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)
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 said to me that the bill is not having the effect that it was supposed to—or was designed to—have. The fact that people are suffering a lot of hardship in itself says to me that we need to look at the issues again. To be frank, I do not want to get into the nitty-gritty of who said what to whom; what is more important to my constituents is whether they are treated fairly, and their perception is that they are not. That needs to be addressed, and it is essential that we carry the petition forward in our legacy paper so that the Parliament continues to pursue the issue. If any citizens of Scotland feel that they are being treated unfairly, we need to address that. That is the bottom line.
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.