Minutes: 12 June 2025

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

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

2. Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee took evidence on Legislative Consent Memorandum LCM-(S6)-55 from—

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Gemma MacAllister, Lawyer, Legal Directorate, and Simon Coote, Head of Cross Cutting Policy Unit, Scottish Government.

The Committee agreed to recommend that the Parliament give consent to the relevant provisions in the Bill identified by the Scottish Government in its draft motion. It also agreed to delegate to the Convener the drafting and publication of its report on the legislative consent memorandum.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Council Tax Reduction (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 3) Regulations 2025

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

4. Local authority housing emergencies:

The Committee took evidence from—

Maeve McGoldrick, Head of Policy and Communications in Scotland, Crisis;

Susie Fitton, Policy Manager, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA);

Fionna Kell, Director of Policy, Homes for Scotland;

John Blackwood, Chief Executive , Scottish Association of Landlords;

Mike Callaghan, Policy Manager, COSLA;

Tony Cain , Policy Manager, Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO).

5. Local authority housing emergencies (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard under item 4 and agreed to write to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee about some of the issues raised.

6. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme. The Committee agreed its response to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice on the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026-31. The Committee also agreed its approach to pre-budget scrutiny.