Minutes: 21 January 2025

1. UK Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Food and Feed (Regulated Products) (Amendment, Revocation, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025 (RP reform SI) (UK statutory instrument proposals) from—

Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, Georgina Finch, Senior Policy Advisor, Food Standards Scotland, Neel Mojee, Lawyer and Greig Walker, Project lead, Constitution and UK Relations, Scottish Government.

2. UK Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating in a devolved area as set out in the following UK statutory instrument proposal—

Food and Feed (Regulated Products) (Amendment, Revocation, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025 (RP reform SI).

The Committee agreed (by division: For 9, Against 1, Abstentions 0) with the Scottish Government’s proposal to consent to the UK Statutory Instrument.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government regarding its decision to agree to the Scottish Government’s proposal, raising a number of related concerns, and requesting regular updates.

3. Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Fraser Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer, Humanist Society of Scotland;

Dr Gillian MacDougall, Trustee, Friends at the End;

Professor Gareth Morgan, Convenor, Scottish Christian Forum on Assisted Dying;

Alyson Thomson, Director, Dignity in Dying Scotland;

and then from—

Dr Miro Griffiths, Disability Studies Scholar at the University of Leeds, representing Not Dead Yet UK;

Gordon Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer, Care Not Killing;

Michael Veitch, Scotland Policy Officer, CARE;

Dr Gillian Wright, Director, Our Duty of Care.

Dr Sandesh Gulhane declared an interest as a practising NHS GP and as chair of the Medical Advisory Group set up to advise and inform the member in charge of the Bill in advance of its introduction.

Elena Whitham declared an interest as a member of the Humanist Society Scotland.

Emma Harper declared an interest as a registered nurse.

4. Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3.

5. Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered its approach to scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.

The Committee agreed its plan for informal engagement on the Bill.