Chamber and committees

Before Karen Adam asks some questions on a different area, I invite Pam Gosal to come in on the religion issue.

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the fourth meeting in session 6 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Apologies have been received from Alexander Stewart and Fulton MacGregor. We welcome to the meeting Jeremy Balfour MSP, who is joining us as a substitute for Alexander Stewart. As this is Jeremy’s first attendance at the committee, I invite him to declare any relevant interests.

The first item on the agenda is to decide whether to take agenda items 5 and 6 in private. Under agenda item 5, the committee will consider the evidence that it heard under agenda item 4, and under agenda item 6, it will consider its approach to future engagement, evidence and a draft report on petition PE1817. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Pam, would you like to come in at this point?

Thank you very much for that really powerful contribution.

Thank you, minister. Do members have any questions?

Members: No.

As members have no more questions, I thank our witnesses very much for their extensive evidence, which has been really helpful to the committee’s work.

We now move into private session.

As no other members have indicated that they have a question, I thank the witnesses very much their evidence, which has been very helpful.

I suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses.

We are pleased to welcome our second panel of witnesses: Dr Igi Moon, who is chair of the memorandum of understanding coalition against conversion therapy, and Jen Ang, who is director of development and policy at JustRight Scotland and is also appearing on behalf of Amnesty International UK and the Human Rights Consortium Scotland. I invite you to make short opening statements.

As members have no questions or comments, we will move on to agenda item 3, which is consideration of the motion on approval of the affirmative instrument.

Motion moved,

That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Children’s Legal Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendments and Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 be approved.—[Ash Denham.]

Motion agreed to.