Minutes: 09 November 2022

1. Declaration of interests:

Marie McNair MSP was invited to declare any relevant interests. She declared no relevant interest.  

2. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petitions— 

PE1887: Create an Unborn Victims of Violence Act. The Committee took evidence from Steven Tidy, Victim Support Scotland, Dr Mary Neal, University of Strathclyde, and Dr Marsha Scott, Scottish Women's Aid. The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting. 

PE1871: Full review of mental health services. The Committee took evidence from petitioner Karen McKeown. The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting.  

PE1812: Protect Scotland’s remaining ancient, native and semi-native woodlands and woodland floors. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government,  the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee. 

PE1837: Provide clear direction and investment for autism support the Committee agreed. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the petitioner is satisfied with the outcome of the Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care’s recent correspondence.   

PE1862: Introduce community representation on boards of public organisations delivering lifeline services to island communities. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Transport.  

PE1867: Establish a new national qualification for British Sign Language (BSL). The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. 

PE1895: Mandatory accountability for NatureScot's decision making procedures. The Committee agreed to close the petition under rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that NatureScot routinely issues licence refusals and its stated approach is to always explain to the applicants the reasons for the refusals against the relevant legal tests, not all of which include a conservation objective; and? a conservation objective would not apply to every licensing refusal, therefore setting a mandatory requirement for NatureScot to include this in every refusal would not be appropriate.

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

3. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions— 

PE1949: Review the rules concerning Dual Mandate MSPs. The Committee agreed to write to the Senedd, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the Electoral Reform Society. 

PE1950: Ensure immunosuppressed people in Scotland can access the Evusheld antibody treatment. The Committee agreed to write to the COVID-19 Therapeutics Clinical Review Panel, Blood Cancer UK, Immunodeficiency UK, Kidney Research UK, the Scottish Medical Council and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. It also agreed to invite the petitioner and/or the patient campaign group, Evusheld for the UK, to give evidence at a future meeting. 

PE1952: Specialist services for patients with autonomic dysfunction. The Committee agreed to write to the Brain Charity, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) UK, Professor Alan Carson, National Services Scotland and the petitioner.  

PE1953: Review Education Support staff roles. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Scottish Social Services Council.

4. Work programme(In Private):

The Committee considered its Work Programme.