Chamber and committees

Thank you, minister.

As no member has indicated that they want to ask a question, we will move straight to item 2, which is the formal business in relation to the instruments. I invite the minister to move motions S6M-07211, S6M-07225 and S6M-07223 en bloc.

Motions moved,

That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Local Taxation Chamber and Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Composition) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.

That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Valuation for Rating Appeal Functions of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.

That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of Valuation Appeals Committees) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.—[Elena Whitham]

Motions agreed to.

I invite the committee to agree to delegate to me the publication of a short factual report on our deliberations on the affirmative Scottish statutory instruments that we have considered today. Do members agree to that?

Members indicated agreement.

Welcome to the first meeting in 2023, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received no apologies this morning.

Our first agenda item is consideration of three affirmative instruments: the draft First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Local Taxation Chamber and Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Composition) Regulations 2023, the draft Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Valuation for Rating Appeal Functions of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland) Regulations 2023 and the draft First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of Valuation Appeals Committees) Regulations 2023.

I welcome to the meeting Elena Whitham, Minister for Community Safety, and her officials from the Scottish Government’s legal directorate: Lisa Davidson, civil justice senior policy officer, and Martin Brown, a solicitor.

I refer members to paper 1 and invite the minister to speak to the draft instruments.

That completes consideration of the affirmative instruments. I thank the minister and her officials for attending.

That concludes our public business this morning.

Thank you. I call Karen Adam.

Thank you, Maggie—I am keen that we get round everyone, but we might have time to go back to some members.

I go to Rachael Hamilton next.

Thank you. We now move to questions, starting with Maggie Chapman.

Thank you. I call Fulton MacGregor.

Reem, I think that we are losing you.

Welcome back. I welcome Reem Alsalem, UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, and I invite Reem to make a short opening statement.