PETITIONS COMMITTEE VISITS ANSTRUTHER
4 March 2010
Waid Academy in Anstruther is the first port of call for the Public Petitions Committee as part of this year’s external committee visits.
 Local community groups, charities, community councils and schools have all been invited to the meeting on Monday 15 March at 10.30am.
Pupils from Waid Academy will present two petitions they have lodged on:
Convener Frank McAveety MSP said: “This is the first time a Parliamentary committee has met in Anstruther and we are all looking forward to it. We’ve had great feedback from people who have come along to our previous external meetings around Scotland.
"As well as the more formal business of considering petitions at the meeting, including those from the Waid Academy pupils, we will hold a ‘question time’ session. This will give the audience an opportunity to ask MSPs about their job and more about the role of the Public Petitions Committee.
"The success of the meeting depends on the feedback and response we get from those attending. We hope local people will come along and watch their Parliament at work.”
Commenting on the Public Petitions Committee meeting, head teacher of Waid Academy Iain Hughes said: “It is tremendous that part of the Scottish Parliament will be sitting in Waid Academy.
"This historic meeting will show our youngsters citizenship on a very practical level. It will give learners an understanding of how change is made and the role of parliament in the making and shaping of laws for the benefit of communities.”
Joint Presidents of Student Congress, S6 students Greta Loughlan and Laughlan Hall, said: “It will be interesting to see another level of the democratic process taking place in our school.
"It is sure to be a valuable experience for us to see decision-making in action at the highest level and hear local issues that affect us debated and listened to by MSPs.”
Background
Since 1999, nearly 1,300 petitions have been lodged with the Parliament and considered by the Public Petitions Committee.
These have been on issues as diverse as
The committee’s role is to consider each petition lodged before agreeing what to do next – maybe writing to the Scottish Government, a local council, or other public bodies asking what action they will take.
Tickets for the meeting are free and can be obtained in advance by contacting petitions@scottish.parliament.uk or 0131 348 5254, or on the day at the door.
 Further details about the work of the Public Petitions Committee and the papers for this meeting
Public Petitions Committee on AudioBoo
The contact for members of the media is:
Ann Donald: 0131 348 5605
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: ann.donald@scottish.parliament.uk
For specific Committee information contact:
Fergus Cochrane: 0131 348 5186
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: fergus.cochrane@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact:
Telephone: 0131 348 5000 / 0800 092 7500 (Public Enquiries) / 0131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig) Textphone users can contact us on 0800 092 7100. We also welcome calls using the Text Relay service. Email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
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