Minutes: 12 November 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take agenda items 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in private.

2. Adult Disability Payment:

The Committee took evidence from—

Miriam Craven, Director-General Communities, Stephen Kerr, Director, Social Security and Kevin Stevens, Head of Strategic and Programme Finance, Social Security, Scottish Government;

David Wallace, Chief Executive and Helen Fogarty, Head of Performance, Analysis and Strategy, Social Security Scotland.

3. Scotland's colleges 2025:

The Committee took evidence from—

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Derek Hoy, Senior Manager and Ray Buist, Audit Manager, Audit Scotland.

4. Scotland's colleges 2025 (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda item 3 and took further evidence from—

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Derek Hoy, Senior Manager and Ray Buist, Audit Manager, Audit Scotland.

5. Adult Disability Payment (In Private):

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

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Carole Grant, Audit Director, Audit Scotland.

6. Adult Disability Payment (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda items 2 and 5 and agreed to write to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee and in doing so, close its scrutiny of the report.

7. Scotland's colleges 2025:

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda items 3 and 4 and agreed to defer its next steps to a future meeting.

8. Work programme:

The Committee considered its work programme in relation to NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance, considered correspondence from the Ethical Standards Commissioner and the Scottish Government and agreed to close its scrutiny of the report.

In relation to the Scottish National Investment Bank, the Committee considered correspondence from the Scottish National Investment Bank and the Scottish Government and agreed to close its scrutiny of the report.