Minutes: 08 October 2026

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 5 and 6 in private.

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

The Committee took evidence from—

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, supported by Heather McLean, Senior Policy Officer, Directorate for Justice and Emma Thomson, Lawyer, Legal Directorate, Scottish Government.

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

Neil Gray (Cabinet Secretary for Justice) moved—

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

The motion was agreed to.

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

The Committee took evidence from—

Ivan McKee, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform and Simita Kumar, Minister for Equalities and International Development. The Minister was supported by Rachael McGruer, Deputy Director, Tackling Child Poverty, Scottish Government.

5. Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Women's poverty – review of evidence (in private):

The Committee reviewed the evidence heard under agenda item 4. The Committee agreed to consider a draft letter to the Scottish Government in private at its next meeting.

6. Work programme (in private):

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed to:

a programme of oral evidence on the implementation of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations;

the terms of its proposal for a People's Panel on: Access to Justice and Reform of Legal Aid in Scotland; and

continue consideration of its work programme, in private, at its next meeting.