Meeting of the Parliament 24 March 2026 [Draft]
First, I congratulate Daniel Johnson, the non-Government bills unit and everyone involved in getting this important bill to this stage. I am deeply impressed by all the members who have managed to navigate the maze of the legislative process. We have had some excellent bills to discuss and scrutinise in the past few months of this session, and this one is certainly right up there in terms of importance.
We have had an essential debate about a sobering issue. Throughout the bill process, and for many years before that—we have heard mention of 11 years—we have listened to powerful stories from families, campaigners and professionals about what too many children and young people have been facing in our schools. That restraint and seclusion have been used inconsistently and without parents being told is worrying, and that is exactly what the bill hopes to address.
When parents find out what has happened to their child only because of bruises, distress and changes in behaviour, that is not just a failure to communicate; it is a failure of trust. Children are being harmed, which puts extra pressure on families, who should be treated as partners in their child’s education, not as an afterthought. During our discussion of the bill, members on all sides have agreed that relying on the current process does not give children and families the consistency or protection that they need. Scotland now needs a national legal framework to ensure that restraint and seclusion are used only as a last resort and only when there is an immediate risk of harm.
Beth Morrison and Kate Sanger have been mentioned by absolutely everyone who has contributed to the debate, which shows just how much work they have done to contact every single one of us, to lobby us and to highlight how important the legislation is. I greatly appreciate all the work that Daniel Johnson has done with them on the bill, and I highlight that the cabinet secretary has spoken about the collaborative work that has been done to get us to this point. I echo those sentiments: there has been seriousness and compassion as the bill has gone through the process.
In the little bit of time before I conclude, I will highlight the work of Douglas Ross and apologise that I am doing so by reading from speaking notes on my lectern—I will try to ad lib a little. As a friend and colleague, Douglas Ross is a force to be reckoned with. He is a strong voice for the people of the region that he represents and, as Miles Briggs said in his contribution, he has a side that many people do not see when he is in in the political arena. I know that Douglas feels deeply and passionately about the need for change for young people in Scotland and it does not at all surprise me that he wanted to speak about this bill.