Minutes: 14 June 2023

Wednesday, 14 June 2023

10th Meeting, 2023

Start time: 09:30am

End time: 12:59pm

Location: T1.40-CR5 The Smith Room

Published: Thursday, 15 June 2023

Also present:

Also present: Edward Mountain MSP (Reporter, Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee), Alasdair Allan MSP, Jackie Baillie MSP, Kate Forbes MSP, Murdo Fraser MSP, Monica Lennon MSP (Item 1), Jackie Baillie MSP, Katy Clark MSP (Item 2).

Minutes

1. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered petition PE1911: Review of Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 as it relates to post-mortems, and took evidence from —

Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC, Lord Advocate, and Andy Shanks, Head of the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

and agreed to consider the evidence at a later meeting.

The Committee then considered PE1992: Dual the A9 and improve road safety. Edward Mountain MSP declared an interest as the owner of a business that is dependent on the A9.The Committee took evidence from —

Laura Hansler, Petitioner

Grahame Barn, Chief Executive, Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Scotland Ltd

and then from —

Lawrence Shackman, Director, Major Projects, Robert Galbraith, Head of Construction, and Morag MacKay, Development Management and Trunk Road Casualty Reduction Manager, Transport Scotland

and agreed to consider the evidence at a later meeting.

The Committee also considered the following petitions:

PE1862: Introduce community representation on boards of public organisations delivering lifeline services to island communities. The Committee agreed to invite the petitioners to give evidence at a future meeting.

PE1865: Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices. The committee agreed to write to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, and the British Hernia Society.

PE1962: Stop motorhomes parking overnight outwith formal campsites, caravan parks and Aires. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

2. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following petitions:

PE2016: Raise awareness of Thrombosis in Scotland. The committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

PE2018: Recognise the value of swimming pools and provide financial relief to help keep pools open. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport and to sportscotland.

3. Public Participation Inquiry(In Private):

The Committee considered a draft report and summary versions. The Committee also delegated to the Convener responsibility for finalising the presentation of the report and associated communications.