Hansard

I thank Fulton MacGregor for securing the debate and for highlighting the work of the cross-party group on social work.

Supporting children and young people to grow up loved, safe and respected sits at the heart of keeping the Promise. For those who can no longer live with their birth families, adoptive families play a vital role in providing safe, loving and nurturing homes. I know that members have personal experiences with that and care deeply about the issue, and I want to be clear that it is a priority for the Government. Last week, I made clear my vision for all care-experienced children, young people and adults to be supported in the way that best suits their needs.

I will respond to a number of points that were raised in today’s debate, but, given that this is my final speech, I will take a minute to thank the people of the constituency that I represent—Renfrewshire North and West. Everything that I have achieved over the past five years would not have happened if the good people of Renfrewshire North and West had not put their faith in me at the previous election. It has meant so much to me to be able to represent them, stand up for their interests in our Scottish Parliament and support them when needed.

I also want to say a huge thank you to my office staff, who have been there day and night to assist me. My team and I have worked to ensure that families in my constituency and across Scotland get the support that they need, particularly during the UK Government-inflicted cost of living crisis. Whether on social security, housing support or local issues and priorities; on initiatives and issues such as championing local breastfeeding-friendly support or parking at the Royal Alexandra hospital; or by ensuring that our local play parks get the investment that they need, I have always tried to be a voice for those who do not have one and for those who need it most.

Going forward, the constituency of Renfrewshire North and West will be no more, as the boundary changes take hold, so I say one last time to the amazing people of Bridge of Weir, Houston, Bishopton, Erskine, Langbank, Gallowhill, Renfrew, Inchinnan and Kilmacolm—thank you.

There are too many others to thank, but I will give it a quick go. I want to thank my colleagues across the chamber, my party’s spokespeople, Roz McCall, Martin Whitfield, Jeremy Balfour and others I have worked with on a number of issues in the Parliament for their continued engagement with, and dedication to, helping Scotland’s children and young people. I also thank them for their lovely words, both tonight and last week. I am not very good at taking compliments, but please be assured that I am extremely thankful for everything that has been said.

I want to thank my private office and the Parliament staff, who go to so much effort to ensure that we MSPs have what we need.

I put on record my thanks to my cabinet secretary, Jenny Gilruth. Ms Gilruth has been such a huge support to me throughout my time in government. Entering government is not straightforward or simple, but it is made so much easier when you have solid experience and support around you. I am so thankful not only to have worked under Ms Gilruth but to have gotten to know her, and I wish her all the best for the future.

Adoption can be hugely positive, but the early adversity and loss of their birth family faced by many children can have lasting impacts on their development, wellbeing and relationships. I recognise that adoptive families might need support at different stages of their journey. As members have said, it is not simply the case that, once an adoption process is complete, support is no longer needed—far from it. That has been made very clear to me when I have been out meeting adoptive families, and it has been raised with me by Mr MacGregor, too.

Our adoption vision statement, which was published in November 2024, was developed with the adoption community. It sets out Scotland’s vision for the future of adoption and makes it very clear that consistent and comprehensive post-adoption support, accessible when and where required and, indeed, throughout life, is essential. The vision identified key actions, which we have made significant progress in delivering. We are continuing to invest in that work, and I have a lot to say about that, but I am sure that, given the time, members would rather that I focus on what we will do, so I will move on to that.

During the passage of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill, I heard about the challenges faced by many adoptive families in accessing post-adoption support. Those concerns have been echoed again today and in the cross-party group’s report. Families have described gaps and inconsistencies in the support that is available to them, and I think that their experiences underline why this debate really matters and why, as other members have said, support must be timely, consistent and aligned with the needs of adopted children and their families.

As I stated at stage 3 of the bill, I will make very clear to the incoming Government the importance of reviewing the adoption support sections of the 2011 adoption and looked-after children guidance. That review should also consider whether new statutory guidance should be issued on adoption support services under the existing powers in the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007. I believe that that work will provide a structured opportunity to examine the range of issues raised by families and practitioners, including practice models, practitioner training, preparation and support, crisis intervention, respite and the use of adoption allowances, which is, I know, another area where there is great inconsistency. We will work closely with adoptive families and practitioners throughout the process to ensure that any future changes are evidence based and are responsive to children’s needs.

Families have emphasised the value of support that is grounded in lived experience. Peer support plays a key role and, to strengthen its consistency and visibility, the bill that was passed last week will require local authorities to promote awareness and uptake of peer support services throughout the adoption process and after adoption has taken place. As Mr MacGregor has highlighted, the issue of timing and when such support is offered is key, and I hope that the changes that I have referred to will help improve things.

Concerns were raised at stage 3 of the bill, and have been raised again today, that current data underestimates the true scale of adoption breakdowns in Scotland. That is why I confirmed last week that I will make clear to the incoming Government the importance of progressing work early in the next session of Parliament to develop a shared definition of adoption breakdown. That work will be developed with adoptive families and delivery partners to ensure that it reflects lived experience and supports a consistent national approach.

I have also heard loud and clear from the adoptive community about the need, when adopted people are accessing services, for more consistent recognition that they are care experienced. Regulations and guidance that will be produced under section 5 of the bill will set out a broad and inclusive definition of care experience that explicitly includes adopted children and young people. We will work closely with the adoption community to ensure that the guidance reflects lived experience and supports effective access to services.

I began my speech by recognising the commitment of adoptive families in providing safe and loving—