Public Petitions Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Official Report 440KB pdf

Scotland’s National Action Plan on Human Rights

The next item of business is consideration of Scotland’s national action plan on human rights—SNAP. I refer members to the note by the clerk. You will recall that, at our business planning discussion, Professor Alan Miller, the chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, talked about the interface between the commission, the SNAP process and the Parliament. The committee agreed to consider whether it wanted formal involvement.

There seem to be two main ways forward. One is that, having noted the Justice Committee’s involvement, the Public Petitions Committee decides not to seek a formal role, although we might want to invite Professor Miller to provide an oral or written briefing before the Justice Committee debate in December. The other is that we appoint our own rapporteur—in which case, members might want to volunteer for the role. Those seem to be the two main ways forward. I am interested in the committee’s views.

I agree with you, convener.

I agree.

Right. I suggest that we ask Professor Miller to provide a written briefing on the work, which we can consider in due course. Do members agree?

Members indicated agreement.

As agreed, we move into private to consider agenda items 6 and 7.