Committee
Public Petitions Committee, 04 Dec 2001
04 Dec 2001 · S1 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Current Petitions
Employment of Teachers (Religious Discrimination) (PE269)
I am not expert enough to know whether the Executive is right in its interpretation, but it seems reasonable to say that the practice fits the legislation as it stands. However, it would be reasonable to suggest to the petitioner that he test the matter out by submitting a petition to the European Parliament. That would be interesting for us, as it would be the first petition to go to the European Parliament from a petitioner to the Scottish Parliament. I do not think that a similar petition has come to us before. If he gets a response from the European Parliament, the petitioner can be satisfied that he has done everything possible and that every stone has been turned over in his search for equity.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
The first of two current petitions to be considered today—one which we delayed from our previous meeting—is from Mr James Nixon and calls on the Parliament t...
Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
I am not expert enough to know whether the Executive is right in its interpretation, but it seems reasonable to say that the practice fits the legislation as...
Phil Gallie:
Con
I agree with Helen Eadie but have a further suggestion. The European Parliament's Petitions Committee visited us recently, and we visited Germany to see the ...
The Convener:
Lab
The clerk was making exactly the same suggestion in my left ear as I heard you making that suggestion in my right ear.
Phil Gallie:
Con
The clerk is on my side.
The Convener:
Lab
If the committee so decides, we could refer this petition to the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament and ask that committee to address the respons...