UK Supreme Court Judgment (For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers): working group minutes: 4 December 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Deputy Director, DG Corporate
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate
• Director, DG Health and Social Care 
• Unit Head, DG Communities
• Director General, DG Communities
• Director General, DG Education and Justice 
• Director General, DG Corporate 
• Communications Manager, DG Corporate
• Director, DG Education and Justice
• Director, DG Corporate 
• Unit Head, DG Education and Justice 
• Unit Head, DG Education and Justice 
• Deputy Director, DG Education and Justice 
• Deputy Director, Social Security Scotland
• Unit Head, DG Communities
• Deputy Director, DG Net Zero
• Director for Engagement and Change (Interim), Scottish Prison Service
• Director, DG Economy
• Deputy Director, DG Education 
• Unit Head, DG Net Zero
• Unit Head, DG Health and Social Care 
• Deputy Director, DG Corporate 
• Director, DG Education and Justice
• Director, DG Education and Justice
• Unit Head, DG Education and Justice
   

Items and actions

Introduction 

The chair welcomed members to the group and highlighted this would be the final meeting of 2025. 

Minutes 

Members approved the minutes from last meeting. 

Legal update

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

EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission) Code of Practice 

It was confirmed that the new Chair of the EHRC had taken up post and a meeting would likely be scheduled for early 2026 for the Minister and Cabinet Secretary to meet with her. 
It was noted that we had written to the UK Government following the Code of Practice consultation but a response had not been received. 

Update from DG areas 

High level updates were provided by representatives from DGs:

• Health
• Education
• Justice
• Corporate

Update from Communications 

Communications colleagues provided an overview of upcoming work.

AOB and Close 

The Chair confirmed there would be a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary on board governance and an update will be provided to the group at a future meeting. 
The Chair brought the meeting to a close and thanked members for their work this year.