Parliament and Government

Scroll down for a complete listing of our most recent responses in date order.

Policy update

Scottish and UK Parliament news is available from the Children in Scotland’s policy info service website. We issue a weekly policy update email with full details of debates, committees, consultations, questions and answers, and more.

Children in Scotland members can receive this email. Send your details to Sara Collier scollier@childreninscotland.org.uk

Consultations and responses

Children in Scotland submits responses to consultations by the Scottish and UK Governments, the European Parliament and European Commission and other public bodies about their proposed policies, laws, strategies and regulations. We also provide written and oral evidence to Parliamentary Committees.

These consultations and calls for evidence are opportunities for Children in Scotland and its members to point out errors or omissions - and to make recommendations about how government proposals can be improved.

Our members sometimes submit their own consultation responses - and sometimes prefer to offer their views and evidence for inclusion in Children in Scotland's response. We keep members informed of consultations and occasionally arrange consultation events with Members to arrive at a unified response on key policy issues.

Elected representatives

We regularly meet with elected representatives and their staff and, along with Youthlink Scotland, provide the secretariat for the Cross Party Group on Children and Young People in the Scottish Parliament.

2012 Local Government election manifesto

Read our manifesto here

2011 Scottish Parliament election manifesto
Read our election manifesto here

Current consultation and calls for evidence

Scotland Consultations and calls for evidence

Beyond 2011 Consultation: user requirements for future population and socio-demographic information

A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland

Draft Self-directed Support Statutory Guidance on care and support

Draft Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 Consultation

Children and Young People Bill

Consultation on independent advocacy, guide for commissioners

UK Consultations

Children and Families Bill

If you wish to contribute to responses to any of these consultations please share your views, thoughts and experience by emailing policy@childreninscotland.org.uk or telephoning 0131 222 2412.

Responses:

Consultations, committee evidence, parliamentary briefings 2013 - 2008. Older responses and briefings can be found on the members pages of the website. Other briefings and documents can be found on the 'resources' page.

2013

Consultation responses

A Healthier Scotland: Consultation on Creating a New Food Body (May 2013)

Scottish Human Rights Commission – National Action Plan (March 2013)

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill (March 2013)

Further options for alcohol licensing (March 2013)

Measuring child poverty (February 2013)

Committee Evidence

Petitions Committee call for evidence on child sexual exploitation (April 2013)

Call for evidence on the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill (April 2013)

Local Government and Regeneration Committee Delivery of Regeneration in Scotland Inquiry (March 2013)

Foreign Language Teaching in Primary Schools (February 2013)

Teenage pregnancy inquiry (February 2013)

Women and work - Equal Opportunities Committee call for evidence (February 2013)

Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education and Culture Committee (January 2013)

2012

Consultation responses

Proposed British Sign Language (Scotland) Bill (October 2012)

Supporting separated families (October 2012)

Proposed Lobbying Transparency (Scotland) Bill (October 2012)

A consultation on the creation of a Forum for Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse in Residential Care (October 2012)

Reforming Scots Criminal Law and Practice: The Carloway Report (October 2012)

The same as you? 2000-2012: Consultation (September 2012)

Scottish passported benefits (September 2012)

Commission on a Bill of Rights 2nd consultation (September 2012)

A Consultation on the 2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity (September 2012)

Children and Young People Bill (September 2012)

Getting our Priorities Right (September 2012)

Proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill (September 2012)

Parental Internet Controls (September 2012)

A policy on architecture and placemaking for Scotland (September 2012)

Standardised packaging of tobacco products (July 2012)

National Framework for Child Protection Learning & Development in Scotland (July 2012)

Proposed Alcohol (Public Health and Criminal Justice) (Scotland) Bill

Proposals for a New Tribunal System for Scotland (June 2012)

UK plan for rare diseases (May 2012)

The Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 - Safeguarders fees, expenses and allowances (May 2012)

Hansard Society - 'Lifting the Lid on Delegated Legislation' (April 2012)

AHP National Delivery Plan (April 2012)

Commission on School Reform (April 2012)

Your Scotland – Your Referendum (April 2012)

Consultation on developing a safety system for Adventure Activities in Scotland (March 2012)

Doran Review (March 2012)

Consultation on Housing Support for Homeless Households (March 2012)

Review of The Unified Voluntary Sector Fund and Other Funds 2011-12 (February 2012)

Improving Advocacy for Children and Young People: Principles and minimum standards (February 2012)

Children's Hearings Act consultations (January 2012)

Mental Health Strategy for Scotland 2011-15 (January 2012)

Commission on rural education (January 2012)

Committee Evidence

Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education and Culture Committee on decision making on whether children should be taken into care (August 2012)

Written submission to the Scottish Parliament European and External Relations Committee on the use of EU Structural Funds (April 2012)

Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee on the Social Care (Self-Directed Support) Bill (April 2012)

Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Welfare Reform Committee on passported benefits (April 2012)

Oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament Welfare Reform Committee (March 2012)

Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Local Government and Regeneration Committee on Public Sector Reform and Local Government in Scotland (February 2012)

2011

Consultation responses

The Equality Act 2010: Auxiliary Aids And Services Consultation On Commencement And Secondary Legislation (December 2011)

Reform of post-16 education Consultation (December 2011)

Registration of civil partnership; same sex marriage (December 2011)

Response to the Commission on a Bill of Rights’ discussion paper, Do we need a Bill of Rights for the UK? (November 2011)

Proposed new Big Lottery Fund policy directions for consultation (November 2011)

The Rights of Children and Young People Bill (November 2011)

Transforming children's services - ongoing consultation (November 2011)

Public Sector Equality Duty - Consultation on Public Sector Equality Duty Revised Draft Regulations (November 2011)

Family Migration (October 2011)

Consultation on modern workplaces (August 2011)

Children in Scotland's response to the findings of the Christie Commission on the future delivery of Public Services (July 2011)

SSSC Consultation on proposed consolidation of qualifications (June 2011)

Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (June 2011)

A Consultation on the Common Core of Skills, Knowledge, Understanding and Values for the Children's Workforce in Scotland (May 2011)

Equality Act 2010: Ending age discrimination in services, public functions and associations (May 2011)

Letter from Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People supporting our response to the Equality Act Consultation (May 2011)
Forced Marriage Statutory Guidance Consultation (May 2011)
Scottish Woman Held Maternity Record (May 2011)
Review of teacher employment (April 2011)
Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance (April 2011)
Bailey Review on the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood (March 2011)
Initial Consultation on a social responsibility levy (February 2011)
Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Life Chances (February 2011)
Draft Standards for Integrated Care Pathways for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (February 2011)
Commission on the future delivery of public services (January 2011)
Scottish Government Child Poverty Consultation (January 2011)

Committee Evidence

Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Bill (December 2011)

Oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee on the Welfare Reform Bill (November 2011)

Oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee on the spending review 2011 and draft budget 2012-13 (November 2011)

Supplementary written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee on the spending review 2011 and draft budget 2012-13 (October 2011)

Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee on the scrutiny of the draft budget and spending review (October 2011)

Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education and Culture Committee on the educational attainment of looked after children (September 2011)

Oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill (September 2011)

Written evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on alcohol guidelines (September 2011)

Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee on the forthcoming spending review and Draft Budget 2012-13: Preventative Spending (September 2011)

Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill (August 2011)

Briefings

Early Years Briefing Paper 6: Legislating to improve outcomes for young children in Scotland (September 2011)

Scotland's Children's Sector Forum Briefing: What the Government's Programme for Scotland means for children, young people and their families (September 2011)

Early Years Briefing Paper 4: Scotland’s new government and its Promises for young children and their families (July 2011)

Scotland's Children's Sector Forum: New government promises for children, young people and their families (July 2011)

Scotland's Children's Sector Forum Early years pre-election briefing (May 2011)

Children in Scotland Budget Briefing (February 2011)

2010

Consultation responses

Included, engaged and involved part 2: a positive approach to managing school exclusions (December 2010)
Towards an Autism Strategy for Scotland (December 2010)
Shaping Bereavement Care (December 2010)
Equality Duty: Detailed Proposals - Consultation on Public Sector Equality Duty Draft Regulations and Order (November 2010)
21st Century Welfare (October 2010)
Scottish Government consultation on the collection of pre-school and childcare statistics (September 2010)
Consultation on Secondary Legislation that will enable the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (ASNTS) to hear Disability Claims Cases in School Education (September 2010)
Parent Education Syllabus for Scotland (August 2010)
Consultation on Proposals for New Public Records Legislation (August 2010)
Ideas for a fairer Scotland (July 2010)
Under-Age Sexual Activity - Meeting the Needs of Children and Young People and Identifying Child Protection Concerns (July 2010)
Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010: A Consultation on Tobacco Draft Regulations (July 2010)
Vulnerable Familys Pathway Project - Draft Framework for Consultation (June 2010)
Vulnerable Familys Pathway Project - Draft Framework for Consultation (June 2010)
Consultation on Regulations to reduce Primary 1 Classes to a maximum of 25 Pupils (June 2010)
Review of teacher education in Scotland (June 2010)
Consultation on options for improving information on the labels of alcoholic drinks to support consumers to make healthier choices in the UK (May 2010)
Scottish Autism Strategy Bill (March 2010)
Scottish Parliamentary Labour Party Alcohol Commission (March 2010)
A national approach to anti-bullying for Scotland's children and young people (February 2010)
Consultation on draft Guidance on Allied Health Professionals and Education Partnership Working (February 2010)
Equality Duty: Putting it into Practice - Consultation on Public Sector Equality Duty Specific Duties (January 2010)

Committee evidence

Supplementary Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee on preventative spending (November 2010)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee in response to the Inquiry into preventative spending (August 2010)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on the future of schools management (July 2010)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee on the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill (May 2010)

Letter to members of the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on Stage 2 consideration of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (April 2010)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill (March 2010)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee on the Alcohol Etc. (Scotland) Bill (January 2010)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on the UK Crime and Security Bill (January 2010)

Briefings

Stage 3 Briefing on the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill November 2010)

Stage 3 Briefing on the Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill (November 2010)

Stage 2 Briefing on the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill (October 2010)

Stage 1 Briefing on the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill (June 2010)

Stage 1 Briefing on the Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill (June 2010)

General Election 2010 Children in Scotland Briefing on Party Manifestos (April 2010)

2009

Consultation responses

Draft Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill (November 2009)
Consultation on follow-up strategy to the Roadmap for equality between women and men (October 2009)
The Role of the Registered Social Worker in Contributing to Better Outcomes for Scotland: Guidance for Local Authorities (August 2009)
UK consultation on the European Commission Equal Treatment Directive (July 2009)
Towards an Independent General Teaching Council for Scotland: Consultation on the future status of the GTS (June 2009)
(EY2010) – UK National Programme (May 2009)
Improving the Lives of Children in Scotland - are we there yet?: Consultation on the Scottish Government's response to the 2008 concluding observations from the UN Committee on the rights of the child (March 2009)
Ending Child Poverty: making it happen (March 2009)
Designing Streets (March 2009)
Patients' Rights: A Public Consultation on a Patients' Rights Bill for users of the NHS in Scotland (January 2009)
Developing an Acknowledgment and Accountability Forum for Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse (January 2009)
The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2008: Second Consultation (January 2009)

Committee evidence

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill (August 2009)

Oral Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (26 May 2009)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (April 2009)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee on the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill (April 2009)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committtee on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill (April 2009)

Written Evidence to the UK Parliament House of Commons Health Committee Alcohol Inquiry (March 2009)

Scottish Parliament Review of SPCB Supported Bodies Committee (January 2009)

Briefings

Discrimination against people of any age is wrong: Why the
Westminster Parliament and UK Government should support universal
age discrimination legislation (December 2009)

Stage 1 Parliamentary Briefing on the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (November 2009)

Stage 3 Parliamentary Briefing on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill (May 2009)

Stage 2 Parliamentary Briefing on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill (April 2009)

Necessary but not sufficient: How to improve the Additional Support for Learning Bill 2009 (March 2009)

Right from the Start: implementing the Early Years Framework (February 2009)

2008

Consultation responses

The Adoption (Disclosure of Medical Information about Natural Parents) (Scotland) Regulations 2009: Consultation on Draft Regulations (December 2008)
Responding to allegations against foster carers - The Fostering Network Scotland (December 2008)
Sentencing Guidelines and a Scottish Sentencing Council (November 2008)
Strengthening for the Future: A Consultation on the Reform of the Children's Hearing System (October 2008)
No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility (October 2008)
Safeguarding our rural schools and improving school consultation procedures (September 2008)
Changing Scotland's relationship with alcohol: a discussion paper on our strategic approach (September 2008)
Commission on Scottish Devolution (September 2008)
Taking Forward The Government Economic Strategy: A Discussion Paper on Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland (June 2008)
Consultation on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2008 (June 2008)
Children's Enviromental and Health Strategy for the United Kingdom (June 2008)
Early Years Early Intervention Framework Consultation (April 2008)
Creative Scotland Bill - A Consultation (April 2008)
Rural Schools (Scotland) Bill - A Consultation (April 2008)
Improving the Physical Health of those with Mental Illness (March 2008)
Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland (March 2008)
Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007: Secondary Legislation (February 2008)
Proposed Tobacco Sales Licensing (Scotland) Bill; A Consultation –
Smoking and the Bandits (February 2008)
Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland (January 2008)
The Independent Examination of Proposals for Major Change in NHS Services (January 2008)

Committee evidence

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee as part of the Pathways into Sport Inquiry (November 2008)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill (November 2008)

Oral Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on the Provision of School Lunches (Disapplication of the Requirement to Charge) (Scotland) Order 2008 (Draft) (5 November 2008)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on the Provision of School Lunches (Disapplication of the Requirement to Charge) (Scotland) Order 2008 (Draft) November 2008)

Oral Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill - Stage 1 (4 November 2008)

Written Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill - Stage 1 (November 2008)

Oral Evidence to the Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee as part of a round-table discussion on age (11 March 2008)

Briefings

Welfare Reform and Child Welfare (December 2008)