Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
7th Meeting, 2021
The Committee considered the following continued petitions—
PE1662: Improve Treatment for Patients with Lyme Diseases and Associated Tick-borne Diseases. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders in recognition of the significant positive progress that has been made since this petition originated in 2017 namely that the Scottish Government has engaged directly with the petitioners; the establishment of the education of healthcare professionals sub-group which will look at resources being used by GPs, options for additional learning and development and the introduction of Lyme Disease Champions and the public awareness raising sub-group which will look at options for strategies to implement messaging around Lyme Disease to targeted groups and the wider public; That the Scottish Government is committed to establishing an Infectious Diseases Managed Clinical Network; and the Scottish Government will work with the Scottish Lyme Disease and Tick-borne Infections Laboratory at Raigmore Hospital which is undertaking significant research relevant to this petition. The Committee also agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
PE1804: Halt Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd's Air Traffic Management Strategy. The Committee agreed to write to Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd and key stakeholders.
PE1837: Provide clear direction and investment for autism support. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care.
PE1838: Regulation of non-statutory child advocacy services. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the creation of a new section 100A to the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 will provide that the Scottish Ministers must make such provision as they consider necessary and sufficient to ensure that all children concerned in proceedings in which the court is considering making an order under section 11 of the 1995 Act [on matters such as child contact and residence] have access to appropriate child advocacy services; The Minister for Community Safety has stated that she is not in a position at this stage to commit to a consultation on the regulation of non-statutory child advocacy services; the Committee has considered views from key stakeholders on the action called for in the petition.
PE1854: Review the adult disability payment eligibility criteria for people with mobility needs. The Committee agreed to write to Citizen’s Advice Scotland, Parkinson’s UK Scotland and Neurological Alliance of Scotland and MS Society Scotland.
PE1857: Regulate the role of curator ad litem. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that Section 17 of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 makes provision for a new regulatory regime for curators ad litem and is expected to be operational by 2023.
PE1860: New Legislation for Prescription and Limitation Act. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
PE1865: Suspend All Surgical Mesh and Fixation Devices. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport and Shouldice Hospital.
PE1886: Establish a specialist paediatric liver centre in Scotland. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Government has explained that processes currently exist for patients to request assistance with booking travel, and they can claim costs back from their Health Board; and that the Scottish Government has plans for a comprehensive review of the arrangements in place for the provision of financial support for patient travel. The Committee also agreed to write to the Scottish Government.
The Committee considered the following new petitions—
PE1900: Access to prescribed medication for detainees in police custody. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and relevant drug treatment charities.
PE1901: Replace the voting system for the Scottish Parliament with a more proportional alternative. The Committee agreed to write to the Electoral Reform Society Scotland and the Electoral Commission.
PE1902: To allow an appeal process for Community Participation Requests. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Community Development Centre.
PE1908: Review the impact of the vaccine passport regulations. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Government must review these Regulations at least every 21 days as set out in Regulation 18 of SSI 2021/227; the First Minister updates Parliament on the status and implementation of the regulations in her weekly Ministerial Statement on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Recovery Committee takes evidence from Scottish Ministers every fortnight on the Ministerial Statement on COVID-19; the COVID-19 Recovery Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry which will include reviewing the vaccine passport scheme. The Committee also decided to write to the COVID-19 Recovery Committee to highlight the issues raised in this petition.