Minutes: 13 November 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 in private. 

2. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petitions:

PE2089: Stop More National Parks in Scotland. The Committee took evidence from—

Peter Rawcliffe, Head of People and Places, NatureScot 

Eileen Stuart, Deputy Director of Nature and Climate Change, NatureScot

and then considered—

PE1896: Provide every primary school child in Scotland with a reusable water bottle. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to Scottish Water and the First Minister.

PE1864: Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Public Finance.

PE1941: Stop the destruction of headstones within community cemeteries. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

PE1945: Ban the extraction and use of peat for horticulture and all growing media by 2023. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

PE1946: To call on the Scottish Government to pay all charges for homeless temporary accommodation. The Committee agreed to write to the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers and the Scottish Government.

PE2006: Review and simplify the legislation in relation to dismissal of property factors. The Committee agreed to invite the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to give evidence at a future meeting.  

3. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions: 

PE2113: Provide support to RAAC-affected communities. The Committee agreed to write to the Built Environment Forum Scotland, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Chartered Institute of Building, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, and the Minister for Housing.  

PE2114: Ensure effective regulation and oversight of social care services in Scotland. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

PE2115: Ensure NHS dental patients have the option of white composite fillings for the treatment of molar teeth. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

PE2117: Ban the use of toxic chemicals along our coasts. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. 

4. Consideration of Evidence:

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 2. The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting.

5. Work programme:

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed to seek an update from the Deputy First Minister in relation to petition PE1933: Allow the Fornethy Survivors to access Scotland's redress scheme. The Committee also agreed to seek an update from the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise in respect of petition PE1979: Establish an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies.