Minutes: 21 January 2025

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 5, 6 and 7 in private.

2. Budget scrutiny 2025-26:

The Committee took evidence from—


    Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Ellen Leaver, Acting Director for Local Government and Ian Storrie, Head of Local Government Finance, Scottish Government.

3. Retrofitting of housing for net zero:

The Committee took evidence from—

    Dr Alasdair Allan, Acting Minister for Climate Action, Scottish Government, Gareth Fenney, Head of Heat Networks & Investment, Sue Kearns, Deputy Director for Heat in Buildings Policy and Regulation, Neal Rafferty, Head of Heat Strategy and Consumer Policy Unit and Ross Loveridge, Head of Heat in Buildings Assessment.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument— Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

5. Budget scrutiny 2025-26 (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

6. Retrofitting of housing for net-zero (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

7. Electoral boundaries: Independent review of automaticity (in private):

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Parliamentary Business and agreed to write to the Minister in response.