Scotland has seen an increase in the number of ‘adoption parties’ which are being held in a bid to help increase the number of children who are in care finding permanent homes and families.

Scotland’s first gay married couple have described their sadness over the stopping of a civil partnership bid for a heterosexual couple as ‘gut-wrenching’.

Proposals which have been introduced to stop parents from smacking their children in Scotland have been opened for public consultation.

In one of the last moves before he finishes his work as child commissioner, Tam Baillie has called for Scotland to follow the example of other countries by banning smacking in the home, in a move he believes will make Scotland one of the best places in the world for a child to grow up in.

In a survey conducted by YouGov, it has been revealed that huge numbers of cohabiting couples are unaware of their rights, highlighting the need for changes in legislation for the UKs biggest growing family type.