Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you for providing that clarity. I will bring in Louise Long, followed by Thomas Glen, since you mentioned him.

Thank you.

Thank you, Susanne. In the interests of time, we will crack on and move straight to questions.

Good morning and welcome to the 11th meeting in 2023 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Karen Adam.

Under agenda item 1, the committee is invited to decide whether to take item 5, which is consideration of the evidence that we will hear under item 4, in private. Do members agree to take that item in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thanks for clarifying that. It is very important to get that on record. May I get a view from either or both of Claire Dobson and Elaine Tomlinson?

Thank you.

Can I just intervene and ask for a brief answer, please? I am conscious of the time and mindful that we will be taking evidence on that issue in greater detail in forthcoming weeks.

We move to agenda item 2, which is evidence taking on two affirmative statutory instruments. I refer members to paper 1.

I welcome to the meeting Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety. She is accompanied by Marcus Chalmers, senior policy officer, and Emma Thomson, solicitor, from the Scottish Government’s legal directorate.

I recognise that this is the minister’s first appearance before the committee since her appointment. Welcome, minister. I invite you to speak to the instruments before us.

Can you expand a little bit on the concern that you mentioned in your last sentence?

Do members have any questions? It seems not.

On a personal and a professional level, I am pleased that the regulations have come before us, because the pavement parking bill was introduced by my predecessor as an MSP, Sandra White, during her time in Parliament. I am sure that she will be delighted to see her work coming to fruition.

As no members have indicated that they wish to ask any questions or make any comments, we will move straight to item 3, which is formal consideration of the instruments. I invite the minister to move motions S6M-08337 and S6M-08338.

Motions moved,

That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland General Regulatory Chamber and Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Composition and Rules of Procedure) (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.

That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Allocation of Functions to the General Regulatory Chamber) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.—[Siobhian Brown]

Motions agreed to.