Seòmar agus comataidhean

The final group that we will consider today is a proposed CPG on culture and communities. I welcome Sarah Boyack MSP, who joins us as the convener of the proposed group. I invite Sarah to make some opening comments.

We are living in a period following an absolute tragedy, and the security of individual elected members, and of the venues where they gather, is paramount. The SSI and that discussion about security predate recent events. It is my understanding that additional security is now needed because of that event. There is advice from Police Scotland and other bodies about that.

What was being considered at the time, given that the responsibility for funding security will rest with the individual and their political party and that the purpose of the SSI is merely that the cost will appear in the return but not be set against the totals that need to be expended? Was anything more specific being considered?

I thank the minister and his officials for their attendance today.

Agenda item 5 is consideration of two negative SSIs. Are there any comments before I move to the formal element?

Agenda item 9—our final item—is on the re-registration of cross-party groups. The committee is asked to consider a change of purpose for the proposed CPG on colleges and universities and the proposed CPG on nuclear disarmament, and a change of name and purpose for the proposed CPG on improving Scotland’s health. As members are aware, such changes of name or purpose have to come before the committee to be formally approved. Does anybody have any comments that they would like to make?

As no one has any comments to make, my intention is to put a single question to the committee, if everybody is happy with that. Does the committee agree that the proposed CPG on colleges and universities, the proposed CPG on nuclear disarmament and the proposed CPG on improving Scotland’s health can be re-registered in the new session?

Members indicated agreement.

Do members have any questions?

A broad set of organisations from outwith the Parliament support setting up the group, which is good to see. The deputy convener is Daniel Johnson—is that right?

Thank you very much. Do members have any questions?

Thank you. I just wanted that on the record for the purpose of clarification.

As there are no further questions on that instrument, we come to our last SSI, which is the Representation of the People (Absent Voting at Local Government Elections) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021. In essence, the instrument makes changes for emergency proxy applications that are made after 5 pm. A number of questions arise from it, but the crucial one is, what was the reason for the 5 pm deadline for an emergency proxy application for someone who is disabled but the removal of that deadline for someone who is detained?

It will be later for—

Are you saying that the 5 pm deadline for a person who is detained has not been removed and is still there?