Present:

The meeting opened at 2.08 pm.

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

PE175 Petition by Neil M Kay on behalf of the School Board of Toward Primary School calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate Argyll and Bute Council's School Closure Programme, using the proposed closure of Toward Primary School as an indicative case.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee for further consideration and to Rural Affairs Committee for information. The Committee also agreed to seek a response to the petition from Argyll and Bute Council.

PE143 Petition by Mr Frank Harvey calling for the Scottish Parliament to order a public inquiry into all aspects of the Greater Glasgow Health Board’s plan’s to reduce services in Glasgow, especially all financial aspects of the plan.

PE144 Petition by Mr Frank Harvey calling for the Scottish Parliament to reject all proposals put forward by the Greater Glasgow Health Board under its Health Improvement Programme.

PE165 Petition by J McNeill on behalf of Partick Community Council calling for the Scottish Parliament to make Greater Glasgow Health Board accountable to the Scottish Parliament and to reject their proposals to reduce the number of hospitals in Glasgow.

PE172 Petition by Frank Harvey calling for the Scottish Parliament to make the Greater Glasgow Health Board accountable to the Parliament and to reject any proposed cuts to the NHS in Glasgow.

The Committee agreed to pass these petitions to Greater Glasgow Health Board with the request that it respond directly to the petitioners on the issues raised. The Committee also agreed to pass the petitions to the Health and Community Care Committee for information.

PE145 Petition by Mr William P Welsh calling for the Scottish Parliament to take a range of actions with regard to medical conditions arising from vaccinations.

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

PE146 Petition by Mr A McInnes on behalf of the residents of Main Street, Golspie calling for the Scottish Parliament to request a variety of actions from the Roads Network Maintenance and Management Division of the Scottish Executive with regard to upgrading work on the A9 trunk road, Golspie.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Minister for Transport and the Environment for a response to the issues raised in the petition.

PE147 Petition by Marie Galbraith on behalf of SHOC Executive calling for the Scottish Parliament to arrange a meeting between Ministers and a deputation from the Sheltered and Retired Housing Owners Association Executive Committee.

The Committee agreed that the Convener should write to Iain Gray, Deputy Minister for Community Care requesting that he agree to meet with SHOC to clarify the Executive’s position regarding the issues raised in the petition. The Committee also agreed to pass the relevant extract of the Official Report of the meeting and the letter to Iain Gray, Deputy Minister for Community Care to the Convener of the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee for information.

PE148 Petition by William Brian Anderson on behalf of Organophosphate Information Network (OPIN) calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate various issues relating to specialist referral and diagnosis of exposure to Organophosphate chemicals.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Health and Community Care Committee for further consideration with the recommendation that it consult the Rural Affairs Committee for comment. The Committee also agreed to seek a response from Susan Deacon, Minister for Health.

PE149 Petition by Marion Adamson on behalf of Unison Scotland calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate the plans for car park charging by the Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

PE159 Petition by Janet Ogg on behalf of the Royal College of Nursing calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate the plans for car park charging by the Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

PE168 Petition by Daniel Pringle on behalf of the AEEU calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate the plans for car park charging by the Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

PE169 Petition by David Allan on behalf of the CSP calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate the plans for car park charging by the Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

PE174 Petition by Linda S Forret on behalf of the Society of Radiographers calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate the plans for car park charging by the Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Committee agreed to pass the petitions as well as a copy of letter from West Lothian NHS Trust regarding PE125 to the Health and Community Care Committee for further consideration. The Committee also agreed to pass the petitions and associated correspondence to the Minister for Health for comment and seek a response from the Fife Acute Hospital NHS Trust.

PE150 Petition by Mrs Margaret Campbell 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 Stratherrick.

PE151 Petition by Mr Stephen Brown 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 the Borders.

PE152 Petition by Mrs Kirsty Macleod 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 the Lochaber.

PE157 Petition by Mr R Rose calling for the Scottish Parliament through the Rural Affairs Committee to 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.

PE158 Petition by Ronald Rose 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 Langholm.

The Committee agreed to pass these petitions to the Rural Affairs Committee. The Committee also agreed to forward 23 similar petitions, which had not been formally lodged, to that Committee.

PE153 Petition by Risnidh Mag Aoidh on behalf of The Celtic League calling for the Scottish Parliament to (a) introduce legislation to require local authorities to provide access to Gaelic as a second language where reasonable demands exist; (b) legislate for the provision of suitable courses to allow teachers to gain proficiency in the teaching of Gaelic as a second language; (c) introduce legislation to set up an independent body to monitor local authority Gaelic education development programmes and (d) to include these proposals in the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Bill.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee for further consideration.

PE154 Petition by Dr Joanne Beaumont on behalf of Hillhead Primary School Board and School calling for the Scottish Parliament to intervene to overturn the decisions of Glasgow City Council concerning 7 and 8 Alfred Terrace, Glasgow G12.

PE156 Petition by Mrs Jean Charsley on behalf of Hillhead Community Council calling for the Scottish Parliament to intervene to overturn the decisions of Glasgow City Council concerning 7 and 8 Alfred Terrace, Glasgow G12.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Transport and Environment Committee as well as Local Government Committee for further consideration. The Committee also agreed that the Convener should write to the Minister for Transport and the Environment for further information on the Executive’s involvement in this case.

PE171 Petition by Mrs Michelle A Terry on behalf of the parents and children of Glenrinnes Primary School calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate local council policies on the closure or retention of rural schools throughout Scotland and for the proposed closure of Glenrinnes Primary School to be deferred until the Parliament’s findings are complete.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Education Culture and Sport Committee for further consideration and to Rural Affairs Committee for information.

PE167 Petition by the Kings Park/Croftfoot Community Council calling for the Scottish Parliament to legislate to ensure that telecommunication masts will be subject to full planning controls with this legislation being effective retrospectively.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Transport and Environment Committee as well as to Glasgow City Council for a response to the issues raised in the petition.

PE164 Petition by Sibylle Alexander calling for the Scottish Parliament to debate the introduction of state financed nurseries for children between the ages of four and six and for the official school age to be raised to six.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee for further consideration.

PE155 Petition by Jim and Vera Cowie on behalf of the Protect Our Children Campaign calling for the Scottish Parliament to retain Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988.

PE161 Petition by The Reverend Noel Hughes on behalf of the Gardenstown Free Presbyterian Church (Ulster Presbytery), the Authorised Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Dundee Free Presbyterian Extension (Ulster Presbytery) calling for the Scottish Parliament to retain Section 2A.

PE162 Petition by the Reverend James C Stewart calling for the Scottish Parliament to retain Section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986.

PE183 Petition by Jack Irvine of behalf of Keep the Clause calling for the Scottish Parliament to stop the proposed repeal of the Section 2A (Clause 28) by the Scottish Executive.

The Committee agreed to pass the petitions to the Local Government Committee for consideration.

PE160 Petition by Ian Allan calling for the Scottish Parliament to include Health and Safety training as part of the Personal and Social Development curriculum in schools.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee for consideration. The Committee also agreed to forward the Petition to the Education Minister for a response and that the Clerk should write and inform the petitioner that a motion by Cathy Jamieson MSP has been lodged on the issues raised in the petition.

PE163 Petition by Owen M Connelly calling for the Scottish Parliament to safeguard the future of Oxgangs Post Office.

PE166 Petition by the Strathmartine Woman's Rural Institute calling for the Scottish Parliament to consider the wider implications of the threatened closure of approximately 500 rural sub-post offices.

The Committee agreed to pass these petitions to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee and the Rural Affairs Committee for consideration.

PE170 Petition by J McNeill on behalf of Partick Community Council calling for the Scottish Parliament to prevent Glasgow City Council creating a new bus lane/corridor through Dumbarton Road, Partick.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to Glasgow City Council for consideration as part of its bus corridor consultation.

PE173 Petition by Gladys Anderson on behalf of the residents of Ballater calling for the Scottish Parliament to recognise the importance of the Ballater Area Council Office and prevent its closure.

The Committee agreed to seek a response from Aberdeenshire City Council to the issues raised in the petition. The Committee also agreed to pass the petition to the Local Government Committee to note.

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

PE26 Petition by Bridge of Allan Public Interests Association calling for local Authorities and other agencies to recognise and record the views of individuals expressed in petitions.

The Committee agreed to refer the response from Bridge of Allan Public Interests Association to its next meeting on 9 May 2000 when a review of the handling of petitions by the Public Petitions Committee would be conducted.

PE52 Petition from the Scottish Socialist Party calling for the Scottish Parliament to conduct a referendum in the Lothians on the method of funding to be used for the building of Edinburgh’s new Royal Infirmary.

The Committee agreed to refer the letter from Margaret Smith MSP in relation to PE 52 to its next meeting on 9 May 2000, when a review of the handling of petitions by the Public Petitions Committee would be conducted.

PE70 Petition by Troon Against Pollution calling for the Scottish Parliament to call for a public inquiry into development plans for Troon Harbour.

The Committee noted the response from the Scottish Executive.

PE98 Petition by Mr Frank Harvey calling for the Scottish Parliament to raise the issue of closure of sub post offices with the Government and take whatever action necessary to keep rural post office open.

The Committee agreed to refer the letter from Alex Johnstone MSP regarding PE98 to its next meeting on 9 May 2000, when a review of the handling of petitions by the Public Petitions Committee would be conducted.

PE107 Petition by Save the Overtoun Park Campaign calling for the Scottish Parliament to take action to prevent the sale of part of Overtoun Park, Rutherglen, Glasgow.

The Committee agreed to pass the petition to South Lanarkshire Council asking them to include it in their consideration of the matter.

PE115 Petition by Julia Clarke calling for the Scottish Parliament to request Scottish Airports to re-route aircraft taking off and landing at Edinburgh Airport away from residential areas to reduce pollution and to consult with residents.

The Committee noted the letter from the DETR and agreed to await the response from the Edinburgh Airport Consultative Committee. It was also agreed that the Clerk should write to the operators of Edinburgh Airport for a response to the petition.

PE118 Petition by Dr Ronald Crawford calling for the Scottish Parliament to reverse the decision to increase North of Scotland Water Authority charges to domestic customers by 35% in 2000/2001 and 12% in 2001/2002 and to restrict increases to 10% in each of the next four financial years.

The Committee noted the response from the North of Scotland Water Authority.

PE125 Petition by Unison Scottish Health Committee calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate the justification for the introduction of Car Parking Charges at St John's Hospital, Livingston.

The Committee agreed to send a copy of the response received from West Lothian NHS Trust to the petitioners as it answered the issues raised in the petition.

PE130 Petition by Mr Paul Shanks calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate the potential effects of the proposed closure of the Carrick Street Centre, Ayr on the social justice targets of the Scottish Executive.

The Committee agreed to note the response from South Ayrshire Council but to seek further clarification from South Ayrshire Council on the services still offered at the Carrick Street Centre.

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.

The Committee agreed to pass the information from the Scottish Prison Services to the petitioners and to ask the SPS to keep the Public Petitions Committee informed of its review.

The Committee agreed to contact the clerk regarding their attendance at the meeting with the European Ombudsman, Jacob Soderman.

The meeting closed at 4.43 pm.