Committee
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 19 January 2022
19 Jan 2022 · S6 · Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Witchcraft Act 1563 (Pardon and Memorial) (PE1855)
A lot of correspondence has gone back and forth on this topic, and I note what the Scottish Government has said about the process and proceedings. As you have indicated, Ms Don has now come forward with her suggestion for a member’s bill, and I think that, at this stage, it would be appropriate to keep the petition open until we can establish the topics on which that bill is likely to proceed. You indicated that it might not be as broad as the approach that Ms Mitchell wants to progress, but it would be useful for us to have the proposal in any case and to invite the petitioner to provide evidence to the committee, depending on whether the member’s bill is allowed to progress. I recommend that we try to achieve that with the petition. It will not be easy, as you indicated. The Scottish Government has expressed some strong views on the matter but, at this stage, it is important that we continue to progress the petition. 10:30
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Our second continued petition is PE1855, which is on pardoning and memorialising those convicted under the Witchcraft Act 1563. The petition has been lodged ...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
A lot of correspondence has gone back and forth on this topic, and I note what the Scottish Government has said about the process and proceedings. As you hav...
David Torrance
SNP
I know that Natalie Don will propose a member’s bill and we do not know what that will look like, but I would still like to invite the petitioner to give evi...
The Convener
Con
No other members of the committee have indicated that they wish to comment. To summarise, we are keeping the petition open. It looks as though Natalie Don ...