Meeting of the Parliament 08 June 2016
I draw members’ attention to the first line in the motion, in which I make it clear that this afternoon’s debate is not about whether members support the Scottish Government’s policy on named persons or oppose it, as the Conservatives do. Rather, the debate is about whether the policy is deliverable in the proposed format and, most especially, whether that format is in the best interests of children and families. It is surely those best interests that should be at the forefront of all our minds.
I begin by going back to the time when the policy was first proposed, and to the initial evidence that was presented to the Education and Culture Committee. As I understand it from that evidence and from ministers’ statements at the time, the policy was seen as one that would enhance child protection by encouraging earlier intervention and ensuring that there was greater co-operation and co-ordination between the different areas of children’s services, as had been the case in the pilot in Highland.
I stress my recognition that there can be no doubt that, of the 138 submissions to the committee that specifically mentioned the named person policy, the vast majority—that is, around 70 per cent, which came from groups that are highly experienced in dealing with our most vulnerable children—strongly supported the policy, as, indeed, did committee members, with the exception of me.
In recent weeks, I have reread many of those supportive submissions, and I note again, just as I did three years ago, that the support was for the general principles of the policy and that it was often qualified by concerns about case loads and underfunding. Just two examples are the submissions from the Royal College of Nursing and the Educational Institute of Scotland. It is also fair to mention Bill Alexander, who has been a consistent advocate of the policy throughout and who can speak with considerable experience from Highland.
As we approach full implementation of the policy, it is the concerns about case loads and resources that have come to dominate the debate. Whether we are for or against the policy in principle, we have to accept that those concerns are serious. Indeed, I have no doubt that it was those concerns that prompted both Kezia Dugdale and Willie Rennie to make plain during the election campaign that their respective parties were worried about the delivery of the policy.
On the back of growing public concern, which, to be fair, was recognised in the previous session of the Parliament by Hugh Henry, Ken Macintosh and Tavish Scott, and which all candidates were hearing on doorsteps, Kezia Dugdale asked for a pause, so that key issues could be rethought. In addition, Willie Rennie questioned the resources issue, as did Iain Gray, who has been telling his constituents and the cabinet secretary that despite his support for the general principles of the policy he remains concerned about its delivery.
Indeed, even some Scottish National Party candidates in the election hustings questioned the issue. Jim Eadie said that he was proud to vote for the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill but he recognised the extent of public concern and thought that modifications and changes might be necessary.
The Conservatives therefore firmly believe that there is a parliamentary consensus for a major rethink. That is reflected in the public mood. Polling has shown that there is widespread concern about the policy’s implementation.
However, it is what has happened since the policy was proposed that is so significant and is the reason for today’s debate. A growing number of concerns are being expressed by professionals on the front line. Many of those professionals have no party-political affiliation, and those who do represent the full political spectrum.
First, concern is being expressed about the case-load burden, which has been brutally exposed by many professionals in recent weeks and months. That concern has been expressed publicly: in Unison’s report from its health visitor members; by the EIS; by the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association, whose members requested a delay following the motion that teacher Neil Sinclair submitted to the SSTA conference; by the Royal College of Nursing; and by social workers on the BBC’s “Call Kaye” programme last week. In many cases, the concern has been expressed more anonymously, by front-line staff who are less prepared to put their name to anything, because of fear of reprisals in their job.