Minutes: 07 February 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 5 and 6 in private.

2. Inquiry into A9 Dualling Project:

The Committee took evidence from—

Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, Scottish Government;

Lawrence Shackman, Director, Major Projects, Jo Blewett, Head of Sustainable Transport Projects and Rob Galbraith, Head of Project Delivery, Transport Scotland.

3. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petition—

PE1979: Establish an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies, and took evidence from—

Neil McLennan, Petitioner

Alison Dickie, Petitioner

Bill Cook, Petitioner

Brendan Barnett, Whistleblower

and then considered—

PE1930: Ensure customers are always given information on cheapest possible fare in new Scotrail contract. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Transport. 

PE1945: Ban the extraction and use of peat for horticulture and all growing media by 2023. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

PE1946: To call on the Scottish Government to pay all charges for homeless temporary accommodation. The Committee agreed to write to COSLA and the Scottish Government.

PE2006: Review and simplify the legislation in relation to dismissal of property factors. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Victims and Community Safety.

PE2008: Provide funding for a separate mental health A&E for children. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport.

4. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions—

PE2060: Review existing legislation and legal remedies against trespassers. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

PE2062: Introduce a National Screening Programme for Prostate Cancer. The Committee agreed to write to the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC).

5. Evidence session (In Private):

The Committee agreed to defer the consideration of the evidence it heard under agenda items 2 and 3 to a future meeting. The Committee also agreed that this will be considered in private.

6. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme.