SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee Debate
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland briefing ahead of the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee Debate taking place on 18 September 2025.
Key points
- We note the Committee’s recommendation that ‘SPCB supported bodies
could do more to adopt a more proactive/preventative approach. We
therefore encourage each to put in place measures that would allow them to
address systemic issues at an early stage.’ This is the reason we have been
calling for the ability to require a response from key duty bearers to
recommendations in our annual reports. - We welcome the Committee’s report and scrutiny of the SPCB landscape,
which has reasserted the value and ongoing need for the office of the
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. - If changes are agreed to create a specific committee to scrutinise SPCB
supported bodies, we would not want to lose the opportunity to have an
annual session with our subject specialist committee (Education, Children
and Young People Committee). - We support the principle of shared services and will continue to work with
Parliament and other officeholders on any further developments. We also
recognise there is no one-size-fits-all approach.