{"links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json?page=2&state=closed","first":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json?state=closed","last":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json?page=26&state=closed","next":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json?page=3&state=closed","prev":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions.json?state=closed"},"data":[{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2170","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2170.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Abolish the General Teaching Council for Scotland","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to abolish the General Teaching Council for Scotland and replace it with a government agency.","background_information":"Many concerns have been raised about GTCS not meeting its principal legislative aims regarding: \r\n- handling of safeguarding concerns which GTCS often dismiss as 'frivolous’, evidenced in the Professional Standards Authority’s review of the Fitness to Teach process.  \r\n-  lack of action regarding credible concerns of potential widespread bullying of teachers by superiors \r\n- concerns that the Fitness to Teach function was allowed to be weaponised unfairly against teachers \r\n- concerns of potential collusion with one or more teacher unions to wrongly prevent or influence bona fide peer to peer teacher referrals  \r\n- Scottish Government responses to parliamentary questions, confirming awareness of specific concerns raised.     \r\n\r\nThe GTCS is not supporting teachers’ professional development nor are they helping children to experience improved quality learning and teaching. \r\n\r\nThe government decided to replace Education Scotland and reform the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Now GTCS, which has presided over declining standards and serious concerns, must be abolished in the public interest to ensure that trust in teaching and their regulator is maintained.","petitioner":"Paul Blaker on behalf of Accountability Scotland","status":"closed","signature_count":63,"created_at":"2025-04-15T20:55:31.984Z","updated_at":"2026-05-07T12:52:06.700Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-06-16T08:36:50.051Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-06-16T08:36:50.051Z","closed_at":"2026-02-25T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Paul Blaker on behalf of Accountability Scotland","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2173","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2173.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Ban ultra-processed foods in school meals","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ban the use of ultra-processed food in school meals across Scotland, in order to give our children healthier options.","background_information":"The Perth and Kinross Council school menu relies heavily on ultra-processed products, particularly meat substitutes, while claiming to meet government regulations. I therefore believe these regulations need to be reviewed. \r\n\r\nMy children don’t eat processed meat substitutes, as we do not believe they are beneficial for the environment or for our children’s health and well-being. \r\n\r\nThere are days when no suitable meal is available for them at all. Even when a vegetarian option is offered, it often relies on highly processed substitutes. There are many nutritious vegetarian dishes that don’t require ultra-processed ingredients. \r\n\r\nUnfortunately, many of the meat options on the menu are also heavily processed, raising further concerns about the overall nutritional value of these meals. For many children, a school lunch is the only hot meal they receive each day, and I believe the current menu is failing those children. \r\n\r\nFurthermore, I believe ultra-processed foods have no place on a school menu and should be banned across Scotland. ","petitioner":"Lauren Houstoun","status":"closed","signature_count":5893,"created_at":"2025-05-08T21:16:23.783Z","updated_at":"2026-03-03T11:46:27.616Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-07-07T13:39:52.297Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-07-07T13:39:52.297Z","closed_at":"2026-02-25T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Lauren Houstoun","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2196","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2196.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Address early sexual offending in Scotland","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to act on early sexual offending in young people and prevent future offending by:\r\n\r\n- taking tougher action on gateway offences such as unsolicited sexual images and peer assaults\r\n- educating young people about consent and online harms at school\r\n- creating a culture of parental accountability\r\n- introducing a youth monitoring register for offences committed by young people\r\n- providing real support for victims of all sexual offences ","background_information":"Non-contact sexual offences are too often minimised as “just a photo” or “low level,” yet research shows they are gateways to serious abuse. Victims suffer lasting harm, silenced by dismissals that groom girls to accept harassment and boys to believe it’s normal. In England & Wales, child-on-child sexual assaults rose 81% in 3 years; Scotland lacks this data. My aim is to protect victims and rehabilitate offenders before behaviour escalates. Scotland must catch sexual offending early to protect victims and prevent escalation. ","petitioner":"Leanne Kelly on behalf of Root The Rot","status":"closed","signature_count":561,"created_at":"2025-09-07T09:48:54.451Z","updated_at":"2026-03-03T11:48:07.727Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-10-16T09:27:08.554Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-10-16T09:27:08.554Z","closed_at":"2026-02-25T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Leanne Kelly on behalf of Root The Rot","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2028","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2028.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Extend the concessionary bus travel scheme to include people seeking asylum in Scotland","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to extend the current Concessionary Travel Scheme to include all people seeking asylum in Scotland regardless of age.","background_information":"Asylum seekers are some of the most vulnerable people in the UK. They are prevented from working, housed in hotels or private rental accommodation, often in isolated areas, and given less than £50 per week to survive.\r\n\r\nThose in hotel accommodation are forced to live on as little as £9 a week, just over £1 a day.\r\n\r\nAccess to concessionary bus travel is viewed by us as a key social justice policy. We believe it will be positively life-changing and mentally transformative for those otherwise stuck in a dreadfully inadequate and slow asylum system. Most of all, we believe it will enable asylum seekers as a group to become much more integrated in our communities.\r\n\r\nOur campaign started in December 2021 with members from the Voices Network, followed by support from the Maryhill Integration Network Voices group.\r\n","petitioner":"Pinar Aksu on behalf of Maryhill Integration Network and Doaa Abuamer on behalf of the Voices Network","status":"closed","signature_count":2600,"created_at":"2023-03-03T16:34:08.826Z","updated_at":"2026-03-25T11:16:50.102Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2023-06-05T08:02:56.279Z","under_consideration_at":"2023-06-05T08:02:56.279Z","closed_at":"2026-02-25T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Pinar Aksu on behalf of Maryhill Integration Network and Doaa Abuamer on behalf of the Voices Network","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2165","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2165.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Raise awareness of and provide educational resources and training for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to help improve awareness of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) by providing funding for training and educational resources for medical professionals (including GPs, paramedics, call handlers), employers, and wider society on the symptoms and impacts of FND.","background_information":"In March 2024, unable to walk or talk, I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder. We were handed a card with a website, https://neurosymptoms.org, and told I would receive a follow up appointment and \"recover in the community\". No treatments were offered, no support groups were recommended. My family and I were left to learn and accept a new way of life. \r\n\r\nSince then, I've had to take long-term sick leave from work, attended several GP appointments and used ambulances where I have had to explain to them what FND was! My seizures and symptoms have been poorly and rudely handled. I am not alone in these experiences. \r\n\r\nThere are FND charities with helpful websites, however, nothing Scotland based. Most useful services are based in cities, however, this isn’t always accessible for those who use walking aids or wheelchairs, most of which have been self-purchased due to lack of NHS Scotland support.","petitioner":"Michelle Moir","status":"closed","signature_count":471,"created_at":"2025-04-04T16:34:20.138Z","updated_at":"2026-03-03T11:45:24.148Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-05-13T10:26:47.761Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-05-13T10:26:47.761Z","closed_at":"2026-02-25T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Michelle Moir","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2193","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2193.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Address Dangerous Delays in Paediatric Cancer Diagnostics","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to:\r\n•\tintroduce mandatory clinical standards to ensure that urgent paediatric cancer referrals are subject to the same maximum wait times as adult referrals\r\n•\trequire clear accountability and follow-up where a paediatric cancer referral is downgraded or delayed\r\n•\tfund training and update guidelines to enable GPs and clinicians to recognise and escalate signs of cancer in children as promptly as they would in adult cases \r\n•\t undertake a formal review into paediatric diagnostic delays in Scotland, to identify systemic failures and implement change.","background_information":"Isla's journey began at the age of 15 when she was repeatedly referred and downgraded in her medical assessments. By the time a definitive diagnosis of cancer was made, it was too late, and her family was given the heartbreaking news that she had only months to live. Her passing has left a deep void in her family's life. If her medical condition had been treated with the same urgency as an adult's, she might still be with us today.\r\n\r\nIt is important that children and young people are assessed and treated with the same level of urgency and access to diagnostic tests as adults. No young person should be dismissed or have their symptoms underestimated simply because they appear healthy or are perceived to be too young for serious illness. This needs to be set in stone with all agencies.\r\n\r\nScotland continues to have one of the highest mortality rates among children under 18 in Western Europe. Strengthening early recognition, ensuring equal access to testing, and raising awareness within primary care are essential steps to prevent other families from suffering such unimaginable loss.","petitioner":"Avril Arnott","status":"closed","signature_count":1533,"created_at":"2025-09-06T20:13:09.394Z","updated_at":"2026-03-10T15:28:50.795Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-10-10T07:51:23.116Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-10-10T07:51:23.116Z","closed_at":"2026-02-25T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Avril Arnott","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1924","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1924.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Complete an emergency in-depth review of Women's Health services in Caithness & Sutherland","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to complete an emergency in-depth review of Women's Health services in Caithness & Sutherland. Women's health services are now breaching basic human rights and we fear someone will lose their life due to the lack of gynaecology care. ","background_information":"The Highland gynaecology crisis was happening before Covid, with funding funnelled into Orkney or Inverness.  Care should be equal to all women in Scotland and I believe serious conditions (e.g. Endometriosis, Ovarian Cancer) are being missed. GP's are not trained in specific Gynae conditions and pain management is poor. In my view Women are given morphine repeatedly rather than being treated for the condition, creating a drug reliance crisis. Mental health decline is being ignored, women are disbelieved or left in pain. Shockingly, There are no miscarriage/menopause/fertility services. \r\n\r\nThe A9/A99 are often closed or dangerous to drive, making emergency transport to Raigmore (100+ miles) unreliable, sometimes impossible (e.g. Ectopic pregnancy could be fatal). Ambulance transport to Inverness takes vital units from the area and causes enormous distress to patients. \r\n\r\nI understand that many are taking out large loans to cover private Gynae care in the cities and families are moving away for adequate gynaecology services. The economic impact of this is huge for the area.","petitioner":"Rebecca Wymer","status":"closed","signature_count":2761,"created_at":"2021-11-28T16:38:41.179Z","updated_at":"2026-05-14T09:38:18.027Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-12-20T09:13:59.826Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-12-20T09:13:59.826Z","closed_at":"2026-02-21T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Rebecca Wymer","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE1758","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1758.json"},"attributes":{"title":"End greyhound racing In Scotland","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to put an end to greyhound racing in Scotland. \n","background_information":"Greyhound racing is legal in just 8 countries in the world in 2019. Only two remain now in our country, namely Shawfield Stadium in Rutherglen and Thornton Greyhound Stadium in Kirkcaldy (this is a flapping course – i.e. unlicensed). \n\nIn August 2019 the remaining licensed track in Glasgow reduced its activity to a single night of racing per week through lack of dogs to make up a race card on a second night. Thornton aims to race twice weekly, but again often reports that a race night will not proceed due to lack of dogs. Evidently racing greyhound numbers are at their lowest in Scotland, therefore a ban at this time would place the smallest possible burden on rescue organisations to ensure that if implemented in a phased manner, all dogs currently racing in the country currently can be rehomed responsibly. We feel that the time is now for the Scottish government to put legislation in place that would make greyhound racing illegal in Scotland. This would see the closure of the last two greyhound tracks in Scotland and prevent the opening of any further tracks.\n\nUltimately, we need legislative change to ban racing in our country, to tackle the high number of injuries, deaths and positive drug tests seen in this industry, and to reflect the lack of public support for this unsavoury use of animals for human entertainment and gambling profit. \n\nThe regulatory body for greyhound racing the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has been required to publish their injury and death statistics annually since 2017. In 2018 the GBGB introduced a “Greyhound Commitment”, aiming to improve welfare and reduce injuries. Despite this, according to the GBGB’s own Injury/Retirement data for 2018, across the UK just short of 5000 dogs were injured, an increase on the previous year. The figures also state that over 2000 dogs died or been killed in the racing industry in 2017 and 2018. \n\nThe GBGB have also reported nine positive drug tests in dogs at Shawfield in Glasgow in 2018 alone, as reported in various issues of their own Greyhound Calendar publication. Information published by the GBGB demonstrates that there have continued to be positive drug tests with Class A drugs into 2019. These drug tests showed dogs were drugged with cocaine and methamphetamine amongst other drugs. In reality the rates of drugging are likely much higher as only around 3% of dog runs are tested. \n\nThere were once over 20 licensed tracks in Scotland and now only one remains (Shawfield). We have now been protesting outside Shawfield Stadium in Rutherglen for the last two years and more recently have held demonstrations at Thornton Greyhound track in Fife. \n\nThere is a declining support and appetite for this exploitative use of dogs for entertainment. Changing animal welfare legislation is key to ensure the closure of the last greyhound tracks in the country, but also to ensure that no further tracks could be opened in future. \n\nScotland has an opportunity to lead the way by banning the racing of greyhounds in the name of entertainment.\n","petitioner":"Gill Docherty  on behalf of Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation","status":"closed","signature_count":30081,"created_at":"2019-09-11T09:25:00.000Z","updated_at":"2026-02-18T15:27:24.035Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2019-09-11T09:25:00.000Z","under_consideration_at":"2019-09-11T09:25:00.000Z","closed_at":"2026-02-18T15:27:24.023Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Gill Docherty  on behalf of Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2163","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2163.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Develop guidance on child contact domestic abuse","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to work with partners to develop guidance on the interaction between child contact dispute processes and the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.","background_information":"I experienced domestic abuse through child contact processes from an ex-partner but Police Scotland did not regard any of it as abuse.  \r\n\r\nNon-resident parents post-separation routinely need to fight in the courts to see their children. Abusive and controlling parents have no desire to use mediation to reach an agreement and will use malicious allegations and the court process to frustrate the non-resident parent. These parents often suffer significant mental health and financial problems as a result.","petitioner":"Alastair Scott","status":"closed","signature_count":76,"created_at":"2025-02-19T22:33:20.189Z","updated_at":"2026-02-16T16:47:55.343Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-05-13T10:24:03.877Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-05-13T10:24:03.877Z","closed_at":"2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Alastair Scott","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2095","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2095.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to:\r\n\r\n* review and seek to update section 3.2 of the [Energy Consents Unit: Good Practice Guidance for Applications under Section 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989] (https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2022/02/good-practice-guidance-applications-under-sections-36-37-electricity-act-1989/documents/energy-consents-unit-good-practice-guidance-applications-under-section-36-37-electricity-act-1989-february-2022/energy-consents-unit-good-practice-guidance-applications-under-section-36-37-electricity-act-1989-february-2022/govscot%3Adocument/energy-consents-unit-good-practice-guidance-applications-under-section-36-37-electricity-act-1989-february-2022.pdf)  to address the concerns of communities about the lack of meaningful, responsible, and robust voluntary and pre-application consultation by transmission operators on energy infrastructure projects\r\n\r\n* explore all available levers to strengthen community liaison and public participation for the lifecycle of energy infrastructure projects.\r\n","background_information":"Communities across North East Scotland have serious concerns about the quality and transparency of the public consultation accompanying SSEN Transmission’s East Coast 400kV Phase 2 project.\r\n\r\nSSEN’s engagement with communities has been rushed, and insufficient effort has been made to understand and communicate the full impact of the proposals to impacted communities. There have been inconsistencies between information presented in SSEN’s published material and their contact with community representatives. Many affected residents were unaware of the plans and it has fallen to local campaigners to raise awareness.\r\n\r\nThese concerns have had a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of residents, who are worried about their health, businesses, property value, cultural heritage, and the loss of prime agricultural land.\r\n\r\nThe Scottish Government must use all available levers to improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects and ensure they are carried out with the consent of the affected communities.\r\n","petitioner":"Margaret Tracey Smith","status":"closed","signature_count":3639,"created_at":"2024-02-20T22:04:52.991Z","updated_at":"2026-02-16T16:44:57.539Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2024-04-10T08:20:39.768Z","under_consideration_at":"2024-04-10T08:20:39.768Z","closed_at":"2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Margaret Tracey Smith","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","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":"closed","signature_count":2595,"created_at":"2021-03-24T11:57:00.000Z","updated_at":"2026-02-16T16:44:16.614Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-03-24T12:20:00.000Z","under_consideration_at":"2021-03-24T12:20:00.000Z","closed_at":"2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z","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":"PE2160","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2160.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Introduce an energy strategy","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to publish its Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan to address the environment, infrastructure, and land use.","background_information":"As windfarms march across Scotland, sending the energy south, we seem to think that wind is the only answer. We have started to look at other technologies such as solar, but again this is problematic as the solar farms in England take up precious agricultural land. ","petitioner":"Tina Dawn Marshall","status":"closed","signature_count":216,"created_at":"2025-04-07T03:26:47.756Z","updated_at":"2026-02-16T16:46:07.508Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-05-08T08:10:57.211Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-05-08T08:10:57.211Z","closed_at":"2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Tina Dawn Marshall","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2166","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2166.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Establish a standardised timeframe for civil proceedings in child custody cases","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to establish a standardised timeframe for civil proceedings related to child custody cases, including a 14-day timeframe for proof hearings.","background_information":"Over the past six years, extensive experience has revealed the immense challenges faced by courts in handling civil proceedings related to children's custody cases. Not only are courts under significant pressure, but they are often compelled to make decisions based on misleading or false information. This severely undermines the ability to ensure just and informed outcomes for the children involved. \r\n \r\nTo address this issue, I propose that proof hearings be made mandatory within 14 days of the initiation of any civil action. This provision would facilitate the timely presentation of evidence, enabling courts to make more accurate decisions while reducing opportunities for disinformation to distort proceedings. \r\n\r\nDelays in the judicial process cause irreversible harm to children, often leading to their alienation over prolonged periods. False accusations are frequently withdrawn after years of litigation, yet the damage has already been done, leaving children with lifelong emotional scars.","petitioner":"John Watson McMaster","status":"closed","signature_count":8,"created_at":"2025-04-11T20:20:27.902Z","updated_at":"2026-02-16T16:48:30.064Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-05-22T12:46:26.967Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-05-22T12:46:26.967Z","closed_at":"2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"John Watson McMaster","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2109","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2109.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Halt any further pump storage hydro schemes on Scottish lochs holding wild Atlantic salmon","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to create a moratorium on any further development of pump storage hydro operations on Scottish lochs holding wild Atlantic salmon until the impact of such developments on wild Atlantic salmon migrations is understood.  ","background_information":"There has been a recent tsunami of interest in pump storage hydro (PSH) in Scotland. The economic case for PSH has been made by the sector but the environmental impacts have been glossed over, denied or ignored.\r\n\r\nPSH operations move huge volumes of water and create large variations in loch levels sterilising shoreline ecology. In the case of Loch Ness, if all existing, consented or proposed PSH schemes were approved, the level of Loch Ness will vary by up to 1m daily. Loch Ness would effectively become an inland tidal loch, which would have serious ecological impacts including on the River Ness. \r\n\r\nThe impact of PSH on salmon smolt migration is not understood but is acknowledged by PSH developers as harmful. Wild salmon in Loch Ness sustain an ecosystem including the famous dolphins at Chanonry Point.  \r\n\r\nPlease note that we are not against PSH per se, but schemes need to be located in the least environmentally damaging locations. ","petitioner":"Brian Shaw on behalf of the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board","status":"closed","signature_count":536,"created_at":"2023-12-15T13:06:07.858Z","updated_at":"2026-02-16T16:45:18.472Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2024-06-19T09:44:58.375Z","under_consideration_at":"2024-06-19T09:44:58.375Z","closed_at":"2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Brian Shaw on behalf of the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board","rejection":null,"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","pe_number":"PE2151","links":{"self":"https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2151.json"},"attributes":{"title":"Grant protected status to primitive goat species in the Scottish Borders","summary":"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to help ensure the survival of primitive goat species in the Scottish Borders by granting them protected status. ","background_information":"[Feral goats found around Langholm and the lower Scottish Borders have their origins in the native species of the Iron Age] (https://www.tafac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/V28-p81-99-Smith.pdf), but are not recognised in any capacity other than general protections for wild and feral animals.\r\n\r\nThese neglected species survive in the last truly wild and free habitats of the Borders, and represent an independence of spirit reflective of our national character. Their numbers are dangerously low, and in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat, and systematic and ongoing culling.\r\n\r\nThe feral goats of the Cheviots in Northumberland, which share similarities with the native goats in Scotland, have been added to [the Rare Breeds Survival Trust watchlist] (https://www.rbst.org.uk/news/britains-oldest-primitive-goat-joins-the-watchlist) to support their conservation, and are also included on [DEFRA’s Native breeds at risk list] (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-breeds-at-risk-from-exotic-animal-disease-outbreaks/uk-breeds-at-risk-list-bar#goats).\r\n\r\n[The British Primitive Goat Society summarises identification of primitive goats] (https://britishprimitivegoats.org.uk/what-is-a-british-primitive-goat/), and also explains the Cheviot goat herd protection process, close relatives to the Langholm herd.","petitioner":"Kenneth Erik Moffatt","status":"closed","signature_count":22044,"created_at":"2025-02-19T21:48:29.843Z","updated_at":"2026-02-16T16:47:41.469Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-03-25T10:50:16.677Z","under_consideration_at":"2025-03-25T10:50:16.677Z","closed_at":"2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z","archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Kenneth Erik Moffatt","rejection":null,"topics":[]}}]}