PE2101, on providing defibrillators for all primary and secondary schools in Scotland, was lodged by Peter Earl on behalf of Troqueer primary school.We last considered the petition on 7 May 2025, when we agreed to invite the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health to give evidence.During the oral evidence, the minister highlighted the importance of, as I said a short time ago, optimal defibrillator placement and pointed to the new PADmap tool, which shows the location of public access and identifies the areas where defibrillators are most needed.The minister stated that, during a meeting with the First Minister and Rodger and Lesley Hill, the proposal in the petition was discussed. The DH9 Foundation, which is funded by Rodger and Lesley Hill, and the Save a Life for Scotland partnership subsequently recommended taking a data-driven and localised approach to increased defibrillator access.The committee asked whether all children could be taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation in schools. The minister committed to discussing that with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.Are there any suggestions as to how we might proceed?
Official Report · Committee
Continued Petitions
Defibrillators (Schools) (PE2101)
Speakers
Choose an MSP to read only their contributions- Jackson Carlaw Con 3
- Davy Russell Lab 1
- Maurice Golden Con 1
The record
5 contributionsIn the light of the evidence that we have received, I recommend that, under rule 15.7 of standing orders, the committee closes the petition on the basis that it has raised relevant issues as part of the thematic evidence session with the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, who is the responsible minister.Although there are potential benefits to providing schools with public access defibrillators, that might have a limited impact in some local authority areas. The Scottish Government supports using the strategic PADmap tool to ensure that pads are placed where they are most likely to be used.In closing the petition, the committee could write to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health to highlight the substantive work that the committee has undertaken on this and other relevant petitions.
Thank you. I think that Mr Golden raised the location of schools during questioning.
Yes.
A lot of schools are being built in out-of-town locations, so defibrillators would not necessarily be accessible to the local community in those circumstances. Therefore, they might not be the most appropriate place for a defibrillator to be sited.Are colleagues content to agree with Mr Russell’s recommendation?Members indicated agreement.
In this meeting
Everything on 14 Jan 2026 →- 09:30 Decision on Taking Business in Private Procedure · 1
- 09:32 Energy Committee business · 89
- 09:32 Continued Petitions Petitions · 5
- 09:32 Continued Petitions Petitions · 4
- 09:32 Continued Petitions Petitions · 4
- 09:32 Continued Petitions Petitions · 3
- 11:30 Continued Petitions Petitions · 6
- 11:30 Continued Petitions Petitions · 7
- 11:30 Continued Petitions Petitions · 5
- 11:30 Continued Petitions Petitions · 5
- 11:45 Continued Petitions Petitions · 5
- 11:48 New Petitions Petitions · 2
- 11:48 New Petitions Petitions · 3
- 11:48 New Petitions Petitions · 5
- 11:48 Correction Committee business · 2
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