1. Consideration of continued petitions:
The Committee considered the following continued petitions—
PE1896: Provide every primary school child in Scotland with a reusable water bottle. The Committee took evidence from petitioner, Callum Isted, and James Isted. The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister.
PE1812: Protect Scotland’s remaining ancient, native and semi-native woodlands and woodland floors. The Committee took evidence from petitioners Audrey Baird and Fiona Baker, and then proceeded to a roundtable discussion with Claudia Rowse - NatureScot, Arina Russell - Woodland Trust Scotland, Doug Howieson - Scottish Forestry, Andy Leitch - Confor and Andrew Weatherall – RSPB. The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard on this petition at a future meeting.
PE1856: Support the taxi trade. Paul Sweeney MSP declared an interest as a current member of Unite. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. The Committee also agreed to invite the petitioner and the Scottish Taxi Federation to give evidence at a future meeting.
PE1866: Introduce legislation to improve bus travel for wheelchair users. The Committee agreed to refer this petition to a relevant subject committee. It also agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
PE1870: Ensure teachers of autistic pupils are appropriately qualified. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
PE1871: Full review of mental health services. The Committee agreed to invite the petitioner and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to give evidence to the Committee at a future meeting. It also agree to write to the petitioner to highlight the upcoming recruitment for a Lived Experience Panel being established by the Scottish Government and the Health and Social Care Alliance.
PE1904: Change Scots law to disqualify estranged spouses from making claims on an estate. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Government has indicated in its initial submission that it intends to carry out more research into the law on intestate succession. In closing, the Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
2. Consideration of new petitions:
The Committee considered the following new petitions—
PE1923: Align the Higher rate tax threshold to £37,501 in line with the rest of the UK The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Government has indicated that to align the tax threshold with other parts of the UK would result in £552 million less to invest in public services and it therefore does not intend to change its tax policy in line with the aims of this petition.
PE1924: Complete an emergency in-depth review of Women's Health services in Caithness & Sutherland. The committee agreed to consider this petition alongside PE1845: Agency to advocate for the healthcare needs of rural Scotland, PE1890: Find solutions to recruitment and training challenges for rural healthcare in Scotland and PE1915 Reinstate Caithness Council Council and Caithness NHS Board at a future evidence session and to hear evidence from the petitioner.
PE1925: Bring the HGV speed limit on major trunk roads to 50mph in line with other parts of the UK. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.