Public Petitions Committee, 21 Sep 2009
Meeting date: Monday, September 21, 2009
Official Report
251KB pdf
New Petitions (Notification)
We have reached the final part of today's formal committee business. We have notification of new petitions that will be presented to the committee in future. Do members agree to note the petitions mentioned in the paper?
Members indicated agreement.
I thank the headteacher Ken MacIver and Alex Ferrie, who is one of the senior modern studies teachers here; all the teachers in modern studies and associated subjects who brought along students from other high schools in the wider area; all the students who contributed; and all the members of the general public who managed to come along this morning. I hope that it has been worth while. Although, when we are told that a meeting is to take place in a different part of Scotland, committee members say, "I've got to travel," the reality is that we benefit from it. I appreciate the patience that everybody has shown us today. I also appreciate the Highland hospitality that we have been shown, the piper's welcome and the facility that the academy has made available.
We will have the chance to do a broad, open question-and-answer session from about quarter to 1 to about half past 1. There will be a brief break for the buffet for those who are present. I hope that we can benefit from that as well.
We have meetings ahead of us. I guarantee to the petitioners and the young people who are present that we will pursue their petitions. Young people are sceptical about the political process and whether it listens to the issues that they raise. I hope that we have done that and, more important, that the young students have benefited. When they put on their curriculum vitae the fact that they gave a presentation to a parliamentary committee that may or may not have influenced future policy, it will help them to stand out from other applicants in a tough job, college or university market. They have represented their school exceptionally well and I look forward to them having a good, positive future along with all the other young people who came.
I close the meeting and thank everyone for attending.
Meeting closed at 12:20.