Committee
Public Petitions Committee 24 March 2021
24 Mar 2021 · S5 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Care Homes (Designated Visitors) (PE1841)
I thank Jackie Baillie for her input—there are always some wise words spoken. It is a very difficult question. I agree with my colleague Gail Ross that we are between a rock and a hard place. I am on the COVID-19 Committee and these sorts of issues come up every week. The latest from the national clinical director is that it is being left to health boards to advise on access to care homes for relatives and visitors in their areas, because they know their areas best. I note the figure that around 42 per cent of care homes are not, or do not seem to be, implementing the guidance. That concerns me. I am reluctant to let the petition go. On the other hand, one has to be realistic. There is a move by the Scottish Government to let the local areas decide on how they implement the guidance. However, if it is not being implemented, there is a gap, and that is what is concerning the petitioners. I agree with the convener that the quickest way through this is to have the parties put it in their manifestos. That is an excellent idea and should get a quicker reaction. The issue is certainly very important and we discuss it every week at the COVID-19 Committee to try to get some movement on it. We are mindful of the concerns. At this stage, if there is any dissatisfaction among the petitioners, they can raise another petition; that would take a bit more time, given that there will be a new Parliament. As I have said, I am torn desperately on this one, because, from our discussions in the COVID-19 Committee, I am not entirely happy that the Scottish Government’s guidance on implementation is absolutely sound; however, again, we are steered by professional advice on the whole matter of infection, during what is a very serious pandemic. I think that, on balance, I have to say that we should close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders. Perhaps we could write strongly to the Scottish Government, to make sure that the guidance on visiting is given high priority. The issue is very current, irrespective of manifestos, but I think that it needs to be kept on the boil. That is certainly the feeling of the COVID-19 Committee. On that basis, I ask you to do that.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
The final continued petition on our agenda is PE1841, which was lodged by Natasha Hamilton on behalf of the Care Home Relatives Scotland group. The petition ...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
Thank you, convener, for giving me a second opportunity to speak this morning—I promise that I will not go on too long and test your patience. Having faile...
Gail Ross
SNP
I want to thank our co-opted member, Jackie Baillie, for her kind words. She has contributed so much on many petitions, even in the short time that I have be...
Maurice Corry
Con
I thank Jackie Baillie for her input—there are always some wise words spoken. It is a very difficult question. I agree with my colleague Gail Ross that we ar...
The Convener
Lab
Will the COVID-19 Committee continue to meet?
Maurice Corry
Con
Until 5 May, we will meet only in emergency. The committee is still there, but it is slimmed down. It will meet only if emergency regulations and Scottish st...
The Convener
Lab
It may be that, if we were agreeing to write to the cabinet secretary, we could write to the COVID-19 Committee and say that this is an urgent issue that the...
David Torrance
SNP
As do my colleagues, I think that the issue is very difficult; however, I do not think that the committee can take the petition any further because by the ti...
Tom Mason
Con
On balance, I think that we will have to close the petition. The situation is changing month by month as we go forward, and any legislation on the matter wou...
Maurice Corry
Con
Further to the point about the COVID-19 Committee, it is very important that you write to the convener, Donald Cameron, on the point that we discussed. That ...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you. People have wrestled with this petition. I go back to my earlier point about the frustration that the petitioners expressed. Everybody agreed that...
Maurice Corry
Con
I will be very quick. You talk about the cabinet secretary and that is fine, but in the case of the COVID-19 Committee it would also be worth writing to Mich...
The Convener
Lab
We can certainly copy him in to the correspondence. That would make sense.
Maurice Corry
Con
Yes, exactly, if you would not mind.
Jackie Baillie
Lab
Although I am disappointed by the committee’s conclusions on closing the petition, I understand and support the actions that you will take in writing to the ...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you. We hope that, because the issue has been aired and commented on in the committee, it has been heard publicly. If there were a request for it, the ...
Tom Mason
Con
As you said, convener, I am leaving the committee in a very short time. The success of the committee—it has, undoubtedly, been a success—has been thanks in n...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you very much. I have never been accused of being balanced in the past, so that is a great compliment.
Maurice Corry
Con
Thank you, convener, for all your work. I reiterate what my colleague Tom Mason said. The two periods that I have been on the committee have been thoroughly ...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you very much. I will call David Torrance and then I will give the deputy convener the last word before we move into private session. That is much more...
David Torrance
SNP
Thank you very much, convener. It has been a privilege to be on the committee once again in this parliamentary session. The committee has worked really well,...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you very much, David. I appreciate your very kind words. We go finally to Gail, our deputy convener.
Gail Ross
SNP
It has been an absolute privilege to serve on the committee. The subjects and information that we have had before us mean that I have learned about many diff...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you very much, Gail. We look forward to seeing what the new Public Petitions Committee does. If it is as focused on what the petitioners are trying to ...