Minutes: 29 October 2026

Thursday, 29 October 2026

6th Meeting, 2026

Start time:09:01am

End time: 11:51am

Location: Committee Room 3

Published: Friday, 30 October 2026

Committee Members Attendees:

Apologies received from:

Steven Bonnar (Member)

Substitute Members Attendees:

Patricia Gibson (Substitute Member)

Minutes

1. Declaration of interests:

Patricia Gibson MSP had no relevant interests to declare.

2. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4, 5 and 6 in private.

3. Representation of the People Bill (UK Parliament legislation) – evidence:

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

Professor Alan Renwick, Professor of Democratic Politics, University College London;

Alison Williams, Director of Devolution and Law and Jackie Killeen, Director of Electoral Administration and Regulation, Electoral Commission, Scotland ;

and then from—

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans supported by Iain Hockenhull, Head of Elections, Scottish Government;

Lorraine Walkinshaw, Lawyer and Jordan McGrory, Lawyer, Scottish Government Legal Directorate .

4. Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Commonwealth Citizens) Bill – Stage 1 report (in private):

The Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report. Various changes were agreed to. The Committee delegated to the Convener responsibility for finalising the draft report for publication.

5. Temporary Standing Order Rule Changes (in private):

The Committee considered its approach to scrutiny of temporary changes to Standing Orders agreed by the Parliament under Bureau motions S7M-00150 and S7M-00378. The Committee agreed witnesses and recipients of a targeted call for views and delegated authority to the Convener to determine witnesses for one panel.

6. Review of evidence (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 3.