May 2020. Briefing to MSPs ahead of the Scottish Parliament’s Stage 1 Debate of emergency coronavirus legislation on Wednesday 13 May.

Key points of the briefing

• Scottish Government should exclude all children and young people under the age of 18 from the criminal justice provisions of the Bill.

• Scottish Government should undertake and publish a Children’s Rights (and Wellbeing) Impact Assessment and an Equalities and Human Rights Impact Assessment for all new emergency legislation, policy and guidance.

• The Bill should include an increase to the Young Carer Grant in order to ensure support for children and young people playing caring roles.

• The Bill should amend The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 to prevent the unnecessary criminalisation of 16/17 year olds via Fixed Penalty Notices.