Chamber and committees

Considering the evidence before us, I wonder whether we could close the petition, under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the Scottish Government has clear guidance to support transgender young people in schools as needed. Withdrawing the existence guidance would be detrimental to the wellbeing of transgender young people and would leave teachers and schools without national guidance to inform them and support their decisions. The case review of NHS services provided in England has no significance in the provision of educational materials for schools in Scotland.

I wonder whether the committee would consider writing to the Scottish Refugee Council, JustRight Scotland, COSLA, Police Scotland and the Mears Group to draw their attention to the Scottish Government’s initial view, and to seek their views on the action that is called for in the petition.

Considering the responses that the committee has received, I wonder whether the committee would consider closing the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that redress and enforcement aspects of consumer protection remain reserved to the UK Parliament, and provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill are expected to strengthen the enforcement powers of the Competition and Markets Authority. The Scottish Government has no intention, at this time, to seek to make extended powers available to the SPSO or to create a new body in this area.

I wonder whether the committee will consider closing the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the Scottish Government is clear that guidance to support transgender young people in schools is needed and that it has accepted the LGBTI inclusive education working group’s recommendations on that approach to inclusive education.

I wonder whether the committee would consider writing to the Scottish Government to highlight the issues that St John Scotland has identified in communicating with some local authorities. We could ask the Government whether it is aware of any local authorities that have refused to engage with charities and community groups or that have refused to provide planning permission for public access defibrillator installations and, if so, why that has occurred, and how it intends to work with local authorities to improve their engagement with charities and community groups that seek to install PADs.

The committee could also ask the Government whether it has considered providing a specific fund for the provision of defibrillators in areas of greatest need in Scotland that would be similar to the funds that exist in England and Wales, and whether it will consider making representations to the UK Government to update the health and safety at work legislation to include defibrillator provision as part of the minimum first aid requirements.

In light of the evidence that the Government has given to the committee on the impact of the legislation, would the committee consider closing the petition under rule 15.7 of the standing orders, on the basis that the Scottish Government has no current plans to bring forward primary legislation to change the 24-week threshold for registering a stillbirth to 20 weeks, and it does not plan to make any changes to the requirement for separate registers of stillbirths and births?

I would like to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders on the basis that the Scottish Government has confirmed that the remit of a fair fares review includes consideration of concessionary travel schemes for disabled people and their companions travelling by rail. In closing the petition, I remind the petitioner that, if the fares review does not meet what they are trying to do, they could bring the petition back in 12 months.

I wonder whether the committee would consider writing to the Stroke Association and Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland to seek their views on the action that the petition calls for. The committee could also write to the Scottish Government to seek clarification on what consideration has been given to using the BE FAST model to help to raise awareness of the symptoms of strokes.

Sharon Wiener-Ogilvie mentioned growing your own workforce. What impact is depopulation in remote and rural areas having on the ability to get that workforce?

Good morning to the panel members. Some of you touched on these issues earlier, but can you expand on what infrastructure improvements would encourage people to apply for posts in remote and rural areas?