1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 6 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of the Council Tax Reduction Review Panel) Regulations 2023 [draft] from—

Elena Whitham, Minister for Community Safety, Martin Brown, Solicitor, Legal Directorate and Lisa Davidson, Civil Justice Senior Policy Officer, Scottish Government .

3. Subordinate legislation:

Elena Whitham (Minister for Community Safety) moved —

S6M-07224—That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of the Council Tax Reduction Review Panel) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Local Taxation Chamber (Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2022;

Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Local Taxation Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2022.

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instruments.

5. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24:

The Committee took evidence on the Scottish Government's Budget 2023-24 from—

Christina McKelvie, Minister for Equalities and Older People, Scottish Government;

Rob Priestley, Head of Mainstreaming and Strategy Unit, Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights;

Ben Walsh, Head of Budget Improvement, Scottish Exchequer.

6. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24 (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 5.