Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
The Bill makes changes to the law in relation to the care of children and the involvement of children in the criminal justice system.
The changes relate to the children’s hearings system and several parts of the criminal justice system. This includes courts that hear cases relating to children and the places where children can be detained.
The Bill is at Stage 2
Contents
Stage 1 - General principles
Committees examine the Bill and gather views. They produce reports before MSPs debate the Bill in the Chamber. MSPs then decide on the purpose (“general principles”) of the Bill.
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 22 June 2023
Committee Examination
The lead committee for this Bill is the Education, Children and Young People Committee
Submit your views
The Committee asked for views on the Bill.:
Both the call for views and surveys closed on 17 March 2023.
The following links are to responses the Committee received -
Timetable
The timetable that the committee followed while examining the Bill at Stage 1
Who spoke to the lead committee in the Parliament
MSPs met with people in committee meetings to discuss what the Bill will do.
Minutes of 22 March 2023
Minutes of 29 March 2023
Minutes of 26 April 2023
Minutes of 3 May 2023
Minutes of 31 May 2023 (in private)
Minutes of 7 June 2023 (in private)

Meeting on 22 March 2023




Correspondence
Committee correspondence sent and received while the Bill progressed through Parliament
Children Care and Justice Scotland Bill 21 August 2023
Response from the Convener to the Lord Advocate, 21 August 2023
Financial Memoranda response Children Care and Justice Scotland Bill
Letter from Minister for Children and Young People and Keeping the Promise, 21 July 2023
Lord Advocate response to the Children Care and Justice Scotland Bill report
Letter from the Lord Advocate to the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill report 27 June 2023
Work by other committees
Criminal Justice Committee
Evidence session on 29 March 2023 (Read the Official Report)
Evidence session on 19 April 2023 (Read the Official Report)
Meeting on 3 May 2023
Report published on 12 May 2023
Engagement
Note of informal session held on 19 April 2023 (124KB, pdf) posted 11 May 2023
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Meeting on 21 February 2023
Meeting on 14 March 2023
Report published on 22 March 2023
Finance and Public Administration Committee
Committee report
The lead committee published its report on 13 June 2023.
Stage 1 Report on the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
The committee received the following response to its report:
Letter from the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, 20 June 2023
Debate
MSPs debate the purpose (“general principles”) of the Bill.
Meeting on 22 June 2023
Read the minutes of proceedings (200KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2023

Vote
MSPs vote on the general principles of the Bill.
Meeting on 22 June 2023

Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
- Submitted by: Natalie Don, Renfrewshire North and West, Scottish National Party.
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2023
- Motion reference: S6M-09610
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, 22 June 2023
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution
- Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party.
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
- Motion reference: S6M-09158
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, 22 June 2023
Result 84 for, 0 against, 28 abstained, 17 did not vote Vote Passed