Minutes: 20 April 2022

1. Declaration of interests:

Ruth Maguire declared that she has no relevant interests.

2. Scottish Attainment Challenge Inquiry:

The Committee heard evidence from—

Jim Thewliss, General Secretary, School Leaders Scotland;

Mike Corbett, National Official (Scotland), NASUWT;

Andrea Bradley, Assistant Secretary, Education and Equality, Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS);

Greg Dempster, General Secretary, Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS).

3. British Sign Language Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee considered the legislative consent memorandum lodged on 9 March 2022 by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, (LCM(S6)17) and agreed a report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum would be signed off by the Convener and Deputy Convener.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered and made no comment on the following negative instruments— Police Act 1997 and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Fees) (Coronavirus) Amendment Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/97) and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/102).

5. Evidence Session (In Private):

The Committee deferred consideration of the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2 to a later meeting.

6. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme. 

The Committee considered correspondence of 8 March from the Deputy First Minister, which provided an update on the redress scheme.  The Committee agreed to write to the Deputy First Minister on a number of related matters and to consider the response at a future meeting. The Committee agreed that the letter would be signed off by the Convener and Deputy Convener.

The Committee agreed to hold a one-off evidence session on the implementation of 1140 hours funded early learning and childcare policy at its meeting on 25 May.

The Committee considered and noted a response of 31 March from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans regarding children in prisons. The Committee also noted the ongoing consultation on the Children’s Care and Justice Bill.