Public Petitions Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Official Report 472KB pdf

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School Bus Safety

The committee will recall that we proposed to have an event on school bus safety, on which members have a note by the clerk.

There has been some movement in the Scottish Government’s work in the area, so it is recommended that we postpone the event, pending the circulation of a revised plan for consideration at a future meeting. We are not talking about not going ahead at all with an event on what is an extremely important subject; we merely want to avoid duplication, the potential for which has suddenly struck our officials. We will get back to the committee with a revised plan. Like other members, I am keen that we hold a major event on school bus safety at some point in the future.

I am keen that we set a timescale, because the petition has been under consideration for a long time. As we agreed to hold a parliamentary event to discuss the issue, it would be useful to have a timescale for when the Government is likely to respond. If we do not get that before the summer recess, it will be September or October before we can hold the event.

We will ensure that members are given a revised timetable as soon as possible, to take on board John Wilson’s point.

Do members agree to the proposed approach?

Members indicated agreement.

As we agreed earlier, we will now move into private for the final two agenda items.

12:14 Meeting continued in private until 12:36.