Minutes: 07 March 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 3 and 4 in private.

2. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill:

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

Erica Young, Policy Officer (Social Justice), Citizens Advice Scotland;

Jon Shaw, Welfare Rights Worker, Child Poverty Action Group Scotland;

Richard Gass, Welfare Rights and Money Advice Manager, Glasgow City Council;

Michael Clancy OBE, Director of Law Reform, Law Society of Scotland;

Diane Connock, Advice Services and Welfare Reform Team Leader, Stirling Council.

Jeremy Balfour indicated that he had previously been a member of the First-tier Tribunal.

3. Consideration of evidence (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

4. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed to write to Glasgow City Council and the City of Edinburgh Council following up on the session on 29 February 2024, which dealt with housing and homelessness, focussing specifically on refugees and asylum seekers.