Current Petitions

Petition PE594, from Mr Thomas C S Ross, is on amateur boxing in Scotland. Members will recall that we agreed to raise his concerns with both Scottish Amateur Boxing Ltd and the international amateur boxing association. We have now received responses from both groups.Although the AIBA has confirmed that its medical standards are not mandatory, SABL appears to suggest that all recommended medical examinations would be conducted if the necessary funding were available. As a result, it is suggested that the committee may now wish to write to the Scottish Executive to seek its views on the issues that the petition raises and on the responses that have been received. We could ask in particular whether the Executive would consider providing funding to ensure that all recommended medical examinations could be carried out.As for the indication in SABL's response that it will seek legal advice on a specific comment made by the petitioner, it is suggested that the committee agree to write to SABL to confirm that, under section 41 of the Scotland Act 1998, petitioners are covered by absolute privilege in proceedings in Parliament. That will make the petitioner feel a bit better.Do members agree that we should take that course of action?Members indicated agreement.