The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 850 contributions
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 6 September 2023
David Torrance
I am reluctant to close the petition, even though the Scottish Government has said that it will not widen the scope of the inquiry. We should try again, by writing to the new Deputy First Minister to reiterate the committee’s recommendations that the Scottish Government extend the Scottish child abuse inquiry’s terms of reference to include religious organisations or establish a separate public inquiry to address the issues that are highlighted in the petition and to ask what work has been undertaken since the submission in January to consider the recommendations in the report on child protection in religious organisations and settings in England and Wales. We should also ask how the Scottish Government monitors the implementation of national guidance for child protection, what steps it is taking to ensure that religious organisations are aware of and adhering to the guidance, and how it demonstrates its function of supporting and challenging religious organisations on those issues.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 6 September 2023
David Torrance
There is nowhere for us to go, because the Scottish Government has been very clear that it will not impose a statutory duty on councils. I ask the committee to consider closing the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the Scottish Government has no plans at this time to make provision of public toilets a statutory obligation on local authorities.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 5 September 2023
David Torrance
Good morning, everyone. To what extent does the existence of all-year-round pressures now make the concept of winter planning redundant?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 5 September 2023
David Torrance
Thank you. You have partly answered my next question. How do you respond to the suggestion that winter planning is now redundant because of the existence of year-round pressures, which require year-round planning?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 5 September 2023
David Torrance
How will you ensure that winter planning accommodates the needs of different professions?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 5 September 2023
David Torrance
Good morning, everyone. Last year’s winter plan was criticised for coming too late. It was published in October. When will this year’s winter plan be published?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 5 September 2023
David Torrance
The committee has heard evidence that the 2022-23 winter planning and associated funding came too late. If policy makers intend to continue with the creation of an annual winter plan in the future, how can the timings for its development be improved to accommodate the needs of different professions?
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 28 June 2023
David Torrance
We could invite the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition to give evidence to the committee at the earliest opportunity, after she or the Minister for Transport has provided a statement to the Parliament on the revised timetable for the dualling of the A9.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 28 June 2023
David Torrance
I suggest that we write to the Scottish Assessors Association, the Holiday Home Association and the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers to seek their views on the action that is called for in the petition. We should also write to the Scottish Government to ask whether it will consider adding self-catering holiday accommodation to the list of properties that are unable to qualify for the small business bonus scheme, and whether it will consider any other legislative changes—such as changes to the definition of self-catering holiday accommodation and the 70-day rule—that could address the issue raised in the petition.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 28 June 2023
David Torrance
I wonder whether we could write to the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, Citizens Advice Scotland, Patient Advice and Support Service and Shelter Scotland, seeking their views on the action that is called for in the petition.