UK Supreme Court Judgment (For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers): working group minutes: 15 January 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Director General, DG Education and Justice
• Director, DG Corporate 
• Unit Head, DG Education and Justice 
• Deputy Director, DG Education and Justice
• Team Leader, DG Health and Social Care
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate 
• Unit Head, DG Communities
• Unit Head, DG Education and Justice
• Director General, DG Corporate
• Communications Manager, DG Corporate
• Director General, DG Education and Justice
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate
• Deputy Director, DG Net Zero
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate 
• Deputy Director, DG Communities
• Deputy Director, DG Communities
• Unit Head, DG Net Zero
• Director, DG Health and Social Care 
• Deputy Director, DG Education and Justice
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate 
• Senior Policy Advisor, DG Communities
• Strategy & Coordination Officer, DG Communities

Items and actions

Introduction 

The Chair welcomed members to the first meeting of 2026.
The Chair highlighted that minutes from July to December 2025 will be published by Friday 16 January.

Minutes 

Members approved minutes from the last meeting. 

Legal update

An update was given on recent legal activity and next steps. 

EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission) Update

An update was provided following Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and the Minister for Equalities meeting with the new chair of the EHRC, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson on Monday 12 January.

Update from DG areas 

High level updates were provided by representatives from DGs:

• Health
• Education
• Justice
• Local Government
• Corporate

Update from Communications 

Communications colleagues provided an overview of upcoming work.

AOB and Close 

The Chair confirmed that a discussion on the Pre‑Election period and its potential implications for the group’s work will take place at the next meeting.
The Chair brought the meeting to a close, thanking members for their continued commitment and their contribution to the group’s work in the year ahead.

Actions

• Scottish Government legal arguments relating to prisons will be circulated to the group once published.
• Group members to provide input to help map out a timeline of planned activity from January to May across all relevant areas.