1. Consideration of continued petitions:
The Committee considered the following continued petitions—
PE1859: Retain falconers’ rights to practice upland falconry in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, NatureScot, Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
PE1864: Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
PE1891: Make swimming lessons a statutory requirement in the primary school curriculum. The Committee agreed to close the petition under rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that there is no mandatory curriculum in Scotland, with the Scottish Government indicating that the Learn to Swim Framework is being delivered in 27 out of 32 local authority areas, with progress being made within two further local authority areas towards delivering the framework during 2023, and Water Safety Scotland and Education Scotland have launched an educational resource for schools to provide a consistent level of learning across Scotland’s educational institutions. In closing the petition, the Committee also agreed to write to the petitioner, and to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.
PE1900: Access to prescribed medication for detainees in police custody. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Drugs Policy and NHS Grampian.
PE1902: To allow an appeal process for Community Participation Requests. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
PE1918: Improve sex education in schools. The Committee agreed to write to Education Scotland.
2. Consideration of new petitions:
The Committee considered the following new petitions—
PE1974: Adopt the A890 as a trunk road. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Transport, Highland Council, Lochcarron Community Council, Stromeferry and Achmore Community Council, Plockton Community Council, and Applecross Community Council.
PE1980: Adopt the A832 between Achnasheen and Gorstan as a trunk road. The Committee agreed to write Highland Council, IAM Roadsmart, Road Haulage Association, and Visit Scotland.
PE1975: Reform the law relating to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Law Commission, the Law Society of Scotland, National Union of Journalists and Scottish Newspaper Society and the Scottish Government.
PE1976: Backdate council tax discounts for dementia to the date of GP certification. The Committee agreed to write to Citizens Advice Scotland, Dementia Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Government.
PE1977: Require social services to inform biological fathers of concerns about their children. The Committee agreed to write CELCIS – Scotland’s Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, Shared Parenting Scotland, The Promise Scotland, Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, and The Scottish Child Law Centre.
PE1978: Allow raw milk to be sold in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland the National Farmers Union Scotland and Dairy UK.
3. Work programme(In Private):
The Committee agreed its Work Programme.
The Committee also agreed to accept two anonymous submissions in relation to petition PE1979: Establish an independent inquiry and an independent national whistelblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies, but not to accept a request for a not-for-publication submission in relation to the same petition.
The Committee also agreed to reschedule its meeting on Wednesday 1 February to Wednesday 8 February.