Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

Closes 12 Sep 2025

Opened 11 Jul 2025

Contact

Joanne McNaughton

(Clerk for the Committee)

Finance and Public Administration Committee

0131 348 5000

fpa.committee@parliament.scot

Overview

About the Bill  

The Commissioner for Older People will promote and safeguard the rights and interests of older people in Scotland.  

The Bill defines “older people” as those who are aged 60 years old and over. 

The Commissioner will have various roles, including:  

  • Promoting awareness and understanding of the rights and interests of older people.
  • Reviewing law, policy and practice relating to the rights and interests of older people.
  • Undertaking research on matters relating to older people. 

The Commissioner will also have the power to investigate decisions and actions taken by those who provide services to older people. 

Current Status of the Bill  

This Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament by Colin Smyth MSP on 2 April 2025. 

Read and find out more about the Bill: Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill. 

Stage 1  

The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee has been designated as the lead Committee for the Bill. A separate call for views on the Bill’s policy provisions has been issued by the lead Committee and published on Citizen Space. 

Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill Call for views

Financial Memorandum  

As with all Bills, the Finance and Public Administration Committee invites written evidence on the estimated financial implications of the Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum (FM).  

Read the FM published alongside this Bill. 

Making a Submission 

Before making a submission, please read our Privacy Notice about submitting your views to a Committee. This tells you about how we process personal data.  

Please note that in most cases your submission will be published on the Scottish Parliament's website and may be quoted in the Committee's report or in Committee meetings (which are public and broadcast). 

Questions in this call for views

  1. Did you take part in any consultation exercise preceding the Bill and, if so, did you comment on the financial assumptions made?  

  2. If applicable, do you believe your comments on the financial assumptions have been accurately reflected in the FM?  

  3. Did you have sufficient time to contribute to the consultation exercise?

  4. If the Bill has any financial implications for you or your organisation, do you believe that they have been accurately reflected in the FM? If not, please provide details. 

  5. Do you consider that the estimated costs and savings set out in the FM are reasonable and accurate?  

  6. If applicable, are you content that your organisation can meet any financial costs that it might incur as a result of the Bill? If not, how do you think these costs should be met?  

  7. Does the FM accurately reflect the margins of uncertainty associated with the Bill’s estimated costs and with the timescales over which they would be expected to arise? 

How to submit your views

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language. 

The call for views closes on 12 September 2025.

Submit your views

Click here to complete the submission form

Interests

  • FPA