³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

The Committee considers its work programme regularly to maintain a rolling programme of business. The Committee's main business over the coming months is noted below.  Please note that it is subject to change.

For further details or questions, please contact the Clerks to the Committee on [email protected]

Legislation

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee issued a call for views in June 2025, which will close in September. The Committee plans to hold oral evidence sessions as part of its Stage 1 scrutiny in September and October.

Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill: The Committee issued a call for views in June 2025, which will close in September. The Committee plans to hold oral evidence sessions as part of its Stage 1 scrutiny in November.

Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill: The Committee published its Stage 1 Report in December 2024.  A date for the Stage 1 Chamber Debate has not yet been set. 

Inquiries and reports

The Committee will consider draft reports on the undernoted inquiries for publication prior to October recess:

• British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 Inquiry
• Legal Aid
• Operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland

The Committee will also consider the following:

• Budget scrutiny 2026-2027, focussing on accountability and progress on previous recommendations made by the Committee during this Parliamentary session
• the
• update on the
• update on the
• the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
• temporary and tied visa holders – seasonal agriculture and social care sectors in Scotland
• neurodiversity in Scotland
• the impact of rural inequalities

Correspondence

See all of this committee's correspondence

Official Reports of meetings

See all of this committee's Official Reports

Committee reports

See all of this committee's reports

To consider and report on the following (and any additional matter added under Rule 6.1.5A)—

a.  matters relating to equal opportunities, and upon the observance of equal opportunities within the Parliament; and

b.  matters relating to human rights.

c.  matters relating to civil justice within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs.

2.  In these Rules

(a)  “equal opportunities” includes the prevention, elimination or regulation of discrimination between persons on grounds of sex or marital status, on racial grounds or on grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation, language or social origin or of other personal attributes, including beliefs or opinions such as religious beliefs or political opinions; and

(b)  “human rights” includes Convention rights (within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998) and other human rights as for example contained in any international convention, treaty or other international instrument ratified by the United Kingdom.