Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2011
23 Feb 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Public Petitions Committee
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 on his petition, we did so not to point the finger at any one body and to say that the problem was its fault, but to create a unique forum, here in the chamber, where victims, families, health workers and the police, who see the terrible consequences of knife crime, could come together with policy makers, the legal profession and others to discuss the issue in a non-partisan and honest way. We were not going to solve knife crime at that event, but we could at least try something different and generate some new ideas.
I thank those who reacted positively to petitions by introducing the called-for improvements. In a number of areas, things are now a wee bit better as a result. I am sure that that consensual and measured approach will continue with the next session’s committee, which will no doubt examine new ways to conduct its business and investigate petitions. Perhaps it will consider the scope to undertake more in-depth inquiries into individual petitions, as we did, and new ways to bring people and groups together to discuss the issues that are raised.
I am sure the petitions process and the Public Petitions Committee will continue to evolve in a positive way, and I am sure that that will be enhanced by the excellence of the clerking team, led by Fergus Cochrane. I commend the work of the Public Petitions Committee to the Parliament.
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 on his petition, we did so not to point the finger at any one body and to say that the problem was its fault, but to create a unique forum, here in the chamber, where victims, families, health workers and the police, who see the terrible consequences of knife crime, could come together with policy makers, the legal profession and others to discuss the issue in a non-partisan and honest way. We were not going to solve knife crime at that event, but we could at least try something different and generate some new ideas.
I thank those who reacted positively to petitions by introducing the called-for improvements. In a number of areas, things are now a wee bit better as a result. I am sure that that consensual and measured approach will continue with the next session’s committee, which will no doubt examine new ways to conduct its business and investigate petitions. Perhaps it will consider the scope to undertake more in-depth inquiries into individual petitions, as we did, and new ways to bring people and groups together to discuss the issues that are raised.
I am sure the petitions process and the Public Petitions Committee will continue to evolve in a positive way, and I am sure that that will be enhanced by the excellence of the clerking team, led by Fergus Cochrane. I commend the work of the Public Petitions Committee to the Parliament.
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 ...