This is all meetings of Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee held in 2025. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

10th Meeting

15 December

1. Annual report
Show witnesses
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
and then from:
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
and then from:
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2. Testing December 8 (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
and then from:
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
and then from:
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
3. Mandatory Committees’ remits
Show witnesses
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
and then from:
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
and then from:
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
4. Legacy paper
Show witnesses
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
and then from:
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
and then from:
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Lord Abby Mckinney
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Professor Abby Turner
  Full-Stack Developer
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

22nd Meeting

07 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Louise Church MSYP (Galloway and West Dumfries)
  Member, Education and Lifelong Learning Committee
  Scottish Youth Parliament
• Juliet Harris
  Director
  Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights)
• Gina Wilson
  Head of Strategy
  Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• Gavin Yates
  Executive Director
  Connect
and then from:
• Dr Douglas Hutchison
  Executive Director of Education, Glasgow City Council
  representing the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)
• Susan Quinn
  Convener, Education Committee
  Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
3. Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Work programme

31st Meeting

24 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Lord Allie Mccoy
  Public Works Manager
  Scottish Sports Association
• Chief Constable Amber Martinez
  Resource Developer
• Helen Simpson
  Interim Director of Finance
  University of Dundee
• Helen Smith
  Chief Executive
  Audit Scotland
• Brittany Brown
  Policy Lead
  Scottish Government
and then from:
• Professor Antonio Hopkins
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Lord Alison Nichols
  Public Works Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Professor Becky Jones
  Finance Administrator
  NHS Scotland
and then from:
• David Kennedy
  General Secretary
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
3. Human Rights and the Scottish Parliament (in private)
4. Inquiry in car parking charges (in private)
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

16th Meeting

20 August

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. British Sign Language Inquiry
Show witnesses
• Professor Annelies Kusters
  Professor of Sociolinguistics
  Heriot-Watt University
• Dr Robert Adam
  Associate Professor in Languages and Intercultural Studies
  Heriot-Watt University
• Stacey Gourlay
  Disability Liaison Officer
  NHS Forth Valley
and then from:
• Kate Forbes
  Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy
  Scottish Government
• Andrew Godfrey-Meers
  BSL and Social Isolation Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Alison Taylor
  Deputy Director for Improvement, Attainment and Wellbeing
  Scottish Government
3. UK subordinate legislation
4. British Sign Language Inquiry (in private)
5. Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill
6. Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
7. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
8. Work programme

98th Meeting

15 August

This is all meetings of Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee held in 2023. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

12th Meeting

16 May

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Asylum Seekers in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Caroline O'Connor
  Chief Executive Officer
  Migrant Help
• John Taylor
  Chief Operating Officer
  Mears Housing Management
4. Consideration of evidence

11th Meeting

09 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Siobhian Brown
  Minister for Victims and Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Marcus Chalmers
  Senior Policy Officer
  Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Asylum Seekers in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Bronagh Andrew
  Operations Manager
  TARA - Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance
• Superintendent Claire Dobson
  Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing Division
  Police Scotland
• Chief Inspector Elaine Tomlinson
  Safer Communities Team, Greater Glasgow Division
  Police Scotland
and then from:
• Gayle Findlay
  Policy Manager
  COSLA
• Thomas Glen
  Chief Executive
  Perth & Kinross Council
• Dr Nina Koruth
  Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Louise Long
  Chief Executive
  Inverclyde Council
• Susanne Millar
  Chair of the Scottish Asylum Dispersal Partnership Board and Chief Officer
  Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership
5. Consideration of evidence

10th Meeting

02 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Asylum Seekers in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Pinar Aksu
  Human Rights and Advocacy Coordinator
  Maryhill Integration Network
• Selina Hales
  Founder and Director
  Refuweegee
• Nick Hobbs
  Head of Advice and Investigations
  Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• María José Pavez
  Policy Officer
  Grampian Regional Equality Council
• Savan Qadir
  Project Manager
  Refugees for Justice
• Dr Sarah Stewart
  Volunteer and Partnership Manager
  Friends of Scottish Settlers
3. Consideration of evidence

9th Meeting

25 April

1. Choice of Convener
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Asylum Seekers in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Phil Arnold
  Head of Refugee Support – Scotland, Wales and N Ireland
  British Red Cross
• Annika Joy
  Programme Director
  Simon Community Scotland
• Graham O'Neill
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Refugee Council
• Andy Sirel
  Legal Director and Partner
  JustRight Scotland
4. Consideration of evidence

8th Meeting

28 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Elena Whitham
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Shona Urquhart
  Legal Aid Policy Lead
  Scottish Government
• Denise Swanson
  Deputy Director Civil Law and Legal System
  Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Work programme (in private)
6. Correspondence

7th Meeting

14 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Access to justice roundtable
Show witnesses
• Jen Ang
  Director
  JustRight Scotland
• Gillian Fyfe
  Strategic Lead-Strong Communities
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Colin Lancaster
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Legal Aid Board
• Fiona McPhail
  Principal Solicitor
  Shelter Scotland
• Rachel Moon
  Senior Solicitor and Legal Services Manager
  Govanhill Law Centre
• Jim Stephenson
  Convener
  Access to Justice Committee, Law Society of Scotland
3. Consideration of evidence

6th Meeting

28 February

1. Public petitions: PE01787
2. Work programme (in private)

5th Meeting

21 February

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Scottish Youth Parliament - Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Show witnesses
• Ramiza Ahmad MSYP
  Convener
  Equalities and Human Rights Committee, Scottish Youth Parliament
• Zainab Adeleye MSYP
  Deputy Convener
  Equalities and Human Rights Committee, Scottish Youth Parliament
4. Minimum core obligations
Show witnesses
• Dr Alison Hosie
  Research Officer
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Luis Felipe Yanes
  Legal Policy Development Officer
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Rob Watts
  Economist
  Fraser of Allander Institute
5. Consideration of evidence

4th Meeting

07 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Inquiry into Race Inequality in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Suzanne Munday
  Gypsy / Traveller Service Lead
  MECOPP
• Farah Farzana
  Race Equality Mainstreaming Officer
  CEMVO Scotland
• Danny Boyle
  Senior Parliamentary and Policy Officer
  BEMIS
• Jatin Haria
  Executive Director
  CRER
3. Inquiry into Race Inequality in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Trishna Singh OBE
  Director
  Sikh Sanjog
• Pinar Aksu
  Human Rights and Advocacy Coordinator
  Maryhill Integration Network
• Graham O'Neill
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Refugee Council
• Pervin Ahmad
  Strategic Development Manager
  Saheliya
• Mariam Ahmed
  Chief Executive Officer
  AMINA - Muslim Women's Resource Centre
4. Inquiry into Race Inequality in Scotland
5. Correspondence (in private)

3rd Meeting

31 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Elena Whitham
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Martin Brown
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Lisa Davidson
  Civil Justice Senior Policy Officer
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Show witnesses
• Christina McKelvie
  Minister for Equalities and Older People
  Scottish Government
• Rob Priestley
  Head of Mainstreaming and Strategy Unit
  Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights
• Ben Walsh
  Head of Budget Improvement
  Scottish Exchequer
6. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24

2nd Meeting

24 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Show witnesses
• Clare Gallagher
  Human Rights Officer
  Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO) Scotland
• Dr Alison Hosie
  Research Officer
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Professor Angela O'Hagan
  Chair
  Scottish Government Equalities and Human Rights Budget Advisory Group
• Rob Watts
  Economist
  Fraser of Allander Institute
3. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24

1st Meeting

17 January

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Elena Whitham
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Lisa Davidson
  Civil Justice Senior Policy Officer
  Scottish Government
• Martin Brown
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Work programme (in private)

This is all meetings of Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee held in 2022. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

33rd Meeting

19 December

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Victor Madrigal-Borloz
  United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
and then from:
• Reem Alsalem
  United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences

32nd Meeting

13 December

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Elena Whitham
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Kieran Burke
  Access to Justice, Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government Legal Directorate
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Public petitions: PE01817
Show witnesses
• Nick Bland
  Chair
  Independent Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices
• Dr Rebecca Crowther
  Independent Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices
• Dr Paul Behrens
  Independent Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices
• Richy Edwards
  Independent Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices
4. Public petitions: PE01787
Show witnesses
• Sandra Docherty
  Petitioner

31st Meeting

06 December

1. Scottish Human Rights Commission
Show witnesses
• Ian Duddy
  Chair
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Eilidh Dickson
  Policy and International Officer
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Jim Farish
  Commissioner
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
2. Work programme (in private)

30th Meeting

22 November

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

29th Meeting

15 November

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

26th Meeting

25 October

1. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)
Show witnesses
• Robert Watts
  SPICe Research Fellow
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• Maggie Wilson
  Chairperson
  People First (Scotland)
• Fraser Haldane
  Vice Chair
  People First (Scotland)
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Susan McKellar
  Manager
  Scottish Women’s Convention
• Clare Gallagher
  Human Rights Officer
  Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO) Scotland
• Jillian Matthew
  Senior Manager, Performance Audit and Best Value
  Audit Scotland
• Sara Cowan
  Coordinator
  Scottish Women's Budget Group
• Allan Faulds
  Policy and Information Officer
  Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
• Oonagh Brown
  Human Rights Programme Lead
  Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD)
• Callum Chomczuk
  National Director
  Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland

25th Meeting

04 October

1. Subordinate legislation
2. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

24th Meeting

27 September

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

27th Meeting

17 July

28th Meeting

30 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
Show witnesses
• Lady Entity Test
  The head of eveything
  Caledonian MacBrayne
• Chief Superintendent Test Flynn
  Chief Superintendent
  Scottish SPCA
• Test Jenkinson
  Access and Countryside Advisor
  Kennel Club
• Test Boyden
  Director
  Dogs Trust
2. Consideration of continued petitions

14th Meeting

29 June

19th Meeting

21 June

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Professor Alice Sullivan
  Head of Research
  UCL Social Research Institute
• Robin White
  Barrister
  Old Square Chambers
and then from:
• Victor Madrigal-Borloz
  United Nations Independent Expert
  protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
• Ian Duddy
  Chair
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Barbara Bolton
  Head of Legal and Policy
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Cathy Asante
  Legal Officer
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
and then from:
• Dr Sandra Duffy
  Lecturer in Law
  University of Bristol School of Law
• Dr Peter Dunne
  Senior Lecturer
  University of Bristol School of Law
• Dr Chris Dietz
  Lecturer in Law and Social Justice
  University of Leeds
2. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

20th Meeting

16 June

1. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
and then from:
• Helen Costello
  Chief Exec
  University of Edinburgh
• Lesley Nope
  Senior Business Manager
  Scotland Office
• Andrea Wheeler
  Scottish Sports Association
• Lord Allie Mccoy
  Public Works Manager
  Scottish Sports Association
• Fiona Stevens
  Caledonian MacBrayne
and then from:
• Adam Jowett
  Coventry University
  Lead author of UK Government commissioned research into conversion therapy
• Chief Constable Albert Alexander
  Resource Developer
  HM Treasury
• Ailsa Garland
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Professor Amelia Garza
  Director
  Scottish Government
• Lord Alexandra Gregory
  Volunteer
  UK Government
2. Oral evidence
Show witnesses
• Fiona Stevens
  Caledonian MacBrayne
• Helen Costello
  Chief Exec
  University of Edinburgh
• Lesley Nope
  Senior Business Manager
  Scotland Office
• Calvin Lambert
  Scottish Sports Association
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
and then from:
• Professor Abby Barnett
  Prison Officers Association (Scotland) 2
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Chief Constable Abbie Edwards
  NHS Lothian
and then from:
• Ailsa Garland
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
3. Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Scottish Local Government Elections
5. Consideration of evidence
6. Consideration of a continued petition
7. Consideration of new petitions
8. Consideration of continued petitions
9. Subordinate legislation
10. Subordinate legislation
11. Subordinate legislation
12. Subordinate legislation
13. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
14. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Lesley Nope
  Senior Business Manager
  Scotland Office

18th Meeting

14 June

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Professor Sharon Cowan
  Professor of Feminist and Queer Legal Studies
  University of Edinburgh School of Law
• Naomi Cunningham
  Barrister
  Outer Temple Chambers and Chair, Sex Matters
• Karon Monaghan QC
  Barrister
  Matrix Chambers
and then from:
• David Parker
  Lead Clinician
  National Gender Identity Clinical Network for Scotland
2. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

17th Meeting

07 June

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Paul Lowe
  Registrar General for Scotland and Keeper of the Records of Scotland
  National Records of Scotland
• James Kerr
  Deputy Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Dr Kevin Guyan
  University of Glasgow
• Robert Strachan
  Head of Strategy and Improvement
  Scottish Prison Service
and then from:
• Anthony Horan
  Director
  Catholic Parliamentary Office of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland
• Reverend Karen Hendry
  Vice-Convener of the Faith Impact Forum, Minister of Yoker Parish Church
  Church of Scotland
• Chris Ringland
  Public Policy Officer, Scotland
  Evangelical Alliance
• Fraser Sutherland
  Chief Executive Officer
  Humanist Society of Scotland
2. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

16th Meeting

31 May

1. Declaration of interests
2. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Susan Smith
  Co-Director
  For Women Scotland
• Lucy Hunter Blackburn
  MurrayBlackburnMackenzie
• Malcolm Clark
  Head of Research
  LGB Alliance
• Dr Kate Coleman
  Director
  Keep Prisons Single Sex
and then from:
• Catherine Murphy
  Executive Director
  Engender
• Sandy Brindley
  Chief Executive
  Rape Crisis Scotland
• Naomi McAuliffe
  Scotland Programme Director
  Amnesty International Scotland
• Jen Ang
  Director of Policy and Development
  JustRight Scotland
3. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Annual report (in private)

15th Meeting

24 May

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Bruce Adamson
  Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• Ellie Gomersall
  President-Elect of NUS Scotland and President of UWS Students' Association
and then from:
• Hugh Torrance
  Executive Director
  LEAP Sports Scotland
• Malcolm Dingwall-Smith
  Strategic Partnerships Manager
  sportscotland
2. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

13th Meeting

10 May

1. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill

11th Meeting

19 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Children's participation in the court's decision-making process
Show witnesses
• Sarah Axford
  Service Manager
  Children 1st
• Dr Lesley-Anne Barnes Macfarlane
  Senior Lecturer in Scots Private Law
  University of Glasgow
and then from:
• Alistair Hogg
  Head of Practice and Policy
  Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)
• May Dunsmuir
  Chamber President - Health and Education Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland
  First-tier Tribunal for Scotland
• Jordan Croan
  Advocacy and Participation Manager
  Who Cares? Scotland
4. Children's participation in the court's decision-making process
5. Correspondence

23rd Meeting

18 April

1. Oral Evidence Session
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
and then from:
• Andrea Wheeler
  Scottish Sports Association
• Calvin Lambert
  Scottish Sports Association
• Lord Allie Mccoy
  Public Works Manager
  Scottish Sports Association
and then from:
• Lesley Nope
  Senior Business Manager
  Scotland Office
• April Brown
  Fundraiser
• Adam Jowett
  Coventry University
  Lead author of UK Government commissioned research into conversion therapy
2. Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals) Bill (in private)
3. Music Tuition in Schools
4. Legacy paper
5. Consideration of a continued petition
6. Consideration of a new petition
7. Consideration of continued petitions
8. Consideration of new petitions
9. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
10. Instruments subject to negative procedure
11. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure
12. Public petitions: PE1706

22nd Meeting

15 April

1. Budget (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
and then from:
• Lord Abbie Ellis
  Policy Developer
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Abby Macrae
  Educational Institute of Scotland
• Chief Constable Deborah Mcdonalid
  Full-Stack Developer
  Scottish Sports Association
and then from:
• Helen Costello
  Chief Exec
  University of Edinburgh
• Calvin Lambert
  Scottish Sports Association
• Lesley Nope
  Senior Business Manager
  Scotland Office
2. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
4. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill
5. Consideration of a continued petition
6. Consideration of a new petition
7. Consideration of continued petitions
8. Consideration of new petitions
9. Subordinate legislation
10. Subordinate legislation
11. Subordinate legislation
12. Subordinate legislation
13. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Aaron Crawford
  Social Work Scotland
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
14. Ball Green Inquiry

24th Meeting

14 April

1. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Fred Brown
  Senior Housekeeper

27th Meeting

06 April

1. Legacy paper
2. Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Redacted Redacted
  Redacted

12th Meeting

01 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Housing planning
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Helen Costello
  Chief Exec
  University of Edinburgh
and then from:
• Lesley Nope
  Senior Business Manager
  Scotland Office
• Calvin Lambert
  Scottish Sports Association
• Professor Amanda Sutton
  Head of Public Relations
• April Brown
  Fundraiser
3. Annual report
4. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill
5. Choice of Deputy Convener
6. European Union document
7. Complaint
8. Work programme (in private)
9. Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Bill - witness expenses
10. Legacy paper
11. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Aaron Georges
  Fundraiser
  Scottish Government
• Aaron B Jennings
  Medical Officer
• Aaron Stone
  Manager
  Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
and then from:
• Adam Jowett
  Coventry University
  Lead author of UK Government commissioned research into conversion therapy
and then from:
• Lesley Nope
  Senior Business Manager
  Scotland Office
• Helen Costello
  Chief Exec
  University of Edinburgh
• Professor Amelia Garza
  Director
  Scottish Government
12. Subordinate legislation

10th Meeting

29 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Michael Matheson
  Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport
  Scottish Government
• Euan O'Neill
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government
• Charles Stewart Roper
  Head of Environmental Governance and Strategy Unit, Future Environment Division
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Ministerial portfolio
Show witnesses
• Christina McKelvie
  Minister for Equalities and Older People
  Scottish Government
• Jenny Kemp
  Strategic Lead for Gender, LGBTI and Disability Policy
  Scottish Government
• Nick Bland
  Deputy Director, Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights
  Scottish Government
5. Evidence Session

9th Meeting

22 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Gypsy / Travellers in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Suzanne Munday
  Gypsy / Traveller Programme Manager
  MECOPP - Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project
• Dr Lynne Tammi
  AyeRight
• Dr Maureen Finn
  STEP - Scottish Traveller Education Programme
• Leslie Drury
  National Co-ordinator
  Article 12 in Scotland
3. Evidence Session
4. Work programme (in private)

8th Meeting

15 March

1. Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

7th Meeting

08 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Women's unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work
Show witnesses
• Dr Pauline Nolan
  Head of Leadership and Civic Participation
  Inclusion Scotland
• Jenny Miller
  Chief Executive
  PAMIS - Promoting a more inclusive society
3. Women's unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work
4. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

6th Meeting

01 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Women's unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work
Show witnesses
• Farah Farzana
  Race Equality Mainstreaming Officer
  CEMVO Scotland
• Mariam Ahmed
  Chief Executive Officer
  Amina - the Muslim Women's Resource Centre
• Trishna Singh OBE
  Director
  Sikh Sanjog
• Joy Lewis
  Chief Executive Officer
  AAI EmployAbility
• Sara Medel Jiménez
  Member
  NASUWT Equality Advisory Group
3. Women's unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work
4. Work programme (in private)

5th Meeting

22 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Family Law round table
Show witnesses
• Judith Higson
  Child and Family Law Sub-Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Ruth Innes QC
  Faculty of Advocates
• Lesley Anderson
  Chair
  Family Law Association of Scotland
• Megan Farr
  Policy Officer
  Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• Ian Maxwell
  National Manager
  Shared Parenting Scotland
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Rosanne Cubitt
  Head of Practice for Family Mediation and Relationship Counselling
  Relationships Scotland
3. Family Law round table (in private)
4. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. Correspondence

4th Meeting

08 February

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Ryan McRobert
  Head of Courts and Tribunals
  Scottish Government
• Jo-anne Tinto
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Elaine Hamilton
  Head of Forensics Policy, Police Powers Unit, Police Division
  Scottish Government
• Louise Miller
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Miners' Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

3rd Meeting

25 January

1. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
Show witnesses
• Emma Congreve
  Knowledge Exchange Fellow
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• Dr Angela O'Hagan
  Chair
  Scottish Government Equality Budget Advisory Group (EBAG)
• Chris Birt
  Associate Director for Scotland
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
2. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23 (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)

2nd Meeting

18 January

1. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy (in private)
2. Work programme (in private)

1st Meeting

11 January

1. Subordinate legislation
2. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Nicky Wilson
  President
  National Union of Mineworkers in Scotland
• Robert Young
  Board Member
  The Coalfields Regeneration Trust
• Alex Bennett
  former Miner
• Professor Jim Phillips
  Professor of Economic and Social History
  University of Glasgow
and then from:
• Jim McBrierty
  Immediate Past President
  Retired Police Officers Association Scotland
• Tom Wood
  Former Deputy Chief Constable
  Lothian and Borders Police
3. Miners' Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

This is all meetings of Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee held in 2021. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

12th Meeting

14 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Women's unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work
Show witnesses
• Satwat Rehman
  Chief Executive Officer
  One Parent Families Scotland
• Susie Fitton
  Policy Manager
  Inclusion Scotland
• Catriona Melville
  Policy Engagement and Campaigns Officer
  Age Scotland
• Margaret Lance
  BEMIS and Ethnic Minority National Resilience Network
• Fiona Collie
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Carers Scotland
• Dr Patrycja Kupiec
  Chief Executive Officer
  YWCA Scotland
4. Women's unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work
5. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

11th Meeting

07 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Women's unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work
Show witnesses
• Ruth Boyle
  Policy and Parliamentary Manager
  Close the Gap
• Eilidh Dickson
  Policy and Parliamentary Manager
  Engender
• Professor Norin Arshed
  Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, School of Business
  University of Dundee
3. Women's unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work
4. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy (in private)

10th Meeting

30 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Clare Haughey MSP
  Minister for Children and Young People
  Scottish Government
• Angela Leonard
  Policy Officer, Disclosure Scotland
  Scottish Government
• Barry McCaffrey
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Civil Justice introductory session
Show witnesses
• Kay McCorquodale
  Executive Director, Judicial Office
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Ruth Crawford QC
  Treasurer
  Faculty of Advocates
• Iain Nicol
  Convener of the Civil Justice Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Karen Wylie
  Vice Chair
  Family Law Association of Scotland
• Professor Richard Susskind OBE
  Technology Adviser to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
5. Civil Justice introductory session
6. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill

9th Meeting

23 November

1. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy (in private)
2. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy (in private)

8th Meeting

16 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ivan McKee
  Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise
  Scottish Government
• Pamela Berry
  Team Leader, South of Scotland Enterprise Sponsorship, Directorate for Economic Development
  Scottish Government
• Jennifer Singerman
  Solicitor, Scottish Government Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
Show witnesses
• Peter Lynas
  UK Director
  Evangelical Alliance
• Piers Shepherd
  Senior Researcher
  Family Education Trust
• Dr John Greenall
  Associate Chief Executive Officer
  Christian Medical Fellowship
• Anthony Horan
  Director
  Catholic Parliamentary Office
and then from:
• Nathan Despott
  Steering Committee, Brave Network, and Honorary Research Fellow
  La Trobe University, Melbourne
• Dr Timothy Jones
  Associate Professor
  La Trobe University, Melbourne
and then from:
• Dr Christine A Ryan
  Senior Legal Advisor
  United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
• Dr Adam Jowett
  Coventry University
  Lead author of UK Government commissioned research into conversion therapy
6. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
7. Work programme

7th Meeting

02 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ash Regan
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Paula Stevenson
  Tribunals Policy
  Scottish Government
• Martin Brown
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
Show witnesses
• Rici Marshall Cross
  Clerk of South Edinburgh Local Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
  Quakers in Scotland
• Jayne Ozanne
  Director of the Ozanne Foundation
  Chair of the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition
• Rev Elder Maxwell Reay
  member of the Council of Elders of Metropolitan Community Churches
  NHS Health Care Chaplain
• Rev Fiona Bennett
  minister of the Augustine United URC and Moderator Elect of the General Assembly
  United Reformed Church
6. Proposed Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Pam Duncan-Glancy
  MSP
  Scottish Parliament
• Kate Monahan
  Co-Founder
  Because We Matter
• Robert McGeachy
  Policy and Engagement Manager
  Camphill Scotland
7. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
8. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23 (in private)

6th Meeting

05 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Proposed Right to Food (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Rhoda Grant
  MSP
  Scottish Parliament
• Nick Hawthorne
  Senior Assistant Clerk, Non-Government Bills Unit
  Scottish Parliament
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
Show witnesses
• Councillor Alison Evison
  President
  COSLA
• Nina Munday
  Chief Executive
  Fife Centre for Equalities
• Mark White
  Director of Finance
  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Paul Bradley
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
and then from:
• Shona Robison
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Trevor Owen
  Head of Mainstreaming & Strategy Unit, Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights
  Scottish Government
• Emma Harvey
  Head of Finance & Business Support Unit, Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights
  Scottish Government
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
5. Work programme

5th Meeting

28 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
Show witnesses
• Dr Alison Hosie
  Research Officer
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Dr Angela O'Hagan
  Chair
  Scottish Government Equality Budget Advisory Group (EBAG)
• Emma Congreve
  Knowledge Exchange Fellow
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• Chris Birt
  Associate Director for Scotland
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
and then from:
• Adam Stachura
  Head of Policy and Communications
  Age Scotland
• Jatin Haria
  Executive Director
  CRER - Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights
• Eilidh Dickson
  Policy and Parliamentary Manager
  Engender
• Rob Gowans
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

4th Meeting

21 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ash Denham
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Jill Stephen Poller
  Legal Aid Policy Officer, Access to Justice Unit
  Scottish Government
• Martin Brown
  Solicitor, Constitutional and Civil Law Division
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
Show witnesses
• John Wilkes
  Head of Scotland
  Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland
• Barbara Bolton
  Head of Legal and Policy
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Luis Felipe Yanes
  Legal Policy Development Officer
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
and then from:
• Dr Igi Moon
  Chair
  Memorandum of Understanding Coalition Against Conversion Therapy (MOU)
• Jen Ang
  Director of Development and Policy
  JustRight Scotland
5. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
6. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy

3rd Meeting

14 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
Show witnesses
• Megan Snedden
  Policy and Campaigns Manager
  Stonewall Scotland
• Doctor Rebecca Crowther
  Policy Co-ordinator
  Equality Network
• Vic Valentine
  Manager
  Scottish Trans Alliance
• Paul Daly
  Policy and Research Manager
  LGBT Youth Scotland
3. Scottish Government priorities for the equalities and human rights remit in Session 6
Show witnesses
• Shona Robison
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Nick Parton
  Unit Head of Connected Communities Division
  Scottish Government
• Emma Harvey
  Divisional Performance Manager from Business Support Unit
  Scottish Government
• Elisabeth Campbell
  Deputy Director for Human Rights
  Scottish Government
• Jess Dolan
  Deputy Director for Equality and Inclusion
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
6. Scottish Government priorities for the equalities and human rights remit in Session 6

2nd Meeting

07 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
Show witnesses
• Tristan Gray
  Principal Petitioner
  End Conversion Therapy Scotland
• Blair Anderson
  End Conversion Therapy Scotland
3. Scottish Government priorities for the civil justice remit in Session 6
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Ash Denham
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Neil Rennick
  Director of Justice
  Scottish Government
• Denise Swanson
  Deputy Director Civil Law and Legal System
  Scottish Government
4. Work programme
5. Petition PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
6. Scottish Government priorities for the civil justice remit in Session 6

1st Meeting 2021

23 June