UK Supreme Court Judgment (For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers): working group minutes: 28 August 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Director General, DG Communities
• Unit Head, DG Education and Justice
• 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
• 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 ninth meeting of the working group and reiterated the importance of the group’s work.
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 updated that she has met with UK and Welsh Government counterparts to understand the impacts on different portfolios and reports that it is clear that there is cross government review work ongoing and an appetite for further subject specific meetings.

General update

An update on the secretariat process was given.
An update on legal issues was provided. 
Members were reminded that coordination between areas is vital as policy is being considered and updated.

Update from education 

Significant development is underway. Colleagues are working closely with legal in relation to what amendments may be required to guidance.  
Preparation for the legal challenge is going ahead, considering also impact across portfolios.  

Update from DG corporate 

Work on collecting sex data from public boards has commenced and working through the delays that this work has caused to public appointments.
It was confirmed that the Permanent Secretary has had a meeting with UK Government networks to discuss the above issues.  

Update from justice

Directorate is working closely with relevant officials in relation to court action. 
A prisons focused group has been created with the first meeting taking place this week, this will feed into the Working Group. 

Updates from other DG areas

Updates were provided by:

• Economy
• Health
• Strategy and External Affairs
• Exchequer
• Communities
• Net Zero
• Local Government 

Communications update

Continues to be a reactive news space. 
A shadow group within news communications has been set up to make sure all messaging is aligned at a news level. 
Members were reminded to copy communications colleagues into any requests and lines responses. 

Any other business and close

DG Communities acknowledged this is her last meeting as she concluded her role in the Scottish Government. Chair duty will be passed to DG Education and Justice.  

Actions

• Equality Division to ascertain the process around Equality and Human Rights Commission with public bodies
• all to connect with statisticians and statistics guidance to work through wider consequences