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1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 7 in private.

2. Document subject to parliamentary control:

The Committee considered the following:

 (SG/2025/215)

3. Subordinate legislation:

Emma Roddick moved—S6M-19488—That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Draft statutory guidance on imprints for non-party campaigners at Scottish Parliamentary elections and council elections in Scotland (SG/2025/215) should not be approved.

The motion was disagreed to (by division: For 0, Against 3, Abstentions 2).

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the and the  from—

Graeme Dey, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans, Iain Hockenhull, Elections Bill Team Leader and Lorraine Walkinshaw,Lawyer, Scottish Government .

5. Subordinate legislation:

Graeme Dey Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans moved—S6M-19176—That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Absent Voting at Scottish Parliament and Local Government Elections (Signature Refresh) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2025 [draft] be approved. The motion was agreed to.

6. Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Dr Ben Worthy, Reader in Politics and Public Policy, Birkbeck College;

7. Code of Practice (in private):

The Committee considered the Electoral Commission’s Code of Practice for non-party campaigners in Scotland. The Committee agreed that the Convener should write to the Electoral Commission.