John Swinney pledges to tackle public mistrust of Named Person scheme
The Education Secretary has pledged to tackle public mistrust of the controversial named person scheme as MSPs voted through orders to halt its introduction.
The Scottish Government has been forced to delay the roll-out of the policy after the UK Supreme Court ruled some elements are ”incompatible” with the right to privacy and family life, as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
John Swinney last week announced an ”intense” three-month consultation on how to make the scheme comply with the law.
It had been due to be introduced across the country on August 31 2016 but he now hopes it can come into force a year on from that.
Holyrood’s Education Committee approved legislative changes on Wednesday to halt the scheme before quizzing Mr Swinney on what will happen next.
He insisted work will take place to address any negative perceptions of named person.
He said: “The question of public trust and confidence in the system is a point that I accept unreservedly.
“The importance of tackling that I accept unreservedly. I accept that responsibility.
“It is important that ministers are able to properly and fully build public confidence in what, I think, is the correct policy.”
The flagship policy, introduced as part of the Children and Young People Scotland Act of 2014, set out to appoint a single point of contact, such as a teacher or health visitor, to look out for the welfare of all children up to the age of 18.
Opponents have argued the scheme is overly intrusive into family life and could lead to an increased workload for those tasked with administering it.
Mr Swinney said the Government considered clarity around parents’ rights to “opt-out” of the scheme to be a material issue that has to be addressed.
“That is part of the difficulties we’ve had around the communication of this policy and the acceptance of this policy and the fact that it has caused unease among some members of the public as part of the wider political debate,” he said.
He also told the committee he did not see the need for “there to be vast bureaucracies put together summarising an assessment of every single child in this country – that’s not what this is about”.
He added: “I don’t see the necessity for a cottage industry of bureaucracy to be created.
“What is essential is where there is the requirement for support, that has to be clearly tabulated and understood to enable that support to be delivered to a young person.”
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Andrew Cowan / PA Wire.
