The meeting opened at 14.06 pm.

1. Consideration of petitions. Members considered and agreed action on the following petitions:
   

PE69 Petition by James McPherson calling for the Scottish Parliament to direct the body carrying out the Quinquennial Review of the Crofters Commission to hold public meetings in the former crofting counties to explain the background and scope of the review, in the interests of accessibility, openness and participation. Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Rural Affairs Committee to consider.

PE71 Petition by James and Anne Bollan calling for the Scottish Parliament to examine and amend as necessary the rules governing to award of legal aid. Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Justice and Home Affairs Committee to consider.

PE72 Petition by Parents and Community Association of Boharm calling for the Scottish Parliament to take such action as it sees fit to prevent the closure of Boharm Primary School. Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee for its urgent consideration.

PE73 Petition by Mr Frank Harvey calling for the Scottish Parliament to order a public enquiry into the Social Work Department of Glasgow with particular emphasis on the care of vulnerable children. Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to Glasgow City Council for a response and also send a copy of the petition to Margaret Curran MSP for comments.

PE74 Petition by Scottish Tenants Organisation calling for the Scottish Parliament to place a moratorium on all housing stock transfers until such time as its concerns in relation to such transfers are addressed. Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee to consider.

PE75 Petition by Mr Frank Harvey calling for the Scottish Parliament to ban all Animal Circuses in Scotland immediately. Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Local Government Committee to note.

PE76 Petition by Mr Frank Harvey calling for the Scottish Parliament to order a public enquiry into the gas Industry in Scotland following the recent gas explosion in Larkhall. Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the petitioner informing him that no further action would be taken in respect of the petition in view of the current Health and Safety Executive Inquiry.

PE77 Petition by Age Concern Scotland calling for the Scottish Parliament to implement all of those recommendations contained in the report of the Royal Commission on Long Term Care for the elderly, which its devolved powers permit. Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Health and Community Care Committee for further consideration.

PE78 Petition by Napier Students' Association calling for the Scottish Parliament to adopt, in full, all 52 recommendations made in the Independent Inquiry into Student Finance's report "Fairness for the Future". Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee for further consideration.

2. Current Petitions: The committee reviewed the current petitions. The following points were raised:
   

PE22 Petition from the Island of Cumbrae Tourist Association outlining concerns in relation to the fare structure of Caledonian MacBrayne for the ferry to Cumbrae Island and calling for more detailed financial information to be made available. A letter from Sarah Boyack, Minister for Transport had been received detailing the steps to be taken to provide the information requested. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should forward a copy to Allan Wilson MSP who had addressed the Committee on this petition.

PE30 Petition by Almondell Terrace on heavy traffic in Almondell Terrace, Livingston, West Lothian. Correspondence from West Lothian Council and Stirling Council had been received. Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the petitioners.

PE32 Petition by Mr Gavin Cleland calling for action to prosecute the Occidental Oil Company for their part in the Piper Alpha disaster. Responses from the Lord Advocate has been received and Committee agreed to forward copies of the letters to the petitioner.

3. Conveners Report:

The Convener indicated that a paper on a proposed meeting of the Committee in the Borders would be discussed at the next Convener’s Liaison Group.

Professor Hamblin, Chairman of Greater Glasgow Health Board had accepted the Committee invitation to attend the meeting on 15 February 2000.

The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the letter received from Ken Murray (Chair of the Glasgow Association for Mental Health) in relation to the proposed Day Care Centre at Stobhill General Hospital to Paul Martin MSP.

The meeting closed at 14.57 pm.