Regulatory Review Group minutes: January 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Professor Russel Griggs OBE, RRG Chair 
• Susan Love, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants 
• Ewan MacDonald-Russel, Scottish Retail Consortium 
• Fiona Richardson, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities 
• James Fowlie, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
• David MacKenzie, Trading Standards 
• Craig Brown, Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland 
• Robbie McGregor, British Standards Institute 
• Iain Hall, UKAS
• Brendan McGinty, Competition and Markets Authority
• Alex Hodnett, Competition and Markets Authority

Apologies

• Douglas White, Consumer Scotland

Items and actions

Welcome, Introductions, Approval of Minutes and Correspondence

Professor Russel Griggs OBE welcomed and thanked attendees for participating in this virtual meeting of the Regulatory Review Group (RRG). Minutes from the previous meeting (27 November) were agreed.   

Russel noted the receipt of three Ministerial letters in response to letters which the RRG had sent, and members noted that they were positive responses. With regard to the letter on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) Bill, it was noted that it was likely that policy officials would return to RRG in the near future.

Programme for Government Report update 

Scottish Government Officials updated the group on the Budget, which was published on 13 January. Members were advised that Air Passenger Duty proposals were announced and that, although at the early stages of consideration, policy officials would be invited to attend an RRG meeting to discuss the proposals.

It was outlined that the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bil had been introduced to Parliament. After a discussion, members agreed that policy officials should return to RRG to discuss next steps, and members also agreed that it would be beneficial to engage with officials to discuss any learning about process, and how to avoid similar challenges from occurring.

Members were updated that Awaab’s Law regulations were announced on 21 January and that officials were attending the RRG in February. Members were also informed that the Programme for Government report was due to be published in the next week.

Officials advised that Gary Cox is now Deputy Director of the support team in the Scottish Government, assuming responsibility for business relationships. Gary will be attending the February’s RRG meeting.

Scottish Regulators Forum update

It was outlined by Scottish Government officials that first meeting of the re-established Scottish Regulators Forum took place in December 2025, with a view to meeting bi-monthly from February. Members were informed on who attended, and that the first major task of the Forum would be to update the Regulators Strategic Code of Practice.

RRG members expressed a willingness and desire to be involved in the Forum and were updated that the membership and remit would evolve over time, and that attendance would be determined by what the key issues at each meeting were and who should attend.

Post Budget & Work plan discussion

Scottish Government officials updated members on the draft workplan for future RRG meetings and that, given some recent announcements, a new workplan would be issued to members in due course. Members were also advised that the March meeting would now by 24 March and that there may be two meetings in May. The two meetings in May would allow a focus on priorities, with the Scottish Parliament elections taking place that month.

Pre-election discussion and RRG ‘manifesto’ discussion - Letter for incoming Ministers

Following a discussion about how to approach Ministers and MSPs following May’s Scottish Parliament elections, members agreed to have a discussion at April’s RRG Meeting to determine a strategy for engagement with new Ministers and MSPs, in order to inform them of the remit and importance of the RRG, and also of the recent and proposed workstreams of the Group.

Next Steps / AOB 

The next meeting of the group will be held in Atlantic Quay, Glasgow in person on 26 February.