Minutes: 22 November 2023

1. Declaration of interests:

Jackie Dunbar stated she had no relevant interests to declare.

Murdo Fraser declared that he visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories with the Cross-Party Group Building Bridges with Israel in 2018. The costs of the visit were met by the Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom.

2. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 7 and 8 in private.

3. Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee took evidence on the legislative consent memorandum LCM(S6-36) and on the supplementary legislative consent memorandum LCM(S6-36a) from—

Richard Lochhead, Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade,

Eilidh McLaughlin,Head of Digital Citizen Unit, Scottish Government .

4. Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee took evidence on legislative consent memorandum LCM(S6-38) from—

Tom Arthur, Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance,

Alasdair Hamilton, Procurement Policy Portfolio Manager , Scottish Government .

5. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee noted the following negative instruments—

Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2023

Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Thresholds) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2023

6. Just Transition for the North East and Moray:

The Committee took evidence from—

Mike Duncan, North East Scotland Development Manager, Federation of Small Businesses Scotland;

Jordan Jack, General Secretary, Campaign for North East Rail;

and then from—

Fergus Mutch, Policy Advisor, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce;

Mark Munro, Chief Investment Officer, Scottish National Investment Bank;

Ronan O'Hara, Chief Executive, Crown Estate Scotland.

7. Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier under agenda item 3 and agreed to consider a draft report, in private at the future meeting.

8. Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier under agenda item 4 and agreed to consider a draft report, in private at the future meeting.

9. Just Transition for the North East and Moray (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier under agenda item 6 and agreed to seek written evidence from First Bus Scotland. The announcement that Grangemouth oil refinery is to close was noted. The Committee agreed to invite the Scottish and UK Governments and Petroineos to give evidence at a future meeting.