Minutes: 05 November 2025

1. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Dr Emma Forbes, National Lead for Domestic Abuse, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service;

Liliana Torres Jimenez, Criminal Policy Executive and Secretary of the Criminal Law Committee, Law Society of Scotland;

Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram, Police Scotland.

Liam Kerr declared an interest as a current member of the Law Society of Scotland.

2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny:

The Committee took evidence as part of its Pre-Budget Scrutiny from—

Chief Constable Jo Farrell, Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs, Professionalism, Strategy and Engagement and Lynn Brown, Head of Finance, Police Scotland;

and then from—

Fiona McQueen, Chair, Alasdair Hay, Vice Chair and Chris Brown, Chief Executive and Accountable Officer, Scottish Police Authority.

3. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 1.

4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (In Private):

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the evidence heard earlier under agenda item 2.