Minutes: 24 February 2026

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 10 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] from—

Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety and Ciaran McDonald, Legal Aid Reform Team Leader, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Siobhian Brown (Minister for Victims and Community Safety) moved—S6M-20605—That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Procedure Rules) (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/33);

First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Procedure Rules) (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/34); and

Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (Practice and Procedure) (No. 2) Amendment Rules 2026 (SSI 2026/35).

5. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR):

The Committee took evidence from—

Kaukab Stewart, Minister for Equalities, Elli Kontorravdis, Head of Human Rights Implementation and International Policy and Kevin McGowan, Unit Head, Equality Division, Scottish Government.

6. Inquiry into Neurodivergence in Scotland:

The Committee took evidence from—

Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Georgia de Courcy Wheeler, CAMHS and ND Improvement Team Leader, Mental Health Directorate and Robby Steel, Principal Medical Officer for Mental Health, Mental Health Directorate, Scottish Government.

7. Subordinate legislation (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 2.

8. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 5.

9. Inquiry into Neurodivergence in Scotland (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 6.

10. Post-legislative scrutiny and the non-implementation of specific Acts of the Scottish Parliament (In Private):

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government requesting an update on the implementation of the Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Act 2020, the Domestic Abuse Protection (Scotland) Act 2021 and the Children (Scotland) Act 2020.