Scottish Parliament launches petitions DVD to reach out to communities

CPET005/2005 | 30 November 2005

Accessibility to the work of the Scottish Parliament is taking another step forward with the launch of a DVD explaining the Parliament's petitioning process. View the DVD online.

Aimed at those working in the community, the DVD will help to bridge the information gap by explaining how participants can engage with the democratic process through the Parliament's Public Petitions Committee, and its ePetitions system.

The DVD includes interviews with MSPs, parliament staff and petitioners and uses real-life examples of how the Public Petitions Committee has been an instrument for change.

The idea for the DVD was initially put forward by participants at a Public Petitions Committee event in Dundee in June 2004. This event was the first in a series of events across Scotland aimed at promoting the public petitions system and it is hoped that the DVD will also be useful in increasing awareness of petitioning the Parliament.

Three members of the public who have petitioned the Scottish Parliament will attend a reception in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow, where the DVD will be screened to around 40 invited guests from the community sector.

The three petitioners - Chris Daly from Glasgow , Paul Macdonald from Edinburgh and Margaret Scott from Edinburgh - will participate in a question and answer session at the reception, along with Deputy Presiding Officer, Murray Tosh MSP and members of the Public Petitions Committee.

Deputy Presiding Officer, Murray Tosh MSP, said:

"The Public Petitions Committee is to be congratulated on its continued innovative and exciting work in encouraging public engagement with the Parliament.

"The launch of this DVD follows quickly after the recognition of the Parliament's e-petitions system at the eEurope Awards and once again emphasises our commitment to developing a more participatory politics in Scotland ."

Committee Convener, Michael McMahon MSP, said:

"The Public Petitions Committee has been one of the success stories of the Scottish Parliament. It has hailed a new era of political engagement and members of the public have responded in their thousands.

"It is vital the process is open and understandable to as many community groups and workers to possible. The petitions we receive can effect real change in the political process and I am sure this DVD will open up the practice to many more people."

The Parliament's Public Petitions Committee has been highlighted as an example of good practice by several institutions around Europe . Last week, the ePetition system made it to the last four nominees for a prestigious European award at the 2005 Ministerial eGovernment Conference in Manchester .

Around 1,000 copies of the 10-minute DVD are being sent to community organisations across Scotland .

The DVD has been produced internally by the Parliament's Broadcasting Unit and the Public Participation services.

Background Note on petitioners attending event:

The details of the petitions submitted by the three members of the public who are attending the reception are as follows:

Chris Daly (Glasgow) - Petition PE535 calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to (a) make an inquiry into past institutional child abuse, in particular for those children who were in the care of the State under the supervision of religious orders and (b) make unreserved apology for said State bodies and to urge the religious orders to apologise unconditionally.

Petition PE888 calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive, in the interests of those who have suffered institutional child abuse, to (a) reform Court of Session rules to allow 'fast-track' court hearings in personal injury cases; (b) review the implementation of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973; and (c) to implement the recommendations of the Law Commission report on the Limitation of Actions.

Both of these petitions remain active. Petition PE535 was debated in Parliament on 1 December 2004 when the First Minister offered a full apology on behalf of the people of Scotland to those who were subject to institutional child abuse.

Paul Macdonald (Edinburgh) is a local sword manufacturer who petitioned on behalf of the Save our Swords Campaign, calling for the Scottish Parliament to oppose the introduction of any ban on the sale or possession of swords in Scotland which are used for legitimate historical, cultural, artistic, sporting, economic and religious purposes. His petition is also ongoing.

Margaret Scott (Edinburgh) lodged petition PE798 calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to resolve the current critical problems in the provision of wheelchairs and specialist seating services within the NHS by both an immediate increase in funding and through a review, which in consultation with users, will address minimum standards, the scope of equipment provided and the delivery of services.

Adult and community education workers who would like a DVD or video copy should contact
the Public Information Service:

Tel: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)

Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome

email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Background on the petitions system's recent praise

Overall, more than 900 petitions have now been lodged.

At the 2005 Ministerial eGovernment Conference in Manchester , the Parliament's ePetitions system received a Good Practice Label from the judges. For more information on this, visit

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-comm-05/cpet05-004.htm

In August, the German Parliament - the Bundestag - announced it was launching an electronic petitions system based on a version used by the committee. For more information on this, visit http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-comm-05/cpet05-003.htm

There was also praise for the Parliament's e-petitioning facility at an event in the European Parliament in Brussels in May, held by EPRI (European Parliaments Research Initiative) Knowledge.
For more information on this, visit
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-05/pa05-046.htm

And earlier this month, a European Parliament official visited the Parliament for guidance on setting up a web television channel following the success of http://www.holyrood.tv .

For further information on the Parliament's e-democracy work visit http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/edemocracy

Access Arrangements

Media including press photographers and TV cameras are invited to meet at the Parliament's Canongate Entrance at 5.45pm on Thursday evening.

Media without Scottish Parliament media accreditation should contact the Scottish Parliament Media Relations Office to organise a day pass (0131 348 6265).

The Parliament's media contact is:

Sally Coyne Tel: 0131 348 6269
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk