The Bill, introduced by Ash Regan MSP, targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act.
The Bill would also repeal the existing offence, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, of loitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place for the purposes of prostitution. People who have been convicted of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed by the new Bill.
The Member’s Bill would also give rights to ensure a person who is, or has been, in prostitution is provided with help and support. This could include accommodation, financial assistance, healthcare or legal advice and representation, depending on what is required.
As the call for views launched, Criminal Justice Committee Convener Audrey Nicoll MSP said: “This Bill raises important questions on prostitution in Scotland and how it is considered by our laws.
“It proposes changes on criminalisation, the quashing of previous convictions and the support given to those who work in this environment and we want to hear from a range of voices on whether they welcome these provisions.
“We are particularly keen to hear the views of people with lived experience, on whether they support the proposals or not, and whether the changes this Bill proposes will help achieve its ambitions.”
What should be included in Scotland’s Climate Change Plan? Members of the public, experts and stakeholders are being asked just that, as the Scottish Parliament launches a call for views to support its scrutiny of the Plan.
The draft CCP, which is expected to be published later this year, will set out how the Scottish Government intends to meet emission reduction targets across all portfolio areas and sectors of the economy. It must also set out the costs and benefits of policies, whilst taking into consideration the principles of a Just Transition – that the switch to net zero should reduce not increase social injustice.
This CCP will cover the period 2026-2040, as Scotland looks to be “net zero” in carbon emissions by 2045. In doing so, it will seek to meet reduction targets for this period, based, on advice from the independent Climate Change Committee.
Questions included in the call for views cover a wide range of sectors including electricity and energy; buildings; transport; industry; waste and circular economy; agriculture and land use; and negative emissions technologies, but participants are free to answer only those they are most interested in.
The Parliament is also seeking views on other aspects of the draft Plan, including how the proposed policies should be funded and how to overcome challenges in delivering them.
The findings will be shared across Parliament to support parliamentary committees scrutinising the draft CCP later in the year.
Launching the call for views, Convener of the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee, Edward Mountain MSP, said;“The last time the Scottish Parliament considered a full Climate Change Plan was in 2018.
“Since then, the pandemic made changes, some of them long-lasting, to how we work and live our lives. There have been new technological developments, bringing both challenges and opportunities for climate change policy. And global uncertainty has raised new questions about our energy security.
“In Scotland, some progress towards net zero has been made, but not enough. The Climate Change Committee’s warning last year that delays and slippages had put Scotland off-target in reaching net zero were a wake-up call for the Scottish Government to find credible policies that will deliver positive change in areas like agriculture, public transport and car use and domestic heating.
“Now, the Scottish Parliament can play its part by ensuring there is a robust, workable and costed delivery plan for net zero. But expert and public buy-in and participation must be at the heart of a credible plan.
“What do you think should be included in the Plan and what else do you think is needed to deliver a just transition to net zero by 2045?
“To help form our thinking, please share your views so that when the draft Plan arrives, we will be in a strong position to start detailed scrutiny.”
Once the draft CCP is laid, the Scottish Parliament will have 120 days to scrutinise it.
The call for views will be open until 19 September 2025.
Proposed changes to the services and support provided to people who are in, or have experience of, the children’s care system are set to be scrutinised in Holyrood.
MSPs from the Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee have launched a call for views on the Scottish Government’s Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill forms part of the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations made in the Independent Care Review known as “The Promise”.
Proposed changes include an expansion in the right to apply for aftercare, wider access to advocacy services for care-experienced people and the creation of a national register of foster carers.
The Bill also proposes changes designed to avoid people or organisations making excessive profits from the care of children. It would set limits on the profits that can be made from children’s residential care and require fostering services to register as charities.
Changes to the Children’s Hearing System, which the Scottish Government describes as offering legal protections to children who are in need or at risk, are also proposed in the Bill. In a move designed to strengthen accountability, the Bill also sets out that, in future, all Integration Joint Boards will have responsibility for children’s services planning, alongside local authorities and health boards.
The Committee now wants to hear from care-experienced people, parents, carers, foster carers, kinship carers and adoptive parents, and others, to share their views on the proposals.
The call for views is open now and will close to responses on 15 August 2025. The Committee plans to hold evidence sessions with stakeholders in autumn.
Douglas Ross MSP, Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, said: “In 2020 the Independent Care Review set out a series of promises to Scotland’s care experienced children and young people.
“We have kept a constant eye on progress towards meeting those promises and it is clear, from hearing from care experienced young people and those supporting them, that there are many challenges still to overcome.
“The Committee will look closely at this Bill, listen to the views of everyone affected by it, and assess whether it will bring about the changes needed to ensure that all care experienced children and young people can enjoy the childhood they deserve.
“If you are care experienced, or work to support care experienced children and young people, please share your views on the proposals in this Bill.”
MSPs on Holyrood’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee are seeking views on the positive and negative aspects of growing social security spend in Scotland.
The Committee has launched a call for views to help inform its scrutiny of next year’s Scottish Budget. The devolution of social security payments started in 2016 and since then the Scottish Government has introduced policies that are specific to Scotland, like the Scottish Child Payment and greater funding for Adult Disability Payment and carer benefits.
A key theme in the Committee’s inquiry will be the interplay between different policy decisions taken by the UK and Scottish Governments.
The choices that the Scottish Government has made have meant that this year the Scottish Government is spending £1.2 billion more on social security policies than it gets in funding for social security from the UK Government.
Any changes to disability payments by the UK Government could change the funding the Scottish Government receives. In this context, the Committee is asking how much the Scottish Government’s ability to manage the devolved social security budget is affected by UK Government policy choices.
The Committee also wants to hear people’s views on the most cost-effective ways to reduce child poverty and the advantages and disadvantages of universal benefits compared to those targeted at low-income households.
Collette Stevenson MSP, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “The Scottish Government has invested in social security with the aim of tackling specific challenges in our society. As we look towards the next Scottish Budget, we would like to hear your views on the effectiveness of this approach.
“We’re keen to hear from people who receive social security benefits, and organisations who provide advice or support, government agencies and public bodies and anyone with expertise or interest in social security spending and public finances.
“Our call for views is open for responses until 17 August 2025. We then plan to take evidence on the issues raised over the autumn.”
What impact would a Commissioner for Older People have on Scotland? That is the question a Scottish Parliament committee is exploring as it considers proposals from Colin Smyth MSP.
The Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill aims to give people over the age of 60 a representative who would be tasked with promoting and safeguarding their rights and interests.
Colin Smyth’s Bill proposes that the Commissioner would be responsible for promoting awareness and understanding of older people’s rights, reviewing law, policy and practice as it relates to older people and undertaking research on matters relating to older people.
The proposals share some similarities with the role of the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland, which was established by the Scottish Parliament following a Committee Bill in 2003.
The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee has launched a call for views to find out what people think of the proposal. As part of its consideration, the Committee will also be reflecting on a recently published report that recommended against the creation of more commissioners.
Older people and carers are among the groups whose views the Committee would like to hear as it seeks views on the proposed Commissioner’s role and responsibilities, the age range covered by their remit and how to avoid any duplication with the work undertaken by other commissioners or public bodies.
The call for views is now open and will be open until Friday 12 September 2025. The Committee is then expected to hold public evidence sessions on the Bill towards the end of Autumn.
Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said: “Over recent decades there has been significant growth in the number of older people living in Scotland, so, in our consideration of this Bill, we’re keen to understand whether having a Commissioner could help address the needs of an aging population.
“In opening this call for views we’d like to hear what older people think of the proposals. We’re also keen to hear the views of carers, Scotland’s third sector, public bodies and anyone with an interest in the proposal.
“Whether you think that a Commissioner would be a great idea or would like to propose another way that older people might have their views considered, we’re keen to hear from you.”
The Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is seeking views on the Scottish Government’s mental health spending for 2026-27, as part of its pre-budget scrutiny.
The Committee is considering the effectiveness of current spending and whether investment is aligned with the right priorities.
In 2023-24, mental health services received £1.5 billion in funding—equivalent to 9% of total NHS expenditure. The Committee is now seeking views on whether this level of investment is appropriate, how spending decisions are made, and the extent to which preventative approaches are being supported.
The Committee is particularly interested in:
The adequacy and transparency of current mental health spending;
Evidence of preventative investment in mental health;
Whether national priorities—such as CAMHS, suicide prevention, and community-based support— are the right priorities for mental health investment and to what extent these priorities are reflected in mental health service delivery.
The Committee’s scrutiny takes place ahead of the publication of the Scottish Budget, expected later this year, and aims to inform Scottish Government’s spending decisions while they are still in development.
Speaking as the call for views was launched, Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said:“It’s vital people dealing with mental health issues are able to access appropriate and effective care, support and treatment.
“That’s why we are scrutinising the funding for these services and ensuring any money spent is going to the right places to help people get the support they need.
“Through this call for views, we want to hear from individuals, professionals and organisations about what’s working, what’s not, and where investment should be focused for the greatest benefit.
“Your insights will help us hold the Government to account and ensure that mental health services are properly resourced and effectively delivered.”
New qualifications body and independent inspectorate to be established
The creation of a new national qualifications body, along with an independent education inspectorate, has taken a major step forward after legislation to implement the changes was passed in the Scottish Parliament.
The Education (Scotland) Bill was backed by 69 votes to 47 by MSPs last night. This includes provisions to replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with a new organisation, Qualifications Scotland.
The office of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland, with enhanced independence, will be created to undertake the education inspection functions that currently sit within Education Scotland.
The final legislation, following Stage 2 and Stage 3 amendments to the Bill initially introduced in June last year, includes measures from all political parties represented on Holyrood’s Education, Children and Young People committee.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The successful passage of this legislation shows this Government is serious about implementing the changes needed to drive improvement across Scotland’s education and skills system.
“The creation of a new national qualifications body is about building the right conditions for reform to flourish; the new body will ensure that knowledge and experience of pupils and teachers are at the heart of our national qualifications offering.
“The new inspectorate body will also have greater independence and the power to set the frequency and focus of inspections, moving this function away from Ministers, to His Majesty’s Chief Inspector.
“Throughout this process, I have been determined to work with other parties on this vital legislation. I am also grateful to teaching unions and other organisations across civic Scotland who contributed to its development.
“Taken together our major programme of education and skills reform will bring about the changes needed to meet the needs of future generations of young people.”
British Sign Language (BSL) recognised in Scotland’s new education legislation
The National Deaf Children’s Society and fellow deaf campaigners are celebrating after the Scottish Parliament voted through the new Education (Scotland) Bill 2025, which includes crucial recognition of the rights of British Sign Language (BSL) users.
The inclusion of BSL in the Bill is the culmination of a year-long campaign from a coalition of deaf charities, spearheaded by the National Deaf Children’s Society, and supported by more than 500 campaigners, including deaf young people and their families.
The campaign kicked into life after a previous reading of the Bill recognised Gaelic but not BSL, despite both languages having legal recognition in Scotland.
Campaigners urged Scottish MSPs to recognise BSL in the Bill, highlighting that deaf learners in Scotland are currently nearly three times more likely to leave school without qualifications than their hearing peers.
MSPs voted to support the legislation as the Bill completed the final stage of debate on 25 June. It is now set to become law, once it receives Royal Assent.
George McGowan from the National Deaf Children’s Society said: “This is a historic moment for deaf children, young people, and their families, who realised this milestone through their tireless and incredible campaigning.
“This means BSL will receive the recognition and support it rightly deserves within Scotland’s educational system.”
The new education bodies created by the legislation will now have to give equal weight to both BSL and the Gaelic language.
The new qualifications agency in Scotland, Qualification Scotland, must also consider the needs of pupils who use BSL or learn in BSL.
This is significant as it recognises the importance of BSL as a language in the Scottish education system and crucially, means deaf children and young people who use BSL, will receive access to information and support from Qualification Scotland in their preferred language.
The new law also places requirements on the new Chief Inspector of Education to consider the importance of communicating in a way that best meets the needs of children and young people, including those who use BSL.
Mr McGowan, who has severe to profound deafness and uses BSL as his first language, added: “Too many deaf children and young people in Scotland still face barriers to learning and to using sign language, if it’s the right choice for them. This is why it’s so vital that this new law now recognises the importance of BSL.”
It is hoped that the passing of the new law will ensure deaf children and young people have access to an inclusive education that meets their needs.
Deaf teenager Niamdh Braid was one of the young people involved in the campaign for the Bill to recognise the rights of BSL users.
Niamdh, who earlier this month attended a meeting with MSPs at Holyrood to discuss the Bill, said: “The inclusion of BSL is incredible as it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves.
“This will hopefully not only bring more awareness to BSL but also give deaf children the access to sign language that they need.”
Niamdh, who was supported by the National Deaf Children’s Society in her legal battle with Fife Councilto have a BSL interpreter in her class for school lessons, added: “Hopefully this will mean deaf young people no longer have to fight for access to their own language like I had to.”
BSL is recognised in law as one of Scotland’s languages. It is a vibrant language that allows deaf children and young people to access a rich deaf culture, heritage and identity. The importance of BSL was recognised in the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015.
Qualifications Scotland is expected to become operational in Autumn 2025.
The Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics returns this August with a three-day programme of over 30 events, taking place in Holyrood, the home of Scottish politics between Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 August 2025.
BBC journalist Clive Myrie will appear as part of the line-up this year, in conversation with the Deputy Presiding Officer Liam McArthur MSP where he will discuss his incredible 30-year broadcasting career.
Professor Danny Dorling, renowned social geographer, will explore the impact of politics on the UK’s housing, education, poverty and inequality levels, and will offer robust solutions on how to address these challenges of our age.
In addition, our Festival programme features leading experts from the worlds of politics, the arts, business, the media and the third sector. With events on topics tackling some of the big issues facing Scotland, the UK and the world such as the use of AI, peace in the Middle East, how we tackle misogyny and our use of technology.
The Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said: “This year’s Festival promises lively debates, thought-provoking panels and inspiring voices tackling some of the most pressing social, political and environmental issues of our time.”
In addition, there is a lively free programme of entertainment, exhibitions and even a robot in the Festival Café Bar.
Holyrood committee seeks views on proposals aimed at protecting future generations
A proposed new law that aims to ensure public bodies consider the long-term impact of their decisions on sustainable development and the wellbeing of future generations is the subject of a new call for views from a Scottish Parliament committee.
The Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill, introduced earlier this year by Sarah Boyack MSP, would place a legal duty on public bodies to promote sustainable development and wellbeing in the work they undertake. It also proposes the creation of a Future Generations Commissioner to support and oversee this work.
The Social Justice and Social Security Committee has launched its call for views to inform its Stage 1 scrutiny of the Bill during which it will also take account of the findings of a recent parliamentary committee report that recommended against the creation of more commissioners.
Sarah Boyack MSP has set out her hopes that the Bill will encourage more joined-up thinking across public services. She also believes that her proposals will help Scotland tackle long-term challenges such as climate change, inequality, and environmental degradation.
The Bill also sets out definitions of “sustainable development” and “wellbeing” and aims to embed these principles into public decision-making in Scotland.
The Committee’s call for views will be open until Sunday 24 August 2025, with the Committee due to start taking formal evidence in the Autumn.
Collette Stevenson MSP, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “This Bill could have a significant impact on how decisions are made across Scotland’s public sector.
“We’re keen to hear what the public sector and local authorities make of the proposals, and we’d also like to hear from professionals, academics, children and young people, as well as anyone else with an interest in wellbeing and sustainable development.
“By sharing your views with us, you’ll help us explore how the proposals could work in practice and what the changes could mean for Scotland’s future generations.”
HOLYROOD’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is launching an inquiry into treatment pathways and support for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The inquiry aims to:
Understand why waiting times for diagnosis and management of ADHD and ASD are reportedly long, including the drivers of increasing demand;
Understand how these conditions are diagnosed and managed;
Examine the impact of high demand and delays on individuals and healthcare staff;
Explore solutions to improve capacity of services, referral pathways and support.
Both ADHD and ASD are neurodevelopmental conditions. ADHD is characterised by a group of symptoms that includes difficulty in concentrating, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour, while Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental condition that affects the way a person communicates, interacts and processes information.
As of March 2025, there were 42,530 children waiting for neurodevelopmental assessments in Scotland (across all health boards except NHS Grampian, who could not provide data).
The Committee is asking individuals and their families to share their experiences of accessing pathways to treatment and support for ADHD and ASD. They also want to hear from individuals who work supporting those with ADHD or ASD.
As part of the inquiry, the Committee will also be writing to relevant organisations directly to seek their views.
Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “Our Committee is launching this inquiry because we are concerned by reports of long waits for neurodevelopmental assessments in Scotland.
“Data from Scotland’s health boards shows that eight NHS boards currently report waiting times exceeding three years for these conditions.We want to learn what is causing these delays, explore potential solutions and find out ways to improve treatment and support for individuals with ADHD or ASD.
“We’re keen to hear personal experience of any issues faced in terms of diagnosis, waiting times and access to care and support. We also welcome any positive experiences and examples of good practice which could potentially be rolled out across all of Scotland’s NHS health boards.
”The insights we gather will be a vital element of our scrutiny and will help to inform the questions we pose to support organisations, healthcare providers and the Scottish Government in future evidence sessions.”
