Chamber and committees

Good morning. A number of written submissions have raised issues on how care should be defined—for example, on where healthcare ends and social care begins. How would the panel members define social care and support?

Considering that the product does not meet British standards—which I think is really important—that there is no penalty for non-compliance regarding heat alarm systems and that local authorities will be taking a lenient and measured approach to installation, I think that the petition could be closed under rule 15.7 of the standing orders.

I agree totally with my colleague Alexander Stewart, but could the committee also write to the chair of the burial regulations working group to request that it engage with the petitioner?

The committee could also write to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, asking for his views on the petition. However, most important for the committee, we could write to COSLA, asking for information on guidance and best practice in schools on the issue.

A similar petition was considered by a predecessor committee and a lot of work was done on it. More important is that the Education, Children and Young People Committee has a similar petition before it and will work on it. We should highlight the new petition to that committee and we could then close it under rule 15.7 of standing orders.

I was going to suggest that we take the issue to the chamber for a debate, but there is also a whole list of things that we could ask the Government for information on. I will not read them out because the list is so long, but can the clerks write to the Government to ask it for that additional information?

I would be quite happy to agree with the committee’s decision.

The committee should write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills seeking an update on the work that is being undertaken to expand provision of free school meals and asking what priority is being given to extending such provision to secondary pupils.

I fully agree with Mr Stewart.

Given that the clerk’s note to the committee says that

“clinical trials will be carried out with the view to building an evidence base connected to CBPMs”,

that

“unlicensed products are not routinely available on the NHS, with licensing being the only way to ensure safety, quality and efficacy”

and that

“pending results from the clinical trials, there is no further action the Committee can take at this time”,

I consider that we should close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders. However, I would also like the committee to write to the petitioner, highlighting that trials will take place and that Scottish patients will be allowed to take part in them.