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