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MSPs took evidence on petitions calling for a a moratorium on shared space schemes, protection of In Care Survivors Service Scotland and on Mycoplasma Fermentans in regressive autism.
The issue of calls for the UK to accommodate 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children and recent research by Pinsent Masons regarding the oil and gas industry were raised in topical questions.
The Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill was debated for the first time
The Scottish government led a debate on UK government’s controversial Trade Union Bill
MSPs participated in a debate marking Holocaust Memorial Day 2016
Petitioner Bill Welsh says he has been before the committee three times before on the issue of the MMR vaccine and autism.
Mr Welsh says the public were assaulted by 35 epidemiological studies refuting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
He says epidemiological data can not be used to disprove a causal link.
Mr Welsh says health bodies have not looked at a link.
A completely discredited health scare linking the MMR jab to autism led to immunisation rates plummeting a decade ago.
Between 1996 and 2004, vaccination rates fell from around 92% to 80%.
The dramatic fall led to an "unvaccinated generation" susceptible to the infections which culminated in the biggest measles outbreak in England for nearly two decades when nearly 2,000 cases were reported in 2012.
Image source, SPLCoverage had been increasing every year since 2007-08 and eventually reached record levels before the latest dip in vaccination rates.
No authoritative research has been published to back up claims that it may be linked to autism and bowel disease.
The Wakefield claims have been tested in over a dozen statistical studies carried out across large populations in different countries, and none found any evidence at all to suggest there was any link between the MMR jab and autism.
MSPs will now consider PE1597 , external by Bill Welsh on Mycoplasma Fermentans in regressive autism.
Mr Welsh will urge the Scottish government to commission a properly conducted controlled study (which recognises the intracellular nature of the pathogen) into the presence and role of Mycoplasma Fermentans in regressive autism.
Committee convener Michael McMahon says the committee should write to the Scottish government, ICSSS and the Scottish Human Rights Commission, as well as Celcis, external.
SNP MSP Angus Macdonald says Barnardo's Scotland , externalshould be contacted.
Labour MSP asks if the fate of the ICSSS is a fait accompli.
Independent MSP John Wilson says any gap in provision for ICSSS clients is a huge concern.
Paul Anderson says there has been a lack of consultation with in care abuse survivors.
Mr Anderson says most survivors have been rejected by the NHS, so there is no sense in having a brokering model signposting them to the NHS.
He says he was one inch last year from stopping his counselling sessions, but when told of of the changes to ICSSS he had a relapse.
This led to suicidal episodes, he says.
Independent MSP John Wilson asks if the survivors would rather see ICSSS to continue in its present form than the Scottish government's "cobbled together" brokering model.
Paul Anderson says the brokering model works for some survivors.
Mr Anderson says many survivors believed the ICSSS service would continue as that was what they were told.
He says they were then presented with the new model of brokering, "take it or leave it".
The child abuse survivor says there was then no mention of the continuation of ICSSS or its funding.
Independent MSP John Wilson says the government has announced £13.5 dedicated support service for survivors of institutional abuse.
Mr Wilson says he is keen for the ICSSS to continue its work, as it has worked for 900 survivors.
Mr Daly says there is a plan for ICSSS and the new brokering model from the government co-existing in a symbiotic way.
He says according to the Scottish government there will be no more funding for ICSSS from March.
The abuse survivor calls for support to continue the life saving service.
SNP MSP Angus Macdonald says he is a big supporter of Open Secret.
Mr Macdonald says given Open Secret have not tendered for the new service how will it continue.
Mr Daly says ICSSS in its current model could enhance the new brokering model but it should be part of it to enhance it.
Chris Daly says there has to be room for the ICSSS model in the new broker service.
Mr Daly says survivors need support at different points in time.
In November 2008, the Scottish government announced the development of a national advice and information support service, In Care Survivors Service Scotland (ICSSS).
This formed part of the Scottish government's response to recommendations in a review of historical abuse in residential care.
Open Secret, external has been funded by the Scottish government to provide the In Care Survivor Service as part of its overall service offering.
Image source, Open SecretThis service has helped over 900 survivors across Scotland since its launch in 2009.
Services include:
Open Secret has been operating the ICSSS for over seven years and the petitioners feel that the uniqueness of its approach is to offer different services, often through one specialist support worker, who has developed a one-to-one relationship with service users.
This ensures that survivors do not have to develop trust with a number of different workers.
Paul Anderson says he is a survivor of child abuse and he details the support for continued funding of ICSSS, including Police Scotland.
Mr Anderson says ICSSS treats survivors like himself as human beings, which can have no price put apon it.
He says there are no services for him in Kirkintilloch where he lives, the NHS has told him there will be no CBT or psychotherapy.
Mr Anderson says he was told this after a suicide attempt.
Image source, bbcPaul Anderson, abuse survivor and campaigner for ICSSS
When in crisis he picks up the phone to ICSSS and someone is there.
Removal of the ICSSS would be devastating he says.
"Please allow the broker model and the ICSSS work together."
Mr Daly says In Care Survivors Service Scotland (ICSSS) is essential in helping survivors survive and thrive.
He says ICSSS is saving lives in times of crisis as it provides safety and security.
The Scottish government states that it has learned a lot about what matters to survivors and what services they need.
As a result, it is moving from the current service, consisting of three elements delivered though one service provider (informal support, advice, and counselling) towards the new In Care Survivor Support Fund Service.
This is a national expanded brokerage, development and commissioning model.
The Scottish government states that it has been designed to meet survivor needs across a wide range of areas which also include psychological, physical, social, education, work and housing requirements.
The new service specification, providing full details of the service background and its envisaged delivery, was put to open tender on October 2015.
The responses are currently being evaluated by the Scottish government.
First of all a worker who is not a specialist counsellor carrying out assessments could leave survivors having talked to the worker feeling suicidal but with no ongoing appropriate support.
Many clients of ICSSS report that the service has kept them alive and has kept them from being admitted to hospital.
"As we survivors see it the service model currently in place is the essential dedicated service which addresses our needs."
"We survivors and service users believe the current model meets our needs".
The petitioners have received letters of support from several local authorities, Police Scotland, the Scottish Human Rights Commissioner, Celcis and others.
These letters have been passed on to the Scottish government.
Chris Daly calls on the committee to support the continuation of the In Care Survivor Service In Scotland.
He says the uncertainty is causing distress to survivors themselves.
Mr Daly says the current service is highly valued and an intensive person centred service.
He says the Scottish government's new brokering model has good aspects, like the £13.5m of funding over five years.
However there are concerns about the brokering service.
According to In Care Survivor Service Scotland, external:
The service was developed to highlight and address the long term effects, as well as current and future needs of those survivors subjected to neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse while in care.
In Care Survivors Service Scotland (ICSSS) provides a model of care that offers counselling, advocacy, informal support, group support and access to records.
Image source, In Care Survivor Service ScotlandIt provides a website and a part time helpline staffed by trained counsellors.
The Scottish government has indicated that it will put the services of the ICSSS out to tender.
The tender process will change the type of service that is being provided to survivors.
Rather than a specialist service where support workers develop a one-to-one relationship with service users, the new proposal is a broker service where survivors will be signposted to a number of other service providers.
MSPs will now hear from Paul Anderson and Chris Daly on their petition PE1596, external on the In Care Survivors Service Scotland.
The petition urges the Scottish government to retain "our essential, dedicated In Care Survivor Service Scotland in its current form".
Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw calls on the committee to contact Lord Holmes and to contact councils planning schemes.
Mr Carlaw says the committee should write to the Scottish government as the there has been no update of their policy since 2010.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Jackson Carlaw
MSPs agree to contact planning departments in all councils and the equivalent of Cosla in Holland, as well as Sustrans.
Committee convener Michael McMahon thanks the witnesses and says they will contact them with the result of their inquiries.
Independent MSP John Wilson asks if there has been any discussion with the local authority as to why they did not opt for a completely pedestrianised area instead of a "shared space scheme".
Ms Hutchison says the council had four options, including one that kept pedestrian crossings, yet the council opted for the cheapest option.
Mr Taylor says Sustrans are the driving force and they want "shared space schemes".
He says these schemes rely on making eye contact with drivers.
"Clearly we cannot do that."
Scottish Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw says there are lots of good submissions to back this petition calling for a moratorium on "shared space schemes".
Mr Carlaw asks about the scheme in Kirkintilloch.
Image source, bcMr Taylor says the schemes will deny people with disabilities access to the town
Mr Taylor says all the traffic lights, all the safety railings and all the pedestrian crossings will be removed.
He says this will deny people with disabilities access to the town.