Minutes: 29 January 2026

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

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

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 (Consequential and Supplementary Amendments) Regulations 2026 [draft], The Removing from Heritable Property (Form of Charge) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/402), The Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Decrees for Removing from Heritable Property) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 (SSI 2025/403) and The Scottish Secure Tenancies (Proceedings for Possession) (Form of Notice) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/404) from—

Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Yvette Sheppard, Head of Rented Sector Unit, Craig McGuffie, Solicitor, and Pauline Brice, Housing Policy Manager, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Màiri McAllan (Cabinet Secretary for Housing) moved—

S6M-20309—That the Social Justice and Social Security Committee recommends that the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 (Consequential and Supplementary Amendments) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

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

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

The Removing from Heritable Property (Form of Charge) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/402)
The Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Decrees for Removing from Heritable Property) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 (SSI 2025/403)
The Scottish Secure Tenancies (Proceedings for Possession) (Form of Notice) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/404)
The Social Security (Residence in an EEA State or Switzerland) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/415)

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

5. Scottish Fiscal Commission:

The Committee took evidence from—

Professor Graeme Roy, Chair, Justine Riccomini, Commissioner, and Michael Davidson, Head of Social Security and Devolved Taxes, Scottish Fiscal Commission.

6. Scottish Fiscal Commission (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard under item 5.

7. Funeral Support Payment (In Private):

The Committee agreed its approach to scrutiny.

8. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme. The Committee agreed draft letters to the Scottish Government regarding Discretionary Housing Payments and to the UK Government regarding Local Housing Allowance.