Call for views on the Financial Memorandum of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill

Date: 13th February 2023
Category: Age of criminal responsibility, Child justice system

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Deadline: 2nd April 2023

The Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee has launched a call for views on the Financial Memorandum of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill. This is to estimate the financial costs of the Bill’s measures such as the increase in age to 18 for referrals to the children’s hearing system.

The Committee is inviting organisations and individuals to submit written evidence on the estimated financial implications as set out in the Bill’s accompanying Financial Memorandum. If passed, the Bill will mean that all children in conflict with the law under the age of 18 will be referred to the children’s hearings system rather than being placed in young offenders’ institutions and the adult court system.

The Finance and Public Administration Committee invites written evidence on the estimated financial implications of the Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum. This Financial Memorandum has been prepared by the Scottish Government to set out the costs associated with the measures introduced by the Bill and states that it takes into consideration UNCRC implementation, and guidance on budgeting for welfare for children and young people.