Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting Minutes
6th Meeting, 2021
- Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2021
- Session: 6
- Location: T1.40-CR5 The Smith Room
- Meeting opened at: 10:01
- Meeting closed at: 11:05
- Published: Thursday, November 4, 2021 12:32pm
Committee Members Attendees
- Jackson Carlaw (Convener)
- David Torrance (Deputy Convener)
- Bill Kidd (Member)
- Alexander Stewart (Member)
- Paul Sweeney (Member)
Also Present
Jackie Baillie (PE1883) and Sue Webber (PE1896)
1 Consideration of new petitions:
The Committee considered the following new petitions—
PE1883: Open all toddler and baby activities within Tier 3 of COVID-19 /future pandemic lockdowns. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, Play Scotland and educational psychologists. It also agreed to liaise with the COVID-19 Recovery Committee.
PE1887: Create an Unborn Victims of Violence Act. The Committee agreed to write to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Law Commission, the Scottish Sentencing Council, Scottish Women’s Aid and Victim Support Scotland.
PE1888: Full legal protection for hedgehogs and moles. The Committee agreed to write to?the Scottish Wildlife Trust; Hogwatch Scotland and the Mammal Society.
PE1889: Financial support for self-employed people in the travel industry. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and industry representatives.
PE1890: Find solutions to recruitment and training challenges for rural healthcare in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to NHS Highland. It also agreed to consider this petition alongside PE1845 at a future meeting.
PE1891: Make swimming lessons a statutory requirement in the primary school curriculum. The Committee agreed to write to Scottish Swimming, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Scotland and COSLA.
PE1892: Introduce a law that makes attacks by one dog on another dog a crime. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and the British Veterinary Association.
PE1893: Introduce legislation to protect Scotland's war memorials. The Committee agreed to write to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
PE1894: Permit a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) to be independently reviewed. The Committee agreed to write to the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
PE1895: Mandatory accountability for NatureScot's decision-making procedures. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
PE1896: Provide every primary school child in Scotland with a reusable water bottle. The Committee agreed to write COSLA, Zero Waste Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Sustainable Scotland Network. It also agreed to invite the petitioner to give evidence to the Committee at a future meeting.
PE1897: Reform certain of the procedures for the collection of Council Tax. The Committee agreed to write to COSLA, Citizens Advice Scotland and Social Security Scotland.
PE1898: Make entering someone’s home without their permission or warrant a crime. The Committee agreed to write to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland.
PE1899: Conduct a risk benefit analysis prior to providing those under 16 with Covid-19 vaccination. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Government has stated that it is taking advice and guidance from several sources and that their approach is consistent across all UK nations.