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Showing 60 of 2,096,833 contributions. Latest 30 days: 2,655. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 09 Jun 2026.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
We bring the first Public Petitions Committee to a close.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
Thank you all for all your work.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
I do not know, because the meeting was taking place at the same time as this one.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
No. The Health and Community Care Committee was meeting at the same time as this committee. I sent my apologies.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
It was at 10 o'clock this morning.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
The Apex hotel, which is in the Grassmarket.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
Very well said.I remind members that we have a meeting with the German petitions committee this afternoon at half-past 2 in the Apex hotel—there will be dinner tonight in Igg's restaurant, at half-past 7. I look forward to seeing members there. I know that Phil Gallie cannot c...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
Thanks very much.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
The way in which they have coped with a tremendous amount of work under very trying circumstances has been utterly awe inspiring. Any success that the committee has had has been due mainly to the very hard work of the clerks. We all owe them a great vote of thanks.I also thank...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Convener's Report
The only item that remains to be dealt with is the convener's report. There is nothing to report, other than to thank members of the committee for the way in which they have conducted themselves over the past four years. It has been a rare privilege to be the committee's conve...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
I draw members' attention to annexes A and B in the papers for the meeting, which give the status of current petitions and progress on petitions that the committee has considered since November 1999. Those annexes are for information in case members are asked about a petition,...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
A copy of the letter will be passed to members of the committee, the petitioners and to other MSPs who have taken an interest in the issue.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Correct.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Nothing. There is a definite cut-off point.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
That issue was mentioned in an earlier reply.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
We received a letter from Lewis Macdonald in relation to the petition on the Scottish Transport Group pension scheme funds surplus, but it was too late to distribute it to members. I will read it out for the record, but it will be given to our successor committee. The letter s...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE598 is on the Barra air service, on which we tried to get the Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning to reach a decision. The minister's response to us states that he announced earlier this month that the Glasgow to Barra air service is to b...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE594, from Mr Thomas C S Ross, is on amateur boxing in Scotland. Members will recall that we agreed to raise his concerns with both Scottish Amateur Boxing Ltd and the international amateur boxing association. We have now received responses from both groups.Although ...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Are members agreed?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE591, from Stuart Hay on behalf of the Senior Action Group Edinburgh, Age Concern Scotland and Help the Aged, calls for a review of weekly personal expense allowances for people who live in care homes. We agreed to write to the Scottish Executive and the Secretary of...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE589 is from George McAuley on behalf of the UK Men's Movement and is on the issue of parental alienation syndrome. Members will recall that, when we considered the petition, we agreed to determine whether the European Court of Human Rights had indeed ruled that fail...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Anyone can object to proposals and those objections will be dealt with.Do members agree that we should take the suggested action?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
I have been informed that the petition asks the Parliament to reconsider the decision to opt for the on-line route as the proposed extension to the M80. However, the Transport and the Environment Committee would not be allowed to deal with such a matter, which can be dealt wit...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE588 is from Sam Mitchell, on behalf of the Cumbernauld community councils M80 joint action group. We passed the petition to the Scottish Executive for its response. Members may recall that the clerks have received approximately 20 letters in opposition to the petiti...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE587, from Bob Brown, calls for the abolition of Scottish Enterprise on the basis of the petitioner's experiences. We considered the petition and sought the views of the Scottish Executive, which has given us a detailed response. The Executive is satisfied that the w...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
It is encouraging that the Executive has responded to the petition and decided to do something about the situation.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE585 is from Alan Corbett, on behalf of residents of Reddingmuirhead, Wallacestone and surrounding villages. It deals with the siting of heroin and methadone detoxification clinics.We agreed to write to the Minister for Social Justice, requesting her comments on the ...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Are we agreed to follow the action that we outlined in our discussion?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
We can pass that suggestion on, but it would not be binding.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
That committee would not be bound by any recommendation that we made.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
That is entirely a matter for that committee.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
I am advised by the clerk that, as the committee has not yet carried out a proper investigation, it would be wrong of us to come to a decision on this matter. However, we can decide to keep the petition open and ask SNH to sit down with the petitioners and others and agree a p...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
A live hedgehog might mean dead birds, though.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
I am not scientifically qualified to come down on the side of either the birds or the hedgehogs. I do not know enough about the situation to be able to make a decision at this stage.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
That is what I am suggesting. We can urge SNH to enter into negotiations with the petitioners and others who are involved to try to arrive at a compromise that would suit everyone.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Again for the sake of balance, it must be pointed out in SNH's defence that it is also concerned about the health of the hedgehogs—it believes that attempting relocation would be damaging.The situation is difficult, but I detect that members are saying that they do not want si...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
For the sake of balance, I should say that we have been passed a letter by Alasdair Morgan, who is the MSP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale. The letter is from one of his constituents and supports the cull, because of the impact of hedgehogs on the bird population.The issue is...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE581 is from Fiona Stewart on behalf of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. It deals with the relocation of hedgehogs. Previously, we agreed to write formally to Scottish Natural Heritage, urging it to meet the petitioners and similar groups with a view to ass...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Okay, we will pass the responses of the petitioner and the Executive to the successor committee on justice.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE578 is from Mr Donald MacKinnon and calls for the extension of the right of absolute privilege to young and vulnerable people. Again, we sought the views of the Scottish Executive, which are set out in the papers before you.It is suggested that the Executive's respo...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
It seems fairly clear that there is no discrimination. If the petitioners feel strongly, they can submit their own views, but I suggest that we take no further action at this time.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE575 is from Mr and Mrs Heron on the subject of access to premiums for livestock. Members will remember that the petitioners believed that married farm partnerships were discriminated against. We have now received a response from the Executive and from the National F...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE574, from Jeff McCracken, calls for an investigation into the management practices at Central College of Commerce, and is twinned with PE583, from Joe Eyre, on behalf of Further Education Fightback, which calls for an inquiry into the governance and management of Sc...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
It is agreed that we take no further action, and pass a copy of the Executive's response to the clerk of the Transport and the Environment Committee for information.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE546 is from Mr Alan Douglas, on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council, Renfrewshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council, on tolls on the Erskine bridge. We have received a response from the Executive, which makes it clear that there is no prospect of a change to the...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Colleagues, we will never get through this agenda this morning if we keep indulging all our pet subjects. It has been suggested that we refer the petition to the Transport and the Environment Committee, drawing its attention to the need to change the planning process, and leav...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
We should stick to the petition.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
The debate is getting a wee bit wider than the petition.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
I have allowed you to put that on the record, but it is nothing to do with this petition, which is about landfill sites. It is a fair point, and you have repeatedly drawn the attention of this committee and the Parliament to the problem, but I hope that the flaw will now be de...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
In this country, yes.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Because of the strong views expressed by Friends of the Earth Scotland and others, it is suggested that we refer the petition to the successor to the Transport and the Environment Committee. I recommend that, in doing so, we draw that committee's attention specifically to the ...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
The clerk tells me that SEPA has asked to become involved only after the permission has been given to assess the environmental impact. The environmental impact assessments are not done beforehand. That is obviously a flaw in the system.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Petition PE541, from Dr Buchanan, and petition PE543, from Karen Whitefield MSP, are on the development of landfill sites. We agreed to link the two petitions and we have now had responses from a group of organisations from which we sought further information—the Chartered Ins...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
We have not got there yet.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Have you moved on to the next petition already?
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
That has been agreed by the Conveners Group, so I hope that there will be a bigger role for this committee in the next session of the Parliament.
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
Phil Gallie is right. However, given the quango nature of the national health service in Scotland it was always likely that the Health and Community Care Committee would be inundated with petitions. We must also remember that the Procedures Committee's recommendations for the ...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
The next petition for consideration is PE537, from Alexander Mitchell, which concerns the handling of complaints regarding mental welfare. We have considered the petition at previous meetings and agreed to write to the Scottish Consumer Council, the Scottish Association of Hea...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
The next petition for consideration is PE535, from Mr Christopher Daly, and concerns institutional child abuse. Mr Daly was particularly concerned that the Executive should follow the example of the Irish Government in recognising the need to acknowledge and support victims of...
The Convener: Lab Committee
25 Mar 2003
Current Petitions
The next petition for consideration is PE516, from Ms Sara Craig, on educational provision for deaf children. Members will recall that we received a response from the Scottish Executive and then sought a response to that response from the petitioner.The petitioner was concerne...
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Committee

Public Petitions Committee, 25 Mar 2003

25 Mar 2003 · S1 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Convener's Report
McAllion, Mr John Lab Dundee East Watch on SPTV
We bring the first Public Petitions Committee to a close.

In the same item of business

The Convener: Lab
The only item that remains to be dealt with is the convener's report. There is nothing to report, other than to thank members of the committee for the way in...
Dr Ewing: SNP
Outstanding.
The Convener: Lab
The way in which they have coped with a tremendous amount of work under very trying circumstances has been utterly awe inspiring. Any success that the commit...
Dr Ewing: SNP
There is one more thing to be said. We must thank the chair. I have been on countless committees in three Parliaments and you have been one of the best chair...
The Convener: Lab
Thanks very much.
Dr Ewing: SNP
You have been courteous to all the petitioners and courteous to—and patient with—all the committee members, who have sometimes been unruly. The Public Petiti...
The Convener: Lab
Very well said.I remind members that we have a meeting with the German petitions committee this afternoon at half-past 2 in the Apex hotel—there will be dinn...
John Farquhar Munro: LD
Where are we at half-past 2?
The Convener: Lab
The Apex hotel, which is in the Grassmarket.
John Farquhar Munro: LD
Are we having lunch at half-past 1?
Dorothy-Grace Elder: Ind
Yes, we are having lunch at half-past 1. I have a Health and Community Care Committee meeting at 2 o'clock.
The Convener: Lab
It was at 10 o'clock this morning.
Dorothy-Grace Elder: Ind
You are joking.
The Convener: Lab
No. The Health and Community Care Committee was meeting at the same time as this committee. I sent my apologies.
Dorothy-Grace Elder: Ind
I had the meeting down as taking place at 2 o'clock. What happened about hepatitis C?
The Convener: Lab
I do not know, because the meeting was taking place at the same time as this one.
Dorothy-Grace Elder: Ind
Hepatitis C was the issue that I was worried about.
The Convener: Lab
Thank you all for all your work.
Helen Eadie: Lab
I must give my apologies for this afternoon, because I have a meeting of the European and External Relations Committee.
The Convener: Lab
We bring the first Public Petitions Committee to a close.
Meeting closed at 12:49.