Over a period of six years, children's legislation has been revised across the UK. The Children Act, which largely applies to England and Wales, was enacted in 1989 and implemented in 1991. Northern Ireland and Scotland had to wait several years for their parallel legislation; it was not until 1995 that the Children (Northern Ireland) Order and the Children (Scotland) Act were passed by Parliament.
Much can be learnt from comparing the different legislation and, more importantly, their implementation. Writing from a Scottish perspective, E. Kay M. Tisdall and Alexandra Plumtree compare the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 with the Children Act 1989. They begin with a brief introduction to the two Acts, outlining some of the major conceptual changes, and go on to concentrate on two areas: children in need and inter-agency co-operation. The article concludes by reflecting on the lessons that can be learnt from the English and Welsh experience.
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