Minutes: 24 September 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take Items 5, 6 and 7 in private.

2. Healthcare Thematic Evidence session:

The Committee took evidence from— 

• Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care 

• Alan Morrison, Deputy Director Health Infrastructure & Sustainability, Scottish Government 

• Douglas McLaren, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Government 

The Committee took evidence on thematic healthcare issues in Scotland that have been raised in multiple petitions. 

3. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petitions:

• PE2113: Provide support to RAAC-affected communities. The Committee agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Cabinet Secretary for Housing.

• PE2116: Accelerate the implementation of bus franchising powers. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

• PE2118: Review and restructure Scotland’s flood risk management approach and operations. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. 

• PE2121: Run a targeted roadside litter awareness campaign. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

• PE2127: Develop a new Digital Connectivity Plan for the Highlands and Islands. 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: 

• PE2159: Halt the production of hydrogen from freshwater. Edward Mountain declared an interest as a partner in and owner of 50% of Delfur Fishings, of Moray and that he has responded to an application by Storegga for a hydrogen project at Marypark on the River Spey. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The Committee also agreed to include this petition as part of a thematic evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy. 

• PE2160: Introduce an energy strategy. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and to include this petition as part of a thematic evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy. 

• PE2163: Develop guidance on child contact domestic abuse. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. 

• PE2164: Ban all non-essential single-use plastics. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2165: Raise awareness of and provide educational resources and training for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health.    

5. Consideration of Evidence:

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

6. Decision on publication of submission:

The Committee agreed not to accept an anonymous written submission for petition PE2170: Abolish the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

7. Work programme:

The Committee agreed a timeline and wording for communicating its end of session approach to new petitions. The Committee agreed not to publish petitions received after the cut-off date of 10 October 2025. The Committee agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy to provide evidence on themes raised across various petitions, and for this to incorporate the session previously agreed at the consideration of PE1864 on 10 September 2025. The Committee considered its work programme.