprecedented issues can’t be allowed to detract from the governing requirements to ensure the day-to-day safety of our citizens, as well as the security of our business environment. 

“It’s vital that the issue of regulation isn’t kicked into the long grass and that it continues to be a prominent issue at Holyrood and beyond.”