Committee
Public Petitions Committee 09 February 2016
09 Feb 2016 · S4 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
St Margaret of Scotland Hospice (PE1105)
I pay tribute to Gil Paterson and the previous constituency member, Des McNulty, both of whom have pursued the issue and led on the petition—with the support, I hope, of other MSPs. There was undoubtedly a deeply ingrained suspicion that there was a prejudice in the health board, which then led to a mutual animosity between the parties. That meant that, although there was a working agreement previously in place, albeit in theory, nothing ever materialised from it and time continued to pass. The committee sought to get the cabinet secretary with responsibility for health more directly involved in the issue. However, both previous cabinet secretaries who held the position after the petition was lodged were reluctant to take that direct role and very much sought to have the various parties continue to negotiate to a point. The current cabinet secretary, Shona Robison, has intervened more directly and the Scottish Government has become more directly involved. I understand Gil Paterson’s point about the historical suspicion. At certain points during the progress of the petition, the fact that this committee continued to take an interest in it was politically resonant. I am not sure what I would invite the committee to do other than simply keep the petition open on the basis that that might still be a productive thing to do. The way is open for a future petition to be lodged in the event that all of this goes pear shaped. However, it seems to me that, because the sword of Damocles that was hanging over the hospice no longer hangs there and the direct involvement of the Scottish Government that we sought is now secured, the efforts of Mr Paterson and others in relation to the future of St Margaret’s have been, in many ways, successful. I am not a cheerleader for either proposition, but I find it difficult to see what I would be asking the committee to do—that is the key point.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
The next item of business is consideration of 15 continued petitions, the first of which is PE1105, by Marjorie McCance, on St Margaret of Scotland Hospice. ...
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
I will highlight some points. Thank you very much for the opportunity to come here again. The accountancy review must be undertaken sooner rather than later...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you, Gil. The committee is under no pressure to close a petition because we are coming to the end of a parliamentary session. Petitions can be carried ...
Gil Paterson
SNP
I think that keeping the petition open has brought us to where we are. I fear that, if it had been closed when the Government recommended that it should be, ...
The Convener
Lab
I appreciate that that is your consideration. It has just been brought to my attention that the suggestion of seeking an independent arbiter or chair to draw...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
I certainly see the merit in Gil Paterson’s request to continue to monitor the situation prior to closing the petition, with a view to keeping a watching bri...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I pay tribute to Gil Paterson and the previous constituency member, Des McNulty, both of whom have pursued the issue and led on the petition—with the support...
The Convener
Lab
That is exactly my point. I should probably declare an interest in that I am the convener of the cross-party group on palliative care and want to see the adv...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
I bring the committee’s attention to the final sentence of Shona Robison’s letter of 19 January: “I hope to be in a position to update the Public Petitions ...
The Convener
Lab
The information that I have is that the action points on which the petition was raised have been progressed. Therefore, any response to a query from us would...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
I see that, convener, but—
The Convener
Lab
We have closed other petitions on similar grounds. I am trying to be fair to every petitioner, not just to one. Other people out there would say that the com...
Hanzala Malik
Lab
With all respect, we have done a lot. We have gone out of our way with this petition. I recall supporting it on at least two occasions when I thought that it...
The Convener
Lab
Do other members have a view? Other than Angus MacDonald, who suggests that we continue the petition, everyone else believes that the petition has come to th...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
I sense that I am in the minority. Reluctantly, I agree to close the petition.
John Wilson
Ind
I am in the same position as Angus MacDonald. However, I have seen the petition almost all the way through the process and there is a point at which we must ...
The Convener
Lab
We have closed petitions on those terms before.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Given the sentence in the cabinet secretary’s letter to which Angus MacDonald has referred, we might close the petition but ask the cabinet secretary whether...
The Convener
Lab
I see members nodding. We appear to have reached an agreement. I offer Gil Paterson my personal thanks for the effort that he has put into supporting the pe...
Gil Paterson
SNP
I am disappointed, convener. You knew that I would be disappointed. Nevertheless, it would be remiss of me to go away from here without thanking John Wilson,...