Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15343, in the name of Michael McMahon, on a review of the public petitions process. I call Michael McMaho...

Michael McMahon (Uddingston and Bellshill) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to open this debate on the review of the petitions process. This is the fourth debate that we have had on the Parliament’s petitions process sin...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Joe FitzPatrick) SNP

It is right and proper that the Parliament regularly reviews its procedures. That allows the Parliament to examine what has worked well and what it can do be...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to speak today as one of the Public Petitions Committee’s ex-conveners. I spent a very happy four years there, and I see familiar faces in the c...

Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I am very happy to contribute to the debate, and I do so as an unreserved fan of the Scottish Parliament’s petitions process. Towards the end of my first se...

Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) SNP

I cannot help reflecting that all that I have heard so far suggests that that has been the case in this session. I confirm that exactly the same prevailed in...

Jackson Carlaw Con

I am happy to agree on the golden age of Nigel Don on petitions, equally as much as I am on the golden age of petitions with David Stewart. I accept that tha...

Kenny MacAskill (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP) SNP

I heartily endorse the comments that were made initially by the current committee convener, which have been endorsed by every member across the chamber who h...

Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

It is a pleasure to speak on the review of the public petitions process in the Scottish Parliament. The public petitions system and the Public Petitions Comm...

Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to contribute to the debate, especially as there has been some negative coverage of the Public Petitions Committee in the media in recent months...

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (Ind) Ind

I, too, take great pleasure in speaking in the debate. I think that I am currently the longest-serving member of the Public Petitions Committee, with almost ...

Michael McMahon Lab

I want to clarify what Mr Wilson just said. It did not require an FOI request to get that information. There was a simple request by someone who had an inter...

John Wilson Ind

Mr McMahon was not a member of the committee at the time when the issue was raised. The committee discussed the matter at the time and surprise was expressed...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

I congratulate the minister on his brevity, which allows much more time for the backbenchers to express their views on a committee that is, in essence, a cre...

Jackson Carlaw Con

I would like to develop the point that I made in my earlier contribution about the way in which we might more effectively advertise the parliamentary petitio...

David Stewart Lab

This has been an excellent debate with lots of consensus. I am grateful for Jackson Carlaw’s update on Lord Gill. I had missed the fact that he came before t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

You still have a minute and a half, if you want.

David Stewart Lab

This has been an interesting debate. I endorse the conclusions of the independent review of the petitions process. The committee is excellent and should keep...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Given that I sat on the first Public Petitions Committee, it is important for me to remember the spirit of John McAllion, who was its convener. His pioneerin...

David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to close the debate on behalf of the committee. The importance of the petitions process is accepted across the chamber. It is a core part of mee...

Hanzala Malik Lab

I want to run something past Mr Torrance, because he has more experience than I have. What about the petitioners who have been unsuccessful? Is there room fo...

David Torrance SNP

I agree with Hanzala Malik on that point. Petitioners who have brought petitions forward to the committee that have not been successful should have another r...