Minutes: 07 May 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take agenda items 3, 4 and 5 in private.

2. Additional support for learning:

The Committee took evidence from—

Neil Rennick, Director-General Education and Justice, Stella Smith, Unit Head for Additional Support for Learning and Clair Henderson, Team Leader for Additional Support for Learning, Scottish Government;

Laura Caven, Chief Officer, Children and Young People Team and Co-Chair of the Additional Support for Learning Project Board, Suzanne McLeod, Policy Manager, Employers' Team and Joanna Anderson, Policy Manager, Local Government and Finance Team, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

3. Additional support for learning (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda item 2 and took further evidence from—

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Alison Cumming, Executive Director, Performance Audit and Best Value and Yoshiko Gibo, Senior Auditor, Audit Scotland.

4. Additional support for learning (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda items 2 and 3 and agreed to write to the Scottish Government and the Convention for Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) on issues raised during the meeting.

5. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered correspondence from Alyson Stafford, Director-General Scottish Exchequer, Scottish Government, in relation to the Administration of Scottish income tax 2023/24 and agreed its approach to future scrutiny.

In relation to the 2022/23 audit of the Scottish Prison Service, the Committee considered correspondence from Neil Rennick, Director-General Education and Justice, Scottish Government and agreed its approach to future scrutiny.