Committee
Public Petitions Committee 08 March 2011
08 Mar 2011 · S3 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Current Petitions
Public Transport Costs (Under-18s) (PE1355)
I see.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
PE1355, by Katy Simmons and Scott Currie, on behalf of Arran high school pupils and the Arran youth forum, is on fair public transport costs for students. I ...
John Farquhar Munro
LD
The petition received a lot of support. It deals with the situation that 16 to 18-year-olds find themselves in, between school and study. There does not seem...
The Convener
Lab
I wish to clarify the situation. My understanding is that the Scottish Government already offers a concessionary fares scheme for travel on bus, ferry and ra...
John Farquhar Munro
LD
I think that it is for 16 to 18-year-olds if they are in full-time education.
The Convener
Lab
Ah, yes—I see. It has been suggested that we continue the petition and include it in our legacy paper. Is that agreed?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener
Lab
We have to be clear under rule 15.7 why we are taking this action.
John Farquhar Munro
LD
There has been a lot of support for the petition at all stages of its journey through the committees, and there are unresolved issues as regards the 16 to 18...
The Convener
Lab
I am looking at the wording of the petition, which calls on the Scottish Parliament“to urge the Scottish Government to consider the need to lower the prices ...
John Farquhar Munro
LD
I think that that is correct. My worry is about young people aged between 16 and 18 who are not in full-time education.
The Convener
Lab
I understand your concern. However, my point is that we are restricted by the terms of the petition.
John Farquhar Munro
LD
I see.
The Convener
Lab
The petition specifically wants to“lower the prices for travelling on public transport for all school and further education students age 18 and below.”My con...
John Farquhar Munro
LD
You win.
The Convener
Lab
I am not trying to be unhelpful, but we are constrained to give reasons that are specifically limited to the petition’s wording.
John Farquhar Munro
LD
Very good. I accept that.
The Convener
Lab
Thank you for that. So, is it the committee’s view that we close the petition?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener
Lab
The suggestion was that we close the petition under rule 15.7, but we need to state publicly the reasons for closing it.
Bill Butler
Lab
Perhaps one reason would be that the Scottish Government already offers a concessionary fare scheme for travel on bus, ferry and rail to Scottish residents a...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you.