Named person to face Holyrood vote

The Scottish parliament will vote today on whether to ‘pause’ the scheme to introduce a named professional for every child in Scotland.

The Scottish Conservatives have lodged a motion to halt the roll out of the scheme which assigns a single person such as a teacher or health visitor to take responsibility for a child’s welfare until the age of 18.

Although the Conservatives campaigned for a full repeal of the plan in the election, the motion calls for a “pause”, in an attempt to win votes from Scottish Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who both support the notion but argued the Scottish Government had failed to communicate its benefits.

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“There is an urgent need to pause the implementation of the policy and debate whether or not the policy in its current form is workable in the best interests of Scotland's young people,” the Tory motion reads.

However Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education John Swinney has reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to the scheme, promising to “refresh” the guidance provided to professionals.

“We know most children and young people get all the help and support they need from their parents, wider family and community, but sometimes they may need extra support. It is impossible to predict who will need this support or when. That is why the named person service is for every child – so concerns are picked up early. This government is absolutely committed to the named person service to ensure no one is left without support when they need it.”

A Scottish Labour amendment to today's motion suggests the Children and Young People’s Commissioner – a known supporter of the named person – should carry out a full review.​

Children’s charities, Police Scotland and teaching unions support the policy, although the latter has concerns about its impact on teacher workload.

However polls have shown public support for it is not high, with a Survation poll putting 64 per cent believing the plan is an “unacceptable intrusion” into families. 

A legal challenge to the policy from Christian charities and the Family Education Trust was rejected twice by the Court of Session last year.