Meetings

This is all meetings of Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee held in 2026. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

7th Meeting

06 October

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence
Show witnesses
• Matt Baker
  Artist and Author of Local Culture Scotland report
• Pauline Smith
  Chief Executive
  Development Trusts Association Scotland
• Kate Wimpress
  Director
  North Edinburgh Arts
3. Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence
Show witnesses
• Councillor Maureen Chalmers
  Community Wellbeing Spokesperson
  COSLA
• Matthew Sweeney
  Chief Officer - Communities
  COSLA
• Lynda Campbell
  Head of Business & Strategy at Glasgow Life
  on behalf of Community Leisure UK
4. Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence review
5. Pre-Budget scrutiny – upcoming evidence sessions
6. Pre-Budget scrutiny – written evidence
7. Work programme

6th Meeting

29 September

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence
Show witnesses
• Liam Sinclair
  Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive
  National Theatre of Scotland
• Lucy Casot
  Chief Executive Officer
  Museums Galleries Scotland
• Joseph Peach
  Director - Policy and Public Affairs
  Culture Counts
and then from:
• Fiona Campbell
  Convener
  Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland
• Veronique AA Lapeyre
  Director
  Scottish Contemporary Arts Network
• Kenny McGlashan
  Chief Executive
  Federation of Scottish Theatre
• Alasdair Nicolson
  Festival Director
  St Magnus International Festival
3. Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence review
4. Preparation for Conveners Group meeting
5. Standing legal adviser

5th Meeting

22 September

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Historic Environment Scotland – evidence
Show witnesses
• Stephen Uphill
  Interim Chief Executive Officer
  Historic Environment Scotland
• Ronnie Hinds
  Interim Chair
  Historic Environment Scotland
3. Historic Environment Scotland – evidence review
4. Work programme

4th Meeting

15 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decisions on taking business in private
3. Update on Independent Review of Creative Scotland – evidence
Show witnesses
• Iain Munro
  Chief Executive
  Creative Scotland
• Isabel Davis
  Executive Director of Screen Scotland
  Creative Scotland
• Alastair Evans
  Director of Strategy
  Creative Scotland
4. Update on Independent Review of Creative Scotland – review of evidence
5. Representation on External Bodies

3rd Meeting

08 September

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Scottish Government Priorities regarding intergovernmental relations - evidence
Show witnesses
• Jenny Gilruth
  Deputy First Minister
  Scottish Government
• Chris Mackie
  Deputy Director Constitution and UK Relations
  Scottish Government
3. Scottish Government Priorities regarding culture – evidence
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• Màiri McAllan
  Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic
  Scottish Government
• Richard Walsh
  Team Leader, Culture and Historic Environment Division
  Scottish Government
• Jamie MacDougall
  Deputy Director, Culture and Historic Environment
  Scottish Government
4. Scottish Government Priorities – evidence review
5. Pre-Budget scrutiny – approach
6. Work programme

2nd Meeting

01 September

1. Scottish Government Priorities regarding Europe, External Affairs and International Development
Show witnesses
• Stephen Gethins
  Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
  Scottish Government
• Simita Kumar
  Minister for Equalities and International Development
  Scottish Government
• Rachel Sunderland
  Deputy Director, International Relations, Population and Migration
  Scottish Government
• Katherine White
  Deputy Director, International Development
  Scottish Government
• Elliot Robertson
  Head of EU Secretariat
  Scottish Government

1st Meeting

23 June

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Deputy Convener
3. Decision on taking business in private
4. Membership of External Bodies
5. Work programme
6. Work programme