As part of a long-term focus on Human Rights Budgeting, the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee decided to centre its pre-Budget scrutiny in 2023 (for the 2024-25 Budget) on participation.

The activity sought to explore the impact that increased citizen involvement might have on the Scottish Government’s response to Committee recommendations, and how deliberative approaches—where people play a meaningful role in decision-making—could enhance and reframe the process of pre-budget scrutiny.

The Commission Advocating Rights for Minorities (CARM) was one of the organisations involved in this work, contributing its lived experience-led perspective to the participatory process. In recognition of its valuable input, CARM has been invited to return in 2025 to continue working with this project within the Scottish Parliament.