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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
The Convener (John Pentland) Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
Good morning. I welcome everyone to the eighth Public Petitions Committee meeting of 2015. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones and electronic devices, as they interfere with the sound system. No apologies have been received. The first item is consideration of ...
The Convener Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
The final continued petition today is PE1533, by Jeff Adamson, on behalf of Scotland against the care tax, on abolition of non-residential social care charges for older and disabled people. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
Agenda item 2 is consideration of seven continued petitions. The first is PE1376, by James McDonald, on banning the presence of free methanol in all manufactured products in our diet. Members have a note by the clerk. I invite contributions from members.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Item 3 is consideration of nine continued petitions. The first is PE1098, by Lynn Merrifield, on behalf of Kingseat community council, on school bus safety. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
The final continued petition is PE1552, by Peter Campbell, on the choice of treatment for cancer patients. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite comments from members.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
The committee will now go into private session for item 4 on today’s agenda. 11:44 Meeting continued in private until 12:03.
The Convener (John Pentland) Lab Committee
26 May 2015
Continued Petition
Good morning and welcome to the 11th meeting in 2015 of the Public Petitions Committee. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones and other electronic devices, as they interfere with the sound system. We have received no apologies from members. Agenda item 1 is con...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Agenda item 3 is the consideration of seven continued petitions. The first is PE1319, by William Smith and Scott Robertson, on improving youth football in Scotland. Members have the clerk’s note and a submission from Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. Alth...
The Convener Lab Committee
09 Jun 2015
Continued Petitions
Our next witnesses have not yet arrived, so in the meantime we will move to agenda item 3, which is consideration of six continued petitions. The first petition is PE1351, by Chris Daly and Helen Holland, on time for all to be heard. Members have a note by the clerk. The peti...
The Convener Lab Committee
09 Jun 2015
Continued Petitions
The final continued petition today is PE1554, by Jacq Kelly, on behalf of Leonard Cheshire Disability, on improving the provision of disabled-friendly housing. Members have a note from the clerk and submissions. As there are no contributions from members, I ask that we write...
The Convener (John Pentland) Lab Committee
23 Jun 2015
Continued Petitions
Good morning and welcome to the 13th meeting in 2015 of the Public Petitions Committee. I remind everyone to switch off mobile phones and electronic devices, as they interfere with the sound system. No apologies have been received. Agenda item 1 is consideration of a continue...
The Convener Lab Committee
23 Jun 2015
Continued Petitions
The next continued petition is PE1319, by William Smith and Scott Robertson, on improving youth football in Scotland. As previously agreed, we are taking evidence from Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. Members have a clerk’s note and the commissioner’s rep...
The Convener Lab Committee
23 Jun 2015
Continued Petitions
Agenda item 5 is consideration of five continued petitions, the first of which is PE1537, by Shona Brash, on behalf of the Coastal Regeneration Alliance, on the proposed energy park at Cockenzie. I welcome Iain Gray, who has a constituency interest in the petition. Members hav...
The Convener Lab Committee
23 Jun 2015
Continued Petitions
The final continued petition today is PE1562, by Alan McLean, on perverse acquittal. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members.
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab) Lab Chamber
22 Mar 2012
Remploy (United Kingdom Government Response)
As we have heard, the Remploy factory in Motherwell is among those that it is proposed will close. It provides storage and packing services, and employs 22 people. The factory is, in fact, in Wishaw, but getting its location wrong should be the least of our worries. The major ...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab) Lab Chamber
21 Jun 2012
Local Government (Empty Property Relief)
It had been my intention to start by saying that I was sure that everyone would agree that long-term empty properties are a waste of resources, but I will now proceed by saying that that is my opinion. Let me take the example of a pigeon-infested property in Craigneuk in my co...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab) Lab Chamber
24 Jan 2013
Mental Health Strategy
Given that the strategy builds on existing Scottish Government policy, why has the Lanarkshire mental health services plan—which was in line with the strategy and approved by Nicola Sturgeon, when she was Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy, in August l...
John Pentland Lab Chamber
26 Feb 2014
Justice
There is every chance that I may swallow it, Presiding Officer.Although we accept that the chief constable should have responsibility for operational matters, should that mean that the cabinet secretary escapes responsibility for his actions or is allowed to pretend that his i...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab) Lab Chamber
04 Dec 2014
Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights
It does not seem long since I last spoke in the chamber about human rights. However, the issue is important and deserves its second outing in a month, especially as we now have a new Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights who might be less kee...
The Convener Lab Committee
13 Jan 2015
Brussels Visit
As agreed at the previous meeting, the committee will now go into private session to consider the final item on the agenda. 11:16 Meeting continued in private until 11:29.
The Convener Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
Are we agreed that we will follow that course of action? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1493, by Peter John Gordon, on a sunshine act for Scotland. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members. I will comment before we come to a decision on action. Guidelines were issued as far back as 2003. It...
The Convener Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
Okay. The consensus is that we keep the petition open and write to the Scottish Government. By way of explanation, I say that the reason why I talked about a statutory requirement was that it appears that the best models—which have been identified in France and the USA—are bou...
The Convener Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1525, by Catherine Fraser, on access to justice. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members.
The Convener Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
In supporting the suggestion to close the petition, I will only comment that, although I fully understand that the Government may be under financial pressures, defamation should be considered in a broader context, so perhaps the Government can do so at a later date if financia...
The Convener Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
Do members agree that we will write to the Scottish Government to request that it convene a round-table discussion as requested by the petitioner and report back to the committee? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
31 Mar 2015
Continued Petitions
Thank you. We will suspend for a few moments. 10:12 Meeting suspended. 10:13 On resuming—
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
Do members agree with that proposal? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
In the meantime, does the committee agree to close the petition? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1537, by Shona Brash, on behalf of the Coastal Regeneration Alliance, on the proposed energy park at Cockenzie. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I welcome Iain Gray MSP to the meeting. He has a constituency interest in the petition.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
Thank you. Does anyone have any questions?
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
I think that the same principle would apply, regardless of who made an application for development. The biggest issue that I found in the petition was the concern about lack of consultation. In fact, if we continue the petition, I might want to take things further, because I t...
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1540 by Douglas Philand on a permanent solution for the A83. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions, and I welcome to the meeting Mike Russell MSP, who has a constituency interest in the petition.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
Does the committee agree to take that approach? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
I suggest that we wait and see what the task force review says and then we will have a site visit, if that is at all possible between now and the end of June.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
I am just thinking of the timing and the arrangements that might have to be made. In any case, we will endeavour to make that possible. Are members agreed? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
I thank Mr Russell for attending.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
A pint of Guinness would be helpful.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1544, by Olivia Robertson, on increasing the maximum sentence for convictions under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
Do members agree to close the petition? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1553, by Councillor Andrew S Wood, on rendering industry regulations. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
I concur. I think that this is a good result for the Public Petitions Committee. The problem has been highlighted and we have been able to resolve it quickly. Do members agree to close the petition? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1557, by David R Slater, on behalf of the save our Whitesands car parks and river views campaign, on Scottish Government funding for the Whitesands flood scheme. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
Do members agree with the proposed action? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
The final continuing petition today is PE1558, by John Thom, on behalf of the RNBCC Crayfish Committee, Ken-Dee catchment, on the American signal crayfish. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
Does the committee agree with that approach? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Apr 2015
Continued Petitions
That concludes our meeting. Meeting closed at 12:10.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Do members agree on that point of action? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1105, by Marjorie McCance, on St Margaret of Scotland hospice. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I welcome to the meeting Gil Paterson MSP, who has a constituency interest in the petition. I invite contributions from members.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Does any other member have anything to say?
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Okay.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Unfortunately, this is not the forum for considering the issue that you have just raised. It is more of a specific issue. The petition has been on the table since 2007. We have heard about work in progress, but I think that that goes beyond work in progress. Somewhere down the...
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Did you get a copy of the health board’s response?
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
We can certainly forward that to you.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
What action have you taken with regard to the issue, as the constituency MSP?
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Are there any further questions?
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Do we agree to keep the petition open and take forward the action points that have been raised? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
The next petition is PE1458, by Peter Cherbi, on a register of interests for members of the Scottish judiciary. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members.
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
Does everybody agree with that? Are there any other comments?
The Convener Lab Committee
12 May 2015
Continued Petitions
As many people do, I recognise that the existing safeguards are robust, but are they sufficient? The problem is that the public cannot see that they are robust, even though that may well be the case. I think that inviting Gillian Thompson in to give evidence would be appropria...
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Committee

Public Petitions Committee 31 March 2015

31 Mar 2015 · S4 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Gender-neutral Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (PE1477)
Pentland, John Lab Motherwell and Wishaw Watch on SPTV
Good morning. I welcome everyone to the eighth Public Petitions Committee meeting of 2015. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones and electronic devices, as they interfere with the sound system. No apologies have been received. The first item is consideration of four continued petitions. The first is PE1477, by Jamie Rae, on behalf of the Throat Cancer Foundation, on the gender-neutral human papillomavirus vaccination. Members have a note by the clerk. I invite contributions from members.

In the same item of business

The Convener (John Pentland) Lab
Good morning. I welcome everyone to the eighth Public Petitions Committee meeting of 2015. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones and electronic...
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP) SNP
I am certainly keen to keep the petition open, at least until the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has the data from the modelling of the cost...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con) Con
I am happy to support that.
David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) SNP
I am happy to support that.
The Convener Lab
Are we agreed that we will follow that course of action? Members indicated agreement.