The Bill has four main parts.
The first part changes the definition of “child” in the children’s hearings system from someone under 16 to someone under 18. This part makes some other changes which include offering more guidance for children who turn 18.
The second part makes changes to criminal procedure in relation to children, including the kind of accommodation and safeguarding that is used. This includes stopping children under 18 from going to a young offenders institution (YOI) or prison. It adds restrictions on what information can be reported about a child suspected of a crime. It also makes changes to court and custody arrangements for children.
The third part of the Bill makes changes relating to the regulation of secure accommodation and how it is used. It also alters regulatory requirements around Scottish care placements for children from other parts of the UK.
The fourth part of the Bill is about antisocial behaviour orders, named persons and child’s plans.
As with all Bills, the Finance and Public Administration Committee invites written evidence on the estimated financial implications of the Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum (FM).
Read the FM for this Bill: Financial Memorandum.
The call for views on the Bill's FM closed on 2 April 2023.
The Committee received 15 submissions to the call for views. Read the submissions received on Citizen Space.
The Committee took evidence on the following date:
Tuesday 9 May 2023
The Committee took evidence from the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) for this meeting.