Meeting with Malawi delegation

PPC members Robin Harper MSP and Nigel Don MSP meet with the Hon Jones Chingola MP, First Deputy Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly this morning. The FDS is visiting the Parliament this week for a series of meetings with MSPs and officials. He is also attending the Festival of Politics event at lunchtime on Malawi .
The meeting this morning follows up previous discussions held on the Scottish public petitions system with Malawi MPs and officials. The FDS is interested in learning more about the public petitions process as a positive method of encouraging people to make their voice heard. I had the very real pleasure of going to Malawi two years ago to work at the Assembly so it's good to see some of the issues discussed then moving forward. Since visiting I have become hooked on the lovely Mzuzu coffee. You must try it!
Fergus, Clerk to the PPC

What are we doing?

Parliament of course in recess but work goes on. Proposed petitions continue to come in for us to look and and consider. We liaise with the petitioners over the wording and information they have set out in their draft petition to ensure that it is in the best shape possible before it goes before the PPC. Is the purpose of the petition clear enough? is more information needed? Obviously we want to ensure a full and informed consideration of the petition so it is important that all the information is there.
Of course with no committee meetings it means that we can get a wee bit of a backlog of new petitions but we forward plan to ensure that we then get these before the committee ASAP after the recess ends. First meeting is 7 September and the agenda for that is agreed (and its a big one!). Papers will go out as usual the week before (Wednesday 1st) so watch this space to see what is coming forward for that meeting.
Of course you can see some of the new petitions on the e-petition site