Seòmar agus comataidhean

We now move into private session.

Welcome to the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee’s sixth meeting in session 6. I have received apologies from Paul Sweeney MSP. Before we move to the first item on the agenda, I remind everyone present to switch their mobile phones to silent.

Agenda item 1 is to decide whether to take business in private. Is the committee content to take items 7 to 10 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you very much. You mentioned quite a lot there, and I am quite sure that, when we have our private session, colleagues will no doubt discuss trust law reform. I suggest that they might have some questions, too.

You touched on the tenement repairs work. Graham Simpson was very much involved with that in the previous parliamentary session, and I was a member of the group that Graham convened. Can you provide a bit of information about where that work is at the moment?

As members have no further questions, I thank Lady Paton and Mr Garland for coming to the committee and taking questions from members. Your evidence has been very helpful. I am sure that, if the committee has any further questions, we will write to you with them.

Under agenda item 3, no issues have been raised on the following instruments.

Under agenda item 5, no points have been raised on the following instrument.

Is the committee content with the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Item 2 is evidence on the work of the Scottish Law Commission. I welcome Lady Paton, the chair of the commission, who is accompanied by the commission’s interim chief executive, Charles Garland.

The session 5 Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee built a very positive relationship with the commission. In that committee’s handover report, which was published in March, it recommended that its successor committee take the time to learn more about the commission’s work in session 6 and to develop similar links. I hope that today might be the start of that work.

I ask Lady Paton whether she wishes to make any opening remarks.

No problem.

Do you plan to narrow down any of the work that you are undertaking?