Minutes: 08 October 2025

1. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petitions—

• PE1865: Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

• PE1979: Establish an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

• PE2056: Introduce legislation allowing Scottish Ministers to intervene on the hire of public land. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

• PE2129: Standardise criteria and consultations for assessing demand for denominational schools. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

• PE2137: Fair regulation for non-medical aesthetic injectors. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.    

2. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee will consider the following new petitions—

• PE2166: Establish a standardised timeframe for civil proceedings in child custody cases. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. 

• PE2167: Stop the pavement parking ban for Scottish roads built before 2019. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

3. Continued consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petition—

• PE2099: Stop the proposed centralisation of specialist neonatal units in NHS Scotland. Davy Russell declared an interest as the member for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse. The Committee agreed to invite the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, Best Start Perinatal Subgroup and the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health to give evidence at a future meeting. 

4. Continued consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions: PE2168: Guarantee Legal Aid for "Death or Serious Injury" victims in legal action against Police Scotland. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. PE2169: Facilitate a review and upgrade of the teaching resource ‘Palestine and Israel, understanding the conflict’. Jackson Carlaw declared an interest as Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Building Bridges with Israel and that he participated in a trip to Israel, which was funded by the Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom. Fergus Ewing declared an interest as Deputy Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Building Bridges with Israel. Maurice Golden declared that he participated in a trip to which was funded by Conservative Friends of Israel. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. PE2170: Abolish the General Teaching Council for Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. PE2171: Stop the use of prisons for punishment and focus them on public protection. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. PE2173: Ban ultra-processed foods in school meals. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and relevant school meal providers.