Minutes: 15 March 2022

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill(In Private):

The Committee considered its approach to scrutiny of the Bill. It agreed—

• A preferred indicative timetable for scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1;
• A call for views in short survey form for those wishing to comment in general terms on the Bill, to be issued in week commencing 21 March 2022;
• A call for views in a longer, more detailed consultation form predominantly for organisations, also to be issued in week commencing 21 March 2022;
• To produce each call for views in BSL, Gaelic and Easy Read formats;
• That its scrutiny of the Bill must be conducted in a respectful and courteous manner; 
• That submissions which contain offensive and/or defamatory content, are in breach of GDPR, or are not relevant to the scrutiny of the Bill, will not be published; 
• That multiple submissions which are identical or similar in nature will be published once only, with an indication of how many such submissions have been received;
• That any further consideration of its approach to scrutiny; potential witnesses for future evidence sessions; reviews of evidence heard, and consideration of a draft report will be taken in private at future meetings;
• To undertake informal, private engagement sessions in a safe and secure setting with appropriate safeguarding, with notes of those sessions to be published; and,
• To delegate responsibility for organising and inviting witnesses to the Convener and the clerks.