Under consideration PE2274: End petition closures without independent scrutiny and create a route to legislation
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to amend Standing Orders so that (1) no petition may be closed without three published independent expert assessments and a 28-day right of reply for the petitioner, and (2) any petition reaching 1,000 verified signatures and within devolved competence must be referred to the relevant subject committee for consideration as a Member’s Bill, ending arbitrary closures and ensuring transparent, evidence-based scrutiny with a real citizen path to law.
Background information
The Public Petitions Committee can close any petition, regardless of signatures, without external review. This risks proposals being dismissed administratively rather than on merit, undermining public trust.
Scotland faces major challenges in health, climate and economy where citizen ideas could help. We propose a more robust process:
1. Before closure, publish assessments from three independent experts (legal, policy, deliverability) stating why action is outside devolved powers or unworkable.
2. Give petitioners 28 days to respond in writing.
3. Refer petitions with 1,000+ verified signatures, if within competence, to the relevant committee with a recommendation to develop as a Member’s Bill.
This ensures evidence-based decisions, ends arbitrary dismissal, and provides a clear route for supported ideas to reach debate, while preserving Parliament’s final authority.
1 signature
This petition is now under consideration
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