Poll finds most parents against Named Person scheme

"First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week sought to play down the significance of the impact on family life, insisting that neither parents nor youngsters will have to use the Named Person service – usually provided by health visitors or teachers – if they don’t want to."

"The proposals have already been rolled out in some parts of Scotland and will come into full effect in August."

"But the plans have met with fierce resistance from opponents, who have already lost a court challenge in Scotland against the legislation bringing about the change and have now taken their fight to the UK Supreme Court in London."

"The poll found that 64 per cent of Scots parents were against the move."

"Half of Scottish parents believe the government wants to interfere too much in family life these days, according to the poll, published today by ComRes. It surveyed 532 adults in Scotland earlier this month."

"The study was commissioned by The Christian Institute, part of the No To Named Persons (NO2NP) campaign."

"The survey also found just 24 per cent of all Scots said they would trust a named person to always act in the best interests of a child – even where this conflicted with the wishes of the parents."

"The Christian Institute’s director, Colin Hart, said: `The Named Person scheme is the most audacious power grab in the history of parenting.` "

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/majority-of-scots-against-intrusive-named-person-proposals-1-4083863#ixzz44Bv6wNzX

The First Minister is questioned about the Named Person scheme at around 11.40 minutes. (24 March 2016)

 

Nicola Sturgeon says that the government does not know in advance which children will fall through the net of child protection. The implication is that Named Persons will find these children.

How, we may ask, which is the bit Nicola does not want to talk about ?

By monitoring all children`s wellbeing for which there is no opt out.

Necessary, proportionate and in accordance with the law?  I don`t think so. Compare SNP`s response to the Snooper`s Charter:

"Is it not ironic that the SNP at Westminster criticise the Prime Minister for his `snoopers' charter` ("Cameron rushing through surveillance bill in bid to avoid scrutiny, claims MP", The Herald, March 15), while at the same time at Holyrood it is introducing `state guardians` with widespread powers to snoop on all Scotland's children and their families? "

"Its stance on the UK Government anti-extremism measures is untenable because its Named Person scheme would involve data collection and sharing of confidential information and will be applied on a universal basis to all children and young people."

"SNP MP Joanna Cherry's statement that `such powers must always be shown to be necessary, proportionate and in accordance with the law` is right, but it can equally be applied to the Scottish Government's Named Person scheme. It is the disproportionate nature of that scheme that is of concern to many parents around the country. "

http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/14345910.Right_to_privacy_should_not_be_compromised_for_a_utopian_ideal/?ref=fbshr