The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 ("the Act") provided for the establishment of the Poverty and Inequality Commission.

A non-statutory body also known as the Poverty and Inequality Commission was established by the Scottish Ministers on 3 July 2017. When section 8 and the schedule of the Act come into force on 1 July 2019, the non-statutory body will cease, to be succeeded by the statutory Commission.

The Act requires that Scottish Ministers may appoint a person as a member of the Commission only if the Scottish Parliament has approved the appointment. This report concerns the appointment of members of the Commission.

The process for appointment of members has been regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.

On 6 June 2019 the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government wrote to the Committee setting out her nominations for members of the Commission. The eight nominees are.

• Linda Bamford

• Yvonne Blake

• Alex Cobham

• Lindsay Graham

• Katie Schmuecker

• Shona Stephen

• Morag Treanor

• Douglas White

The letter was accompanied by information submitted by each of the nominees as part of the application process.

In advance of the Parliament being invited to approve the appointment, on 13 June 2019, three Members of the Committee (the Convener, Jeremy Balfour and Alison Johnstone) met with nominees in private to consider their suitability for appointment. One nominee, Shona Stephen, was unable to attend. Her suitability for appointment was assessed solely on the basis of the written material provided by the Scottish Government.

Following the private meeting, the three Members reported to the full Committee the matters discussed with nominees. Following discussion, the Committee agreed to recommend to the Parliament that it approve the Cabinet Secretary's nominations for appointment.