Minutes: 10 September 2025

1. Declaration of interests:

Davy Russell referred to his register of interests. 

2. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petitions: 

• PE1947: Address Scotland's culture of youth violence. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. 

• PE2064: Ensure that under 16s charged with rape are treated as adults in the criminal justice system. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. 

• PE2089: Stop More National Parks in Scotland. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2112: Conduct an independent review of childcare costs and availability in Scotland. Meghan Gallacher declared an interest as a member of the “Pregnant, Then Screwed” advisory board. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise. 

• PE1864: Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms. The Committee agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy to provide evidence at a future meeting. 

• PE2109: Halt any further pump storage hydro schemes on Scottish lochs holding wild Atlantic salmon. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, NatureScot and the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy. 

• PE2110: Protect wild wrasse stocks. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2120: Permanently remove peak fare pricing from ScotRail services. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.        

3. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions:

• PE2151: Grant protected status to primitive goat species in the Scottish Borders. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the UK Joint Nature Conservation Council, NatureScot and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

• PE2153: Reduce council tax by 50% for single persons. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

• PE2157: Update planning advice for energy storage issues and ensure that it includes clear guidance for the location of battery energy storage systems near residences and communities. Jackson Carlaw declared an interest as an MSP currently challenging an infrastructure planning application in his constituency. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy.

• PE2158: Introduce a maximum temperature for serving hot liquids to children in childcare settings. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise. 

• PE2162: Prevent strangers from filming or photographing children in public play parks. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

• PE2161: Extend the time period for complaints through the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for neurodivergent people to two years. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.