Minutes: 02 September 2025

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 in private.

2. Employment Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee took evidence on the supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum LCM-S6-53b from—

Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Anne Cairns, Solicitor, Danny Duffy, Fair Work, Social Care, David Holmes, Fair Work, Economy, and Rachael Thomas, Fair Work, Social Care, Scottish Government.

3. Good Food Nation:

The Committee took evidence from—

Claire Hislop, Organisational Lead for Food and Physical Activity, Public Health Scotland;

Professor Lindsay Jaacks, Deputy Director and Personal Chair of Global Health and Nutrition, University of Edinburgh;

Mhairi Brown, Head of Food Futures, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission Scotland;

Anna Chworow, Deputy Director, Nourish Scotland;

and then from—

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, James Hamilton, Lawyer, Tracy McCollin, Head of Good Food Nation Team, Jo Mitchell, Procurement Policy Manager, and Jules Goodlet-Rowley, Head of Tobacco, Gambling, and Diet and Healthy Weight Unit, Scottish Government.

Dr Sandesh Gulhane declared an interest as a practising NHS GP.

4. Employment Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (In Private):

The Committee considered a draft report on the supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum LCM-S6-53b and agreed the report for publication subject to minor changes to be agreed by correspondence.

5. Good Food Nation (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3.