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Before the commissioner answers, I note that the matter is live and on-going and that there are statutory requirements in relation to what the commissioner, as an individual and as an office, can disclose about closed complaints—complaints that have been through the process.

I simply found it interesting that an opinion was derived from the evidence on councillor complaints but not from that for complaints about ���˿���.

My final question is on something that you will fully expect me to ask about, because we have discussed it at length: support for people who are complained about. We have had some reference to that already today. During your tenure, there have been amendments to clarify the obligations on individuals who are complained about. Are you getting any further forward, or are you sensing any support being available for people who are complained about? Are we anywhere other than where we were almost two years ago when we discussed this?

Good morning. Welcome, everyone, to the 25th meeting in 2024 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. I have received apologies from Ruth Maguire MSP. Rona Mackay MSP attends as her substitute. I have also received apologies from Annie Wells MSP. Edward Mountain MSP joins us as her substitute.

Agenda item 1 is for the committee to decide whether to take items 2, 3 and 4 in private, and whether its consideration of proposed changes to the “Code of Conduct for Members of the Scottish Parliament” and its approach to a review of the rules on cross-party groups and to question times should be taken in private at future meetings. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Excellent.

I have had no other indication that any other member wishes to speak, so—good morning, minister—I invite the minister to speak.

Amendment 46, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendment 47.

Amendment 70, in the name of Ross Greer, is grouped with amendments 71, 54, 75 to 77, 55 and 56.

That ends stage 2 consideration of the bill. I am grateful to colleagues and the minister.

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I am very grateful, minister. I call Ross Greer to wind up and indicate whether he will press or withdraw amendment 72.

Good morning. I welcome everyone to the 24th meeting in 2024 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. I have received apologies from Ruth Maguire and Annie Wells, and I welcome Rona Mackay, who is attending as Ruth’s substitute.

Our first agenda item is consideration of the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill at stage 2. This is the second day of our consideration of the bill at stage 2. For anyone who is watching, I will briefly explain the procedure that we will follow during today’s proceedings. Members should have with them a copy of the bill, the marshalled list and the groupings of amendments. Those documents are available on the bill’s web page on the Scottish Parliament’s website.

I will call each amendment individually in the order in which they are listed in the marshalled list. The member who lodged the amendment should either move it or say, “Not moved,” when it is called. If the member does not move the amendment, any other member who is present may do so.

The groupings of amendments document sets out the amendments in the order in which they will be debated. There will be one debate on each group of amendments. In each debate, I will call the member who lodged the first amendment in the group to speak to and move that amendment and to speak to all the other amendments in the group. I will then call other members with amendments in that group to speak to, but not move, their amendments and to speak to other amendments in the group, if they so wish. I will then call any other members who wish to speak in the debate. Members who wish to speak should indicate that by catching my or the clerk’s attention. I will then call the minister, if he has not already spoken in the debate.

Finally, I will call the member who moved the first amendment in the group to wind up and to indicate whether he or she wishes to press the amendment or to withdraw it. If the amendment is pressed, I will put the question on the amendment. If a member wishes to withdraw an amendment after it has been moved and debated, I will ask whether any member who is present objects. If there is an objection, I will immediately put the question on the amendment. Later amendments in a group are not debated again once they are reached so, if they are moved, I will put the question on them straight away.

If there is a division, only committee members are entitled to vote. Voting is done by a show of hands. It is important that members keep their hands raised clearly until the clerk has recorded their names. If there is a tie, I must exercise a casting vote, and my policy will be to use my casting vote to vote against any amendment.

The committee is required to consider and decide on each bill section and schedule, as well as its long title, and I will put the question on each of those provisions at the appropriate point.

Section 29—Funding to increase democratic engagement