Committee
Public Petitions Committee 27 October 2015
27 Oct 2015 · S4 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (Safety) (PE1574)
Thank you, convener. In the past two-and-a-half years since I initially met Freda Birrell and others who are involved, I have done some personal research on this matter, and I ask the committee to ask the appropriate questions, given the ramifications that it has beyond Scotland. Clearly there is an issue here that needs to be resolved and, on that basis, I ask the committee to interrogate the petition thoroughly but, I hope, decide on the appropriate recommendation to allow us to take a further step on this journey.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
The next petition is PE1574, by Freda Birrell on behalf of the UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters on human papillomavirus vaccine safety. Member...
Freda Birrell (UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters)
His daughter has had a relapse.
The Convener
Lab
I am sorry to hear that. Please pass on our regards. I will hand over to you, Mrs Birrell. You have five minutes or so to introduce the subject, and then we...
Freda Birrell
Thank you. On the off-chance, convener, I have brought a one-page summary relating to Lucy Hinks, copies of which are available if members would like to take...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you. We will have a look at that.
Freda Birrell
I thank the committee for allowing me to provide additional information relating to my request for a round-table discussion to be held in Edinburgh between s...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you very much. Chic, do you want to come in at this point?
Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, convener. In the past two-and-a-half years since I initially met Freda Birrell and others who are involved, I have done some personal research on ...
The Convener
Lab
Thanks very much. I want to ask a direct question, Mrs Birrell. Who should call the round-table together? Whose responsibility should it be to invite people...
Freda Birrell
I would like to think that, after listening to what I have said and perhaps asking many more questions and getting more evidence, the committee will be influ...
Chic Brodie
SNP
When I had the privilege of being a member of this committee, we dealt more widely with the issue of mesh implants. After what Freda Birrell has said, it mig...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
Good morning, Mrs Birrell. The committee quite recently considered a petition from Jamie Rae on behalf of the Throat Cancer Foundation that called on the Sco...
Freda Birrell
In Australia and America, boys are included on the programme. I am not quite sure, but there is a possibility of it happening in New Zealand, and I am aware ...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
But there is evidence.
Freda Birrell
Yes. I know of one particular family in America whose twin son and daughter were vaccinated at the same time. Both of them were taken seriously ill and devel...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
Thank you.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Good morning. Mrs Birrell and I have met on a number of occasions over the years, and I applaud her for the focus that she has brought to this issue. It is ...
Freda Birrell
In February 2014, Japan held a round-table discussion over two-and-a-half days. There was a symposium to begin with and then scientists and doctors from both...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Sorry, but may I interrupt? I think that I get the drift. Presumably, however, the fact that those discussions have taken place in those other legislatures w...
Freda Birrell
I would not be happy if there was no progress. The reason why I say that is that somebody has to realise that young girls worldwide—in Scotland as well—are i...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I understand the perseverance with which you have approached the issue, Ms Birrell. You are convinced, from the body of evidence to which you have been expos...
Freda Birrell
Yes.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
So the issue at hand is really the Scottish Government’s attitude to the vaccine.
David Birrell
The real issue is to get these girls properly treated.
Freda Birrell
Yes—I have said that. As David says, my main issue is to get these girls properly treated. One of the things that I and many of my colleagues have discovered...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
As I recall, you had the father of one of these girls present in the Parliament at a cross-party round-table discussion that took place.
Freda Birrell
That is correct.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
So that is the secondary thing. Your concern is the attitude to the vaccine and also the appropriate treatment of those people who have been adversely affect...
Freda Birrell
It is, and it is to ask why this is happening. It may not be happening to all, but why is this happening to a good portion of the young people in this countr...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
No. I said that, coincident with the time since the vaccine was introduced, there has been a fall in the number of people who have cervical cancer. I was not...