{"links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json","first":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json","last":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json?page=4","next":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json?page=2","prev":null},"data":[{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1875","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1875.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Public inquiry into the Scottish Qualifications Authority","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to order a public inquiry into the actions of the Scottish Qualifications Authority during academic years 2019-20 and 2020-21. ","previous_action":"I have contacted my newly elected MSP Jackie Dunbar and had no response.","background_information":"In the last two academic years we have seen major failings by both Scottish Government and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in terms of closing the attainment gap within the education system.  \r\n\r\nI believe that young people have been severely let down and now the SQA seem to be passing the blame onto teaching staff. This is totally unacceptable. \r\n\r\nThere needs to be a review of the SQA’s actions during the last two academic years, which includes young people across Scotland. We cannot keep letting history repeat itself because, I believe, young people are slowly losing faith in the Scottish Government and the SQA.","petitioner":"Jordon Anderson","status":"collecting_signatures","signature_count":3,"created_at":"2021-05-24T19:24:59.704Z","updated_at":"2021-05-28T08:21:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-27T08:19:48.853Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-06-24T22:59:59.999Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Jordon Anderson","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1874","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1874.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Introduce legislation to create artillery and firearms exclusion zones around places of spiritual importance and religious worship","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce legislation to create artillery and firearms exclusion zones around places of spiritual importance and religious worship within Scotland.","previous_action":"Contact has been made with MSPs, MPs, Councillors, and the Dumfries & Galloway Local Authority Planning Department. All parliamentary politicians have been openly supportive in their correspondence, however none are in a practical position to submit a Member's Bill to the Scottish Parliament, to likely effect the change in Scottish Law that we seek.","background_information":"There is currently nothing in law to prohibit the development of firearms ranges in close proximity to places of spiritual importance and religious worship. \r\n\r\nApplications for two new private firearms ranges have recently been made for development beside Samye Ling Buddhist Monastery in Dumfriesshire. This is a site of national spiritual importance, being the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the western world, drawing international visitors to Scotland seeking peace of mind, for over 50 years.\r\n\r\nThe operators have marketed their sites to the US military, who have already held exercises on the land.\r\n\r\nThe sound of regular gunfire would be intrusively detrimental to Samye Ling’s peaceful environment.\r\n\r\nWe believe that no new firearms range should ever be approved within 5 miles of an established cathedral, temple, synagogue, mosque, or monastery.\r\nThis would protect the peaceful environment sought by people visiting or staying at these places and mean they are not subject to the intrusive and violent noise of regular audible gunfire.","petitioner":"Dr Conrad Harvey","status":"collecting_signatures","signature_count":4743,"created_at":"2021-05-19T19:52:36.275Z","updated_at":"2021-05-30T04:39:10.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-26T08:15:24.523Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-06-23T22:59:59.999Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Dr Conrad Harvey","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1873","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1873.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Provide hypnotherapy for the treatment of mental health, psychosomatic disorders and chronic pain","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to instruct the NHS to provide hypnotherapy for the treatment of mental health, psychosomatic disorders and chronic pain.","previous_action":"I submitted a paper to Miles Briggs MSP who submitted it to Shona Robinson in February 2018. A response was received from her explaining that it was up to individual health boards to determine what treatments they will provide.","background_information":"Hypnotherapy has been in use for over five thousand years, the earliest written records were found in Hieroglyphs in ancient Egyptian tombs dating to around 3000 BC. \r\n\r\nIn 1899 the British Medical Association (BMA) set up an investigation into hypnosis and found that it was both scientifically and medically proven as a sound healing modality and was in use by many doctors untill 1949 when the House of Lords made the following decision:\r\n\r\n\"It is not envisaged that the NHS will be dealing with Mental Health issues therefor Hypnotherapy, acupuncture and other holistic remedies should remain in the Private Sector\"\r\n\r\nClearly the situation has changed.\r\n\r\nCurrent talk therapies used by the NHS need a large number of sessions and have long waiting lists. Hypnotherapy can resolve issues in on average three sessions and are much longer lasting resolutions. The saving on drug medication would be more than enough to cover any costs and waiting times for treatment can be rapidly reduced.","petitioner":"Graeme Harvey on behalf of the Scottish Hypnotherapy Foundation","status":"collecting_signatures","signature_count":72,"created_at":"2021-05-22T12:32:55.477Z","updated_at":"2021-05-29T23:37:30.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-25T09:10:21.596Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-06-22T22:59:59.999Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Graeme Harvey on behalf of the Scottish Hypnotherapy Foundation","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1872","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1872.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Improve the reliability of island ferry services","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to urgently ensure that all Islanders have access to reliable ferry services. ","previous_action":"I have contacted Alasdair Allan MSP. ","background_information":"Unreliable ferry services are causing huge losses to island economies. After a very difficult 18 months with no tourists, holidaymakers who had booked for this year are now cancelling as Calmac regularly cancel their ferry bookings. \r\n\r\nIn Uist, we are suffering tremendously and constantly refunding people's bookings. As a very small island we do not have a choice of employment and we need the tourists back. \r\n\r\nIslanders have been told by Calmac that they will not be allowed on ferries to the mainland until 8th June. The Uist ferry, Lord of the Isles, is consistently deployed to cover other ferries which have broken down, leaving us without a reliable service. Many islanders cannot afford to fly. \r\n\r\nPeople want to come here on holiday, but this situation is putting them off. We stuck rigidly to the covid rules and thought there would be light at the end of the tunnel, but the current situation is disastrous. ","petitioner":"Liz Mcnicol","status":"collecting_signatures","signature_count":591,"created_at":"2021-05-22T17:05:35.581Z","updated_at":"2021-05-29T22:54:10.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-24T13:32:38.605Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-06-21T22:59:59.999Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Liz Mcnicol","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1871","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1871.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Full review of mental health services","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to carry out a full review of mental health services in Scotland to include the referral process; crisis support; risk assessments; safe plans; intergraded services working together; first response support and the support available to families affected by suicide.","previous_action":"I have contacted my MSP Monica Lennon who raised the issue at first minister questions. I also met with Clare Haughey MSP, then Minister for Mental Health, and raised my concerns. ","background_information":"My partner Luke Henderson died by suicide in December 2017 after asking for help up to eight times in the week before his death. I feel mental health services and the risk assessment failed Luke in his hour of need.\r\n\r\nLuke’s situation is not unique and now families are joining together to push for a fit for purpose mental health service. All these families had someone who tried to access mental health service prior to their deaths and were turned away with no help, resulting in them taking their own life. \r\n\r\nWith so many people slipping through the crack, we want a fit for purpose mental health service to ensure no other families feel this pain.\r\n\r\nThe review should also look at the process for people who died by suicide and had been in contact with mental health service within seven day prior to their death and support service for families who lost a loved one to suicide.","petitioner":"Karen McKeown on behalf of Shining lights for change","status":"collecting_signatures","signature_count":529,"created_at":"2021-05-17T21:34:27.682Z","updated_at":"2021-05-29T21:26:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-24T10:04:09.185Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-06-21T22:59:59.999Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Karen McKeown on behalf of Shining lights for change","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1870","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1870.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Ensure teachers of autistic pupils are appropriately qualified ","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce legislation requiring teachers of autistic pupils to be appropriately qualified to improve educational outcomes.","previous_action":"I have contacted MSPs and spoken with education authorities but things have not changed.","background_information":"Special conditions apply to the employment of teachers of hearing-impaired and visually impaired pupils. Both require teachers to obtain appropriate qualifications before they can be employed by education authority to teach such pupils.\r\n\r\nI would like to petition the Scottish Parliament so teachers who teach children with autism must have an appropriate autism qualification.\r\n\r\nI would like special conditions to apply to the employment of teachers of autistic pupils. I would like the education authority to only employ teachers with an appropriate autism qualification to teach pupils with autism.","petitioner":"Edward Fowler","status":"collecting_signatures","signature_count":299,"created_at":"2021-05-21T09:12:05.523Z","updated_at":"2021-05-29T22:25:40.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-24T09:02:02.515Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-06-21T22:59:59.999Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Edward Fowler","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1869","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1869.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Make it law for all railway stations to have step free access","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce legislation that requires all railway stations to have step free access.","previous_action":"I have contacted the Scottish Government but received no reply.","background_information":"People who have disabilities and are unable to walk up steps  are appalled that the Scottish Government is not doing anything to make sure they can access ALL Railway Stations in Scotland. This means that some people who can’t drive are unable to get on a train either.\r\n\r\nThe Scottish Government NEEDS to do more so that people are not disadvantaged due to their disabilities.\r\n","petitioner":"Dillon Crawford","status":"collecting_signatures","signature_count":4,"created_at":"2021-05-18T15:15:56.080Z","updated_at":"2021-05-26T22:24:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-20T10:39:43.843Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-06-17T22:59:59.999Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Dillon Crawford","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1868","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1868.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Support for working single parents","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide support to single parents by—\r\n*increasing the council tax discount available to single parents from 25% to 50%; and\r\n*lobbying the UK Government to create a working single parent tax allowance and a household income-based child benefit.","previous_action":"I have contacted MSPs Rona Mackay, Neil Bibby, Ross Greer and Jamie Greene.\r\n\r\nI have also emailed Nicola Sturgeon. ","background_information":"I believe that single working parents face financial discrimination from the Scottish and UK Governments.\r\n\r\nThe Scottish Government should make a change to Council Tax, adding ‘Single parent’ to the 'disregarded' list, so that single parents are eligible for a 50% discount. This would help single parents by removing the extra 25% burden they pay from 1 salary vs households with two working parents.\r\n\r\nI am also petitioning the UK Government to change income tax and child benefits, to help single parents.\r\n\r\nTwo working parents can earn more as a household e.g. £40,000 from 2 salaries, and be taxed less, compared to a 'single parent', who earns more as an individual e.g. £25,300, but less as a household.  The same situation applies in child benefit eligibility. The availability of a married couple allowance again highlights more discrimination.\r\n\r\nI would like the Scottish Government to support my call for a working single parent tax allowance, and to lobby to the UK Government for this.","petitioner":"Laura McKain","status":"collecting_signatures","signature_count":101,"created_at":"2021-05-17T16:40:54.147Z","updated_at":"2021-05-29T21:37:00.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-20T08:48:44.490Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-06-17T22:59:59.999Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Laura McKain","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1867","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1867.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Establish a new national qualification for British Sign Language (BSL)","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to encourage the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to establish a National Qualification in British Sign Language (BSL) at SCQF Level 2.","previous_action":"I have contacted Collette Stevenson MSP who is supportive of my petition.","background_information":"Currently there is no SQA British Sign Language (BSL) at SCQF Level 2 unlike French, Spanish, German, Italian, Gaelic (for learners), Urdu, Mandarin and Cantonese.\r\n\r\nAs a result, BSL cannot be taught from Primary 1 as an \"L2\" language. It is currently an \"L3\" language which means it can only be taught from Primary 5 onwards. A BSL SCQF Level 2 qualification would allow for pupils to be taught signs while they are learning English, minimising the barrier of communication between hearing and non-hearing children and adults.\r\n\r\nThe Scottish Government BSL National Plan, established in 2017, encourages more students to learn BSL in schools. However, I do not think it takes enough action to support this. I think that establishing this new qualification would lead to a higher uptake of children learning BSL, in both Primary and Secondary education.","petitioner":"Scott Macmillan","status":"under_consideration","signature_count":0,"created_at":"2021-05-14T20:06:21.440Z","updated_at":"2021-05-21T09:49:37.947Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-20T08:21:23.293Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-05-20T08:21:23.293Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Scott Macmillan","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1866","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1866.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Introduce legislation to improve bus travel for wheelchair users\r\n\r\n","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce legislation so that wheelchair users are able to face frontwards when travelling on a bus.","previous_action":"I have taken the issue to my local MSP, who just advised me to take it up with disability charities. I didn’t feel this response was adequate, or that the issue was really treated that seriously. \r\n\r\nAlso, as this is a travel issue, I tried to go through the transport minister's office but as I do not live within the local constituency, to my shock I got told they couldn't take it up.  \r\n","background_information":"Currently wheelchair users are required to face backwards on buses. This is unfair as other passengers have the option. It is not very dignifying facing everyone else on a bus and also for people who suffer from travel sickness, travelling backwards can make this worse. People like me are missing out as they can't travel on buses. Let's make it equal, give wheelchair users the same choice as other passengers.","petitioner":"Daryl Cooper","status":"under_consideration","signature_count":0,"created_at":"2021-05-13T21:59:10.461Z","updated_at":"2021-05-20T10:56:50.897Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-20T08:08:12.246Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-05-20T08:08:12.246Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Daryl Cooper","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1865","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1865.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to suspend the use of all surgical mesh and fixation devices while—\r\n\r\n*a review of all surgical procedures which use polyester, polypropylene or titanium is carried out; and\r\n*guidelines for the surgical use of mesh are established. ","previous_action":"I have been in contact with my MSP, and Scottish Government officials who advised that the concerns of hernia and other mesh survivors would be heard along with those of TVT and pelvic mesh survivors.  They never were.  \r\n\r\nI also met with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.","background_information":"Information on polypropylene and polyester mesh and stitches clearly states the potential complications of their use and titanium protacks carry a cancer warning.\r\n\r\nWe understand mesh must be used in life or death situations, but we want to ensure that—\r\n\r\n*mesh is only used when essential; \r\n*patients have alternatives to mesh; and \r\n*mesh is only used with the fully informed consent of the patient. \r\n\r\nWe want the use of mesh devices and stitches to be suspended while a review of all surgical procedures which implant any form of polyester, polypropylene or titanium products – for example hernia mesh, rectomesh, mesh used in hysterectomies – is carried out and guidelines for the use of surgical mesh are established. \r\n\r\nWe are also calling for suspension of the use of titanium protacks that are used with hernia mesh, as these carry a cancer warning. \r\n\r\nWhile we recognise and support women with TVT or pelvic mesh implants, the mesh that we are talking about is not the same. It is put into the body differently and used for different purposes. ","petitioner":"Roseanna Clarkin, Lauren McDougall and Graham Robertson","status":"under_consideration","signature_count":0,"created_at":"2021-05-13T15:54:40.482Z","updated_at":"2021-05-20T15:54:41.345Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-17T13:11:10.654Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-05-17T13:11:10.654Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Roseanna Clarkin, Lauren McDougall and Graham Robertson","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1864","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1864.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms by—\n\n- adopting English planning legislation for the determination of onshore wind farm developments;\n\n- empowering local authorities to ensure local communities are given sufficient professional help to engage in the planning process; and\n\n- appointing an independent advocate to ensure that local participants are not bullied and intimidated during public inquiries. \n","previous_action":"We have written to Jamie Greene MSP, Brian Whittle MSP and Willie Rennie MSP. We have also written to Kevin Stewart MSP in his role as Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.\n\nScotland Against Spin has been a member of the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) Stakeholders’ Forum since 2013. It has been raising issues to which this Petition relates since 2019.\n","background_information":"In 2020 the UK Government announced its intention to allow onshore wind farms to compete for subsidies in the next round of Contract for Difference (CfD) auctions which would allocate market support for projects coming forward towards the middle of the decade. This news was followed by a rapid rise in the submission of onshore wind farm planning applications, particularly in Scotland where National Planning Policy is very supportive of development compared to the rest of the UK.\n\nOnshore wind development is considered, by some, to be particularly lucrative for developers, owing to lower development costs. Some areas of rural Scotland are, we believe, at saturation point with large scale industrial wind power station proposals and developments which have been built or are currently going through the planning process.\n\nIn Scotland, wind energy schemes with generating capacity of 50MW or less are determined by Local Planning Authorities (LPA). Local Community Councils are statutory consultees for such planning applications. A refusal of planning permission regularly leads to an appeal by the developer. That appeal, delegated to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) by Scottish Ministers is often very costly to the LPA, particularly if a Reporter decides that an appeal should be determined by means of a Hearing or Public Inquiry.\n\nLarger wind farms exceeding 50MW are determined at the outset by Scottish Ministers under the Electricity Act 1989, section 36 (s.36) rather than by the LPA. However, the LPA remains a statutory consultee for each s.36 planning application submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents & Deployment Unit. Should an LPA formally object to a s.36 application, a Public Inquiry is automatically triggered. This results in significant expense to the LPA, in order for them to defend their objections. In the majority of cases, the objections of these LPAs and the Community Councils are overruled by the Scottish Ministers, acting on Reporters’ recommendations.\n\nIn contrast, wind energy schemes in England are determined by the LPA, irrespective of size. LPAs are directed to only grant planning permission if:\n\n- the development site is in an area identified as suitable for wind energy development in a local or neighbourhood plan; and\n\n- following consultation, it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by affected local communities have been satisfactorily addressed and therefore the proposal has community backing.\n\nWhether a proposal has the backing of the affected local community is “a planning judgement for the local planning authority.”\n\nIf an LPA rejects a planning application, then a developer has a right to appeal to the Secretary of State via the Planning Inspectorate.\n\nThis difference in legislation makes it significantly more difficult to obtain planning permission in England, and has led to an influx of developers seeking sites in Scotland, because they believe that the Scottish Government will overrule local decision making and grant consent for planning applications for onshore windfarms.\n\nThis has resulted in Scottish rural communities facing multiple applications simultaneously or consecutively. They are left simply overwhelmed and unable to manage, either in terms of the manpower required to scrutinise large technical documents and/or to fundraise in order to employ professional help. In turn, this leaves them particularly disadvantaged in a Public Inquiry situation where they face teams of professionals and the applicant’s consultants, who are well able to present windfarm applications in their most favourable light, and at the same time seek to marginalise the evidence from public witnesses.\n\nLive streaming and archived video footage of Inquiries visible on the DPEA website, has resulted in prospective public and lay participants witnessing what they perceive to be personal and vicious attacks on local objectors by experienced lawyers employing aggressive cross examination techniques. Whilst such techniques might be suitable in a criminal court setting, in those circumstances, the witness would have the protection of counsel or intervention by a judge if there was irrelevant and intimidating questioning. No such protection is provided for a public witness at a planning Public Inquiry; it is seen as a ‘no holds barred’ arena for the appellant’s legal team. Many bona-fide people, giving of their best in the local interest feel they cannot cope with the psychological or financial strain of becoming involved in such a combative and unequal process. It seems to us that the appellant’s legal team frequently seeks to discredit a public witness on a personal basis and, as a consequence, their opinions and evidence before the Inquiry are diminished and ignored. Some Community Councils and members of the public will simply withdraw their representation.\n\nWe believe that this is a one-sided process which acts as a barrier to effective public engagement in the planning process; the opposite result to that which the Scottish Government is seeking to achieve.\n\nWe believe that the adoption of planning legislation such as that in England where there is strict adherence to local development plans which have previously been the subject of public consultation, would direct developers to suitable sites where there is less likelihood of objection from local planning authorities and communities. Any community which had not had its concerns fully addressed could be confident that proposals would be justifiably refused and an appeal would be unlikely. This would encourage developers to have longer, more meaningful consultation with local communities before finalised plans are submitted. At present, the required community engagement exercise in Scotland seems to be largely a one-way consultation which we believe is regarded by many developers as simply a ‘tick box’ exercise. All parties would benefit as only plans likely to succeed and gain consent would progress to being formally submitted to LPAs.\n\nWe call on the Scottish Government to bring planning legislation for the determination of wind farm developments in line with that of England. We also call on the Scottish Government to find a way to restore “equality of arms” in the planning process by equipping LPA’s to give positive assistance in the form of professional help to local communities, and to appoint someone to act as an independent advocate or adviser in public inquiries to ensure that local participants are not bullied and intimidated, and that their voices are heard.\n","petitioner":"Aileen Jackson  on behalf of Scotland Against Spin","status":"under_consideration","signature_count":0,"created_at":"2021-03-24T11:57:00.000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-12T16:06:43.571Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-03-24T12:20:00.000Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-03-24T12:20:00.000Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Aileen Jackson  on behalf of Scotland Against Spin","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1863","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1863.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Mandatory annual cancer blood test from the age of 55","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide mandatory annual blood tests from the age of 55 to detect cancer.\n","previous_action":"I have contacted Alasdair Allan MSP and Angus McNeil MP.\n","background_information":"Every year people get contacted to book in for a flu vaccination. I believe we need a similar system for people to get blood tests for detecting cancer.\n\nThis could enable people to have a better chance of treatment and a better quality of life. It would also save the NHS millions of pounds a year.\n\nDuring the last year and half of the pandemic there has been a lack of testing for cancer. Yearly tests give people the best chance to detect cancer early resulting in a better chance of cure or treatment that can prolong life.\n\nThere are 2.5 million people in the UK living with cancer. The treatment alone is costing millions. With blood tests in place this could save money as if detected early the treatment process would be massively reduced and place less constraint on the NHS and staff.\n\nThe number of people in UK living with cancer grows 3% every year. In Scotland alone last year roughly 260,000 people were living with cancer. The number of people in the last five years over the age of 65 living with cancer has grown 23%. Over 360,000 people in UK are diagnosed with cancer every year.\n\nTreatments on the NHS for alcoholism and drug addiction costs millions a year and that is a life choice. Cancer is not a life choice and I believe people should have the right to get blood tests for this once a year as routine.\n","petitioner":"Michael Campbell","status":"under_consideration","signature_count":624,"created_at":"2021-03-16T14:39:00.000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-12T15:58:04.492Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-03-19T10:30:00.000Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-03-24T00:00:00.000Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Michael Campbell","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1862","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1862.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Introduce community representation on boards of public organisations delivering lifeline services to island communities","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce community representation on boards of public organisations delivering lifeline services to island communities, in keeping with the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.\n","previous_action":"Raised issue with the MSPs Beatrice Wishart, Liam McArthur and Alasdair Allan.\n","background_information":"One of the strategic objectives of the National Islands Plan is designed to empower island communities and strong local partnerships.\n\nWe believe that public organisations delivering lifeline services to island communities, such as the Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd (HIAL), should have representation from those communities on their boards. We also believe that this is in line with the National Islands Plan.\n\nWe believe this change will empower our communities based on a cohesive, place-based and holistic approach to policy. It will build economic, social and environmental considerations in an integrated approach to strategy for the infrastructure and services that support our lifeline services. We believe that local knowledge should be viewed as an essential skill for the Boards of organisations accountable to the Scottish Government. Such knowledge would bring an appreciation and understanding of local community needs relevant to the service which is being delivered. In particular, we believe that local knowledge will bring insight to boards into economic and infrastructure development, local investment and planning, employment, housing, education and health and social care and how these relate to the service the public organisation provides.\n\nThis petition comes in the spirit of delivering active change as the communities have overseen community ownership transfers such that much of our land ownership and decision-making is now made in the islands and Caithness by communities themselves. We make this petition in the same belief that our communities should have ownership, through our place on boards, appointed on merit, over assets which are there to serve us. We want to create more local resilience in our communities through the decentralisation of strategic planning and decision-making.\n\nHIAL is one example where this change could be applied. Its board meets regularly to provide strategic direction for the Company and is responsible for the determination of the company's strategic plan and direction. In particular, the board reviews safety, security, risk management, corporate governance, operational matters, financial management, business and commercial strategy, route development, pay, pensions and human resources.\n\nIt is the role of the HIAL board to challenge the senior management team on its strategy for the business and to provide guidance and support on aviation and non-aviation issues. The board is entrusted to provide leadership, direction, support and guidance to ensure that HIAL delivers and is committed to delivering its functions effectively and efficiently and in accordance with the aims, policies and priorities of the Scottish Ministers. The board is also responsible for appointing, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, the Managing Director.\n\nMajor policy decisions are made at board level, drawing on information provided by the management team, the Scottish Government and other appropriate sources. There is, however, currently no specific requirement to draw on information from the Councils or communities that the decisions potentially affect.\n\nUsing HIAL as an example, we have set out how our petition aims could be achieved to increase community participation—\n\n1. Reserving a place on the selection panel for the Chair of HIAL, for either the chair (or substitute) of the HITRANS or ZetTrans boards, and include island local authorities in the selection process;\n\n2. Assigning three of the seats on the HIAL board to people who live in the communities served by the HIAL airports (we suggest a preference for island residents, on the grounds of air services being lifeline to islands, but commercially desirable for mainland areas); \n\n3. One of these seats should be retained for a co-opted member from the HITRANS/ZetTrans Board. It is noted that this member while sitting on the HIAL Board would act only in the best interests of the HIAL ‘company’; and/or\n\n4. At least one Council allocated a place on the board, from either Western Isles Council, Orkney Islands Council or Shetlands Islands Council. Local authorities should not, however, be excluded from other appointments or limited to involvement just with these appointments, and again while sitting on the HIAL Board the member would act only in the best interests of HIAL, as is the case with members of NHS Boards drawn from local authorities.\n\nWe believe that this approach is in keeping with the principles of public appointments, namely appointed on merit, and committed to diversity and equality, with a board that is representative of the community that the organisation seeks to provide services for.\n\nWe believe that by having community and island representation on this, and other, boards will increase accountability and participation. This is consistent with principles of accountability, inclusion and community empowerment, and a more human rights-based approach. This would create ownership, monitoring and accountability, a fair and inclusive approach which is consistent with the Scottish Government’s Purpose and National Outcomes.\n","petitioner":"Rona MacKay, Angus Campbell & Naomi Bremner on behalf of Uist Economic Task Force","status":"under_consideration","signature_count":466,"created_at":"2021-02-25T23:41:00.000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-12T16:00:03.901Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-03-19T10:30:00.000Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-03-24T00:00:00.000Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Rona MacKay, Angus Campbell & Naomi Bremner on behalf of Uist Economic Task Force","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1861","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1861.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Use teacher assessed grades to award national qualifications in 2021","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to use teacher assessed grades rather than exam like assessments in awarding national qualifications in 2021.\n","previous_action":"I have contacted several MSPs including the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. To date, no response has been received from the Cabinet Secretary.\n","background_information":"Many children are feeling overwhelmed due to the disruption of Covid-19 and the prospect of exam-like assessments. In England, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, the authorities have adopted \"teacher assessed grades\" in order to make it fair for all children. I believe that Scotland should too.\n\n4,091 children and young people started treatment at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Scotland between October and December 2020. This is an increase of 59 (1.5%) patients from the previous quarter, and an increase of 207 (5.3%) patients from the same quarter the previous year.\n\nNearly three quarters (73.1%) of children and young people were seen within 18 weeks, compared to 60.6% for the previous quarter and 66.4% for the quarter ending December 2019. The Scottish Government standard states that 90% of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS.\n\nThe statistics are contained in Public Health Scotland's latest waiting times report, which shows that 1,560 youngsters had waited 52 weeks or more for a CAHMS appointment.\n\nIn total 11,166 children and young people were waiting to be seen by the service by the end of last year. \n\nDuring a meeting of the Education and Skills Committee, Ross Greer MSP highlighted concerns of some teachers that both teachers and pupils will face an “intense” period of exam-like assessments on their return to school.\n\nI believe that the prospect of exam-like assessments is increasing the levels of mental health issues in children which, if it continues, more children in Scotland will be affected. I believe that \"teacher assessed grades\" is the best alternative due to the fact that students cannot be de-graded due to various scenarios such as bereavement etc. Teachers can judge students based on classwork, homework and their performance which children won't be at an unfair advantage due to this not being their own fault.\n\nThis will also put a stop to full content papers, despite the fact children have had a lack of time to revise due to the disruption and on a whole it would be much beneficial towards them.\n","petitioner":"Oliver Smith","status":"under_consideration","signature_count":86,"created_at":"2021-03-09T13:08:00.000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-12T15:57:21.086Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-03-15T14:43:00.000Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-03-24T00:00:00.000Z","closed_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Oliver Smith","rejection":null,"topics":[]}}]}