Swinney rejects ‘attack dog’ claims over Named Person

SNP MINISTERS have confirmed they approached witnesses who were due to give evidence to a Holyrood committee about the ‘state snooper’ scheme.

Education Secretary John Swinney had been accused of sending ‘attack dogs’ to ‘coerce’ those set to address MSPs over his controversial Named Person policy.

He yesterday published a dossier of meetings between officials and organisations who gave evidence.

Mr Swinney insisted the Scottish Government had done nothing wrong and that he had been ‘perplexed’ by questions about the meetings.

Mr Swinney was ordered by education committee convener James Dornan to address concerns that the Government ‘sought to directly influence evidence to the committee’. Details published yesterday show all eight witnesses were contacted ahead of a meeting on September 20, including NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Lothian and the Law Society of Scotland. All witnesses, including Police Scotland and Colleges Scotland, were also approached before an October 25 meeting. Four were contacted before a November 1 session.

In a letter to Mr Dornan, Mr Swinney wrote: ‘Discussing policy positions with a range of expert groups – whether or not the committee has chosen to call them to give evidence – is best practice and in keeping with the founding principles of parliament.’

He said it was ‘right and proper for the Scottish Government to discuss policy options with stakeholders’.

He added: ‘I will continue to offer such opportunities for engagement with stakeholders during the Bill’s passage.

‘I refute the assertion there has been a slight on the committee.’

MSPs had demanded that Mr Swinney outline why he and his staff had approached witnesses.

In a committee session, Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell said: ‘The Named Person policy is badly thought out.

‘Sending the Scottish Government attack dogs to coerce witnesses will not change the public’s mind.’