Parliament Workbench
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Official Report · Committee

New Petitions

Charter for Grandchildren (PE1051)

Tuesday 2 October 2007 Public Petitions Committee Petitions 6 contributions · 3 speakers

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The record

6 contributions
Frank McAveety Lab The Convener · Glasgow Shettleston
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The next petition is PE1051, by Jimmy Deuchars, on behalf of Grandparents Apart Self-help Group Scotland. The petition calls on the Parliament to urge the Executive to make the charter for grandchildren legally binding to ensure that the rights of children are recognised by all public agencies and families and are enforced by law. Before being formally lodged, the petition was hosted on the e-petition system; between 27 February and 14 April it gathered 277 signatures. A further 95 signatures have been provided in hard copy.Do members have any views on the petition?

Tricia Marwick SNP Central Fife
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I declare yet another interest, in that I am a grandma.

Tricia Marwick SNP Central Fife
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I know, but I was a child bride, which helped in the first place.I cannot imagine a circumstance in which I would not have access to my little grandson. I sympathise deeply with those who have no contact with their grandchildren. I took my grandson to the park yesterday and I know full well the important role that grandparents play. On whether the charter for grandchildren should be legally binding, we should write to the Scottish Government to ask what plans it has to make the charter more robust than it is at the moment. I am not sure that we can make it completely legally binding, but there is some way for it to go. We should seek the views of the Scottish Government.

Rhoda Grant Lab Highlands and Islands
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I agree. Grandparents play a huge role in the lives of their grandchildren. I know of a lot of cases in which grandparents have taken over the care of grandchildren. In some cases, grandparents are not consulted and are left battling in the dark. I would agree with anything that would help grandparents get support. I know that Children 1st has groups of grandparents and supports family groups. It would be worth consulting it on the issue, as well as asking the Scottish Government for its thoughts.

Frank McAveety Lab The Convener · Glasgow Shettleston
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I believe that the petitioner is present in the public gallery. We will ask the Government for its position on the issues raised and on the legal framework. The petitioner has heard from members of the committee that there is general sympathy with the petition. We have to consider the legal interpretation and which rights are paramount. I hope that we will get a response; once we do, we will continue the process for the petition.

In this meeting

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