Scottish Government to scrap Named Person scheme

John Swinney has confirmed the Scottish Government’s Named Person scheme is to be scrapped.

In a statement at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, the Deputy First Minister said he would now seek to repeal the legislation.

The scheme was introduced as part of the Scottish Government’s Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) policy and aimed to appoint a named person to act as a clear point of contact for youngsters from when they are born to the age of 18.

“I’m giving notice of our intention to seek to repeal parts four and five of the Children and Young People Scotland Act 2014 using a suitable legislative vehicle in due course,” Mr Swinney said.

“I believe that today we’ve taken an important step forward in providing families and practitioners with certainty about how information-sharing can support well-being in a transparent way which respects the rights of everyone.

“The mandatory Named Persons scheme for every child, underpinned by law, will now not happen.

“We will withdraw our Bill and repeal the relevant legislation.

“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 wish to use them.”

Mr Swinney added: “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 well-being will we achieve our vision of a prosperous country where everyone gets the chance to fulfil their potential and no-one is left behind.

“That is why we continue to be fully committed to Getting It Right For Every Child.”

Earlier on Thursday, an investigation was launched by the Scottish Government after details of its statement on the Named Person policy were leaked to the media.

On Thursday, the Herald newspaper reported the scheme was to be scrapped by the Government ahead of a statement by Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

At First Minister’s Questions, Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh warned MSPs that major policy announcements should not be leaked ahead of statements being known to Parliament.

He said: “I’m sure that members will be aware and will share my disappointment that significant details of this afternoon’s statement on Getting It Right For Every Child on the Named Person legislation have been leaked to the media in advance of this afternoon’s announcement.

“My understanding is that the Government is investigating this matter but, as members know, announcements on major policies should not enter the public domain before they are communicated to this Parliament and I would urge the Government to have regard to this guidance on announcements and I expect it to be adhered to.”