Minutes: 15 May 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private. 

2. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petitions:  

PE1919: Ban the sale of high caffeine products to children for performance enhancement. The Committee agreed to write to relevant stakeholders.  

PE1962: Stop motorhomes parking overnight out with formal campsites, caravan parks and Aires. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.  

PE1964: Create an independent review of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament Finance and Public Administration Committee. 

PE1975: Reform the law relating to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Victims and Community Safety. 

PE2028: Extend the concessionary bus travel scheme to include people seeking asylum in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to Transport Scotland. 

PE2030: Review cultural funding arrangements to enable Scotland to contribute to the Venice Biennale in 2024. The Committee agreed to write to Creative Scotland. 

3. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions: 

PE2079: Introduce legislation to provide for exemptions in paying medical facility parking charges and to create a new classification of parking badge for care-givers. The Committee agreed to write to Disability Equality Scotland, COSLA, Carers Scotland and the Scottish Government.  

PE2080: Implement the recommended screening guidelines for people with Li Fraumeni Syndrome. The Committee agreed to write to Cancer Research UK, the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland genetic laboratories in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. 

PE2081: Make chronic kidney disease a key clinical priority. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. 

PE2084: Allow alkaline hydrolysis. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. 

PE2085: Introduce a statutory definition of residency for Fatal Accident Inquiries into the deaths of Scots abroad. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Police Scotland and relevant legal stakeholders.  

4. Update on public participation:

The Committee agreed a recommendation by the Parliament's Participation and Communities Team to endorse the proposal by the Cross-committee on tackling drug deaths and drug harm for a People's Panel to inform the cross-committee’s scrutiny and to recommend this to Conveners Group as the topic for the next Peoples’ Panel.