Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill
Jeremy Balfour MSP has introduced this Member’s Bill. It will establish a Disability Commissioner for Scotland.
The Bill is at Stage 1
Contents
Stage 1 - General principles
Committees examine the Bill and gather views. They produce reports before MSPs debate the Bill in the Chamber. MSPs then decide on the purpose (“general principles”) of the Bill.
The Bill is at Stage 1
Committee Examination
The lead committee for this Bill is the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Submit your views
The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee opened a call for views on this Bill on 28 March 2024.
Share your views on this call for views with the Committee
Open a copy of the Easy Read version of this call for views that you can edit on your computer
Open a copy of the Easy Read version of this call for views that you can download and print off
Complete this call for views in writing, with the questions in British Sign Language (BSL)
Complete this call for views using British Sign Language (BSL) via WhatsApp on your mobile device. Click the button, or scan the QR code below to use WhatsApp.
The call for views closed on Friday 17 May 2024.
Timetable
The timetable that the committee followed while examining the Bill at Stage 1
4 June 2024
- Dr Arun Chopra, Executive Director (Medical), Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
- Stephanie Griffin, Scotland Policy Manager, Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Nick Hobbs, Head of Advice and Investigations, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
- Jan Savage, Executive Director, Scottish Human Rights Commission
11 June 2024
Panel 1
- Lyn Pornaro, Chief Executive Officer, Disability Equality Scotland
- Tressa Burke, Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Disability Alliance
- Karen Wylie, Policy and Participation Manager, Glasgow Disability Alliance
- Heather Fisken, Chief Executive, Inclusion Scotland
- Dr Pauline Nolan, Head of Policy and Engagement, Inclusion Scotland
- Jenny Miller, Chief Executive, PAMIS - Promoting a more inclusive society
Panel 2
- Jamie Cooke, Head of Policy and Communications, Enable
- Suzi Martin, External Affairs Manager, National Autistic Society Scotland
- Alice Struthers, Programme Director, Neurological Alliance of Scotland
- Eddie McConnell, Chair, Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD)
18 June 2024
- Kirstie Henderson, Policy Officer, RNIB Scotland
- Amy Dalrymple, Associate Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Marie Curie Scotland
- Tomas Gerrard, Bid Writer, Deaf Action
- Richard Meade, Director of Carers Scotland and Carers Northern Ireland
The committee will also be planning some private engagement session/s to hear from people with lived experience. We anticipate the engagement session/s to be held in September.
Who spoke to the lead committee in the Parliament
MSPs met with people in committee meetings to discuss what the Bill will do.
Minutes of 5 March 2024 (in private)
Minutes of 21 May 2024 (in private)
Minutes of 4 June 2024
Minutes of 11 June 2024
Minutes of 18 June 2024
Meeting on 4 June 2024
Correspondence
Committee correspondence sent and received while the Bill progressed through Parliament
Disability Commissioner Scotland Bill 16 May 2024
Letter to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, 16 May 2024
Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill: Equality Impact Assessment
Letter to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee from Jeremy Balfour MSP, 14 March 2024
Work by other committees
Finance and Public Administration Committee
Committee report
The lead committee will publish its stage 1 report before the debate on the general principles of the Bill.