Public Petitions Committee Thursday 20 June 2019 Session 5 © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.parliament.scot or by contacting Public Information on 0131 348 5000 Thursday 20 June 2019 CONTENTS Col. NEW PETITIONS ................................................................................................................................................. 1 Natural Flood Alleviation Strategy (PE1720) ................................................................................................ 1 National Tourism Strategy (PE1721) ............................................................................................................ 3 CONTINUED PETITIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Glue Traps (PE1671) .................................................................................................................................. 12 A83 (Rest and Be Thankful) (PE1540) ....................................................................................................... 19 Council Tax (Payment Options) (PE1634) ................................................................................................. 26 Active Travel Infrastructure Strategy (PE1653) .......................................................................................... 27 Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 (Review) (PE1691) .......................................................................... 29 Additional Support Needs Schools (PE1709) ............................................................................................. 30 First Aid Training (Primary School Children) (PE1711) .............................................................................. 32 PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE 12th Meeting 2019, Session 5 CONVENER Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab) DEPUTY CONVENER *Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP) COMMITTEE MEMBERS *Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) *Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) *attended THE FOLLOWING ALSO PARTICIPATED: Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Tom Bell (Pest Management Alliance) Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) John Hope (Pest Management Alliance) Dee Ward-Thompson (Pest Management Alliance) CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE Lynn Russell LOCATION The Mary Fairfax Somerville Room (CR2) 1 20 JUNE 2019 2 parliamentary questions and answers on the Scottish Parliament matter. Do members have any comments or Public Petitions Committee suggestions for action? Thursday 20 June 2019 Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): The petition has received a significant number of signatories. That is [The Deputy Convener opened the meeting at encouraging, particularly given our aims and goals 09:30] on climate change. I was unaware of the natural New Petitions flood management techniques that are available, which include hydrological and morphological procedures. The issue is important and the The Deputy Convener (Angus MacDonald): petitioner makes a good point that a collaborative Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the 12th approach is required, which must include the use meeting in 2019 of the Public Petitions Committee. as a defence of the traditional styles of We have received apologies from the convener, engineering that we use to guard against flood Johann Lamont, so I will convene today’s meeting risks. in her absence. We have also received apologies from David Torrance. I was also interested to note that the usual suspects—SEPA, the James Hutton Institute and We have two items on our agenda this morning: the Scottish Government—have 100 natural flood consideration of two new petitions, followed by management actions. It is really great that they are consideration of seven continued petitions. looking at the issue. We must develop a natural flood alleviation strategy if we are to reach our Natural Flood Alleviation Strategy climate change goals. It is important to note that (PE1720) the CCC has mentioned that flooding mapping is The Deputy Convener: The first new petition extremely important and that there are gaps, as before us today is PE1720, which was lodged by the deputy convener mentioned. I would like to Les Wallace. It calls for the development of a find out a bit more from the organisations that are natural flood alleviation strategy for Scotland involved in the 100 actions. under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act The Deputy Convener: Brian, do you have any 2009. comments? The note that was prepared for the committee Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): It is a by the Scottish Parliament information centre and really interesting petition. The extra dynamic is the the clerks provides an overview of the current reintroduction of beavers into the ecosystem and position in the context of the 2009 act. It provides the impact that the dam building that they do could a definition of “natural flood management” as set have downstream, including on farming. We know out in the Scottish Environment Protection that there is a bit of contention around that. In the Agency’s natural flood management handbook, first instance, it would be interesting to seek the and it refers to the natural flood management Scottish Government’s views on the action that the network, which was developed in partnership by petitioner is calling for. the Scottish Government, SEPA and the James Hutton Institute. The Deputy Convener: Perhaps I should declare that the petitioner is one of my The petition refers to the role that beavers might constituents. play in flood risk management, which is discussed in paragraphs 10 to 14 of the paper by SPICe and Do members agree that, in the first instance, we the clerks. Paragraphs 15 to 18 of the note outline should write to the Scottish Government to seek Scottish Government action, including its climate its views on the action that is called for and to change plan, as well as the Government’s support invite it to respond specifically on the gaps in the for the development of natural flood management data and the evidence? As Brian Whittle has approaches, such as the Eddleston Water project suggested, there are challenges with regard to and the European Union Interreg building with areas of land such as farms. Therefore, do nature project. The note also refers to the recent members agree that, in addition to contacting key assessment by the Committee on Climate stakeholders such as SEPA, Scottish Natural Change, which states that there remain Heritage and the James Hutton Institute, it might be an idea to contact NFU Scotland and Scottish “key data and evidence gaps that make it difficult to assess Land & Estates to seek their views, too? progress for a number of priorities” Members indicated agreement. for flooding and flood risk management. The remainder of the note outlines previous 3 20 JUNE 2019 4 Rachael Hamilton: Perhaps we could get in Tourism is of course growing, particularly touch with Fisheries Management Scotland as among visitors from mainland Europe. Scotland’s well, because fisheries management is part of the unique selling point is our heritage, our conversation. In England, a lot of work is being monuments, our castles and the stunning done on the catchment management approach. landscapes that we enjoy day in and day out. Last Sunday’s edition of “Countryfile” or However, we know that if we are to sustain that, “Landward” featured the River Itchen; it was a very we need a range of high-quality visitor interesting programme. The fisheries management experiences. We need to get much better at approach is one that is going to guide us. linking destinations so that we can contribute to the maintenance of that overall experience. The Deputy Convener: Yes, indeed. We will ask the clerks to take that forward. It might surprise members to learn that gardens make a hugely important contribution to our National Tourism Strategy (PE1721) tourism offer. A United Kingdom select committee is currently looking at the importance of gardens The Deputy Convener: PE1721 is on the and their contribution to tourism and the natural national tourism strategy for Scotland and the role heritage of the UK. A recent survey that was of the National Trust for Scotland in that. The carried out by the British Tourist Authority said that petition was lodged by John Hanks on behalf of 32 per cent of foreign visitors spent time in parks Friends of Geilston. It calls on the Scottish and gardens when on holiday. I was quite Government to meet the NTS to discuss the role surprised at how high that figure was, because it that it can play in the context of the national was almost as high as the percentage—35 per tourism strategy, and it asks that the future of any cent—who visited some of our famous trust property that is under threat of closure be monuments, castles and attractions. The fact that included in any such discussion. there is not that much difference between those The note that was prepared by SPICe and the two figures underlines the significance of gardens clerks provides a brief summary of the roles and to our tourism offer. remits of different parties and stakeholders, Scotland is blessed with some stunning including the Scottish Government, the tourism gardens. We are all familiar with the botanic industry and the NTS. Paragraph 9 of the note gardens at Kelvingrove in Glasgow and the Royal