Current Petitions

The next two petitions are on the broad topic of institutional child abuse. PE535, by Mr Chris Daly, calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to make an inquiry into past institutional child abuse, particularly in respect of children who were in the care of the state and under the supervision of religious orders, to make an unreserved apology for said state bodies, and to urge the religious orders to apologise unconditionally. The petition was lodged quite a while ago; in fact, it is the second-oldest petition in the system.PE888, which is also by Chris Daly, calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive, in the interests of people who have suffered institutional child abuse, to reform Court of Session rules to allow fast-track court hearings in personal injury cases, to review the implementation of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, and to implement the recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission report on the limitation of actions.We have considered the information that has been submitted, and there have been fairly extensive debates and discussions on the issues that have been raised—indeed, ministerial statements have been made. I recollect the former First Minister and ministers with responsibility for education and children making statements on institutional child abuse.Do members have any views on how the committee should deal with the petitions?

We should close consideration of them. The petitions have been successful in bringing a grave issue into the public arena and ensuring that things have happened. There has been great movement, and people have taken seriously the concerns that have been expressed, as they should have done. What has happened shows that submitting petitions to the committee works.

Do members agree that we should follow the course of action that Rhoda Grant suggests?Members indicated agreement.