Minutes: 02 September 2026

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

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

2. Ministerial briefing – evidence:

The Committee took evidence from—

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, supported by, Catriona Dalrymple, Director for Justice and Donald McGillivray, Director for Safer Communities, Scottish Government.

3. Prison operations – evidence:

The Committee took evidence from—

David Mackie, Convener, Howard League Scotland;

Linda Pollock, Chief Executive, Scottish Prison Service;

Jim Watson, Chair, Prison Experts Group.

4. Remand and bail – evidence:

The Committee took evidence from—

Dr Hannah Graham, Commissioner and Senior Lecturer in Criminology, The Independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission;

Dr Cara Jardine, Senior Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research;

Tracey McFall, Vice Chair, Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum.

5. Armed Forces Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee considered supplementary legislative consent memorandum LCM-S7-3 and agreed to write to the Scottish Government for further information.

6. Review of evidence (In private):

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the evidence heard earlier in the meeting to a future meeting.

7. Armed Forces Bill (UK Parliament legislation) - report (In private):

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of its draft report on supplementary legislative consent memorandum LCM-S7-3 to a future meeting.