Official Report 589KB pdf
Welcome to the fourth meeting in 2026 of the Criminal Justice Committee. I have received no apologies.
Colleagues will be aware that Alyn Smith has resigned as convener of the committee, following his appointment to a ministerial position. We thank him for the leadership and commitment that he has shown during his time as convener, and we wish him every success in his new role in Government. As deputy convener, I will convene meetings of the Criminal Justice Committee until such time as the Parliament has voted on a new convener.
We are joined by Yi-pei Chou Turvey, whom I welcome, and Ben Macpherson has joined the committee as a new member. I have known Ben for many years, and I know him to be incredibly thoughtful. I invite him to declare any interests that are relevant to the committee’s remit.
It is great to be part of the committee, having served on previous versions of it during the past two sessions.
I draw members’ attention to my voluntary entry in the register of members’ interests, which states that I am on the roll of Scottish solicitors.
Thank you.
Agenda item 1 is a decision on whether to take in private items 4, 5 and 6. For transparency, I say that item 4 relates to our consideration of the evidence that we will hear today, item 5 relates to the committee’s approach to its pre-budget scrutiny, and item 6 relates to the consideration of correspondence. Do members agree to take items 4, 5 and 6 in private?
Members indicated agreement.
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