Meeting of the Parliament 26 June 2025
Thank you, Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to open the debate, which will focus on proposed changes to United Kingdom legislation that have the potential to increase and improve opportunities for Scottish children and young people, and to put their best interests at the heart of decisions that affect them.
In December, the UK Government contacted the Scottish Government about extending to Scotland the provisions in its Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that relate to child employment and community-based and secure accommodation. More detail was sought from the UK Government to allow there to be consultation with stakeholders and to provide advice to Scottish ministers. Although our engagement has been constructive, a delay in securing the necessary detail to inform our approach has impacted our ability to engage as we would have wished with the Scottish Parliament. However, the positive feedback from children and young people and from other stakeholders enables me to recommend that the Parliament consents to the legislative changes.
Currently, children from the age of 14 up to the leaving age for compulsory schooling can work for up to two hours on a Sunday. The bill proposes to amend those restrictions so that children can work the same number of hours on Sundays as they can on Saturdays. Children will also be able to work up to an hour before school and until 8 pm on any day. Currently, they cannot work before a school day and can work only until 7 pm.