Controversial Named Person scheme is ditched

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced that the mandatory named person scheme for every child – enshrined in the Children And Young People Act 2014 – will be repealed.

Mr Swinney also confirmed that the proposed new law on information sharing on named persons will not proceed.

Instead, existing voluntary schemes that provide a point of contact for support will continue under current legal powers, where councils and health boards wish to provide them and parents want to use them.

The report of an expert panel established to explore the development of a legally-binding Code of Practice to support the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) Bill has also been published.

The Scottish Government will now develop practical guidance and support to give professionals confidence to share wellbeing concerns in a compliant way, and to help families understand their rights under existing law.

Mr Swinney said: “I believe that we have taken an important step forward in providing families and practitioners with certainty about how information sharing can support wellbeing in a transparent way which respects the rights of everyone.

“The mandatory named person scheme for every child – underpinned by law – will now not happen. We will withdraw our Bill and repeal the relevant legislation.

“Instead, existing voluntary services that provide a point of contact for support will continue under current legal powers, where councils and health boards wish to provide them and parents want to use them.

“In this way, we will support our children and young people so that they can thrive and rise to the challenges and opportunities that life brings.

“Only through continued investment in our children’s wellbeing will we achieve our vision of a prosperous country where everyone gets the chance to fulfil their potential, and no-one is left behind.”

The controversial scheme was due to be introduced three years ago but it was delayed when the Supreme Court ruled that part of the plan breached Human Rights laws (above).

The Scottish Conservatives said: “This is a complete humiliation for the SNP. Common sense should have told them years ago that this policy was both universally unpopular and unworkable.”