Current Petitions

The fact is that the Scottish Government cannot apologise on behalf of other Governments and public bodies. That is just the way things work. However, it recognises that Gypsy Travellers are among the most disfranchised and discriminated against people in Scotland. We have been well aware of that during the past 12 years since the Parliament was set up, and we have had meetings with Gypsy Travellers and listened to their concerns. That specifically answers the petition in that respect. The Scottish Government, in recognition that Gypsy Travellers are a distinct ethnic group that has suffered particular discrimination, is working to address the priorities that have been fed into the race equality statement as a result of the Equal Opportunities Committee’s second inquiry.We have no option but to close the petition. The Government is doing what it can, but the one thing that it cannot do is apologise on behalf of other Governments and public bodies.