Minutes: 07 October 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.

2. Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence from—

Louise Church MSYP (Galloway and West Dumfries), Member, Education and Lifelong Learning Committee, Scottish Youth Parliament;

Juliet Harris, Director, Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights);

Gina Wilson, Head of Strategy, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland;

Gavin Yates, Executive Director, Connect;

and then from—

Dr Douglas Hutchison, Executive Director of Education, Glasgow City Council, representing the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES);

Susan Quinn, Convener, Education Committee, Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS).

3. Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 2.

4. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed:

• to write jointly with the Social Justice and Social Security Committee to the Scottish Government on issues faced by certain types of seasonal agricultural workers employed in Scotland; and
• a further approach to its rurality inquiry.