Convener

*Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)

Deputy convener

*Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)

Committee members

*George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)

Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)

*Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP)

*Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)

*Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)

*John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)

*Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Committee substitutes

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)

The following also participated:

Councillor Shamin Akhtar (East Lothian Council)

Dr Alasdair Allan (Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages)

James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) (Committee Substitute)

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)

Councillor Jenny Laing (Aberdeen City Council)

Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)

Robert Nicol (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities)

Councillor Stephanie Primrose (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and East Ayrshire Council)

Councillor Gary Robinson (Shetland Islands Council)

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

Clerk to the committee

Terry Shevlin