At its meeting on 6 May 2025, the Committee considered the following instruments and document subject to parliamentary control under its remit and agreed not to draw them to the attention of the Parliament.

Education, Children & Young People Committee

Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/115 (C.12))

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Town and Country Planning (Fees for Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/124)

Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/125)

Town and Country Planning (Fees for Local Reviews) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/126)

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman draft revised Statement of Principles for Complaints Handling Procedures (SPSO 2025/01) (Document subject to parliamentary control)

• In relation to the above document, the Committee highlights to the lead committee its correspondence with the Ombudsman.

• In particular, the Committee highlights that:

  • whether parliamentary procedure is required for this draft revised document is determined, conclusively, by whether the Ombudsman considers that the revision is “material” (section 16A(11) of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002), and

  • confirmation has been obtained from the Ombudsman that the Ombudsman does consider that this revision is material. The Parliamentary procedure in section 16A(4)-(6) of the 2002 Act therefore applies to this document.

• The Committee also highlights that confirmation has been obtained in this correspondence that the Ombudsman has fulfilled the requirement in section 16A(7)(a) to consult the Scottish Ministers, in particular, before laying the document. This was not mentioned in the laying documents.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 (SSI 2025/Draft)

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Council Tax Reduction (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/112)

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/119 (C.13))

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/106 (C.10))

• In relation to the above instrument, the Committee highlights to the lead committee its correspondence with the Scottish Government regarding a lack of clarity in one aspect of the Policy Note.