Promise Bill
Part of: Policy work
For Scotland to keep the promise, policy, practice and legislative changes need to happen.
As part of this process, the Scottish Government has committed to propose changes to the law to the Scottish Parliament— before the Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2026.
We expect this to happen through a Promise Bill.
And we expect this Bill to help enable Scotland to keep the promise in the manner set out by the Independent Care Review and in Plan 24-30.
A clear legislative, enabling environment
By 2030, Scotland must have a clear legislative, enabling environment.
This must declutter the current policy landscape around care, so that all care experienced children and adults:
- understand the processes which exist around them
- know their rights and how to use these.
This legislative environment must also:
- support families to stay together wherever it’s safe to do so
- protect relationships and allow them to flourish
- protect children and allow them to thrive
- protect care experienced adults and allow them to access lifelong support.
What is The Promise Scotland doing around the Promise Bill?
The Promise Scotland is working to make sure the upcoming Bill is fit for purpose, so that it can do as much as it can to keep the promise.
We’ve advised the Scottish Government on developing policy, consultation and legislative approaches.
And we’ll be updating the care community and the workforce on the shape we think the Bill needs to take as it comes closer to being laid in the Scottish Parliament.
How is The Promise Scotland responding to the consultations relating to the Promise Bill?
The Scottish Government has released some consultations to help inform the Promise Bill.
The Promise Scotland has responded to:
- The Scottish Government’s consultation on 'moving on' from care into adulthood
- The Scottish Government’s consultation on Children’s Hearings System Redesign.
You can access its responses below:
Consultation responses to inform the Promise Bill
Consultation response: ‘Moving On’ from care into adulthood
The Promise Scotland’s response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on ‘Moving On’ from care into adulthood.
Consultation response: Children's Hearings Redesign
The Promise Scotland's response to the Scottish Government's consultation on redesigning the Children's Hearings System.