Following a meeting of the Bishops’ Conference, they released the following statement: “Together with a growing number of voices in society, the Church believes that sex or gender cannot be reduced to a mere construct of society that is fluid and changeable.
The court was told on Monday by civil servants Chis Birt and Michael McIlhenny that steps were taken to prevent women having to work alone with the first minister after two female colleagues complained about alleged incidents involving Mr Salmond.
General secretary of Scotland’s largest teaching union, Larry Flanagan, said the EIS wanted the Scottish government to “get ahead of the game” so that schools could plan for closures.
Principal Clerk, Rev Dr George Whyte said, “We did not take this decision lightly but in the current circumstances it was the only choice we could make. Our Assembly would have brought almost a thousand people to a week-long meeting in Edinburgh including visitors from overseas and from other churches. It is a time when we can celebrate being the Church and make important decisions about our future but these are exceptional times and people’s health must come first.
“The Scottish Government’s initial package is welcome but it is clear from comments made to me by the tourism industry that this is not enough to support employers and employees to properly prepare themselves for the weeks and months to come.”
Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh, is calling on the Scottish and UK governments to provide clear help and advice for local pubs, restaurants and cafes.
