Glasgow MSPs have been involved in questions and debates on a range of issues at Holyrood this week.

We are taking a weekly look at what the city’s MSPs, across parties, have been raising with the government.

This week topics include asylum seeker contracts, Covid rules and support, attacks on emergency workers, violence against women, drug deaths and women’s health.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon tells people to remember covid rules when watching Scotland play England

On Thursday Paul Sweeney, Labour MSP, asked the First Minister about reports that Glasgow City Council intends to extend the ban on asylum seekers coming to Glasgow because of the constraints of accommodation.

Glasgow Times:

He said it was an “abdication of responsibility”…”to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.”

Nicola Sturgeon replied, Glasgow City Council is probably the last organisation that deserves to be criticised for how asylum seekers are treated.

Sandesh Gulhane, Conservative MSP and a GP asked the Justice Secretary, Keith Brown, about attacks on emergency workers.

Glasgow Times:

He said, “They deserve better protection” and asked for an end to the presumption against short prison sentences for NHS staff assaults.

Brown replied legislation on assaults was opposed by the Tories and said he would “not take lessons” from the Conservatives.

John Mason, Shettleston SNP MSP asked about action on violence against women and prostitution.

Glasgow Times:

He said if men are purchasing sex, they are guilty of violence against women and should be criminalised. Community safety minister, Ash Denham responded it is a form of commercial sexual exploitation considered it to be violence against women.

Pauline McNeill, Labour MSP asked about the impact of delays on court trials on victims, especially rape and sexual assaults.

Glasgow Times:

Keith Brown acknowledged that remand has been an issue because of the backlogs that we have seen and said he would like more detail on the question and would work with Pauline McNeill on it.

In a debate on drug deaths Paul Sweeney said the government should be “finding a legal pathway to safe consumption” facilities.

READ MORE:Drug deaths scandal: ten years of failure to listen

Pauline McNeill also spoke on drug consumption rooms and said they can “operate within the existing law” .

She also backed reform of drug laws and highlighted decriminalisation in Portugal.

Annie Wells, Conservative MSP, said her party would put forward a “Right to Recovery Bill” that would give people “a right, enshrined in law, to the necessary addiction treatment that they seek”.

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Pam Duncan Glancy, Labour MSP asked about “incorporation of various human rights treaties into legislation to strengthen the rights of, particularly people who have experienced drug use, in their access to community care services.

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On Wednesday. Patrick Harvie, Green MSP, asked about the government meeting tenants unions to discuss the private rented sector strategy.

Annie Wells asked about support for the arts and cultural sector in Glasgow, in light of the continued impact of Covid-19 restrictions.

Culture minister Jenny Gilruth said the Government has supported organisations and individuals in Glasgow with more than £18 million through Creative Scotland’s Covid-19 relief fund.

Paul Sweeney spoke in a debate about Brexit and the skills impact said, “Polish nurses and Romanian cleaners are just as much a part of the working class as their colleagues who have British passports.”

Patrick Harvie said EU citizens in Scotland make a critical contribution to our society, especially in sectors that suffer from widespread job insecurity, low pay and poor working conditions.

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In Topical questions on Tuesday Sandesh Gulhane asked about subsidising defibrillators at amateur sports facilities and more training for CPR after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during a Euro 2021 match.

The minister Maree Todd said that it as for sports governing bodies and that CPR training was delivered in schools.

Pam Duncan-Glancy asked about setting up a programme to tackle racism and disablism in schools like the Time for Inclusive Education to tackle LGBT bullying.

Paul Sweeney asked about Ferguson marine and “wasted money on forced nationalisation”.

James Dornan, Cathcart SNP MSP, asked the First Minister if she thought the UK Government’s delay in tightening the borders contributed to the delta variant getting loose in the UK.”

Glasgow Times:

Pauline McNeill asked about starting a pilot to help musicians in the pub and wedding sector to get back on stage.

John Mason asked for an update on how the first few days of the Euro Fan Zone had gone.

Paul Sweeney asked about making it a statutory offence of not complying with quarantine rules

In a debate on women’s health, Annie Wells raised endometriosis, breast cancer and cervical cancer, calling for “targeted resources dedicated to tackling the backlog and addressing lengthy waiting times”.

Sandesh Gulhane also contributed saying “The root of the problem is that health and care systems have been designed by men for men. In a lot of cases, white Caucasian men are the default patients, research models and target demographic.”