1. Declaration of interests:

Collette Stevenson MSP was invited to declare any relevant interests and had nothing to declare.

2. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 in private.

3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26:

The Committee took evidence as part of its pre-budget scrutiny for 2025-26 from—

Professor David Heald, Emeritus Professor, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow;

Alison Payne, Research Director, Reform Scotland;

Bill Howat, Member and Keith Yates, Member, The Mercat Group.

4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (In private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

5. Renters' Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (In private):

The Committee considered its approach to the legislative consent memorandum and agreed to;

• invite written views from key stakeholders; and
• invite the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice to give evidence to the Committee at a future meeting.
  
  

6. Housing (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report and agreed to consider it further at its next meeting.