The Named Person scheme is no laughing matter

I do not agree with everything in the Spectator article regarding the writer`s view of SNP/Westminster politics but the remarks about the Scottish government`s push towards centralisation and the Named Person scheme are apt:

The proposal for a ‘named person’ — i.e., a state guardian for children — is a classic example of what is going so wrong. The person will, in the Scottish government’s chilling words, ‘monitor what children and young people need’. That parents, families, doctors and teachers do this already is not enough: the state must do it, too. Badged under the ghastly Orwellian acronym Girfec (Getting It Right For Every Child), the ‘named person’ will ensure a child’s wellbeing is ‘assessed’ according to the extent to which the child is ‘safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included’.

So Ms Sturgeon’s ‘named persons’ will not focus only on harm, risk or even neglect — but the entire human condition. If my child is judged to be underachieving, inactive or somehow lacking in respect or responsibility, the ‘named person’ can discuss my child not only with the NHS, a social worker or the police, but with bodies including the Scottish Sports Council and something called Skills Development Scotland Co. Ltd.

The second paragraph refers to the joining-up of public databases in Scotland - there are over one hundred proposed -  without proper consultation in order to allow more efficient and integrated services to be provided -  or so the story goes. 

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/02/scottish-identity-database-plans-privacy-risk-ministers-warned

At the same time children`s databases are to be integrated and joined-up, presumably to the same network of joined-up databases.

"By exploiting algorithms and probability matching tools in NextGate, we can link records in a way we have never done before. The EMPI software has provided the ability to seamlessly integrate health and social care and other third party information."

http://www.digitalbydefaultnews.co.uk/2015/09/21/scottish-health-board-to-share-health-data-with-partner-organisations/ 

That it might not be safe for children, that authorities do this, seems not to have been considered by those in favour of the Named Person scheme.

Let us not forget that confidential files about abused children were stolen from social work in the Glasgow City Council - and that was before sensitive files were so easily transferable.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/porn-raid-former-social-worker-6478890

And let us not forget that sex offenders who like to promote their ideas about the abuse of children, designated as Named Persons, have had access to 200 children.

http://forargyll.com/?p=102003

Nicola Sturgeon has laughed off accusations  that she is running a `big sister` state as campaigners fight a new Scottish government scheme that will allocate every child an official representative to look after their wellbeing.

Would Nicola Sturgeon stop laughing and investigate what the sex offender has done in Moray Council with the files of 200 children.

 Can she assure us, these files are safe?