Minutes: 12 November 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 5 and 6 in private.

2. Emergency cardiac and stroke care thematic evidence session:

The Committee took evidence from—  

• Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, supported by Kylie Barclay, Senior Policy Manager, Long Term Conditions Policy; Martin Macdonald, Stroke Senior Policy Manager, Long Term Conditions Policy; and Will Wood, Unit Head, Long Term Conditions Policy, Scottish Government.

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence at a future meeting. 

3. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petition: 

• PE1876: Accurately record the sex of people charged or convicted of rape or attempted rape. Tess White declared an interest as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The Committee took evidence from— 

• Chief Constable Jo Farrell and Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs (Professionalism and Enabling Services), Police Scotland 

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence at a future meeting.  

and then considered— 

• PE2085: Introduce a statutory definition of residency for Fatal Accident Inquiries into the deaths of Scots abroad. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, the Lord Advocate and the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.  

• PE2028: Extend the concessionary bus travel scheme to include people seeking asylum in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity. 

• PE2074: Increase local government funding to help protect the vulnerable elderly population and prevent the closure of care homes. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.  

• PE2087: Pass a law making exercising a dog in a cemetery an offence. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2133: Expand ScotRail’s Inter7City routes to include Dunfermline. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.       

4. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions: 

• PE2178: Introduce mandatory latex labelling for food products sold in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. 

• PE2181: Remove teachers’ ability to backdate and alter school records. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2182: Review the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act and introduce a minimum sentence for severe offences. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

5. Consideration of evidence:

The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda items 2 and 3.

6. Work programme:

The Committee will consider its work programme.