Referred Petitions

Item 5 concerns a short paper from the committee clerk, relating to a small number of petitions that, having been referred to subject committees by the previous Public Petitions Committee, were still current at the time of dissolution. They now need to be re-referred so that new subject committees can scrutinise them.The paper suggests that PE749, which was being dealt with by the Environment and Rural Development Committee, be referred to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee; that PE799, relating to an area of coast at Lamlash Bay, which was being dealt with by the Environment and Rural Development Committee, be referred to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee; that PE853, relating to legislation on educational facilities for children with special needs, which was being dealt with by the Education Committee, be referred to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee; and that PE872, relating to a presumption against the closure of rural schools, which was being dealt with by the Education Committee, be referred to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee.The paper also suggests that PE903, on planning policy with regard to ecovillages, which was being dealt with by the Communities Committee, be referred to the Local Government and Communities Committee; that PE954, on the care 21 group's report, which was being dealt with by the Health Committee, be referred to the Health and Sport Committee; that PE956, on the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c) Regulations 1994, which was being dealt with by the Environment and Rural Development Committee, be referred to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee; that PE982, on ship-to-ship transfers of oil in the Forth estuary, which was being dealt with by the Environment and Rural Development Committee, be referred to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee; and that PE1011, which was being dealt with by the Environment and Rural Development Committee, be referred to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee. Do members agree to those suggestions?

I thank the petitioners and members for their contributions to today's meeting.