Hansard

The Convener: Lab

The first new petition is PE597, from Mr Paul McLennan, calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Executive to provide adequate funding to Scottish hosp...

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

I will address the petitions separately and I thank the convener for moving them up the agenda.Belhaven hospital in East Lothian provides another example of ...

The Convener: Lab

You are not taking up my time; you are taking up the time of other petitioners.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): Con

Four years ago, I sat around this table with Dorothy-Grace Elder, Duncan Hamilton and other members of the Health and Community Care Committee and drew up th...

The Convener: Lab

Although the petition comes from Cockenzie House, it is general—it does not relate to Cockenzie House alone. The committee cannot get involved in individual ...

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): Con

I want to comment on the general problems that Mary Scanlon has identified. To be fair, I must admit that the problem did not begin in 1997. It was around wh...

The Convener: Lab

Before I call Dorothy-Grace Elder to speak, I apologise for giving the impression that the petitioners are not here. They are at the back of the room, but I ...

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): Ind

We are all mindful of the fact that these are the fourth and fifth petitions that we have received on the same theme in a couple of months. The petitions tha...

Phil Gallie: Con

The Belhaven argument identifies another funding problem, where the health service is doing the job of the local authority with respect to housing need. It i...

The Convener: Lab

Okay. Let us turn to the suggested action on the two petitions. We received three petitions on almost exactly the same issue previously. There seems to be a ...

Christine Grahame: SNP

I have here a news release from the Church of Scotland—I think that a bit of spin has been put on what it has to say. The director of social work for the Chu...

The Convener: Lab

It is important that we get the Church of Scotland to comment on the petitions and the new funding package. We should also ask the Salvation Army for its views.

Mary Scanlon: Con

I did not mention this point when I had the opportunity to speak. In October 2001, after what is known as the Aberdeen stand-off—when care homes in Aberdeen ...

The Convener: Lab

Will you provide the clerks with the exact name of the review group?

Mary Scanlon: Con

Yes.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): SNP

I whole-heartedly endorse the suggestion that, in view of the recent announcement, we raise the issue of funding with the Scottish Executive. As I understand...

The Convener: Lab

I seek the committee's agreement to link PE597 and PE599 to the earlier petitions and I suggest that we defer consideration of the matter until we receive re...

Phil Gallie: Con

On the television and radio the other day, I heard Scottish Care answering Executive criticisms about the attitude of care homes to the additional costs. Wou...

The Convener: Lab

Yes. We will ask for comments from the Church of Scotland, the Salvation Army and Scottish Care. Are members agreed?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener: Lab

I thank the petitioners for attending. I should also say that we do not often get petitions that are as well presented as those that we received from the Coc...