Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill

This Bill makes changes in the law in relation to the children’s care system. It also changes who is responsible for the planning of children’s services.

This is a Government bill

The Bill was introduced on 17 June 2025.

Stage: Introduced Stage: Stage 1 Stage: Stage 2 Stage: Stage 3 Stage: Act

This Bill has been introduced.

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Overview

The Bill as introduced changes the services and support provided to people in the children's care system, or who have ever had experience of that system. Those changes include:

giving people who left the care system before their 16th birthday the right to apply for aftercare
requiring Scottish Ministers to ensure care-experienced people have access to advocacy services
requiring Scottish Ministers to publish guidance which promotes understanding of “care” and “care experience”
giving Scottish Ministers powers to limit the profits that can be made from children’s residential care
requiring fostering services to register as charities
giving Scottish Ministers the power to create a register of foster carers
making changes to the children’s hearings system.

The Bill also sets out that integration joint boards are responsible for children’s services planning, alongside local authorities and health boards.

Why the Bill was created

The Bill has been introduced by the Scottish Government. It is part of the Government’s commitment to implement the recommendations of the Independent Care Review (also referred to as “the Promise”) by 2030.

All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:

Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.

Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.

Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.

Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.

Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

A research briefing will be published in due course.

The Bill was introduced on 17 June 2025

Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

Why the Bill was created

Bill as Introduced

Accompanying Documents

Accompanying Documents (print versions)

Research on the Bill