The nomination period for the election of the Convener of the Criminal Justice Committee is now open. Nomination forms can be obtained from T1.03 (Parliamentary Business Team located in the Chamber Office at the top of the Garden Lobby steps). Hard copies of nomination forms must be returned to the Business Team by 1.00pm on Wednesday 9 September.

Only Members of the SNP are eligible to be nominated for convenership of the committee. For a candidate to be eligible they must be nominated by a member of the SNP and seconded by a member of another party. If a vote is required, it will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 9 September. It will be conducted by secret ballot and so Members need to attend in person in order to vote.

As announced by the Presiding Officer, the election of convener will take place at the start of business on Wednesday afternoon. The Presiding Officer will announce the names of all valid nominations received. Members should be present in the chamber in order to participate in this process. Where a single nomination has been received, the election of that Member as Convener of the Committee will be confirmed if no other Member objects to their election. Where an objection is made or more than one nomination for Convener of a Committee has been received, elections will be conducted by secret ballot. The elections will take place in Committee Room 5 located outside the chamber on the first floor. The polling station will be open from 2.30pm to 7.00pm on Wednesday. The count will take place on Thursday at 9.30am in P1.02. Candidates and their scrutineers may monitor the count if they wish. The results will be announced in the Chamber at the start of business on Thursday afternoon. To note: As voting does not take place at a meeting of the Parliament, that part of the process will not be broadcast. However, some filming and photograph will be undertaken in P1.02, for public awareness.

Chamber business

Committee business

The committee will meet at 9:15am at Committee Room 2 and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4 and 5 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/240)

3. Rural Support Plan: The Committee will take evidence from—

Tim Bailey, Chief Executive, Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society.

Ed Barker, Head of Policy, Agricultural Industries Confederation Scotland.

Kevin Cumming, Deputy Convenor, Scottish Rewilding Alliance.

Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Adviser for Agriculture and Climate Change, Scottish Land and Estates.

Nim Kibbler, Country Manager for Scotland, Nature Friendly Farming Network.

Vicki Swales, Head of Land Use Policy, RSPB Scotland.

4. Rural Support Plan – review of evidence: The Committee will review the evidence heard under agenda item 3.

5. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee on

The committee will meet at 9:15am at Committee Room 5 and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee will decide whether to take item 5, and future consideration of evidence heard in relation to its remit in private.

2. Scottish Government Priorities: The Committee will take evidence from—

Jenny Gilruth, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Hannah Mary Goodlad, Minister for Public Finance, Andy Kinnaird, Head of Transforming Planning, Catriona MacKean, Deputy Director for Local Government, and Ian Storrie, Head of Local Government Finance, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Visitor Levy (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] from—

Hannah Mary Goodlad, Minister for Public Finance, Fiona Campbell, Visitor Levy and Cruise Ship Levy Team Leader, and Susan Robb, Solicitor, Scottish Government.

4. Subordinate legislation: Hannah Mary Goodlad (Minister for Public Finance) to move—S7M-00407—That the Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Committee recommends that the Visitor Levy (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

5. Consideration of Evidence: The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier under agenda item 2.

6. Work programme: (In Private) The Committee will consider its work programme.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee on

The committee will meet at 9:15am at Committee Room 3 and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Scottish Government Programme for Government: The Committee will take evidence from—

Stephen Flynn, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Scottish Government.

Fiona Brown, Director of Strategy, Performance & Analysis, Mary Docherty, Director, Bus, Concessionary and Active Travel, and Chris Wilcock, Director, Ferries, Transport Scotland.

2. Scottish Government Programme for Government – review of evidence: (In Private) The Committee will review the evidence heard under agenda item 1.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee on

The committee will meet at 9:30am at Committee Room 6 and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4, 5 and 6 in private.

2. Courts, delays and user experience – evidence: The Committee will take evidence from—

John Good, Member of the Criminal Law Committee, Law Society of Scotland.

Malcolm Graham, Chief Executive, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

Yvette Greener, Chief Operating Officer, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Tony Lenehan KC, Vice Dean, Faculty of Advocates.

3. Courts and court users – evidence: The Committee will take evidence from—

Debbie Adams, Director of Development and External Affairs, Victim Support Scotland.

Anna O'Reilly, Assistant Director, Children First.

Rhona Willder, Deputy CEO, Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance.

4. Review of evidence: The Committee will review the evidence heard under agenda items 2 and 3 and the evidence heard at its meeting on 2 September.

5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny - approach: The Committee will consider its approach to scrutiny preceding the Scottish Government’s Budget 2027 to 2028.

6. Review of correspondence: The Committee will review correspondence and consider any matters arising.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee on

The committee will meet at 9:30am at Committee Room 1 and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 3 in private and also take future items to consider evidence heard during pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28 in private at future meetings.

2. Pre-budget Scrutiny 2027-28: Affordability and sustainability of Scotland's tax and spending plans: The Committee will take evidence from—

Professor David Bell, Professor of Economics, University of Stirling;

Dr João Sousa, Senior Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies;

and then from—

Stephen Boyd, Director, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Scotland.

Professor Jim Gallagher, RSE Trustee and Chair of the RSE Audit and Risk Committee, Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Alison Payne, Research Director, Enlighten.

3. Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Affordability and sustainability of Scotland's tax and spending plans: The Committee will consider the evidence heard at agenda item 2.

4. Work programme: (In Private) The Committee will consider its work programme.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee on

The committee will meet at 9:30am at Committee Room 4 and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take consideration of its approach to Pre-Budget scrutiny in private and all future consideration of its work programme and reviews of evidence in private.

2. Overview of key issues in the social care sector in Scotland: The Committee will take evidence from—

Jill Laspa, Policy Manager, COSLA.

Donald McAskill, Chief Executive, Scottish Care.

Rachel Cackett, Chief Executive, Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS).

Paul Traynor, Head of External Affairs (Scotland), Carers Trust.

Donald Macleod, Chief Executive, Self-Directed Support Scotland.

Gareth Adam-Hammond, Chief Inspector for registration and complaints, Care Inspectorate.

3. Review of evidence: The Committee will review the evidence it heard under item 2.

4. Work programme: The Committee will consider its approach to Pre-Budget scrutiny.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee at [email protected]

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What's On

Wednesday 09 September 2026

Business Bulletin

Chamber business

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Portfolio Questions: Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Finance and Local Government, Parliamentary Business and Veterans; Public Service Reform, Europe, External Affairs and Energy

Ministerial Statement: Response to the Detection of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 (BTV3) in the South-West of Scotland

Scottish Government Debate: Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together

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Decision Time

Members’ Business: Walking Scotland's 30th Anniversary

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Rural Affairs Committee

Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Committee

Transport Committee

Criminal Justice Committee

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Health, Care and Sport Committee

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