Chamber and committees

That is helpful.

On information sharing, is the bill fine as proposed, or are the concerns that others have raised warranted?

That is helpful; thank you very much.

If you want to provide any further considerations on sections 25 and 26 in writing after the meeting, that would be helpful.

Thank you.

I hand over to Jeremy Balfour to ask question 12.

I have a brief supplementary question. What process would take place if a trust was to be looked at? Under what is proposed in the bill, would that be dealt with in the Court of Session or by a sheriff court?

As a supplementary to that question, could a small amendment be made to section 75 at some point in the future? Could the definition potentially be amended via a statutory instrument?

Okay. Thank you.

Before we move to the next item on the agenda, I take this opportunity on behalf of the committee to thank Carol Mochan MSP for her contribution to the committee and her diligent work during her time with us. She has been in touch to pass on her thanks to everyone who is involved with the committee and to send her best wishes to us. I thank her for that and wish her all the best in her new role.

Under item 3, we will take evidence on the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill. I welcome Lady Paton, chair of the Scottish Law Commission, and Lord Drummond Young, the lead commissioner and former chair of the Scottish Law Commission.

I remind all attendees not to worry about turning on their microphones as they are controlled by broadcasting. If you would like to come in on any question, please just raise your hand or indicate to the clerks.

Before we move to questions, I invite Lady Paton to make some brief opening remarks.