Parliament Workbench
Data: Official Report to 12 Nov 2026

Official Report · Committee

Current Petitions

Employment Opportunities for Disabled People (Public Procurement) (PE1036) Employment Opportunities for Disabled People (Home Working) (PE1069)

Tuesday 7 October 2008 Public Petitions Committee Petitions 7 contributions · 4 speakers

Speakers

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The record

7 contributions
Frank McAveety Lab The Convener · Glasgow Shettleston
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PE1036 and PE1069 are both on issues relating to sheltered workshop employers and the need to promote employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. PE1036 is from John Moist, on behalf of the Remploy consortium of trade unions, and PE1069 is from Clive McGrory and calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to encourage employers to provide home working opportunities. The papers set out a number of options on considering supported business issues. Do members have any strong preferences?

Robin Harper Green Lothians
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At the very least, we should continue our consideration of the petitions, although we should suspend it for six months until we receive a further response from the Scottish Government on the choose another way online resource centre, and on what stage the development of the framework and standards by the joint Scottish Government and COSLA task force has reached. It is far too easy for disability issues to disappear off the agenda, so we very much have a duty to continue the petitions.

Frank McAveety Lab The Convener · Glasgow Shettleston
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The recommendation to delay consideration until we receive further information is certainly sensible. Are you okay with that, John?

John Wilson SNP Central Scotland
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If we are suspending consideration of the petitions, I think that with regard to PE1069 it might be worth while to ask the Scottish Government about the current rights and protection for home workers who take up such opportunities. I know from my previous employment that home workers can be among the most vulnerable workers in society and, although we welcome increased home working opportunities, the Scottish Government must ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place to protect those workers and that their rights are not eroded simply because they work from home.

Nigel Don SNP North East Scotland
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With regard to PE1036, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism has indicated that research is being carried out on how things are going. We should by all means defer consideration of the petitions, but we should also send the Government a signal that we are not going to let this go and that this is one of those important issues that must not be forgotten about.

Frank McAveety Lab The Convener · Glasgow Shettleston
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Thank you for those recommendations. Are members agreed on the course of action?Members indicated agreement.

In this meeting

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  3. New Petitions Petitions · 48
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  26. New Petitions (Notification) Petitions · 1
  27. Petitions Process Inquiry Petitions · 2

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