Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2011
23 Feb 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Public Petitions Committee
Like other members, I note that the committee’s convener, its deputy convener and Robin Harper are stepping down at the next election, so what they said sounded a bit like retirement speeches. I wish those members the very best. I doubt very much whether we have seen the last of John Farquhar Munro—he will probably return as a petitioner on the crofting community’s behalf.
Members across party divides made powerful speeches. On behalf of his constituent Julie Love, Bob Doris made the important point that the committee allows the opportunity for issues to be debated and for members to consider whether to introduce a member’s bill. I was in the same position in connection with hospital car parking charges. The petitions process provides an opportunity for members to ensure that an issue is debated and that evidence is gathered.
I, too, pay tribute to Ryan McLaughlin, who is a credit to his mother and to other people on whose behalf he spoke. We should recognise that other parliamentary systems would not afford him and others the opportunity to make their case, which is sometimes passionate and personal. Petitioners should never apologise for speaking about their personal experiences and for ensuring that we take matters forward.
Members highlighted several petitions. The petition from John Muir was the first to create an opportunity for a debate in the chamber, among people with various views on knife crime, who considered the issues and challenges that face the Parliament in connection with knife crime. From speaking to John Muir and others who participated in that event, I know that they welcomed the opportunity to engage with politicians and felt that they were treated with respect and genuinely influenced the process. The more petitioners can be afforded the opportunity that John Muir was given to have an event, the better the Parliament’s reputation will be. I say well done to the committee’s members for giving John Muir that opportunity.
How we engage with young people was mentioned several times in the debate. All Saints secondary school in my constituency hosted the committee meeting at which the 1,000th petition to be lodged was considered. Young people were engaged in that. We need to consider how we engage with them on their terms, rather than on parliamentary terms, as in the past. Perhaps we should use the best experience to improve that.
I say well done to the committee again. I hope that we can learn from its experiences for the next parliamentary session.
15:59
Members across party divides made powerful speeches. On behalf of his constituent Julie Love, Bob Doris made the important point that the committee allows the opportunity for issues to be debated and for members to consider whether to introduce a member’s bill. I was in the same position in connection with hospital car parking charges. The petitions process provides an opportunity for members to ensure that an issue is debated and that evidence is gathered.
I, too, pay tribute to Ryan McLaughlin, who is a credit to his mother and to other people on whose behalf he spoke. We should recognise that other parliamentary systems would not afford him and others the opportunity to make their case, which is sometimes passionate and personal. Petitioners should never apologise for speaking about their personal experiences and for ensuring that we take matters forward.
Members highlighted several petitions. The petition from John Muir was the first to create an opportunity for a debate in the chamber, among people with various views on knife crime, who considered the issues and challenges that face the Parliament in connection with knife crime. From speaking to John Muir and others who participated in that event, I know that they welcomed the opportunity to engage with politicians and felt that they were treated with respect and genuinely influenced the process. The more petitioners can be afforded the opportunity that John Muir was given to have an event, the better the Parliament’s reputation will be. I say well done to the committee’s members for giving John Muir that opportunity.
How we engage with young people was mentioned several times in the debate. All Saints secondary school in my constituency hosted the committee meeting at which the 1,000th petition to be lodged was considered. Young people were engaged in that. We need to consider how we engage with them on their terms, rather than on parliamentary terms, as in the past. Perhaps we should use the best experience to improve that.
I say well done to the committee again. I hope that we can learn from its experiences for the next parliamentary session.
15:59
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-7968, in the name of Rhona Brankin, on the work of the Public Petitions Committee.14:50
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab)
Lab
It is with pleasure that I open this debate on behalf of the committee, which will allow us to highlight some of the important petitions that we have discuss...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Bruce Crawford)
SNP
I thank the convener for her opening remarks and for the opportunity to contribute to this afternoon’s debate on the work of the Public Petitions Committee.F...
Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I commend, as others have, the work of the Public Petitions Committee not only this session but since 1999. A number of members have already illustrated the ...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Having been a member of the Public Petitions Committee throughout the third session of Parliament, I can honestly say that it has been the most rewarding and...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)
LD
As others have said, the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions system is a real success story. Nanette Milne identified some of those successes.There has be...
Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
Those of us who are on the Public Petitions Committee are rather fortunate to be there. As Nanette Milne said, it is a varied committee, so it is never borin...
Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab)
Lab
I have been privileged to have been a member of the Public Petitions Committee for almost two and a half years. I record my thanks to its exemplary clerking ...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I start by thanking the current convener, the previous one, Frank McAveety, and all members of the committee for providing a positive and constructive forum ...
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab)
Lab
Like other members, I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on the importance and uniqueness of our Parliament’s petitions system.I am proud that o...
John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Members in the chamber—committee members and the many members who have come through the doors on a Tuesday afternoon to support petitions from constituents a...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green)
Green
In the first session of Parliament, I was on the Transport and the Environment Committee, in which we were concerned with making legislation. I was on the Au...
Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Members will perhaps not be surprised that, in the brief time available, I will not consider the substance of what the committee has done—other members have ...
Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD)
LD
We have had an interesting debate this afternoon that has highlighted the importance of the Public Petitions Committee. The Scottish Constitutional Conventio...
Nanette Milne
Con
Like other members, I pay tribute to the committee clerks, led by Fergus Cochrane, who have made an immense contribution to the success of the committee. The...
Paul Martin
Lab
Like other members, I note that the committee’s convener, its deputy convener and Robin Harper are stepping down at the next election, so what they said soun...
Bruce Crawford
SNP
I thank the committee members for their contributions. Listening to the different perspectives of members across the chamber has been interesting. I am sure ...
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD)
LD
It is with enormous pleasure that I close this debate on behalf of the Public Petitions Committee. Those who follow our work will know that we are very much ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan)
SNP
You have about a minute left, Mr Munro.
John Farquhar Munro
LD
Thank you.Most petitions are lodged on the back of personal experience, sometimes tragic, as in the case of John Muir. When we hosted the knife crime summit ...