Minutes: 11 December 2025

Thursday, 11 December 2025

33rd Meeting, 2025

Start time:09:01am

End time: 11:28am

Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room

Published: Friday, 12 December 2025

Committee Members Attendees:

Apologies received from:

Collette Stevenson (Convener)

Substitute Members Attendees:

David Torrance (Substitute Member)

Minutes

1. Declaration of interests:

Claire Baker was invited to declare any relevant interests. No such interests were declared.

2. Decisions on taking business in private:

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

3. Social Security Independent Advocacy Service:

The Committee took evidence from—

Andrew Bartlett, CEO, Advice Direct Scotland.

4. Social Security Independent Advocacy Service (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard under item 2.

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

The Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report. Various changes were agreed to, and the Committee agreed to consider a revised draft, at its next meeting.

6. Correspondence (In Private):

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this agenda item to a future meeting.

7. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme. The Committee agreed to schedule a joint meeting with the Criminal Justice Committee and Health Social Care and Sport Committee on tackling drug deaths and drug harm.