Scottish Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell says the children's hearing system already deals with cases as appropriate.

Ms Mitchell asks the minister to confirm that the children's hearing system will be properly resourced to deal with serious offences by under twelves.

Mr McDonald says the government are looking at the system and skills and experience of the people on the children's panel.

Image source, bbc

SYP’s Acting Chair, Amy Lee Fraioli MSYP says: “Raising the age of criminal responsibility from 8 to 12 is an important step towards fully incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots Law. 

"Many children who find themselves in children’s hearings are also victims themselves, and are often ill equipped to deal with the situations they find themselves in. Raising the age will help ensure that Scotland is a fair place for children, and shift focus to supporting children instead of criminalising them.

 "As a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, I am extremely pleased to see real progress on an issue our organisation has campaigned so passionately for. 

"We know that children and young people in Scotland feel strongly about this issue, thanks to the numerous consultations and discussions we have had with them over the years. 

"It is fantastic to see that all of these efforts have now, finally, succeeded, and another important step has been taken to ensure that the rights of all children and young people in Scotland are upheld.”

Labour MSP Claire Baker welcomes the announcement saying the argument has been persuasively made.

Ms Baker asks about the extent of police powers and on disclosures.

She says the government must secure public confidence.

Mr McDonald thanks Ms Baker for Labour's support.

He says he approaches to the extent of police powers and disclosures with an open mind.

Children's rights must be paramount in what the government is doing as it goes forward.

Conservative MSP Douglas Ross asks how the Scottish government will sustain and build public confidence in the change.

Mr Ross calls for safeguards for crimes such as the horrendous case of Jamie Bulger.

Mr McDonald thanks Mr Ross for his constructive approach.

The minister says there will be stand alone legislation for the change.

He say there will be engagement in the course of the legislation, giving opportunities to sustain and build public confidence.

Mr McDonald then details the safeguards that will remain.

The minister speaks to those concerned at the change and its impact.

He says what should reassure them is that children and young people want this, victims’ groups want it, police and prosecutors want it and the United Nations has called on us to do it.

The minister says there must be appropriate safeguards to deal with not only exceptional cases but to all types of cases for under 12s, especially where police and agencies don’t get co-operation from parents and carers.

Mr McDonald says he intends to bring forward a bespoke package of police powers to ensure that the police can investigate harmful behaviour involving children under 12 so that all necessary steps can be taken to keep them and others safe.

Childcare and Early Years Minister Mark McDonald says the government is considering what more it can do to support the most vulnerable children.

Mr McDonald says the minimum age of prosecution has been raised to keep children out of the criminal justice system.

He says the low age of criminal responsibility in Scotland has continued to attract the attention of the UN.

The minister announces a rise in the age of criminal responsibility from eight to 12 years and says a bill will be introduced to do so.

Childcare and Early Years Minister Mark McDonald will now give a ministerial statement on the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

The current age of criminal responsibility in Scotland is eight years.

This is the lowest age of criminal responsibility in Europe.

In 2010 the Scottish government legislated to provide that no child under the age of twelve may be prosecuted for an offence. 

Neither may an older person be prosecuted for an offence committed whilst under the age of twelve.

Image source, bbc

Children aged between eight and eleven years can still be referred to the Children’s Hearings System on offence grounds. 

Where a child admits or has an offence ground established by a Children’s Hearing or Sheriff, they then acquire a criminal record. 

This will appear on a higher level disclosure certificate in the event of a criminal record check or on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme record.  

Image source, POLICE SCOTLAND

Last year a then Lib Dem MSP  tried to bid to increase the age at which children can be held responsible for their crimes in Scotland.

Alison McInnes wanted to see the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland rise from eight years to the age of 12.

In an effort to bring about the change, she put forward amendments to the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.

Ms McInnes said that by voting against her amendment to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland, the SNP was failing Scotland’s most vulnerable children  

Her amendment, which would bring the age of criminal responsibility in line with the age of criminal prosecution, was backed by Labour and Independent MSPs.

At the time the Scottish government said the age of criminal responsibility remained "under active consideration".

Image source, Police Scotland

Scotland's early years minister is to update MSPs on the government's position on raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12.

Children as young as eight can have a criminal record in Scotland, although via the decisions of children's hearings rather than the courts.

The government held a consultation, external earlier in the year after an advisory panel backed raising the limit to 12.

Mark McDonald is to make a ministerial statement to "announce the way ahead".

Coming up shortly the Scottish government will deliver a ministerial statement on the age of criminal responsibility.

The Scottish government will then lead a debate recognising 16 Days of Action to End Violence Against Women and Girls

Mr Stewart says he hopes this event raises the profile of small businesses around the country.

The minister says it is not always easy running small business and the government are committed to helping them grow.

He says there is a range of support and funding available for small businesses and start ups.

Mr Stewart says the government are also offering competitive tax rates for small businesses and there is work ongoing to regenerate town centres. 

Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart says this debate has brought about a small glimpse of the variety that small businesses bring to the economy.

Mr Stewart says his father had an ice cream van when he was young, which is why he no longer eats ice cream, he says his family also had a corner shop for a while.

The local government minister says he welcomes the collaboration on the Small Business Saturday event.

He says we must encourage people to shop locally.