Parliament Workbench
Data: Official Report to 12 Nov 2026

Official Report · Committee

New Petitions

Scottish Executive (Complaints and Correspondence) (PE681 and PE682)

Wednesday 10 December 2003 Public Petitions Committee Petitions 10 contributions · 5 speakers

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The record

10 contributions
Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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We can take petitions PE682 and PE681 together. They are both in the name of Mr Alexander, but they cover different issues from those that are raised in PE683, which is why we did not discuss them in conjunction with that petition.

Mike Watson Lab Glasgow Cathcart
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I want to highlight a couple of procedural issues. On both petitions, under the options for action, we are asked to consider that the Parliament has no remit in relation to the internal workings of the Executive. If that is the case, I wonder why the two petitions were not ruled inadmissible.

Jim Johnston Clerk
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The Parliament has a remit in relation to Executive ministers. For example, the Standards Committee has considered the ministerial code of conduct. We do not have a remit in relation to the civil servants.

Mike Watson Lab Glasgow Cathcart
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In that case, I do not really understand the statement in the recommended action. Is the clerk saying that we do not have a remit in relation to only part of the petition?

Jackie Baillie Lab Dumbarton
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I hate to be awkward and prolong the meeting, but is it not the case that, through ministers, one can consider the whole issue, because they are ultimately responsible?

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Possibly. We will consider the petitions and see whether we can determine that.

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Petition PE681 asks the Parliament to urge the Executive to establish a transparent and independent procedure for handling public complaints about its operations. Petition PE682 requests that the Parliament urge the Executive to establish a transparent correspondence-handling procedure that the public can access. Those are specific issues. Do members see why there is a limit to what we can ask in relation to them?

Linda Fabiani SNP Central Scotland
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We should just pass copies of the petitions to the Executive, given that it is reviewing its procedures at the moment, and ask it to include consideration of the petitions in its deliberations.

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Are members happy with that?Members indicated agreement.

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