Chamber and committees

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

The Committee was established in June 2026. It focuses on:

equal opportunities
human rights
civil justice.

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Next meeting of the committee

Start time: 9:30am, Thursday 08 October 2026

Location: Committee Room 2

Agenda:

Decisions on taking business in private
Maximum Number of Judges (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] – evidence
Maximum Number of Judges (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] – motion recommending approval
Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Women's poverty – evidence
Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Women's poverty – review of evidence
Work programme

Full agenda and other meeting papers

Dates for future meetings

The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee usually meets on Thursday.

Previous meetings of the committee

See all meetings of the committee

Work of the Committee

Work of the Committee: Current work

Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Women's poverty

Work of the Committee: Future work

The Committee agreed to hold a series of evidence sessions focussing on issues within the three parts of its remit:

3 September 2026 - Civil Justice roundtable
10 September 2026 - Equalities roundtable
17 September 2026 - Human Rights roundtable

The Committee will then take evidence from the Scottish Government on the issues raised:

24 September 2026 - Minister for Equalities and International Development, followed by the Minister for Victims and Community Safety

The Committee will also take evidence on the Scottish Government’s approach to spending and make recommendations on where it should prioritise funds in its 2027-28 Budget. This is known as ‘pre-Budget scrutiny’. Further details will be published in due course.

Work of the Committee: Correspondence

Correspondence

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Women's poverty

5 October 2026

Engender Parliamentary Briefing, 5 October 2026

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Women's poverty

2 October 2026

Letter from the Executive Director of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, 2 October 2026

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Scottish Enterprise: human rights due diligence policy publication

2 October 2026

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, 2 October 2026

See all of this committee's correspondence

Work of the Committee: Official Reports of meetings

Official Reports of meetings

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, September 24, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice (Overview), Subordinate Legislation

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, September 17, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Human Rights (Overview), Subordinate Legislation

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, September 10, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Equalities (Overview)

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, September 3, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Civil Justice (Overview)

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, June 25, 2026

Interests, Deputy Convener, Decision on Taking Business in Private

See all of this committee's Official Reports

Work of the Committee: Reports

Committee reports

Instruments relating to fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers considered on 24 September 2026

1st Report, 2026 (Session 7)

Published: 01 October 2026

See all of this committee's reports

Work of the Committee: Committee Remit

To consider and report on the following — a. matters relating to equal opportunities, and upon the observance of equal opportunities within the Parliament; b. matters relating to human rights; c. matters relating to civil justice within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.