Minutes: 16 May 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 6 and 7 in private.

2. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Social Security (Residence Requirements) (Sudan) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/Draft)

3. Instruments subject to negative procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Council Tax (Discounts) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2023 (SSI 2023/141)

4. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (Commencement No. 8) Order 2023 (SSI 2023/139 (C.13))

5. Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1:

Jeremy Balfour indicated that he is a friend of John McArthur and that Alan Barr was his university lecturer.

The Committee took evidence from—

Ross Anderson, Partner, Jones Whyte;

Sandy Lamb, Partner, Lindsays;

John McArthur, Partner, Gillespie Macandrew;

Caroline Pringle, Director, Anderson Strathern;

Joseph Slane, Associate, Turcan Connell;

and then from—

Alan Barr, Convener of Trusts and Succession Law Sub-Committee, Law Society of Scotland;

Laura Dunlop, KC, Convener of the Faculty’s Law Reform Committee, Faculty of Advocates;

Sarah-Jane Macdonald, Committee Member, STEP Scotland;

Ken Swinton, Council Member, Scottish Law Agents Society.

6. Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private):

The Committee considered the powers to make subordinate legislation within devolved competence in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (UK Parliament legislation). The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

7. Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier in the meeting.