Committee
Public Petitions Committee 01 March 2016
01 Mar 2016 · S4 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 (Review) (PE1593)
I am going to posit a contrary view, for the sake of discussion. I am opposed to this act and my party is committed to its abolition. However, the petition asks us to urge the Scottish Government to hold a full and comprehensive review, and we have a letter from the minister that says that the Scottish Government will not be undertaking a review. Given that definitive response from the Government, I am not sure whether the matter rests with this committee or has entered the wider realm of political debate. In those circumstances, I am not sure whether keeping the petition open is the right thing to do, but I am open to other colleagues’ views.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
PE1593, by Paul Quigley on behalf of Fans Against Criminalisation, seeks a full review of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications ...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I am going to posit a contrary view, for the sake of discussion. I am opposed to this act and my party is committed to its abolition. However, the petition a...
The Convener
Lab
I would like clarification on at least one of the issues to which the minister responded. The submission from Fans Against Criminalisation challenges a lot o...
Hanzala Malik
Lab
It is not unreasonable for the petitioner to ask for a review. There has been a lot of misunderstanding of the legislation, and a lot of constituents have sa...
The Convener
Lab
I put it to the committee that we have debated a number of petitions this morning on which there are still outstanding questions. We have had clear answers f...
Kenny MacAskill
SNP
There is a lot of logic in what Jackson Carlaw says; equally, though, I am relaxed about the legacy paper suggestion. It seems that we have, to some extent, ...
John Wilson
Ind
I am opposed to the legislation and the way in which it is being implemented—I know that Mr MacAskill might have other views on the matter. I think that it s...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
That is not this committee’s job, though.
John Wilson
Ind
If Jackson Carlaw will let me finish, I will continue. The committee previously conducted an inquiry into child sexual exploitation. The issue could have be...
The Convener
Lab
Are members happy that we at least leave the matter in the legacy paper and let the next committee have a look at it? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener
Lab
I think that we have reached agreement, even if it is not entirely enthusiastic. We will put the recommendation into the legacy paper.