At its meeting on 18 November 2025ⁱJeremy Balfour MSP submitted apologies for this meeting., the Committee considered the following instruments under its remit and agreed not to draw them to the attention of the Parliament.

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Scottish Register of Tartans Fees Order 2025 (SSI 2025/334)

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Thresholds) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/299)

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Food Safety Act 1990 Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/Draft)

Official Controls (Import of High Risk Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/335)

National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/337)

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Charities Accounts (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/341)

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Draft Code of Practice: The Non-Party Campaigner Campaign Expenditure (Scottish Parliament Elections) Code of Practice 2025 (SG/2025/289)

• This version of the draft Code of Practice was laid before the Parliament by the Scottish Ministers on 10 November 2025.  The Committee notes that the original versionⁱⁱTthe original draft was laid before the Parliament on 16 September 2025. was withdrawn as it appeared that one of the statutory preconditions had not been met, being the requirement that the Electoral Commission must consult the Scottish Parliament on a draft of the Code before submitting it to the Scottish Ministers for their approvalⁱⁱⁱThis is one of the consultation requirements in section 100BA(1) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000..  The Committee notes that the present version has been re-laid after the Electoral Commission formally consulted with the Parliament^ivThe Parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee considered the re-laid draft at its meeting on 6 November 2025 (Minutes, agenda item 7)..

• The Committee also agreed to raise the following matters as minor points:

  • The Background section on page 2 of the draft Code states:

    “…The draft Code was prepared by the Electoral Commission (the ‘Commission’) in accordance with [section] 100BA PPERA following consultation with, interested persons, the Scottish Parliament and the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

    The consultation report can be found on the Commission’s website.

    A draft was approved by the Scottish Ministers and laid before the Scottish Parliament in accordance with section 100AA PPERA….”

  • However, when attempting to locate the consultation report on the Electoral Commission’s website, it appears (from the “Our consultations” page) that it has not yet been published.

  • In the final paragraph quoted above, the reference to section 100AA PPERA should be to section 100BA.