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)
If Jackson Carlaw will let me finish, I will continue. The committee previously conducted an inquiry into child sexual exploitation. The issue could have been passed to another committee of the Parliament, but this committee, under the convenership of David Stewart, decided to take forward its own inquiry and make recommendations to the Scottish Government. We could include the issue in the legacy paper to the next committee and recommend that, if the Government or another committee is not prepared to carry out a review, the committee itself review the legislation. Basically, the committee could do the same as we did with PE1393, bring witnesses and others in and get evidence that might form a basis for recommendations to the Scottish Government. This is not up to the Government. The Parliament must reinstitute the right to make the Government accountable for the legislation that it has put through and accountable for how that legislation is delivered and is seen to be delivered by society. We can say something stronger by recommending in our legacy paper not only that the petition be continued but that the next committee carry out its own inquiry into this issue. That way, we can get some resolution to the issues that have been raised once and for all and have proper scrutiny of legislation that is seen as detrimental to a number of people in society.
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.