In a statement produced ahead of the programme Born to Lead Kevin expressed concern at the reports that visually impaired people might lose out unfairly in the planned cuts in public services.
"What particularly concerns me about many of the cuts that are planned or have taken place to date in Scotland is that they have not been adequately equality impact assesed. For example while the SNP Scottish Government produced an Equality Impact Assesment of their budget proposals they did not list the organisations representing the interests of people with disabilities they had consulted.
"It concerns me that because of this failure to adequately consult people with disabilities the cuts will hit even harder on groups that are seen as being in a minority in the population such as people who are blind. Thus it is not fully realised how such groups of people are being excluded from society by the cuts and in the process denied the opportunity to contribute to society and to the economy.
"Scottish Labour meanwhile has clearly championed the cause of traditionally excluded groups who are small in number. For example at its conference in Glasgow Johann Lamont, the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party announced that companions of deaf blind people would qualify for free travel on public transport.
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| Kevin visiting the Guide Dog centre in Forfar |
"For my part as a Scottish Parliamentary Candidate for the Scottish Labour Party I have visited the Guide Dog training centre at Forfar and familiarised myself with many of the access issues facing people who are visually impaired or blind. I would urge all politicians to take a responsible attitude towards such groups of people who although small in number are often some of the most vulnerable and easily excluded in society. It is therefore crucial that organisations such as the RNIB and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association are fully involved in the development of policy's that impact on the life and mobility of the people they represent."
