1. Decision on taking business in private:

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

2. Proposed Right to Food (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the statement of reasons lodged to accompany the draft proposal from—

Rhoda Grant, MSP and Nick Hawthorne, Senior Assistant Clerk, Non-Government Bills Unit, Scottish Parliament .

and then decided that it was not satisfied with the reasons given (by division: For 3, Against 4, Abstentions 0).

3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23:

The Committee took evidence as part of its Pre-Budget Scrutiny from—

Councillor Alison Evison, President, COSLA;

Nina Munday, Chief Executive, Fife Centre for Equalities;

Paul Bradley, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations;

and then from—

Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Emma Harvey, Head of Finance & Business Support Unit, Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights and Trevor Owen, Head of Mainstreaming & Strategy Unit, Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights, Scottish Government .

4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23:

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3.

5. Work programme:

The Committee considered and agreed its work programme.