The National Care Service (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 20 June 2022. The purpose of the Bill is to "improve the quality and consistency of social services in Scotland" by creating a duty on Scottish Ministers to "promote a comprehensive and integrated care service" and making provision for "the establishment of care boards to carry out Ministers' functions in relation to social care, social work and community health."
In their Stage 1 Report published on 19 December, the Scottish Parliament's Education, Children and Young People Committee warned that plans to integrate children's services into the National Care Service lack vital information; it is not currently possible to have a clear view on whether children’s services should be included under a National Care Service; and urged the government to provide more details on the financial implications.
