Committee
Public Petitions Committee 08 March 2016
08 Mar 2016 · S4 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Sewage Sludge (PE1563)
I am minded to close the petition. The petition calls on the Scottish Government to ban the use of sewage sludge, but the Scottish Government has made it clear that it supports the practice of spreading raw sewage. I do not know whether that is a metaphor more generally but, in any event, the Government has declined to support the aims of the petition. Nevertheless, I hear what my colleagues say. If they believe that their suggestion would allow us to pursue the petition in the next session, I am minded to support that, but it is pretty clear that the Scottish Government will not agree to the actual objective of the petition.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
PE1563, by Doreen Goldie, on behalf of Avonbridge and Standburn community council, is on sewage sludge spreading.
Angus MacDonald
SNP
I declare a constituency interest in the issue. As we can see from the petitioners’ submission, they broadly welcome and agree with most of the recommendati...
John Wilson
Ind
Like Angus MacDonald, I think that we should keep the petition open. We have achieved a lot and useful progress has been made. However, the petitioners raise...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I am minded to close the petition. The petition calls on the Scottish Government to ban the use of sewage sludge, but the Scottish Government has made it cle...
The Convener
Lab
We have been in this position before. We accept that the Government is not going to do what the petition asks for, but that does not mean that there is not a...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
As I understand it, the petitioners have submitted their response directly to the Scottish Government and now have direct access to the lead officials, which...
The Convener
Lab
I am happy to keep the petition open until we get that response. At that point, the session 5 committee can determine whether there is any value in taking th...