News
May 26, 2015
Members Reappointed to the Mobility and Access
Committee for Scotland
The Minister for Transport and Islands today announced the reappointment of 4
Members of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.
Bob Benson has considerable experience in the equality and human rights field and
is currently a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s statutory
Scotland Committee and as such also co-opted onto its statutory Disability
Committee. He is a trustee of the Scottish Community Foundation and Chair of its
Grants Committee. He was previously an Executive Director for Community
Development with Scope, and Director Scotland, Disability Rights Commission.
Bob is also a board member of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and receives
remuneration of £280 per day for a time commitment of 5 to 10 days per month.
Heather Fisken has worked for many years for equality for disabled people in both
professional and voluntary roles. She currently manages the Independent Living in
Scotland project which works closely with Disabled People’s Organisations and
public bodies, especially the Scottish Government to promote rights to independent
living so that disabled people may participate equally in society. She previously
worked for the Disability Rights Commission and was a board member of RNID.
Heather does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
Jane Horsburgh trained as a mobility instructor for blind and partially sighted
people, and has worked for Guide Dogs Scotland for over 20 years in a variety of
roles. She currently holds the post of Policy Manager, and focuses on accessibility of
transport and streets, in addition to the mobility and independent training needs of
sight impaired adults, children and young people. Jane is well known to the disability
transport and accessibility field having participated in many groups and forums
across third sector, government and parliamentary activities.
Jane does not hold any other ministerial appointments.
Jane Steven was a qualified nurse and social worker with a long history of working
on both disabled issues and rural community and access issues and on collaborative
and community development projects until her retiral. She has been an Individual
public member of Network Rail for 3 years and was a member of Passengers’ Views
Scotland for 6 years. She is a past member of the management committee of Carers
of East Lothian.
Jane does not hold any other ministerial appointments.
Bob Benson and Jane Horsburgh will be reappointed for one year from 1 October
2015 until 30 September 2016. Jane Steven and Heather Fisken will be reappointed
for two years from 1 October 2015 until 30 September 2017.
These reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £100 per day for a
time commitment of one day per month.
These reappointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in
Public Life in Scotland.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the
selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan
recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the
last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. None of the
reappointees have undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) provides advice to Scottish
Ministers on the planning and regulating of transport facilities to ensure that they are
accessible for those with a disability.
MACS believes in a Scotland where anyone with a mobility problem due to a
physical, mental or sensory impairment can go when and where everyone else can
and have the information and opportunity to do so.