NICOLA Sturgeon has accused the Tories of politicising the protection of vulnerable children, after Ruth Davidson called on the Scottish Government to scrap the named person policy.
The two party leaders clashed over the scheme at yesterday’s First Minister’s Questions, with Davidson saying the decision taken earlier this week by Holyrood’s Education committee to stall the legislation, was an opportunity for the Government to can the controversial proposal.
Sturgeon insisted the Government would carry on “for the simple reason that they are in the best interests of children, particularly vulnerable children, across the country”.
Changes were made after opponents took the plans, which were approved by MSPs in 2014, to court, fearing the legislation would cause unnecessary intrusion.
The Supreme Court expressed concerns in July 2016 about information sharing plans, and how compatible they might be with the European Convention on Human Rights principles on privacy and a family life.
MSPs are currently debating changes to the original legislation that should take it to a place where it could comply with the European judge’s decision. That includes a code of practice for sharing data.
But on Wednesday, the Education committee voted against publishing a Stage 1 report on the updated legislation, because they had yet to see the code of practice.
Only SNP members were prepared to produce a report now. The Green, Labour and Tory MSPs who sit on the committee all voted to “extend the period of Stage 1 scrutiny to provide the committee with the opportunity to scrutinise a draft code of practice alongside the Bill”.
Parliamentary rules mean it cannot proceed until the committee publishes a report.
Sturgeon said the Government was “disappointed” by the committee’s decision. She attacked the Tory leader’s stance on the policy, and said it still had support.
“If the issue is about the protection of children, rather than political point-scoring, that is the way in which all of us should be determined to proceed. Let us put children at the centre of the debate,” Sturgeon said.
Davidson replied: “What the First Minister does not understand is that the policy is a mess. It is only she and the Deputy First Minister who cannot seem to see that.
“Everybody wants protection for vulnerable children, but it is now clear that Parliament has joined the public in no longer having confidence in the named person plans.”
Sturgeon argued that the policy was overwhelmingly supported by those on “the front line, and who work with vulnerable children”.
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