Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 March 2026 [Draft]
18 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I thank the minister for her collaborative approach on this important issue. I also thank Children First for its very strong support in making sure that we get this right.
Family group decision making is at the heart of the delivery of the Promise. It is clear that it strengthens family networks, gives children a voice in decisions that affect them and can help to prevent situations from escalating into crisis—and I am sure that we are all supportive of that.
My amendments form part of a cross-party package in this group. I endorse amendment 10, in the name of the minister, on the right to request family group decision-making services. My amendment 94 will require local authorities to promote that right and to publish broader information about FGDM services in their area, so that what those services are and how to access them is widely understood.
The collaborative approach to this group reflects the strong interest across Parliament in ensuring that families are better supported and that children’s voices are heard in decisions that affect their lives.
In the same item of business
15:19
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amendment...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Group 1 is on aftercare. Amendment 91, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 6 to 8, 92, 93, 9, 96, 97, 13 to 15, 33, 209 and 88.
The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise (Natalie Don-Innes)
SNP
My amendments in group 1 all relate to the provision of aftercare and are needed to deliver quality care for young people in a transparent, organised and rig...
Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I put on record my thanks to the minister for the work that she has done with me and the rest of us on the amendments. I am going to speak only to my amendme...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
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 th...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I will make just a brief contribution on this group. At stage 2, I lodged a series of amendments to include estranged young people in various provisions of t...
Natalie Don-Innes
SNP
I thank all members for their contributions to the debate on group 1, and I thank Ross Greer for raising the important issue of estrangement, which we discus...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The question is, that amendment 91 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
There will be a division.As this is the first division of stage 3, I will suspend the meeting for around five minutes, to allow members to access the digital...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
We come to the vote on amendment 91, in the name of the minister. Members should cast their votes now.The vote is closed.
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I had trouble connecting. I would have voted no.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you. I will ensure that that is recorded.
Stephanie Callaghan (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you, Ms Callaghan. We will ensure that that is recorded.
ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an I...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The result of the division is: For 92, Against 15, Abstentions 0.Amendment 91 agreed to.Amendments 6 to 8 moved—Natalie Don-Innes—and agreed to.Amendment 92 ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Group 2 is on provision of accommodation and continuing care. Amendment 99, in the name of Martin Whitfield, is grouped with amendments 100 to 102, 98, 103 t...
Martin Whitfield
Lab
I have the privilege of having lodged all the amendments in the group, so I look forward to hearing comments from members around the chamber.There are essent...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow Southside) (SNP)
SNP
Amendments in this group relate to sections 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D of the bill, and, as Martin Whitfield has said, those sections reflect amendments in my name th...
Natalie Don-Innes
SNP
I am grateful to Ms Sturgeon and Mr Whitfield for their engagement ahead of stage 3 on these sections of the bill.Every member wishes to protect children’s r...
Martin Whitfield
Lab
I am very grateful for members’ contributions on the group and, indeed, for Nicola Sturgeon’s articulate description of not only the situation but the challe...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Group 3 is on family group decision making. Amendment 10, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 94, 95, 79 to 83, 203 and 84.
Natalie Don-Innes
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak to amendment 10. I thank Children First, whose advocacy for children in respect of family group decision making has brough...
Willie Rennie
LD
I thank the minister for her collaborative approach on this important issue. I also thank Children First for its very strong support in making sure that we g...
Martin Whitfield
Lab
Will the member give way?
Willie Rennie
LD
Certainly.
Martin Whitfield
Lab
I am grateful to the member for taking an intervention. I merely want to articulate my thanks for the cross-party work with regard to this group, and to conf...
Willie Rennie
LD
On that point, I will conclude. I urge members to support the amendments.
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to speak to amendment 79 and the other amendments in my name in this group, which relates to family group decision making. As the minister and W...