The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill, also known as the Promise Bill, was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2025. The Bill includes plans to expand access to aftercare and independent advocacy, limit profit-making in residential care, create a register of foster carers, and reform aspects of the children’s hearing system.
We welcomed the Bill's introduction and were particularly pleased by provisions to create a national register of foster carers, something we have long campaigned for. Read our news story responding to the Bill.
Stage one
We submitted written evidence on the Bill to the Children's Committee in August 2025 and gave evidence in the Scottish Parliament in September.
The Children's Minister, Natalie Don-Innes MSP, gave evidence on the Bill in November. We published a blog analysing some of the key areas relevant to fostering that were discussed in her evidence session.
The Children's Committee published their stage one report in December, advising the Scottish Parliament to support the general principles of the Bill.
On 14 January 2026, the Scottish Parliament debated the general principles of the Bill and voted for it to pass to stage two.
Stage two
We worked with Martin Whitfield MSP on amendments for stage two of the Bill, covering Continuing Care and a national register of foster carers. We also supported the Children's Minister's amendments on foster carer finances.
See our briefings on each topic below:
The Committee debated the stage two amendments across three sessions on 4, 11 and 18 February 2026 and voted for it to pass to stage three. While they didn't accept all the amendments we worked on, we did see some progress in each area. Read about the Committee's decisions here.
Stage three
The first stage three meeting is scheduled for 18 March 2026.
We are working with Martin Whitfield again on further amendments on Continuing Care and foster carer finances.
For more information, please contact [email protected].