Chamber and committees

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

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Meeting Agenda

7th Meeting, 2026

• Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
• Session: 7
• Location: Committee Room 2
• Start time: 09:30am
• Published: Monday, October 5, 2026 02:56pm

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1 Decisions on taking business in private

The Committee will decide whether to take items 5 and 6 in private.

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2 Maximum Number of Judges (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] – evidence

The Committee will take evidence from—

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Witnesses

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Scottish Government

Heather McLean, Senior Policy Officer, Directorate for Justice, Scottish Government

Emma Thomson, Lawyer, Legal Directorate, Scottish Government

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Paper 1 - Note by the Clerk posted 05/10/2026 (Ref: EHRCJ/S7/26/7/1, 231KB, pdf)

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3 Maximum Number of Judges (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] – motion recommending approval

Neil Gray (Cabinet Secretary for Justice) to move—

S7M-01122—That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Maximum Number of Judges (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] be approved.

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4 Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Women's poverty – evidence

The Committee will take evidence from—

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Witnesses

Ivan McKee, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform, Scottish Government

Simita Kumar, Minister for Equalities and International Development, Scottish Government

Simon Mair, Deputy Director, Place-Based Service Change and Reform, Scottish Government

Rachael McGruer, Deputy Director, Tackling Child Poverty, Scottish Government

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Paper 2 - Note by the Clerk posted 05/10/2026 (Ref: EHRCJ/S7/26/7/2, 427KB, pdf)

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5 Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Women's poverty – review of evidence

The Committee will review the evidence heard under agenda item 4.

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6 Work programme

The Committee will consider its work programme.

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EHRCJ/S7/26/7/3(P) (Private Paper)

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