This briefing provides summaries of all bills considered by the Scottish Parliament during the 6th Session of Parliament, between July 2024 and June 2025. These summaries are intended to be complementary to the information on the bills and laws section of the Parliament's website and have been prepared by SPICe subject specialists. SPICe will publish further bill summary briefings during Session 6.

Passage of the Bill

The Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 14 November 2023. The Finance and Public Administration Committee was designated as lead committee for the Bill.  The Stage 1 debate took place on 16 May 2024.  The Finance and Public Administration Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2 on 11 June 2024, and the Bill was passed by Parliament on 1 October 2024.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The Bill was introduced as a consequence of the measures enacted in the Scotland Act 2016 which allowed the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a tax to replace the UK Aggregates Levy (UKAL). The Bill makes provision for a Scottish Aggregates Tax (SAT) - a tax on the commercial exploitation of primary aggregates. The tax is to be collected and administered by Revenue Scotland, the tax authority responsible for the collection and management of Scotland's devolved taxes.

The Bill also proposed legislative amendments to the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 (RSTPA 2014) which were intended to support the efficient and effective collection of all devolved taxes by Revenue Scotland.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill:

• established the new SAT 

• defined the tax and gave responsibility to Revenue Scotland to administer and collect the tax

• defined the fundamental concepts underlying the tax, e.g. scope of the tax and exemptions

• calculation of the tax and powers for Scottish Ministers to set the rate of tax

• provisions on tax administration, including regarding registration, tax returns, and special cases

• penalties in relation to the tax

• reviews and appeals of decisions by Revenue Scotland in relation to the tax

• amendments to the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 (RSTPA 2014) that would also apply to other devolved taxes, intended to support the efficient and effective collection of all devolved taxes by Revenue Scotland

The setting of the SAT rate, as well as detailed provisions for the administration of the tax, including the claiming of tax credits, is not in the Bill, but was to be set out in subordinate legislation.

Following passage of the Bill and associated secondary legislation, SAT will apply from 1 April 2026.

Further information is provided in a SPICe briefing on the Bill as introduced. 

Parliamentary consideration

At Stage 2, the Scottish Government brought forward a number of minor and technical amendments to the Bill, all of which were passed by the Finance and Public Administration Committee. Six amendments were lodged by other Members of the Committee. Of these, five were withdrawn or not moved and one was passed.

At Stage 3, seven further minor and technical Scottish Government amendments were agreed by Parliament.

Stage 3 of the Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill passed with 112 in favour, 0 against and 0 abstentions.

Passage of the Bill

The Budget (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 18 December 2024. The Stage 1 debate took place on 4 February 2025, the Finance and Public Administration Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2 on 18 February 2025, and the Bill was passed by Parliament on 25 February 2025.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The Budget Bill is the final stage in the annual budget process and gives parliamentary authority for spending in Scotland for financial year 2025-26.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill authorises approximately £58 billion of cash expenditure by the Scottish Government and its associated bodies, other organisations whose core funding is centrally provided (e.g. local authorities and health boards), the Forestry Commissioners and the Food Standards Agency.  It also authorises expenditure by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and Audit Scotland.

The Budget is underpinned by forecast tax revenues from the devolved taxes (Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Landfill taxes) and non-savings non-dividend Income Tax, which is a shared tax with the UK. It also builds in forecast expenditure on social security. Tax and social security forecasts are produced by the Scottish Fiscal Commission. 

Parliamentary consideration

At Stage 2, the Scottish Government brought forward amendments reflecting agreements with the Liberal Democrats and Green Party.  These amendments added a total of £16.7 million to the budget for 2025-26. The Scottish Government said that these additional costs would be funded by a draw down from Scotwind of £3 million to support nature restoration, and the remaining amendments being funded through reduced debt servicing costs in 2025-26. These amendments were passed by the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

At Stage 3, further Scottish Government amendments were agreed by Parliament, which introduced an additional £25 million to support investment in Grangemouth, which the First Minister had announced to Parliament on 18 February. The Cabinet Secretary confirmed that the additional financial support would be funded by ScotWind revenues.

Stage 3 of the Budget (Scotland) Bill passed with 73 in favour, 29 against and 21 abstentions. 

Passage of the Bill

The National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 20 June 2022. 

The SPICe briefing on the Bill – National Care Service (Scotland) Bill was published on 10 October 2022.

SPICe Spotlight hosted a ‘NCS hub’, which provides links to blogs about the proposals prior to introduction and throughout the Bill process.

The lead committee commissioned research into international models of social care:

• Read the summary of findings posted 10 May 2023

• Read the comparisons of funding systems in different models posted 10 May 2023

• Read the comparisons of the key features of different models posted 10 May 2023

• Read the full report on international models of social care posted 10 May 2023

Stage 1

The Bill was referred to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee as lead committee.

As well as the lead Committee, Finance and Public Administration Committee (scrutiny of the Financial Memorandum) and the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee, a number of subject Committees considered and scrutinised the Bill:

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee - The LGHP Committee wrote to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 14 December 2022 outlining the views expressed by witnesses on a number of key themes which emerged during the course of the evidence heard.

Criminal Justice Committee – Report published 10 February 2023. The Criminal Justice Committee  wrote  to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 10 February 2023 outlining its findings. 

Education, Children and Young People Committee – Report published 19 December 2022. 

Social Justice and Social Security Committee The SJSS Committee wrote to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 8 December 2022. The letter covered a number of key themes including workforce, third sector and volunteers and homelessness..

A call for views was issued on 8 July 2022 which closed on 2 September 2022.

Meetings were held by the lead committee between June 2022 and 20 February 2024.

There were several requests for extended Stage 1 consideration:

• The Parliament agreed that consideration of the Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 17 March 2023.

• On 8 March 2023, Parliament extended consideration of the Bill at Stage 1 to 30 June 2023.

• On 7 June 2023, Parliament extended consideration of the Bill at Stage 1 to 31 January 2024.

• On 17 January 2024, Parliament extended consideration of the Bill at Stage 1 to 1 March 2024.

The lead committee published its Stage 1 Report on 22 February 2024.

The Stage 1 debate took place on 29 February 2024and the general principles were agreed to. Result: 65 for, 50 against, 1 abstained and 13 did not vote.

Stage 2

In the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s Stage 1 report, a majority of Committee Members requested the Scottish Government provide the draft text of its Stage 2 amendments in advance of formal Stage 2 proceedings. This was to enable the Committee to take further evidence on the amendments prior to formal proceedings. 

The lead committee decided in its meeting on 21 March 2024 to undertake further scrutiny at Stage 2 in the autumn of 2024 in meetings on 24 September, 1 October, 8 October and 26 November 2024.

On 24 June 2024, the Committee received the following package of documents from the Scottish Government: National Care Service (Scotland) Bill: draft Stage 2 amendments

SPICe prepared a briefing on the draft Stage 2 amendments: National Care Service Scotland Bill: overview of draft amendments at Stage 2 posted 21 November 2024

The Committee then sought views about the draft amendments the Scottish Government proposed to make to the Bill, at Stage 2. 

Read responses to the call for views at Stage 2

The call for views closed on 20 September 2024.

National Care Service Scotland Bill: draft amendments at Stage 2 - summary of evidence posted 21 November 2024

On 29 January 2025 Parliament agreed that consideration at Stage 2 be completed by 28 March 2025 and amendments were considered over two meetings on 25 February 2025 and 4 March 2025. The amended Care Reform (Scotland) Bill was posted on the Parliament’s website on 4 March 2025.

The Finance and Public Administration Committee and Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee held further meetings and evidence sessions after Stage 2. Official Report for the Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting on 27 May 2025. Report on supplementary delegated powers in the Bill as amended.

Stage 3

Further amendments were considered and debated at the meeting of the Parliament on 10 June 2025. The Bill was passed with 116 voting for it, 0 against, 0 abstained and 13 did not vote.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The Bill sought to establish a National Care Service (NCS).  This was to be achieved by moving responsibility and accountability (partially) for social care to the Scottish Ministers via national strategic planning, transferring of local authority and NHS functions, and with local care boards replacing integration authorities. (Although this last was assumed rather than being made explicit in the Bill documents).

NHS health services and social care services have evolved very separately and differently, with around 80% of social care provision being supplied by private companies.

One of the aims was to reduce variation across the country for those receiving social care and support services. The Scottish Ministers were to set the strategic plan for the NCS, and care boards would be established to follow the national strategic planning and NCS principles via their own strategic planning. Although not clear in the legislation, the Policy Memorandum published alongside the Bill explained that care boards would replace integration authorities, alongside major changes to overall governance. The Scottish Ministers could also have transferred functions from local authorities and the NHS to the Scottish Ministers’ control, by regulations. Children’s and Justice Social Work services were specifically detailed, with certain duties to consult attached prior to any transfer.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill had four Parts with Part 1 being the most substantive in terms of structural change. Part 1 comprised seven chapters:

PART 1:

Chapter 1

• NCS principles

• Responsibility for NCS and improvement

• Care boards

Chapter 2

• Strategic planning and ethical commissioning

Chapter 3

• NCS charter, advocacy and complaints

Chapter 4

• Scottish Ministers’ powers to intervene in care boards and with contractors

Chapter 5

• Research, training, support for other activities and compulsory purchase

Chapter 6

• Powers and duties to transfer functions, to reorganise, transfer staff, property and liabilities

Chapter 7

• Modifications and Interpretation of Part 1

PART 2

• Care records and an Information standard

PART 3 

• Rights to breaks for carers

• Care home visiting

• Reserving right to participate in procurement by type of organisation

• Cancellation of care service registration (Care Inspectorate) and involvement of Healthcare Improvement Scotland in inspections

PART 4

• Final provisions

Parliamentary consideration

The Parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill had some unusual features.  As noted above, Stage 1 scrutiny timeframes were extended on several occasions to reflect significant changes to the proposed implementation as the Stage 1 scrutiny proceeded. For example, the proposed changes to the role of local authorities in respect of social care changed significantly during Stage 1.

The Bill was a framework bill, lacking substantive detail in the Bill itself, with detailed implementation to follow through secondary legislation. During Stage 1 consideration there was frequent reference by the Scottish Government to co-design work which was running alongside Parliamentary scrutiny. It was unclear what effect this co-design work and its outcomes would have on the Bill. The co-design work involved the Scottish Government and ‘the people who access and deliver social care support’.

The conclusions of the Finance and Public Administration Committee Report were critical, stating that the costs set out in the Financial Memorandum did not fully and adequately reflect the costs of setting up a National Care Service. The Committee requested a revised Financial Memorandum.

Unusually, the Bill had additional iterations. The lead Committee, in its Stage 1 report, called for the publication of proposed amendments ahead of Stage 2 proceedings and then conducted further consultation on these proposed amendments.

The amendments that were presented at Stage 2 by the Scottish Government were very different from the previously proposed amendments. In the meantime, opposition parties, COSLA and the unions withdrew their support for the Bill.

The table below shows the changes made from the Bill as introduced to the Bill as passed

From the above table, it is possible to discern that the Bill changed dramatically in form and substantive content in its passage through Parliament, with many of the most significant changes to the social care system made at Stage 3.  

The final Bill/Act was far from the government’s original intention. In this particular case, this was most clearly signalled by the changed title of the Bill at Stage 2. However, it should also be noted that only one substantive section was commenced following Royal Assent. On receiving Royal Assent only two sections of the Act were commenced: section 13B and section 47 ‘Commencement’. Section 13B requires the Scottish Ministers to report on projected care needs over the next 10 years, before the end of 2026 and every five years thereafter.

The significantly amended and renamed Bill was passed by the Parliament on 10 June 2025. Result: 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote.

Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 as enacted.

Passage of the Bill

The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 5 September 2024. The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee was designated as the lead committee. The Bill completed Stage 1 on 10 October 2024, Stage 2 on 29 October 2024, and was passed by the Parliament at Stage 3 on 5 November 2024.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill was introduced primarily to replace the system of emissions reduction target setting from an annual and interim targets to a system of 5-year carbon budgets. The Bill also redrew the timeframe for when the next climate change plan (a statutory document) must be published. 

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill as introduced included provisions across two sections:

• Modification of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 – including introducing concept of Scottish carbon budgets and associated concepts, setting out the duty of Scottish Ministers in relation to carbon budgets and how carbon budgets must be set. Outlining how carbon budgets would replace the previous system of annual and interim targets. Setting out the changes to the annual report on emissions reduction, and the new timeframe for when the next climate change plan must be published. 

• Setting Scottish carbon budgets – set out when and how regulations setting Scottish carbon budget levels must be brought forward. 

Parliamentary consideration

The Net Zero, Energy and Transport (NZET) Committee, as lead committee for parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill, published its Stage 1 report on 4 October 2024. It noted that, whilst all members agreed to the general principles of the Bill, it was regrettable that the catalyst for the Bill’s introduction was recognition that a key statutory milestone on the journey to net zero was no longer achievable. They also noted that it was regrettable that the Bill could not have been introduced earlier to allow more time for scrutiny. 

The Finance and Public Administration Committee held a call for views and received six submissions. They wrote to NZET committee on 1 October 2024. 

The Scottish Government provided a written response to the Stage 1 report on 9 October 2024. 

The Stage 1 debate took place on 10 October 2024. During the debate, a number of MSPs raised the issue of the lack of time available to scrutinise the legislation which had been ‘expedited’ and the lack of detail in the Financial Memorandum for the Bill. 

Following the debate, the general principles of the Bill were agreed to with 94 voting for and 28 not voting.

On 2 October 2024, Parliament agreed motion S6M-14742, setting out an expedited timetable for this Bill. This included agreeing that consideration of the Bill at Stage 2 be completed by 29 October 2024.

Amendments at Stage 2 included:

• That at the time of publishing the carbon budget regulations the Scottish Government must publish a statement that sets out, in broadly indicative terms, the proposals and policies which are likely (if the regulations are approved) to be set out in the next climate change plan.

• That the regulations setting carbon budgets must not provide for any carbon units that are credited to the net Scottish emissions account for the period to be carried over to the next period.

• That the report that follows a carbon budget period assessing progress against targets must also set out the Scottish Ministers’ assessment of the impact of major capital projects on Scottish carbon budgets.

• Scottish Ministers must lay a draft climate change plan before the Scottish Parliament before the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day that the first regulations setting a Scottish carbon budget come into force.

• Scottish Ministers must provide a statement that sets out whether the they expect that, during the period covered by a Scottish carbon budget, the net Scottish emissions account for a year will, for the first time since this section came into force, be— (a) 75% lower than the baseline, (b) 90% lower than the baseline.

Stage 3 proceedings took place on 5 November 2024. Amendments agreed at Stage 3 included that:

After the Stage 3 debate, the Bill was passed (For 105, Against 0, Abstentions 7 and Did not Vote 17).

The Bill received Royal Assent on 22 November 2024.

Passage of the Bill

The Bill was introduced on 4 June 2024 by Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.  

The lead Committee was the Education, Children and Young People Committee, who reported on 24 July 2024, recommending approval of the general principles of the Bill. 

Parliament agreed to the general principles of the Bill on 18 December 2024. The Education, Children and Young People Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2 over three meetings on 23 April 2025, 30 April 2025, and 7 May 2025.  

Stage 3 amendments were considered and debated at the meetings held on 24 June 2025 and 25 June 2025. The final debate took place on 25 June 2025; the Bill was passed by division (69 for, 47 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote) and received Royal Assent on 6 August 2025.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The Bill sought to reform certain national education agencies.  The Bill itself established two new bodies - Qualifications Scotland and a new office: His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland. While not the subject of the Bill, the effect of the Bill was also to reform Education Scotland by removing the inspection functions from that body.  The Bill also abolished the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

The Bill formed part of a wider programme of school reform.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill sought to make two changes:

• establish a new qualifications body, Qualifications Scotland, to replace the SQA

• set out a legislative framework for a stand-alone education inspectorate.

A key theme of the governance structures set out in the Bill for both of the new organisations, and particularly for Qualifications Scotland, was the creation of structures to allow the teaching profession and learners to have a voice and influence within the organisations. Specifically, this is to be achieved through structures such as advisory committees and “charters”.

Further information is provided in a SPICe briefing on the Bill as introduced.

Parliamentary consideration

The lead committee at Stage 1 was the Education, Children and Young People Committee.  It supported the general principles of the Bill, and broadly supported the provisions to replace the SQA and establish an independent inspectorate. The Committee highlighted a number of areas of concern, including:

• the proposals for Qualifications Scotland were too close to replicating the existing structures that underpinned the SQA

• one of the aims was to change the culture in the national bodies and the Committee noted that “much of change culture is down to leadership, a change to ways of working and a commitment to do things differently”.

One of the issues that surfaced during Stage 1 in relation to Qualifications Scotland was around where the accreditation function should sit, with some witnesses arguing for this function to be separated from the awarding function.

In autumn 2024, there was a controversy over the Higher History exam in the 2024 exam diet.  Following this, there were debates on whether there was sufficient and independent oversight of the work of the SQA.  The Chief Executive of the SQA resigned in early 2025.

There were significant numbers of amendments lodged at both Stage 2 and Stage 3. Many of these amendments focused on strengthening duties around the responsiveness of the two organisations to learners, practitioners and others. Examples include: the organisations consulting with these groups when carrying out their functions; the membership of the governance and consultative structures; reporting duties.  

Some of the other key amendments agreed by Parliament were:

• the establishment of an expert group to advise on the quality of qualifications

• a duty to publish an annual report on the quality of qualifications, and for an external person to be appointed by the Scottish Government to review this process

• provide for a duty on Ministers to review and report on the operation of accreditation

• creating separate roles for the Chief Executive, the Chief Examiner, and the Chief Accreditation Officer at Qualifications Scotland

• defining the purposes of inspection.

During the Stage 3 debate, some Members argued that the reforms did not go far enough, particularly in relation to Qualifications Scotland. The position of the accreditation function was an area of disagreement, with some Members arguing for the separation of this function. The Bill was passed but with Labour and Conservative MSPs voting against.

The Bill received Royal Assent on 6 August 2025.

Passage of the Bill

The Judicial Factors (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 5 December 2023. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee (‘the DPLR Committee’) was designated as the lead committee.

The Bill completed Stage 1 on 19 September 2024, Stage 2 on 19 November 2024, and was passed by the Parliament at Stage 3 on 10 December 2024.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

A ‘judicial factor’ is a person the court can appoint to manage property that is not being appropriately managed, or otherwise would not be appropriately managed. 

A judicial factor's role can include gathering in, holding, administering, protecting, and selling (or otherwise disposing of) the property.

This technical Bill was developed from recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission. The Commission is the independent public body which makes recommendations for law reform to Scottish Ministers.

The Bill was considered under the Scottish Parliament's special procedure for dealing with certain Scottish Law Commission bills which have been classified as non-controversial.

The Scottish Government aimed to provide an updated, comprehensive, efficient and flexible legal framework relating to judicial factors. It wanted to make appointment of a judicial factor more attractive as an option in a wider range of circumstances than was the case at the time of the Bill’s introduction.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill was split into six parts, as follows:

• Part 1 covered a range of topics associated with the appointment of a judicial factor

• Part 2 and schedule 1 covered the functions of a judicial factors, with the term 'function' covering both powers and duties

• Part 3 covered the judicial factor's legal relationships with third parties, that is individuals and organisations not otherwise directly connected with the property that is the responsibility of the judicial factor

• Part 4 made provision on topics associated with the end of the judicial factoring arrangement and the judicial factor’s role

• Part 5 covered the supervisory role of the Accountant of Court in respect of judicial factoring arrangements

• Part 6 was a miscellaneous and general part of the Bill, including a provision defining some of the legal terms used in the Bill.

Further information is provided in a SPICe briefing on the Bill as introduced.

Parliamentary consideration

As part of its role relating to scrutiny of the delegated powers in primary legislation, the DPLR Committee reported that it was content with the delegated powers provisions in the Bill on 7 February 2024.

Separately, the DPLR Committee, as lead committee for parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill, published its main Stage 1 report on 14 June 2024, which recommended that the general principles of the Bill be agreed to. The report also made specific recommendations on certain issues, particularly regarding judicial factors managing the estates of missing persons and charities.

The Scottish Government’s response to the DPLR Committee’s report, dated 5 September 2024, accepted some key policy recommendations from the Committee. The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service also responded to the report on 18 July 2024.

The Stage 1 debate took place on 19 September 2024. Following the debate, the general principles of the Bill were agreed to.

Stage 2 consideration took place on 19 November 2024. There were Scottish Government amendments lodged and agreed to, a number of which were based on the DPLR Committee’s earlier recommendations. Amendments including those to:

• ensure that both OSCR (the Scottish charity regulator) and the public are notified when a judicial factor is being considered for appointment or is going to distribute property in relation to a charity

• require the regular review by Scottish Ministers of the appropriateness of the use of the Register of Inhibitions, an existing public register, to publicise judicial factor appointments – and allow Ministers to implement changes through regulations based on those reviews

• require that Scottish Ministers must issue guidance on judicial factors managing the property of missing persons

• clarify how certain provisions requiring the disclosure of information to a judicial factor or the Accountant of Court interact with data protection laws

• require that Scottish Ministers periodically review the qualifications criteria for the Accountant of Court and depute Accountant, and allow Ministers to implement changes through regulations based on those reviews

• require that alleged misconduct by a judicial factor (where the judicial factor is from certain professions) must be reported to the appropriate regulatory body, not just their professional bodies, in order to better align with the regulatory framework for solicitors.

More information on parliamentary consideration up to the end of Stage 2 is provided ina SPICe blog post on the Bill prior to Stage 3.

Stage 3 proceedings took place on 10 December 2024. A small number of technical amendments were agreed to. After the Stage 3 debate, the Bill was passed (For 119, including 3 proxy votes, Against 0, Abstentions 0). 

The Bill received Royal Assent on 27 January 2025.

Passage of the Bill

The Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 6 June 2023. The Criminal Justice Committee was designated as the lead committee. The Bill completed Stage 1 on 10 September 2024, Stage 2 on 2 October 2024, and was passed by the Parliament at Stage 3 on 15 January 2025.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill was introduced to address the recommendations within the Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing (the “Angiolini Review”) which required legislative change.

It sought to ensure that there are robust, clear and transparent mechanisms in place for investigating complaints, allegations of misconduct, or other issues of concern in relation to the conduct of police officers in Scotland.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill as introduced included provisions across four sections:

• Ethics of the police – placing a statutory obligation for Police Scotland to have a code of ethics and placing a statutory duty of candour on individual officers and Police Scotland as an organisation.

  [Stage 2 saw the introduction of mandatory requirements for the ongoing vetting of police officers and staff through a Vetting Code of Practice, a failure of which could result in demotion or dismissal.]

• Police conduct – including amending the functions that can be conferred on the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), allowing misconduct procedures to be applied to former officers, introducing a Scottish Police advisory and barred list, and amending the misconduct procedures for senior police officers (of the rank of Assistant Chief Constable and above).

• Functions of the PIRC – including providing the PIRC with additional powers including extra functions in the complaint handling review process; being able to call in complaints; review practices and policies; and having a role in investigating police officers from outwith Scotland who are carrying out policing functions in Scotland.

• Governance of the PIRC – requiring there to be a statutory advisory board to the Commissioner.

Further information is provided in a SPICe briefing on the Bill as introduced.

Parliamentary consideration

The Criminal Justice Committee, as lead committee for parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill, published its Stage 1 report on 2 July 2024. It noted that, whilst all members supported the general principles of the Bill, two members of the Committee, Katy Clark MSP and Pauline McNeill MSP, noted that their support at Stage 1 was dependent on the provision of an updated Financial Memorandum at Stage 1.

The Finance and Public Administration Committee took evidence from the Scottish Government Bill Team and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance MSP, and corresponded with the Cabinet Secretary and the Criminal Justice Committee as part of their scrutiny of the Financial Memorandum for this Bill.

The Scottish Government provided a written response to the Stage 1 report on 3 September 2024. Written responses to the Stage 1 report were also received from Police Scotland, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and the Scottish Police Authority.

The Stage 1 debate took place on 10 September 2024. During the debate, a number of MSPs raised the issue of the significant difference in figures initially provided by the Scottish Government in their Financial Memorandum and the revised figures that were provided to the Finance and Public Administration and Criminal Justice Committees.

Following the debate, the general principles of the Bill were unanimously agreed to.

Stage 2 included the agreement of an amendment which inserted a new section in the Bill introducing mandatory requirements for the ongoing vetting of police officers and staff through a Vetting Code of Practice, a failure of which could result in demotion or dismissal.

Further amendments included:

• adding further sources to be referred to, and persons to be consulted, by the Chief Constable when preparing the code of ethics

• clarifying that the duty of candour applies to all investigations, and is subject to the assertion against self-incrimination in criminal cases

• ensuring that regulations introduced in secondary legislation must include a time limit, beyond which a public interest test must be applied to enable gross misconduct proceedings to be commenced or continued against former officers

• ensuring the PIRC notifies complainers where they have carried out a complaint handling review of their own volition

• that the PIRC must, rather than may, publish the responses to their recommendations made in complaint handling reviews or where they have called in a complaint, subject to certain conditions.

More information on parliamentary consideration up to the end of Stage 2 is provided in a SPICe briefing on the Bill prior to Stage 3.

Stage 3 proceedings took place on 15 January 2025. Amendments agreed at Stage 3 included ones that:

• set out that the vetting code of practice must include provision about the types of evidence required to demonstrate the unsuitability of someone who has undergone vetting, and that written reasons must be provided where a decision is made following vetting to dismiss, demote, redeploy or require someone comply with conditions

• introduced a time limit of 12 months after which misconduct procedures cannot be applied to former police officers (unless criteria specified in the regulations are met)

• the Chief Constable must carry out a review of Police Scotland’s policies, practices and guidance relating to misconduct by constables within 12 months of the Act coming into force.

After the Stage 3 debate, the Bill was passed (For 116, Against 0, Abstentions 1).

The Bill received Royal Assent on 4 March 2025.

Passage of the Bill

The Parliament agreed that the Bill should be treated as an emergency Bill on 20 November 2024. The Parliament then considered, and agreed, the general principles at Stage 1 on 21 November 2024.

At Stage 2, an emergency Bill is considered by a Committee of the Whole Parliament. The Parliament considered the Bill at both Stage 2 and Stage 3 on 27 November 2024. The Bill was passed and received Royal Assent on 22 January 2025.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill was introduced in response to the rising prison population which was described as a “crisis” by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance MSP. 

The Bill’s Policy Memorandum states that:

“This Bill forms part of a range of measures designed to respond to the rising prison population [...] The changes will apply retrospectively, meaning they apply to those serving a short-term sentence on the date when the legislation comes into force as well as those sentenced to a short-term sentence following that date. This will result in both an immediate and sustained impact on the prison population.”

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill sought to change the rules relating to the automatic release of prisoners serving short-term sentences (less than four years). This included children serving sentences in secure accommodation following criminal proceedings.

It did this through sections 1 and 2 of the Bill, which changed the automatic early release point for some short-term prisoners to the point of them having served 40%, rather than the current 50%, of their sentence. This excludes those serving sentences for sexual offences, domestic abuse or terrorism offences. The change applied retrospectively, and the Bill made transitional provision so that those immediately eligible for release when the Bill came into force would be released in tranches.

Section 3 of the Bill also granted Scottish Ministers a power to make future changes to automatic early release points for both short and long-term prisoners, including children detained in secure accommodation, by subordinate legislation. These regulations would be subject to parliamentary approval via affirmative procedure.

Further information is provided in a SPICe briefing on the Bill as introduced.

Parliamentary consideration

The Scottish Parliament agreed to deal with the Bill under emergency bill procedure, allowing for an accelerated scrutiny process by the whole Parliament.

Stage 1 took place on 21 November 2024, with the general principles being agreed (For 69, Against 49, Abstentions 3).

A significant focus of the debate on the Bill centred on the speed with which this legislation was being passed under the emergency process, as well as the introduction of enhanced regulation-making powers.

Issues covered in the debate included concerns:

• regarding the lack of scrutiny of the Bill given that it was being dealt with under the emergency procedure

• that the regulation-making powers did not need to be included in this Bill and any future changes to the release point for long-term prisoners could have been made through separate primary legislation

• around the victim notification process.

Stage 2 and Stage 3 both took place on 27 November 2024. 

The Bill was amended at Stage 2 to include a list of those with whom Scottish Ministers must consult prior to making regulations.

Further amendments agreed to at Stage 3 included:

• requiring Ministers to make an oral statement to Parliament on the laying of regulations made as a result of this Bill; this would outline the reasons for making the regulations, the consultation that has been undertaken and the information that will be available to victims about the changes that will be made

• requiring Ministers, following the review period, to report on the operation of the provisions within the Act.

Areas of debate where significant differences of view continued included:

• the inclusion of the regulation-making powers within this Bill rather than introducing these changes through separate primary legislation

• that the changes made by the Bill were permanent with no sunset clause or option for Parliament to review.

After debate, the Bill was passed (For 67, Against 54, Abstentions 0).

The Bill received Royal Assent on 22 January 2025.

Purpose of the Bill

The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill was introduced with the aim of making changes to the framework under which legal services are regulated in Scotland. The Policy Memorandum accompanying the Bill explained that

“5. The overarching policy objective of this Bill is to provide a modern, forward-looking regulatory framework for Scotland that will best promote competition, innovation, and the public and consumer interest in an efficient, effective, and efficient legal sector.”

The Bill followed Esther Roberton’s Independent Review of Legal Services Regulation in Scotland which led to the Report ‘Fit for the Future – Report of the Independent Review of Legal Services Regulation in Scotland’(“the Roberton report”).

The Bill implements certain of the recommendations of the Roberton Report. However, the Scottish Government ultimately decided not to follow the Roberton report's main recommendation to set up a single independent regulator. 

For further information see the SPICe briefing on the Bill as introduced (10 August 2023) and the Scottish Parliament’s webpage on the Bill.

Parliamentary consideration

The Stage 1 debate took place on 22 February 2024. Stage 2 took place at meetings of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on 21 January 2025 and 28 January 2025.

For details of parliamentary consideration at Stage 1 and Stage 2 see the SPICe blog “The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill – what happened at Stage 1 and Stage 2?” (12 May 2025).

Stage 3 proceedings (final consideration) took place on 20 May 2025 after which the Bill was passed.

Amendments agreed at Stage 3 included:

• Giving the Scottish Government regulatory powers to allow certain organisations to require unregulated providers to register with the register for unregulated legal services providers (amendments 130-134 in the name of Tess White MSP). This was a compromise supported by the Scottish Government after Tess White’s proposal to make the register mandatory was withdrawn at Stage 2.

• A statutory obligation to review the Act 10 years after the commencement of specific sections of the legislation (amendment 137 in the name of Tess White MSP). This was a compromise supported by the Scottish Government after Tess White’s proposal to require the legislation to be reviewed 5 years after Royal Assent was withdrawn at Stage 2.

For further details see the Official Report for the meeting of the Parliament on 20 May 2025.

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission published a Stage 3 briefing with views on amendments prior to Stage 3 as did the Law Society of Scotland of Scotland.    

The Bill received Royal Assent on 27 June 2025.

Passage of the Bill

The Bill was introduced in Parliament on 23 January 2024. The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments (SPPA) Committee was designated as lead committee for the Bill. The SPPA Committee considered its approach to the Bill at its meeting on 1 February 2024.

The SPPA Committee issued a call for views on 6 February 2024. The call for views closed on 6 March 2024. The SPPA Committee took oral evidence over four meetings on 21 March 2024, 28 March 2024, 18 April 2024 and 2 May 2024. The Committee considered its Stage 1 draft report on 6 June 2024 and considered a further draft on 13 June 2024.

The SPPA Committee published its Stage 1 Report on 18 June 2024. The Scottish Government responded to the report on 20 June 2024 and the response was published on 24 June 2024.

The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee also considered the Bill in private at its meeting on 6 February 2024.

The Finance and Public Administration Committee considered the Financial Memorandum to the Bill, issuing a call for views on the costs estimate. The Finance and Public Administration Committee agreed to share responses on the Financial Memorandum with the SPPA Committee and took no further action.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the delegated powers in the Bill at its meeting on 12 March 2024. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on the Bill on 18 June 2024.

The Stage 1 debate and decision on whether to agree to the general principles of the Bill took place on 27 June 2024. The Parliament agreed to the general principles of the Bill. A Financial Resolution was agreed by the Parliament on the same day. The Bill ended Stage 1 on 27 June 2024.

On 5 September 2024 the SPPA Committee took evidence from the Scottish Government in relation to the Bill on the issue of disqualification from holding elected office on the grounds of certain sexual offences. At its meeting on 19 September 2024 the SPPA Committee considered, in private, a letter from the Minister for Parliamentary Business in relation to the Bill. At its meeting on 31 October 2024 the SPPA Committee took evidence on the issue of disqualification from holding elected office on the grounds of certain sexual offences from Police Scotland.

The SPPA Committee held two meetings to consider amendments at Stage 2. These meetings of the SPPA Committee took place on 7 November 2024 and 14 November 2024.

The Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill as amended at Stage 2 was published on 14 November 2024.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the delegated powers after Stage 2 at its meeting on 3 December 2024. A report on the delegated powers after Stage 2was published by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee on 12 December 2024.

The Bill ended Stage 2 on 14 December 2024.

The Parliament considered amendments to the Bill at Stage 3 on 17 December 2024. The final debate on the Bill was held on the same day. The Parliament agreed that the Bill be passed by motion S6M-15875. The result of the vote was 111 for; 0 against; 0 abstentions (18 MSPs did not vote). The vote therefore passed.

The Bill ended Stage 3 on 17 December 2024. An as passed version of the Bill was published on 17 December 2024.

The Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 29 January 2025.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The purpose of the Bill was stated in the Policy Memorandum as being:

“To make a number of improvements to the law affecting Scottish Parliament and Scottish local government elections.”

The Scottish Government consulted on electoral law from 14 December 2022 to 15 March 2023. The Bill followed that consultation.

A SPICe blog What’s in the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill was published on 26 March 2024.

A SPICe briefing on electoral reform in Scotland and the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill was published on 28 February 2024 and provides further detail on the background to the Bill.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill contained provisions relating to four broad areas of devolved electoral law:

• Who can stand for election 

• Campaign finance 

• Running elections 

• Election governance

Specific provisions included:

• the extension of candidacy rights at Scottish Parliament and local government elections in Scotland to foreign nationals with limited leave to remain

• extending the Elections Act 2022 disqualification order to bar individuals who have received such an order from being able to stand for election in Scotland

• creating a new Scottish disqualification order which can apply to individuals found guilty of intimidating electoral workers

• changes to the definition of notional expenditure at devolved Scottish elections, bringing the definition in line with that provided for in the Elections Act 2022

• reducing the amount campaigners who do not have to register with the Electoral Commission can spend at Scottish Parliament elections to £700, in line with the Elections Act 2022

• changing the rules on third party campaigners at Scottish Parliament elections by requiring the Electoral Commission to provide a code of practice on such campaigning, and by allowing Scottish Ministers to change the categories of third party campaigners by secondary legislation

• measures to allow for re-scheduling of Scottish elections in emergency situations

• allowing the Electoral Management Board for Scotland, Electoral Registration Officers and Scottish Ministers, as well as local authorities, to be able to propose electoral pilots

• giving Scottish Ministers a power to allow funding for increased democratic engagement

• changing the law on digital imprints on material relating to Scottish elections

• changing the Boundaries Scotland review deadline to match five year local government election cycles

• creating a deputy convener post within the Electoral Management Board for Scotland

• changing the legal status of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland

• parliamentary scrutiny of the Electoral Commission's activities in relation to Scottish elections.

The SPICe briefing on the Bill considers the provisions of the Bill in more detail.

Parliamentary consideration

A SPICe blog published on 16 December 2024 considers the central discussions at Stage 1 and key changes to the Bill at Stage 2. The blog also looked ahead to Stage 3 and considered what changes MSPs were looking to make to the Bill at the final amending stage.

This Bill summary is presented in English, Gaelic and Scots.

Passage of the Bill

The Bill was introduced on 29 November 2023 by Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Due to a change in ministerial responsibilities, Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, took responsibility for the progress of the Bill.

The lead Committee was the Education, Children and Young People Committee, who reported on 24 July 2024, recommending approval of the general principles of the Bill. 

Parliament agreed to the general principles of the Bill at Stage 1 on 17 September 2024. The Education, Children and Young People Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2 on 11 December 2024.  Stage 3 took place on 17 June 2025 and the Bill was passed.  The Bill received Royal Assent on 31 July 2025.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The aim of the Bill was to make further provision to support Gaelic and Scots. The Bill made provision in relation to the public sector’s support for the languages generally and specifically in relation to education.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill is in two substantive parts covering provisions relating to Gaelic and Scots.  Within those two parts were Chapters covering general support for the languages and education respectively.

Part 1 – Chapter 1 of the Bill was on support for the Gaelic Language and the provisions in the chapter included:

• Gaelic having official status in Scotland

• changes to the functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig

• creating a power to designate geographical areas as “areas of linguistic significance”

• putting a duty on the Scottish Government to prepare a National Gaelic Strategy, which replaces the National Gaelic Plans

• giving Scottish Ministers (the Government) more powers to put duties on public bodies to promote, facilitate and support Gaelic.

Part 1 – Chapter 2 of the Bill was on Gaelic education and the provisions in the chapter include:

• requiring Scottish Ministers to promote Gaelic education

• providing Scottish Ministers with powers to set standards and produce guidance for local authorities in relation to Gaelic education

• amending the statutory definition of school education to include Gaelic education

• requiring local authorities to promote Gaelic education

• making various other changes linked to Gaelic Medium Education including a process for parents to request Gaelic Medium Early Learning and Childcare.

Part 2 – Chapter 1 was on support for the Scots language.  The provisions in the chapter include:

• Scots having official status in Scotland

• requiring Scottish Ministers to create a Scots language strategy and report on any progress made

• providing that Scottish Ministers can produce guidance for public bodies in relation to promoting and supporting the Scots language and the development of Scots culture.

Part 2 – Chapter 2 was on school education in relation to the Scots language.  This includes provisions which would:

• require Scottish Ministers to promote and support Scots language education in schools

• allow Scottish Ministers to produce guidance and set standards for local authorities relating to Scots language education in schools.

Further information is provided in a SPICe briefing on the Bill as introduced.

Parliamentary consideration

Parliament made several amendments to the Bill at Stage 2 and Stage 3.

These included:

• strengthening the duties on local authorities around designating areas of linguistic significance (ALS), including providing that:

  • local authorities carry out assessments on whether to designate ALS at regular intervals

  • Ministers are able to require local authorities to reconsider decisions to not designate an area as an ALS

• creating duties to include targets within the National Gaelic language strategy; the Bòrd will be required to report on the objectives and targets contained within the National Gaelic language strategy

• a duty to consider whether school education resources produced by Scottish Ministers (which includes Education Scotland) should be produced in Gaelic and Scots

• a duty on Qualifications Scotland to ensure that its suite of qualifications includes an appropriate number and range of qualifications available through the medium of the Gaelic language

• simplifying a local authority’s assessment process following a request of parents/carers regarding the need for Gaelic Medium Primary Education (and Gaelic Medium Early Learning and Childcare).

• introducing a process to consider requests for all-Gaelic schools

• powers for Ministers to impose terms and conditions on grants for the purpose of supporting Gaelic education in further and higher education

• a duty to review the funding and status of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

While the Education, Children and Young People Committee’s Stage 1 report did support the general principles of the Bill, it commented:

“[The Committee] does not consider that, on its own, the Bill will create the necessary conditions to address the challenges facing the Gaelic language or provide the necessary support and protection to both Gaelic and the languages and dialects that come under the term Scots. The Committee believes that more needs to be done by the Scottish Government beyond what is set out in the Bill, if it is to meet its aims to effectively support these languages and dialects and if the Bill is to make any meaningful difference rather than simply being symbolic.”

The Stage 3 debate covered a number of areas.  Members noted that part of the Bill’s purpose was about symbolism and affording recognition and respect to Gaelic and Scots.  Members in the debate also recognised that education is a key focus of the Bill and the support for, particularly, Gaelic.  Some members argued that this will not be sufficient to revitalise the language, highlighting wider socio-economic factors.

Parliament passed the Scottish Languages Bill on 17 June 2025, and it received Royal Assent on 31 July 2025.

Slighe a' Bhile

Chaidh am Bile a thoirt a-steach air 29 Samhain 2023 le Jenny Gilruth BPA, Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Foghlam is Sgilean.  Air sgàth atharrachadh ann an dleastanasan ministreil, ghabh Ceit Fhoirbeis BPA, Leas-phrìomh Mhinistear agus Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson na h-Eaconamaidh is Gàidhlig, uallach airson adhartas a’ Bhile.

B’ e Comataidh an Fhoghlaim, Cloinne is Dhaoine Òga a’ phrìomh Chomataidh, a thug seachad aithris air 24 Iuchar 2024, a’ moladh cead a thoirt do phrionnsapalan coitcheann a’ Bhile. 

Dh’aontaich a’ Phàrlamaid ri prionnsapalan coitcheann a’ Bhile aig Ìre 1 air 17 Sultain 2024. Bheachdaich Comataidh an Fhoghlaim, Cloinne agus Dhaoine Òga air a’ Bhile aig Ìre 2 air 11 Dùbhlachd 2024.  Thachair Ìre 3 air 17 Ògmhios 2025 agus chaidh gabhail ris a’ Bhile. Fhuair e Aonta Rìoghail air 31 Iuchar 2025.

Adhbhar agus Amasan a’ Bhile

B’ e amas a’ Bhile tuilleadh ullachaidh a dhèanamh gus taic a thoirt do Ghàidhlig agus do Scots.  Rinn am Bile ullachaidhean a thaobh taic na roinne poblaich do na cànanan san fharsaingeachd agus gu sònraichte a thaobh foghlam.

Ullachaidhean a' Bhile

Tha am Bile ann an dà phàirt shusbainteach a’ dèiligeadh ri ullachaidhean co-cheangailte ri Gàidhlig agus Scots.  Anns an dà phàirt sin tha Caibideilean a’ buntainn ri taic san fharsaingeachd do na cànanan agus foghlam.

Tha Pàirt 1 – Caibideil 1 den Bhile mu thaic don Ghàidhlig agus tha na h-ullachaidhean sa chaibideil a’ gabhail a-steach:

• inbhe oifigeil don Ghàidhlig ann an Alba

• gnìomhan Bòrd na Gàidhlig atharrachadh

• cumhachd a chruthachadh gus sgìrean ainmeachadh mar “sgìrean cànain sònraichte”

• dleastanas air Riaghaltas na h-Alba Ro-innleachd Nàiseanta Gàidhlig ullachadh, a thèid an àite nam Planaichean Nàiseanta Gàidhlig

• barrachd chumhachdan a thoirt do Mhinistearan na h-Alba (an Riaghaltas) a thaobh dleastanasan a chur air buidhnean poblach gus a’ Ghàidhlig adhartachadh, a chuideachadh agus taic a thoirt dhi.

Tha Pàirt 1 – Caibideil 2 den Bhile mu fhoghlam Gàidhlig agus bha na h-ullachaidhean sa chaibideil a’ gabhail a-steach:

• iarraidh air Ministearan na h-Alba foghlam Gàidhlig a chur air adhart

• cumhachd a thoirt do Mhinistearan na h-Alba inbhean a shuidheachadh agus stiùireadh ullachadh airson ùghdarrasan ionadail a thaobh foghlam Gàidhlig

• mìneachadh reachdail foghlam sgoile atharrachadh gus foghlam Gàidhlig a ghabhail a-steach

• iarraidh air ùghdarrasan ionadail foghlam Gàidhlig a chur air adhart

• diofar atharrachaidhean eile co-cheangailte ri Fòghlam tron Ghàidhlig a dhèanamh a’ gabhail a-steach pròiseas airson pàrantan a bhith ag iarraidh Tràth-ionnsachadh agus Cùram-cloinne tron Ghàidhlig.

Pàirt 2 – Tha Caibideil 1 mu thaic do Scots.  Am measg nan ullachaidhean anns a’ chaibideil tha:

• inbhe oifigeil bhith aig Scots ann an Alba

• iarraidh air Ministearan na h-Alba ro-innleachd Scots a chruthachadh agus aithris a thoirt air adhartas sam bith;

• ullachadh gus an urrainn do Mhinistearan na h-Alba stiùireadh a dheasachadh do bhuidhnean poblach a thaobh adhartachadh agus taic do Scots agus do leasachadh cultar Scots.

Pàirt 2 – Tha Caibideil 2 mu fhoghlam sgoile a thaobh na Scots.  Tha seo a’ gabhail a-steach ullachaidhean a bhiodh:

• ag iarraidh air Ministearan na h-Alba foghlam Scots a bhrosnachadh agus taic a thoirt dha ann an sgoiltean

• leigeil le Ministearan na h-Alba stiùireadh ullachadh agus inbhean a shuidheachadh do dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail co-cheangailte ri foghlam Scots ann an sgoiltean.

Tha tuilleadh fiosrachaidh ri fhaighinn ann am brath fiosrachaidh SPICe air a’ Bhile mar a chaidh a thoirt a-steach.

Beachdachadh Pàrlamaideach

Rinn a’ Phàrlamaid grunn atharrachaidhean air a’ Bhile aig Ìre 2 agus Ìre 3.

Nam measg bha:

• neartachadh nan dleastanasan air ùghdarrasan ionadail a thaobh a bhith ag ainmeachadh sgìrean cànain sònraichte (ALS) a’ gabhail a-steach ullachaidhean:

  • gum bi ùghdarrasan ionadail a’ measadh am bu chòir ALS ainmeachadh aig amannan cunbhalach

  • gum faod ministearan iarraidh air ùghdarrasan ionadail ath-bheachdachadh nuair a cho-dhùineas iad gun a bhith ag ainmeachadh sgìre na ALS

• a’ cruthachadh dhleastanasan gus targaidean a chur ann an ro-innleachd nàiseanta na Gàidhlig; bidh e na dhleastanas air a’ Bhòrd aithris air na h-amasan agus na targaidean a tha ann an ro-innleachd nàiseanta na Gàidhlig

• dleastanas beachdachadh am bu chòir goireasan sgoile a thèid a thoirt a-mach le Ministearan na h-Alba (a’ gabhail a-steach Foghlam Alba) a dhèanamh ann an Gàidhlig agus Scots

• dleastanas air Teisteanasan Alba dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil an sreath theisteanasan aca a’ toirt a-steach àireamh is raon iomchaidh de theisteanasan tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig

• pròiseas measaidh ùghdarras ionadail a dhèanamh nas sìmplidhe nuair a nì pàrantan/luchd-cùraim iarrtas airson foghlam bun-sgoile tron Ghàidhlig (agus tràth-ionnsachadh agus cùram-cloinne tron Ghàidhlig).

• pròiseas a thoirt a-steach gus beachdachadh air iarrtasan airson sgoiltean làn-Ghàidhlig

• cumhachdan do Mhinistearan teirmichean is cumhaichean a chur air tabhartasan airson taic a thoirt do dh’fhoghlam Gàidhlig ann am foghlam adhartach is àrd-ìre

• dleastanas ath-sgrùdadh a dhèanamh air maoineachadh is inbhe Shabhal Mòr Ostaig.

Ged a thug aithisg Ìre 1 Comataidh an Fhoghlaim, Cloinne is Dhaoine Òga taic do phrionnsapalan coitcheann a’ Bhile, thuirt i:

"Chan eil [a' Chomataidh] den bheachd, leis fhèin, gun cruthaich am Bile na suidheachaidhean riatanach gus dèiligeadh ris na dùbhlain a tha mu choinneamh na Gàidhlig no gus an taic agus an dìon a tha a dhìth a thoirt don Ghàidhlig agus do na cànanan is dual-chainntean a thig fon ainm Scots. Tha a’ Chomataidh den bheachd gum feum Riaghaltas na h-Alba barrachd a dhèanamh na tha air a mhìneachadh sa Bhile, ma tha iad gu bhith a’ coileanadh an amasan gus taic èifeachdach a thoirt do na cànanan agus na dual-chainntean sin agus ma tha am Bile gu bhith a’ dèanamh eadar-dhealachadh brìoghmhor sam bith seach dìreach a bhith samhlachail."

Dhèilig deasbad Ìre 3 ri grunn raointean.  Thug buill fa-near gu robh samhlachas na phàirt de dh’adhbhar a’ Bhile agus a bhith a’ toirt aithne agus spèis don Ghàidhlig agus do Scots.  Dh’aithnich buill anns an deasbad cuideachd gur e foghlam prìomh fhòcas a’ Bhile agus taic don Ghàidhlig gu sònraichte.  Bha cuid de bhuill den bheachd nach bi seo gu leòr airson an cànan ath-bheothachadh, agus iad a’ cur cuideam air factaran sòisio-eaconamach nas fharsainge.

Ghabh a’ Phàrlamaid ri Bile nan Cànan Albannach air 17 Ògmhios 2025 agus fhuair e Aonta Rìoghail air 31 Iuchar 2025.

Passage o the Bill

The Bill wis introducit on 29 November 2023 by Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretar fur Education and Skills. Follaein a chynge in ministerial responsibilities, Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretar fur Economy and Gaelic, taen ower responsibility fur the progress o the Bill.

The heidmaist Committee wis the Education, Children and Young People Committee (Education, Bairns and Young Fowk Committee), whae reportit on 24 July 2024, recommendin greeance tae the general principles o the Bill. 

Pairlament agreed tae the general principles o the Bill at Stage 1 on 17 September 2024. The Education, Children and Young People Committee (Education, Bairns and Young Fowk Committee) considert the Bill at Stage 2 on 11 December 2024. Stage 3 taen place on 17 June 2025 and the Bill wis passed. The Bill receivit Royal Assent on 31 July 2025.

Purpose and ettles o the Bill

The ettle o the Bill wis tae mak mair provision fur tae uphaud Gaelic and Scots. The Bill makkit provision in relation tae the public sector’s uphaudin o the leids generally forby mair specifically in relation tae education.

Provisions o the Bill

The Bill is in twa mensefou pairts coverin provisions relatin tae Gaelic and Scots. Within they twa pairts are Chaipters coverin general uphaudin o the leids and education respectively.

Pairt 1 – Chaipter 1 o the Bill wis anent the uphaudin o the Gaelic leid and the provisions in the chaipter includit:

• Gaelic haein official staunin in Scotland

• chynges tae the functions o Bòrd na Gàidhlig

• makkin a pooer fur tae designate geographical areas as “areas o muckle linguistic mense (areas of linguistic significance)”

• pittin a duty on the Scottish Government tae pit thegither a National Gaelic Straitegy, which taks the place o the National Gaelic Plans

• gien Scottish Ministers (the Government) mair pooers tae pit duties on public bodies tae forder, facilitate and uphaud Gaelic.

Pairt 1 – Chaipter 2 o the Bill wis anent Gaelic education and the provisions in thon chaipter include:

• requirin Scottish Ministers tae forder Gaelic education

• gien Scottish Ministers pooers tae set staunarts and pit oot guidance fur local authorities anent Gaelic education

• chyngin the statutory definition o schuil education fur tae include Gaelic education

• requirin local authorities tae forder Gaelic education

• makkin a wheen ither chynges anent Gaelic Medium Education includin a process fur parents tae speir efter Gaelic Medium Early Learnin and Bairncare.

Pairt 2 – Chaipter 1 wis anent the uphaudin o the Scots leid. The provisions in thon chaipter include:

• Scots haein official staunin in Scotland

• requirin Scottish Ministers tae furthset a Scots leid straitegy and tae report on ony progress makkit

• providin that Scottish Ministers can pit thegither guidance fur public bodies anent forderin and uphaudin the Scots leid and the development o Scots culture.

Pairt 2 – Chaipter 2 wis anent schuil education in relation tae the Scots leid. Thon includes provisions that wad:

• require Scottish Ministers tae forder and uphaud Scots leid education in schuils

• alloo Scottish Ministers tae pit oot guidance and set staunarts fur local authorities anent Scots leid education in schuils.

Mair information is providit in a SPICe briefin on the Bill as introducit.

Pairlamentary tent-takkin

Pairlament makkit a wheen chynges tae the Bill at Stage 2 and Stage 3.

They includit:

• makkin mair strang the duties on local authorities anent designatin areas o muckle linguistic mense (English: ALS), includin providin that:

  • local authorities cairry oot regular assessments on whether tae designate ALS

  • Ministers are able tae require local authorities tae reconsider decisions no tae designate an area as an ALS

• makkin duties tae include tairgets within the National Gaelic leid straitegy; the Bòrd will be requirit tae report on the ettles and tairgets set oot within the National Gaelic leid straitegy

• a duty tae tak tent o whether schuil education resources pit oot by Scottish Ministers (which includes Education Scotland) should be owerset intae Gaelic and Scots

• a duty on Qualifications Scotland tae mak siccar that its hantle o qualifications includes a guid nummer and range o qualifications available through the medium o the Gaelic leid

• makkin mair simple a local authority’s assessment process follaen a request fae parents/carers anent the need fur Gaelic Medium Primary Education (and Gaelic Medium Early Learnin and Bairncare)

• introducin a process tae consider requests fur aw-Gaelic schuils

• pooers fur Ministers tae impose terms and conditions on grants fur the ettle o uphaudin Gaelic education in further and higher education

• a duty tae review the fundin and staunin o Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

While the Stage 1 report o the Education, Children and Young People Committee (Education, Bairns and Young Fowk Committee) did uphaud the general principles o the Bill, it commentit:

“[The Committee] disnae consider that, on its ain, the Bill will shape the conditions necessar tae address the strauchles aheid o Gaelic or gie the necessar uphaudin and bieldin tae baith Gaelic and the leids and byleids that come unner the term Scots. The Committee believes that mair maun be done by the Scottish Government ayont whit is set oot in the Bill, gin it is tae meet its ettles tae gie mensefou uphaudin tae they leids and byleids and gin the Bill is tae mak ony real difference raither nor bein jist symbolic.”

The Stage 3 debate coverit a hale hantle o areas. Memmers notit that pairt o the Bill’s ettle wis aboot symbolism, takkin tent o and shawin respect tae Gaelic and Scots. Memmers in the debate notit forby that education is a heidmaist focus o the Bill and o the uphaudin o, particularly Gaelic. A wheen memmers threapit that thon willnae be sufficient tae revitalise the leid, unnerlinin braider socio-economic factors.

Pairlament passed the Scottish Leids Bill on 17 June 2025, and it receivit Royal Assent on 31 July 2025.

Passage of the Bill

The Bill was introduced on 31 October 2024. The lead Committee was the Social Justice and Social Security Committee who reported on 14 May, recommending approval of the general principles. The Parliament approved the general principles at the Stage 1 debate on 4 June 2024. Stage 2 was held over two days on 19 September and 26 September 2024. The Bill was passed at the Stage 3 debate on 3 December.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The Social Security (Amendment)  (Scotland) Bill makes mostly technical amendments to the framework for devolved social security. The overall aim is to:

“create efficiencies and enhance the administration of the Scottish social security system, with a focus on measures to improve the client experience and to deliver value for money.”

Scottish Government. (2023) Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: business and regulatory impact assessment.

Provisions of the Bill

The Bill is in nine parts. Provisions include:

• regulation-making powers to allow new social security benefits to be introduced in future, including a ‘Care Leaver Payment,’ and to allow for late applications for benefits

• changes to processes for challenging decisions, including allowing for late requests and allowing Social Security Scotland to offer a better award to a claimant who has lodged an appeal which would then cause the appeal to ‘lapse’

• introducing a right to challenge a decision about liability for overpayment

• changing liability for overpayments in situations where someone has an appointee - appointees who act in bad faith would be liable for overpayments caused by them; the individual benefit recipient would be liable for an overpayment that resulted from their appointee acting in good faith

• individuals will be required to provide information to Social Security Scotland in order to estimate the level of error and fraud in the devolved social security system

• a system of compensation recovery is introduced, which mirrors the system in place for DWP benefits; it applies when a person who gets social security payments as a result of injury, accident or disease, is awarded compensation for the same incident

• a duty to uprate all Social Security Scotland benefits by inflation each year is introduced.

Parliamentary consideration

At Stage 1 the Social Justice and Social Security Committee was positive about the Bill, apart from some concerns about the provisions in Part 6 on information for audit. At Stage 3, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, provided assurances to the Parliament, saying;

“I reassure them and the whole Parliament once again that the powers that are being taken are required to identify trends in case loads to support effective audit processes—not to identify specific instances of benefit fraud.”

Most of the amendments made to the Bill were technical in nature.  Policy changes made by amendment at Stages 2 and 3 included:

• a regulation-making power to set out when late applications would be accepted

• the Scottish Government are required to consult on which groups should be exempt from having to provide information for audit

• a duty to uprate all Social Security Scotland benefits annually to reflect price inflation

• regulations introducing the Care Leaver Payment will be reported on by the Scottish Commission for Social Security.

Passage of the Bill

The Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 20 June 2023. The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (‘the RAI Committee’) was designated as the lead committee.

The Bill completed Stage 1 on 9 May 2024, Stage 2 on 18 September 2024, and was passed by the Parliament at Stage 3 on 23 January 2025.

Purpose and objectives of the Bill

The bill is a Member’s bill which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of dogs by encouraging responsible ownership. The bill as introduced also provided for the registration of unlicenced litters of puppies. 

Provisions of the Bill

The bill was split into two parts: 

• Part 1 requires Scottish Ministers to make a code of practice ('the Code') in relation to buying, selling and giving away puppies and dogs as pets. The Bill stipulates certain elements that a Code must include. As part of the code, Part 1 sets an expectation that both parties involved in the transfer of ownership of a dog should sign a certificate confirming their knowledge of key information about the dog and about caring for the dog.

• Part 2 gave Scottish Ministers the power to make regulations requiring litters intended to be advertised, sold or transferred to be registered in a national database if they do not already have to be licensed under existing regulations. This part was removed during the passage of the bill (more information is provided below). 

Further information on the bill as introduced and on the background to the bill is provided in a SPICe briefing on the Bill.

Parliamentary consideration

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee held a call for views in summer 2023. The Committee took Stage 1 evidence with a roundtable of stakeholders on 20 September 2023, with the Cabinet Secretary and Scottish Government officials on 25 October 2023, and with Christine Grahame and members of the Non-Government Bills Team on 22 November 2023. 

The Scottish Government set out its position in advance of Stage 1 evidence. The Scottish Government supported the general principles but did not support Part 2 of the bill. 

The Committee published its Stage 1 report on 5 March 2024. It agreed with the general principles but agreed with the Scottish Government’s position that Part 2 of the bill should be removed at Stage 2. The Committee was clear that it agreed with animal welfare organisations who highlight that the lack of traceability for some puppies is a concern, and urged the Scottish Government to consider how this could be addressed by other means. 

In addition, among other things, the Committee’s report:

• reflected discussions at Stage 1 regarding whether a new code of practice on transferring ownership of dogs should be separate from, or incorporated into the existing 2010 code of practice on the welfare of dogs (‘the 2010 code’);

• recommended that the proposed code should apply to all dogs, including working dogs, rather than only dogs to be kept as a pet (as per the bill as introduced); and

• recommended that specific content of the code should not be included on the face of the bill, but the bill should rather give direction to the content. 

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee also reported on the bill on 9 May 2024. 

The Scottish Government responded to the RAI Committee report on 26 March 2024.

Members of the Scottish Parliament debated the general principles of the Bill on 9 May 2024 and voted to agree the general principles of the Bill.

Stage 2 consideration took place on 18 September 2024. The minutes of the meeting detail the amendments that were agreed to. Among other things, Part 2 was removed from the bill. Annotations of all amendments can be found in the bill as amended at Stage 2. 

Stage 3 proceedings took place on 23 January 2025. Additional minor amendments were made, which included a cross-reference to the requirement for dogs to be microchipped.

Annotations of all amendments can be found in the bill as passed at stage 3.

After the Stage 3 debate, the Bill was passed (For 114, including 4 proxy votes, Against 0, Abstentions 0).

The Bill received Royal Assent on 19 March 2025.