Minutes: 01 October 2026

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 7 in private.

2. Subordinate Legislation:

The Committee took evidence on —

The Representation of the People (Postal Voting for Local Government Elections) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026 [draft]

The Scottish Local Government Elections (Election Agents, Expenses and Publication of Information) Amendment Order 2026 [draft]

from—

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans; who was supported by
Iain Hockenhull,Head of Elections, Scottish Government;
Lorraine Walkinshaw, Lawyer, Scottish Government Legal Directorate.

3. Subordinate Legislation:

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans moved—

S7M-01085—That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the The Representation of the People (Postal Voting for Local Government Elections) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

S7M-01086—That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the The Scottish Local Government Elections (Election Agents, Expenses and Publication of Information) Amendment Order 2026 [draft] be approved.

Both motions were agreed to.

4. Subordinate Legislation:

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the following instrument —

5. Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Commonwealth Citizens) Bill – Stage 1 evidence:

The Committee took evidence from—

Robert Nicol, President, Scottish Assessors Association, Electoral Management Board for Scotland;

Chris Highcock, Secretary to the Board and Depute Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Electoral Management Board for Scotland.

6. Representation of the People Bill (UK Parliament Legislation) – evidence:

The Committee took evidence on legislative consent memorandums LCM-S6-74, LCM-S7-7, LCM-S7-7a and LCM-S7-7b from—

Professor Toby James, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of East Anglia UK;

Robert Nicol, Electoral Registration Officer and

Chris Highcock, Secretary to the Board and Depute Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Electoral Management Board for Scotland .

7. Review of evidence (in private):

The Committee reviewed the evidence it heard under agenda items 5 and 6.