1. Declaration of interests:

Pam Gosal and Tess White were invited to declare any relevant interests. No such interests were declared.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument— Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Bus Registration Appeals Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/249)

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

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on—

The Upper Tribunal for Scotland Bus Registration Appeals (Composition) Regulations 2024 [draft]; and

The Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of the Transport Tribunal) Regulations 2024 [draft]

from—

Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Scottish Government.

4. Subordinate legislation:

Siobhian Brown (Minister for Victims and Community Safety) moved—

S6M-14609—That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Upper Tribunal for Scotland Bus Registration Appeals (Composition) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved; and

S6M-14610—That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of the Transport Tribunal) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

The motions were agreed to.

5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26:

The Committee took evidence from—

Catherine Murphy, Executive Director, Engender;

Lewis Ryder-Jones, Advocacy Adviser, Oxfam Scotland;

Catherine Robertson, Policy Officer, Zero Tolerance;

and then from—

Dr Alison Hosie, Research Officer, Scottish Human Rights Commission;

Sara Cowan, Coordinator, Scottish Women's Budget Group.

6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 5.