Present:

Apologies were received from: Pauline McNeill.

The meeting opened at 2.06 pm.

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

PE113 Petition by Campaign for Borders Rail calling for the Scottish Parliament to consider ways of re-instating a railway into and through the Borders, by way of a debate in the Parliament and by consideration by its committees.

Committee agreed to refer the petition to the Transport and Environment Committee as lead committee for further consideration, suggesting that it consult the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee, Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, Finance Committee and Rural Affairs Committee for comment as appropriate. It was also agreed that the Convener would write to the Minister for Transport and the Environment to draw her attention to the strength of public support for the petition shown at the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 3.29 pm.

The meeting resumed at 3.38 pm.

PE131 Petition by Mrs Geva Blackett calling for the Scottish Parliament to extend the current remit for the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute to include a thorough investigation into the social, economic and environmental significance of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill for remote communities such as Braemar.

PE141 Petition by Richard Bourne calling for the Scottish Parliament to extend the current remit for the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute to include a thorough investigation into the social, economic and environmental significance of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill for remote communities such as Aberdeenshire.

PE142 Petition by Richard Holman-Baird calling for the Scottish Parliament through the Rural Affairs Committee extend their current research by the Macaulay Land Research Institute to include a thorough scientific investigation into animal suffering using any of the currently legal methods of fox control.

The Convener moved that petitions PE131, PE141 and PE142 should be passed to the Rural Affairs Committee for further consideration. The motion was agreed to by division: For 4, Against 2, Abstentions 0.

PE132 Petition by D. W. R Whittet QPM calling for the Scottish Parliament to introduce legislation streamlining the planning system and change other aspects of the planning system and associated procedures within Scotland.

Committee agreed the pass the petition to the Transport and Environment Committee and to the Local Government Committee for further consideration.

PE133 Petition by Mr Frank Loughridge on behalf of Longriggend Residents Association calling for the Scottish Parliament to ensure the roads and lights are upgraded at Longriggend (Remand Unit) in order they be adopted by the local Council.

Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Scottish Prison Service and North Lanarkshire Council for a response. It was also agreed to pass the petition to the Minister for Justice for a response and to the Minister for Transport and the Environment to note.

PE134 Petition by Mr Steve Boyle calling for the Scottish Parliament to introduce legislation to ensure that companies offer goods and services at the same price through out Scotland.

Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Rural Affairs Committee and the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee to note in the context of any future investigations they may carry out into the issues raised in the petition.

PE135 Petition by Marion Scott calling for the Scottish Parliament to address a range of issues relating to the siting of mobile phone masts.

Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Transport and Environment Committee to respond to the petitioner with the details of its recent inquiry.

PE136 Petition by Training Adults in the Community calling for the Scottish Parliament to persuade West Lothian Council to increase funding of the Training Adults in the Community (TAIC) project to levels which will allow TAIC to continue to provide a service.

Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee, the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee and Equal Opportunities Committee for further consideration. It was also agreed that the Convener should write to the West Lothian Council for a response.

PE137 Petition by Partick Traders Association calling for the Scottish Parliament to declare that a) the intention of Glasgow City Council to create a network of bus corridors is a matter of public concern and b) it use all available powers to stop this scheme.

Committee agreed to pass the petition to Glasgow City Council to include in their consultation. It was also agreed to send a copy of the response received from Glasgow City Council in relation to PE100 to the Partick Traders Association and also to the Minister for Transport and the Environment to note.

PE138 Petition by Andrew Stuart Wood calling for the Scottish Parliament to alter the constitution of the Scottish Quality Beef Lamb Assurance (SQBLA) giving it independence and ask for statutory powers to be granted to SQBLA for the receipt of monies for the purpose of promotion.

Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Rural Affairs Committee for further consideration.

PE139 Petition by Platform Adult Learning Centre calling for the Scottish Parliament to provide translation services for meetings of the Parliament and Committee meetings for the deaf, deaf/blind people and for people with hearing difficulties.

Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the petitioner outlining the current provision of services. It also agreed to pass the petition to the Broadcasting Service for a response on the issues raised and also to the Equal Opportunities Committee for further consideration.

PE140 Petition by Doreen Thomson on behalf of ancillary workers at Border General Hospital calling for the Scottish Parliament to endorse a request for a substantial pay rise for ancillary workers in the NHSiS and make the necessary representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to release the necessary resources.

Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Health and Community Care Committee for further consideration and to the Minister for Health to note.




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

PE100 Petition by The Shettleston Traders Association calling for Scottish Parliament to take action to prevent the Faifley to Baillieston Quality Bus Corridor from proceeding on Shettleston Road and save the local community.

The Committee noted a response from Glasgow City Council.

PE31 Petition by Helen Mackenzie calling for the Scottish Parliament to conduct a review of its obligations under international law (in particular the Geneva Convention) in relation to the presence of Trident nuclear weapons at Faslane and therefore under Scots legal jurisdiction.

PE34 Petition by Peter Norris calling for the Scottish Parliament to review the relevance of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on the legality of nuclear weapons to the Trident weapons system based in Scotland, in light of Sheriff Gimblett's ruling on 20 October 1999.

PE35 Petition by Marion Reynolds calling for the Scottish Parliament to carry out a review into the fact that the existence of Faslane nuclear facility may contravene an International Court of Justice Ruling regarding the threat or use of nuclear weapons.

The Committee noted the response received from the Deputy First Minister and the Minister for Justice which reaffirmed the position set out by the Lord Advocate to delay his response to the petitions until the appeal has been completed.

PE49 Petition from Mr Frank Harvey calling for the Scottish Parliament to take action to prevent the United States Navy from using the Cape Wrath live bombardment range.

Committee noted a letter received from John Spellar, the UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces which answered the concerns raised in Mr Harvey’s petition. It was agreed to forward a copy of the letter to Mr Harvey and that no further action was required.



3. Conveners Report

The Convener informed the Committee that the request from Gauteng Provincial Legislature in South Africa to visit the Scottish Parliament and the Public Petitions Committee had been welcomed by the Presiding Officer.

Phil Gallie indicated that he intended to resign from the Public Petitions Committee after this meeting. The Convener thanked Mr Gallie for his contribution to the Committee.

The meeting closed at 5.40 pm.