Building a Substantive Petition System

Fraser Henderson

December 2013

“2007: scrap the planned vehicle tracking and road pricing policy”

"whoever came up with this idea might

be a prat"

1.7 million signatures

Formative proposal

“2007: scrap the planned vehicle tracking and road pricing policy”

Response: Email from PM

In his reply, the PM sets out the government's views on national road pricing, stressing that no decision has yet been made. Mr Blair says he sees the petition and his email as "the beginning, not the end" of the debate.

What was wrong?

DISCONNECTED

Bypasses Parliament

No power to rebukeNo power to force response No triggers

COMMUNICATIONS

Planned policy

No plansFactually incorrect

ROLE OF PETITIONS

Constitutional rights

Misleading“Nanny knows best”

“2006: Don’t remove Banksy painting on park street”

“prosecute the artist who has done this

to a listed building"

3187 signatures

“Don’t remove Banksy painting on park street”

What went well?

CONNECTED

Petitions Committee

Petition Scheme

COMMUNICATIONS

Officer

Help with wordingConnect to decision making timetable

SPECIFIC ISSUE

Not complex

LocalEasy decision

Commonalities

•Petitioners of any age

•Official Languages

•Dealt with in open

•Some topic exclusions

•Safeguards (e.g. duplicates)

•Obligation to receive and read petitions

Any language

Duty to respond

Meaningful Petition Systems..

When is participation effective?CLEAR model

Set Realistic Expectations

TOPICS AND EXCLUSIONS

COMMON UNDERSTANDING

Controls

TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT

HEARING PETITIONS

Where do I submit my petition?

What format?

Guides for public and elected members

What to do with repeat petitions?

Who can petition?

CHECKS

Validity

Progress

Well Equipped

POWERS

Call to account

Study Visits

Full debate

Oral evidence…

RESOURCES

Help petition organisers

Pre-petition phase

Good Communications

INFORMED

Outcomes versus output

Petition Progress

Petition Prayer

STRUCTURED TRANSPARENCY

Create Fair Conditions

REQUIREMENTS

Attainable thresholds

Submit without fear

PARTICIPATION

Timetable

Redress

Age

Language

Nationality

REASONABLE

2007 = 1,506 Europetitions

Environmental issues, water, etc 288Fundamental rights 226

Urbanisation 131Education & cultural issues 103

Social Affairs & Discrimination 207Internal Market & Consumers 192

Health 105Justice 99

Transport issues & Infrastructure 88Property & Restitution 72

Are Reflective

Governors and Government must conceptualise petitions as..

Key Questions

•Who can petition (including legal persons, elected representatives)?

•Which tiers of government will accept or be governed by valid petitions?

•How can petitions be submitted?

•Are there any topics to be excluded?

•How will process of hearing petitions be handled?

•What powers will be triggered?

•Extended right to reasonable timeframe and response?

"A successful petition doesn't have to be one that achieves its aim. If people see the issue

is being taken seriously then they will be happy."

- Dr P.Cruickshank (Napier University)

Building a Substantive Petition System

Fraser Henderson

December 2013