Current Petitions

Item 2 is consideration of current petitions, the first of which is PE504, on convicted murderers profiting from their crimes by selling accounts of them for publication. The petitioners are calling on the Scottish Parliament to take the necessary steps to stop convicted murderers or members of their families from profiting from their crimes by selling accounts of them for publication.At its meeting on 26 May 2004, the committee considered a response from the Minister for Justice and agreed to invite the minister to confirm when the Home Office is likely to be in a position to consult on the issue and whether the Executive has any role in the on-going review that will take place prior to proposals being published. The minister's response and subsequent advice from Executive officials is that the Home Office has not reached the stage of having firm proposals on which to consult.

I notice that this is the ninth time that the committee or its predecessor has considered the petition. Given that the Home Office is not yet in a position to say what its proposals might be, the petition should be put on the back burner until such time as we hear the outcome of the Home Office's deliberations, whenever that may be.

Do we just leave it on the table or do we close it? Are you suggesting that we just leave it until there is movement on the issue?

Yes, the latter. As soon as we hear something from the Home Office, we might reactivate the petition. At the moment, there is nothing else that we can do.

I agree entirely. I wonder whether we should write to the Home Office asking it to let us know when it makes a decision, just to be certain that we get advised.

Is that okay?Members indicated agreement.