Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Diagnosis and Treatment) (PE1402)
Agenda item 3 is consideration of current petitions. The first petition is PE1402, by Richard Jones, on behalf of Addressing the Balance, on a strategy and policy for diagnosing and treating adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Scotland. Members have a note by the clerk on the petition. As the Scottish Government’s mental health strategy has now been published and a commitment has been given to develop appropriate specialist capability, which meets the terms of the petition, we are in a good position to close the petition. Do members agree?
Bond of Caution (PE1412)
The second current petition is PE1412, by Bill McDowell, on bonds of caution. Members have a note by the clerk on the petition, which is paper 6, and submissions. Members may wish to comment on the petition, but I think that there is a strong argument for continuing it until the Scottish Government’s consultation on succession law is complete.
I agree.
I had better check that I have got the right petition, convener, because I was caught out in that regard at the previous meeting.
I am perfectly relaxed about referring the petition to the Justice Committee. I do not have an up-to-date concept of its work programme, but I know that it is a busy committee. Nevertheless, it is perfectly competent to deal with the petition. If members wish to pass the petition to that committee, I would certainly agree to do so.
I am happy to wait for the outcome of the consultation before taking that decision.
What are other members’ views?
I can see the merits of both arguments, but I suppose it would be fair to wait until the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation report.
I certainly would not rule out our referring the petition at that stage, but the consultation report would give us a bit more intelligence on the issue.
I accept Mr Carlaw’s desire to keep the petition open. [Laughter.]
I think it is a case of “Physician, heal thyself.”
You can dine out on that.
Is it agreed that we keep the petition open until the Scottish Government’s consultation on succession law is complete?
Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act 1855 (PE1415)
The third current petition is PE1415, by John Steele, on updating the Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act 1855. Members have a note by the clerk on the petition. Having looked at the issue in detail—members will remember the evidence from our previous discussion of the petition—I think that there is a strong argument for closing the petition, given that the Scottish Government has followed through on the issues raised by the petition and that the excavation of Ardrossan cemetery has now taken place. In my mind there is certainly a strong argument for closing the petition. Do members agree that we should do that?
I would just say that I like the last paragraph of the Scottish Government’s recent response to us, in which the Government seems to indicate what the decision on the petition will be. The Government has made a helpful recommendation with regard to the petition, but it might be worth our while to remind the Government—through the Official Report of this meeting—that it is the Public Petitions Committee that decides whether or not to close petitions or refer them on, not civil servants in the Scottish Government.
John Wilson is exactly right: irrespective of what decision we take, it is our decision and no one else’s. Nevertheless, we are still closing the petition.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority Local Office Closures (PE1425)
The fourth current petition is PE1425, by Maureen Harkness, on the adverse impacts of DVLA local office closures. Members have a note by the clerk on the petition and submissions. There was a late submission from the petitioner, which was circulated on Friday. I invite contributions on the petition from members. We could refer the petition to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee. However, I leave it open to members to make the decision. John Wilson?
Thank you, convener, but I have no comment to make on this at the present time.
Are members happy to refer the petition to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee under rule 15.6.2?
I note that following the request of—I think—Mr Wilson to consult the Scottish Motor Trade Association, it rather supported my view that there is nothing great to be lost by closure of DVLA offices. However, the SMTA has concerns about effective provision of services after that, rather than about the DVLA offices mechanism.
Just to clarify, the SMTA raised concerns about the cost of delivering the new services. I am sure that Mr Carlaw, when wearing another hat, would be quite concerned about the changes to the provision of DVLA services. The SMTA believes that, instead of saving costs, they could cost us more money.
I am sure that our colleagues on the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee will look carefully at our comments.
National Donor Breast Milk Bank (PE1426)
The fifth current petition is PE1426, by Donna Scott, on a national donor milk bank service. Members have a note by the clerk on the petition and the submissions. I think that there is quite a strong argument for continuing the petition until next spring. Do members agree with that course of action?
A83 (Improvements) (PE1428)
The sixth and final current petition is PE1428, by Councillor Douglas Philand on behalf of Argyll First, on improvements for the A83. Members have a note by the clerk on the petition and the submissions.
As you will know, convener, there is on-going discussion about a ferry between Campbeltown and Troon, but there are issues about volumes and financial stability.
My recommendation is that we continue the petition to chase up the points that have been raised here and the point in option 1 of paragraph 15 of the clerk’s paper. Does any other member wish to contribute?
On the responses to the petitioner’s point about the economic impact of road closures, we had a wider discussion about the economic impact of the road network for the region when we took oral evidence. We suggested writing to local authorities in the area to ask whether they had undertaken any assessment of the economic impact of expanding the road network. The petitioner raised the issue of the economic impact of road closures, but it might be worth writing to him to ask whether he has had any joy through asking the local authorities or Highlands and Islands Enterprise whether they have done a review of the economic impact on the area of improving the roads.
HIE would certainly have an interest in the issue, but I do not know whether it has done any assessments in that regard. I will meet HIE’s new chair in a few weeks’ time, but perhaps we should independently contact HIE about the issue.
I thank members for their contribution to today’s busy meeting.
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