Policy Watch Scotland

A consultation on scottish adoptions with a foreign element regulations 2008

The regulations make provision in respect of (a) the requirements, procedures, recognition and effect of adoptions in Scotland where the prospective adopters are habitually resident in the UK and they wish to adopt a child habitually resident abroad and (b) the requirements and procedures to be followed in Scotland where the child is habitually resident here.

Closing Date: Friday 19 December 2008

The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2008: Second Consultation

The Scottish Government consulted on the first draft of the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations between December 2007 and March 2008. The analysis of responses to the first consultation highlighted the need to redraft the regulations extensively. The revised regulations are very different to those consulted on early in 2008. They aim to reflect good practice, but introduce new requirements for local authorities. 

Closing Date: Friday 16 January 2009

16+ Learning Choices: First Step Activity and Financial Support

This consultation focuses on improving outcomes for those young people who do not stay in school for S5 and S6. It invites views on how activity is commissioned for young people by a variety of public sector agencies, how to ensure that the learning opportunities are appropriately recognised in the context of Curriculum for Excellence and how to ensure that information, advice and guidance for the most vulnerable young people is properly responsive to their needs.

The second section of this consultation paper considers in more detail the financial support that is available to young people.

Closing Date: Friday 20 February 2009

Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill

Government bill to establish a Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission and amend the law on child support.

Department for Work and Pensions

Creative Scotland Bill

Bill to create a body known as Creative Scotland which would have responsibility for overseeing arts and culture in the country.

Scottish Government

Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill

Would introduce the legal changes necessary to allow unclaimed assets in dormant bank accounts to be redistributed to worthy causes. The intention is for a significant portion of the money to be spent on services for young people.

HM Treasury

Drugs (Reclassification) Bill 2007-08

Private members' bill to increase the classification on cannabis.

Christopher Chope MP

Online Purchasing of Goods and Services (Age Verification) Bill 2007-08

Private members' bill mainly concerned with the sale of age-restricted products to children online.

Margaret Moran MP

Voting Age (Reduction) Bill

Private members' bill to reduce the voting age for parliamentary and other elections to 16.

Julie Morgan MP