Tory MSP Brian Whittle says it strikes him that it appears to be more prevalent in the Edinburgh area and he would like to know why.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay says the petition has highlighted the issue and if nothing improves it could be brought back.

Mr Whittle says he cannot think of anything else that could be done. 

Committee convener Johann Lamont says it is a dilemma and that the police are between a "rock and a hard place".

The committee agree to close the petition.

Image source, bbc

Ms Lamont moves to PE1618, external by Carl Grundy on behalf of Riders Club Edinburgh on More powers to the police to combat motorcycle theft.

The committee convener says YouthLink Scotland has provided a submission on how youth organisations can work with the police on this issue.

Tory MSP Maurice Corry calls for the petition to be closed as Police Scotland have the powers they need and can work with Youthlink Scotland.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay says further advice should be sought.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle says he is not sure what the committee can actually do.

Committee convener Johann Lamont says it may be worthwhile getting further information.

Ms Mackay says it would be courteous to get the petitioners view. 

Committee convener Johann Lamont says that PE1592 , externalby Shaheen McQuade on Group B Strep Information and Testing was originally deferred for the report which has now been published.

MSPs now consider the following continued petitions: 

PE1592 , externalby Shaheen McQuade on Group B Strep Information and Testing

PE1618, external by Carl Grundy on behalf of Riders Club Edinburgh on More powers to the police to combat motorcycle theft

PE1621 , externalby James Robertson on Sepsis Awareness, Diagnosis and Treatment

PE1623, external by Spencer Fildes on behalf of Scottish Secular Society on Unelected church appointees on Local Authority Education Committees

PE1626, external by Pat Rafferty on behalf of Unite on Regulation of Bus Services

PE1629, external by Jennifer Lewis on MRI scans for Ocular Melanoma sufferers in Scotland

PE1630, external by Fiona Webb on Nursery funding for 3 year olds.   

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MSPs agree to close  PE1641, external by David Robertson on Future Independence Referendum.  

Committee convener Johann Lamont moves on to the next petition. 

Ms Lamont says the petition was published and open to signatures prior to the debate. 

The convener asks if the position of the Scottish government should be sought.

SNP MSP Angus MacDonald says the petition should be closed because the will of parliament is known. 

Tory MSP Brian Whittle, SNP MSP Rona Mackay and Tory MSP Maurice Corry all agree.

Ms Lamont says this is exercising people on both sides. 

Nicola Sturgeon's call for a second referendum on independence for Scotland was formally backed by the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs voted by 69 to 59 in favour of seeking permission for a referendum before the UK leaves the EU.

Ms Sturgeon says the move is needed to allow Scotland to decide what path to follow in the wake of the Brexit vote.

But the UK government has already said it will block a referendum until after the Brexit process has been completed.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who met Ms Sturgeon for talks in Glasgow on Monday, has repeatedly insisted that "now is not the time" for a referendum.

Her Scottish secretary, David Mundell, has said that the timescale could include "the Brexit process, the journey of leaving and people being able to understand what the UK's new relationship with the EU is, so they can make an informed choice if there was ever to be another referendum".

Image source, Thinkstock

MSPs now consider PE1641, external by David Robertson on Future Independence Referendum.

The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish government not to seek a second independence referendum until after 2020. 

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Ms Lamont says: "It would be quite interesting to tease out some of the technicalities around this."

The Labour MSP says the issue in the petition particularly pertains to under 35s and the committee will want to come back to this petition.

Tory MSP Maurice Corry says there is a problem in Scotland where not every local authority has the same type of housing.

Mr Corry says the committee should "demand" a report from COSLA to identify the houses that are causing a problem. 

"We need to get the facts," he says. 

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Committee convener Johann Lamont says it would be interesting to know the policy of housing associations and organisations.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay agrees and says it is clear there is an issue here.

Ms Mackay says the committee should write to the government as well.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle says it would be important to hear the outcome of the review.

SNP MSP Angus MacDonald says there appears to be some confusion on the SPICe briefing which says the Scottish government have not indicated whether it plans to change the UK government plans.

Mr MacDonald says the Scottish government cannot change the UK government's plans and that it can only mitigate against them. 

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Johann Lamont gets us underway again after that enforced break.

MSP again consider PE1638 , externalby Sean Clerkin on Local Housing Allowance (Bedroom tax 2).

The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish government to bring forward a debate on the issue of the bedroom tax, in particular the planned Local Housing Allowance cap ("bedroom tax 2").

The committee has suspended again abruptly.

Image source, bbc

MSP consider PE1638 , externalby Sean Clerkin on Local Housing Allowance (Bedroom tax 2).

The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish government to bring forward a debate on the issue of the bedroom tax, in particular the planned Local Housing Allowance cap ("bedroom tax 2").

MSPs now consider the following current petitions:

• PE1638 , externalby Sean Clerkin on Local Housing Allowance (Bedroom tax 2)
• PE1641, external by David Robertson on Future Independence Referendum

Tory MSP Maurice Corry says an update from the blood transfusion services is essential.

Committee convener Johann Lamont agrees and says the committee will continue to review the petition.

Ms Lamont suspends briefly and that ends this evidence session.