Minutes: 09 October 2025

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 5 and 6 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Carer’s Assistance (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments, Revocation, Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 from—

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Dawn Kane, Senior Policy Officer, Carer Benefits, Jane Sterry, Team Leader, Carer Support Payment Policy, and Karolina Bodzak, Solicitor, Disability and Carer Benefits Branch, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice) moved—

S6M-18774—That the Social Justice and Social Security Committee recommends that the Carer’s Assistance (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments, Revocation, Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to. The Committee agreed to delegate to the Convener finalisation of a report on the instrument.

4. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Professor Calvin Jones, economist;

Professor Colin Reid, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Law, University of Dundee.

5. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the evidence heard under item 4.

6. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme. The Committee agreed to send a joint letter with the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee to the Scottish Government regarding issues faced by certain types of seasonal agricultural workers employed in Scotland.