Minutes: 28 March 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take agenda items 4 and 5 in private.

2. Decarbonising heat in homes:

The Committee took evidence from—

Roy Brannen, Director-General Net Zero, Kersti Berge, Director, Energy and Climate Change, Catherine Williams, Deputy Director for Heat in Buildings Delivery and Sue Kearns, Deputy Director for Heat in Buildings Policy and Regulation, Scottish Government.

3. The 2022/23 audit of the Scottish Prison Service:

The Committee took evidence from—

David Jones, Managing Director, James Huntley, Commercial and Finance Director and Gavin Redmond, Accounts Director SCCPES (Scottish Court Custody and Prison Escorting Service), GEOAmey Limited.

4. The 2022/23 audit of the Scottish Prison Service (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda item 3 and agreed to write to the Prison Officers Association Scotland, Public and Commercial Services Union and Community Trade Union. 

The Committee also agreed to draft a report on the 2022/23 audit of the Scottish Prison Service.

5. Decarbonising heat in homes (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda item 2 and agreed to defer consideration of its next steps until after taking further evidence from the Auditor General for Scotland at a future meeting.