Minutes: 10 December 2025

1. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (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;

Detective Superintendent Adam Brown, Police Scotland;

Professor Liz Gilchrist, Criminal Law Committee, Law Society of Scotland;

Glyn Lloyd, Chief Social Work Officer and Head of Children's and Community Justice Services Dundee City Council and Chair of Justice Standing Committee, Social Work Scotland.

Liam Kerr declared an interest as a practising solicitor regulated by the Law Society of Scotland.

2. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

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

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

The Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report. Various changes were agreed to, and the Committee agreed to consider a revised draft, in private, at its next meeting.

4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (In Private):

The Committee considered a draft report on its Pre-Budget Scrutiny. Various changes were agreed to, and the Committee agreed to consider a revised draft, in private, at its next meeting.

5. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish prisons (In Private):

The Committee considered a draft report. Various changes were agreed to, and the report was agreed for publication in early January.