Bill to raise age of criminal responsibility to 12

The Scottish government will introduce a bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility from eight to 12.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the change was in line with “international norms” and also said she would not oppose MSP John Finnie’s moves to prohibit physical punishment of children.

In total, the government has confirmed 16 new pieces of legislation in its Programme for Government.

The Prescription Bill takes forward Scottish Law Commission recommendations to clarify negative prescription, which establishes a time-limit within which a person who is aggrieved must raise his or her claim in court. If the time-limit is missed, the ability to pursue the claim is lost.

The Vulnerable Witnesses and Pre-recorded Evidence Bill proposes to extend the use of pre-recorded evidence for vulnerable witnesses and children.

Under the Organ and Tissue Donation Bill a “soft” opt-out system for organ donation would be established, while the Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) Bill would see people convicted of offences relating to same-sex sexual activity automatically pardoned.

Speaking yesterday, the First Minister said: “The programme that I have set out today, the policies and the legislation, is fresh, bold and ambitious – and because of that, aspects of it undoubtedly will be controversial.

“That is inevitable – indeed it is necessary. No one has ever built a better country by always taking the easy option. This programme is about equipping Scotland - not just for the next year - but for the next decade and beyond.”