UK Supreme Court Judgment (For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers): working group minutes: 14 August 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Director General, DG Communities
• Director, Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights (EIHR)
• Unit Head, DG Education and Justice
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate
• Policy Manager, DG Communities
• Unit Head, DG Education and Justice
• Deputy Director, DG Communities
• Director DG Economy
• Deputy Director, DG Education and Justice
• Deputy Director, DG Strategy and External Affairs
• Director, DG Corporate
• Director, DG Health and Social Care
• Director, DG Communities
• Deputy Director, DG Education and Justice
• Deputy Director, DG Communities
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate
• Communications Manager, DG Communities
• Deputy Director, DG Net Zero
• Director, DG Corporate
• Communications Manager, DG Corporate
• Director, DG Communities
• Director, DG Education and Justice
• Deputy Director, DG Scottish Exchequer
• Director, DG Education and Justice
• Deputy Director, DG Economy
• Director, DG Education and Justice

Items and actions

Welcome

DG Communities welcomed members to the eighth meeting of the group and reiterated the importance of the group’s work in preparing for the updated Code of Practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
Members agreed the minutes from the previous meeting.
DG Communities reminded members that minutes will be published once cleared and encouraged continued engagement with public bodies.
DG Communities is meeting UK and Welsh Government counterparts to understand their respective approaches.

Update to cabinet

Director of EIHR provided an update on recent Cabinet engagement, including progress on Working Group outputs and discussions with EHRC.

Public bodies

Members discussed the note to be issued to public bodies, including the best mechanism for distribution.

DG updates

Updates were provided across:

• Education
• Justice
• Corporate
• Net Zero
• Strategy
• External Affairs
• Economy
• Housing
• Communities

EHRC consultation

Members discussed the upcoming EHRC consultation.

Communications

Communications remain reactive, with media focus on Scottish Government's response to the ruling and broader cultural issues.
EHRC letter to NHS Fife on Public Sector Equality Duty compliance was noted.

Close

DG Communities confirmed the next group meeting date is to be scheduled, continuing the fortnightly pattern.
Meeting papers will be issued via DG Communities Private Office (PO).

Action points

• working group secretariat to invite an official from the Office of the Chief Statistician to a future meeting
• working group secretariat to broaden attendance from DG Education and Justice
• letter from UK Parliament Joint Committee on Human Rights to EHRC to be shared with DG Communities PO