Minutes: 17 September 2026

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.

2. Human Rights – evidence:

The Committee took evidence, in a roundtable format, from—

Jan Savage, Executive Director, and Jennifer Cannon, Head of Legal and Policy, Scottish Human Rights Commission;

Lorraine Barrie, Interim Director, Making Rights Real;

Juliet Harris, Director, Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights);

Charlie McMillan, Director, Human Rights Consortium Scotland;

Cat Murphy, Executive Director, Engender.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers) 2026 (SSI 2026/208)

Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers) (Amendment) 2026 (SSI 2026/252).

The Committee agreed to continue consideration of the instruments at its next meeting. The Committee also agreed to issue an invitation to the Lord President's Private Office to give evidence on the instruments at the same meeting.

4. Human Rights – review of evidence (in private):

The Committee reviewed the evidence heard under agenda item 2.