Concerns raised over guardian for children plan

SNP plans to appoint a so-called guardian for every child have met opposition from another religious body.

The Evangelical Alliance Scotland wants to discuss the proposal, outlined in the Scottish Government’s Children and Young People Bill, and reach “consensus” with Children’s Minister Aileen Campbell.

Director Fred Drummond said: “While we do not doubt the Government’s sincere intentions behind this Bill, these proposals raise serious concerns about the role of the state in modern Scotland, have massive implications for the role of parents and appear to be begging for a fight in the law courts as some parents may wish to challenge it because it is not immediately apparent whether it is lawful under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).”

The proposal to appoint specific named persons from the NHS and councils to monitor every young person’s well-being from birth to 18 is considered one of the most controversial aspects of the Bill.

Ms Campbell insists that appointing a named person for every child will help ”provide a safety net for those who need one”.

The Church of Scotland has already claimed that the change risks diminishing the role of parents ”with no obvious benefit for the most vulnerable in society”.

It has been criticised by the six former moderators of the Free Church of Scotland and the current moderator.

The Evangelical Alliance, which represents more than 750 organisations in 3,500 churches across the UK, said the plan also runs counter to the UN convention on the rights of the child.

“As a parent I am horrified, and I am sure that parents across Scotland will be horrified to learn that the state can override their wishes, particularly as there is no provision in the Bill for consent from or withdrawal by either parent or child,” Mr Drummond said.

“At the Evangelical Alliance we fundamentally believe in the positive role of families, which is why we are so concerned by the named person provision of this Bill.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We are confident that the Bill is compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights.

“Families are not required to accept advice or offers of help from the named person. Any actions or advice from the named person must be fair, proportionate and respect rights with the aim of safeguarding the well-being of the child.”

The Bill is due to be debated by Holyrood at its final stage on Wednesday.

Ms Campbell has written to MSPs urging them to support measures contained in the legislation, including the named person policy.

She said ” misrepresentations and misunderstandings about the named person provisions are misinforming views”.

“The proposals are not about treating every child with the same procedures with which we treat vulnerable children, recommending a social worker is appointed for every child, or giving named persons the authority to enter every house,” Ms Campbell told her parliamentary colleagues.

“The named person’s responsibilities are at the lower end of the scale of concern,” she wrote.

“Their function will almost always be discharged through routine contact with the child either in health or in education. Not social work.”

She added: “Where help is sought, the named person can tap into their networks of knowledge and expertise to best support the child. Practitioners will need to act proportionately, fairly and in a way which respects the rights secured by existing data protection and ECHR principles.

“Those parents who do not want to engage with the named person are under no obligation to do so.”