Education and Skills Committee

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private. The Committee will also decide whether its consideration of its Work Programme should be taken in private at its next meeting. 2. Higher Education and Research Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will take evidence on legislative consent memorandum LCM(S5) 4 from— Professor Lesley Yellowlees, Fellow, The Royal Society of Edinburgh; Mary Senior, UCU Scotland Official, University and College Union Scotland; Alastair Sim, Director, Universities Scotland; Philip Whyte, Policy and Influencing Officer, National Union of Students Scotland. 3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2017-18 - Scottish Funding Council: The Committee will take evidence from— Dr John Kemp, Interim Chief Executive, Dr Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation, and Lorna MacDonald, Director of Finance, Scottish Funding Council. 4. Review of Evidence: The Committee will discuss the evidence heard earlier in the meeting in relation to the Legislative Consent Memorandum. 5. Review of Evidence (in private): The Committee will discuss the evidence heard earlier in the meeting in relation to Pre-Budget Scrutiny.