Minutes: 01 February 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private. The Committee also agreed to consider in private at future meetings the Scottish Government’s Report on the Review of Poverty and Inequality Commission Resignations and the Committee’s follow-up on its inquiry into Addressing Child Poverty Through Parental Employment.

2. Homelessness and temporary accommodation:

The Committee took evidence from—

Michael Cameron, Chief Executive , Scottish Housing Regulator;

Nicky Brown, Head of Homelessness and Household Support, City of Edinburgh Council;

Jim McBride, Head of Homelessness and Complex Needs, Glasgow City Council;

Gavin Smith, Service Manager for Housing Access at Fife Council, Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO);

Gordon MacRae, Assistant Director (Communications & Advocacy), Shelter Scotland.

3. Social Security Scotland:

The Committee took evidence on its performance and operation from—

Ally MacPhail, Deputy Director for Strategy, Change, Data and Engagement, Gayle Devlin, Deputy Director of Health and Social Care and James Wallace, Deputy Director for Finance and Corporate Services, Social Security Scotland.

Jeremy Balfour declared an interest as a recipient of Personal Independence Payment.

4. Consideration of evidence (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.