Meeting of the Parliament 18 March 2026 [Draft]
I remind members in the chamber, and those who are watching, of my entry in the register of members’ interests.
With regard to group 1, I echo Roz McCall’s thanks to the minister and to those supporting her for what has been an unusually active engagement with regard to this complex and long-standing bill, which comes very late in the session. It is very much to the credit of the minister’s leadership, particularly at stages 2 and 3.
Having got the compliments out of the way, I will speak to the amendments in the group. My two amendments 96 and 97 build on amendments that were lodged at stage 2. There is a challenge in differentiating between children and young people on the basis of when they left care. I know that the Government’s amendments go some way towards doing that, but there is still a challenge coming down the line. I therefore welcome the Government’s willingness both to seek to solve the problem in its drafting and, perhaps more importantly, to acknowledge that the issue exists. That issue can create what I believe to be an unacceptable additional barrier to access to support, particularly for children who left care just before they were 16 and would have had to apply for support. That goes against the fundamental principles of fairness that are outlined in the Promise. I hope that we will find greater agreement later on.
I can confirm that Scottish Labour will support Roz McCall’s excellent amendment 92 with regard to accommodation and maintenance.
I will leave it at that.