Chamber and committees

There is no doubt that COSLA has a strong case with reference to the estate, but the Children and Young People’s Commissioner also gave us some suggestions. It might therefore be useful to not close the petition at this stage but seek more information. I suggest that we write to the Scottish Government to ask what consideration has been given to reviewing and updating the learning estate strategy in the light of the comments that the Children and Young People’s Commissioner has made. That might give us further indication. I acknowledge what COSLA says and that the petition may not be able to progress after that, but, at this stage, it might be useful for us to get some of that information.

As you say, this is a very topical issue and members and communities have been sceptical about what is taking place. More requires to be done. We should keep the petition open. It might be useful to find out from the Scottish Government what proportion of Scotland currently has superfast broadband and when it is anticipated that all households will have it. In your comments, you touched on rural locations and geographical challenges. It is vital that we find out whether the Government has evaluated the full fibre broadband charter in Scotland and the efficacy of extending and expanding the build into remote, rural and geographically challenging areas. That is the crux of it. It is those locations that have the problem. Those communities and their representatives are sceptical about where things are going and how they are progressing. If we can get some of that information from the Scottish Government, it will help our deliberation.

I am more than happy to take the views of the committee, convener.

I concur with Mr Torrance’s comments. It is vital that we find out where the defibrillators are and their background. I am aware that charitable organisations also do a lot of work on this; they fundraise for local areas and provide defibrillators. It might be useful to find out whether they are doing anything. I know, for example, that the Order of St John is doing a national campaign across Scotland to introduce defibrillators to churches, golf clubs and other appropriate locations. It would be useful to find out whether anything that they are doing could complement or supplement what will happen through Mr Torrance’s suggestions.

So you really want to see it embedded in the process that there should be a liaison officer who is seconded and then given the opportunity to support.

Stephanie, thank you for your bravery today. That is much appreciated.

You talked in your statement about the failings and the trust that has been lost. I can very much appreciate that being the case, but what would you like to see improved with families? That is what you want to see here—that nobody else is put through a similar situation to what you had.

I think that we should write to the Scottish Government requesting an update on when the analysis report and policy response to the consultation into ending the sale of energy drinks to children and young people will be published. In addition, I would suggest that we recommend that it commissions further research into the effects of fast-release caffeine products on children and young people, particularly those participating in physical activity.

It might also be useful to seek some clarity from UK Athletics, to seek its views on where we are in relation to the issues that are raised in the petition. Information on any action that it is undertaking to address the potential risks to athletes under 18 using fast-release caffeine products for performance enhancement would give us an indication as to how that is being managed and processed.

We need to write to the Scottish Government to seek some more clarity on what consideration is given to the national impact of garages to homes developments in the Scottish Borders, whether it believes that a broader evaluation of such developments is required, and whether it recognises the value in assessing factors such as social impact as part of any evaluation of such developments. It is perhaps an opportunity to get COSLA’s view on the petition from a planning and local authority perspective. That would give us a flavour of how it sees the process.

Minister, you have touched on the deposit return scheme. How would the deposit return scheme operate in schools and what impact could it have on the use of bottled water?

We have heard that there is no need for a change and no information that it will be a reality. I suggest that we close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders on the basis that the Scottish Government does not plan to change the electoral system to prevent a councillor from remaining in post following their resignation from the political party that they represented when elected.