Minutes: 19 January 2022

1. Declaration of interests:

Ruth Maguire was invited to declare any relevant interests. Ms Maguire indicated that she had no relevant interests to declare. 

2. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions—

PE1723: Essential tremor treatment in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the National Specialist Services Committee and National Services Division.

PE1855: Pardon and memorialise those convicted under the Witchcraft Act 1563. The Committee agreed to keep the petition open until it is established whether a Members’ Bill is likely to be progressed on this topic. The Committee also agreed to consider inviting the petitioner to provide evidence to the Committee at a future date. 

PE1873: Provide hypnotherapy for the treatment of mental health, psychosomatic disorders and chronic pain. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that stakeholders have indicated that due to the lack of quality evidence, they would not recommend hypnotherapy as a treatment on the NHS, and that the Scottish Government stated that it is up to individual NHS Boards to decide which Complementary and Alternative Medicine Services (CAMS) are made available. In closing the petition, the Committee also agreed to write to SIGN and NICE. 

PE1877: Provide body cameras for all frontline NHS staff. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Government.

PE1878: Investigate prosecutions under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. The Committee agreed to close this petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the issues this petition raises fall within the scope of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review. 

PE1881: Longer sentences for paedophiles and sexual predators. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Sentencing Council is currently developing a set of sentencing guidelines in relation to rape, sexual assault, and indecent images of children. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the petitioner.

PE1883: Open all toddler and baby activities within Tier 3 of COVID-19 /future pandemic lockdowns. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Government has stated that it is unable to rule out further Covid-19 related restrictions or advise on what these might be.

PE1888: Full legal protection for hedgehogs and moles. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Government is awaiting the outcome of the JNCC review which is not due for publication until early Spring and which will then require scrutiny before any policy actions can be taken. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

PE1889: Financial support for self-employed people in the travel industry. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy.

PE1891: Make swimming lessons a statutory requirement in the primary school curriculum. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

PE1894: Permit a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) to be independently reviewed. The Committee agreed to close the petition under rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that, having sought the views of the Lord Advocate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland, both stakeholders believe that it would be inappropriate for the Death Certification Review Service to review MCCDs in cases already investigated by the Procurators Fiscal. 

3. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions—  

PE1909: Remove the "gender-based crime" domestic abuse narrative and make it gender neutral and equal. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Respect Men’s Advice Line, ASSIST and SARCO’s Fearfree Service.

PE1912: Funding for council venues. The Committee agreed to write to Local Authority Chief Executives.

PE1914: Ban school uniforms in secondary schools. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, Scottish Youth Parliament, Children and Young People’s Commissioner and the National Parent Forum of Scotland.

PE1916: Request a public inquiry into the management of the rest and be thankful project. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.