Parents’ plea for probe into ‘illegal’ state snooper plan

PARENTS have demanded a public inquiry into the ‘illegal’ sharing of personal data in the SNP’s state snooper plans.

Campaigners believe the Named Person proposals have ‘infringed’ on family life and led to a breakdown in trust of public services – including health and social work.

They have handed a petition to the Scottish parliament calling on MSPs to back their bid for a probe into the ‘premature’ rollout of the scheme and how it will impact families.

The Scottish Government was forced to overhaul its controversial Child and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill after it was ruled unlawful by the UK Supreme Court.

But campaigners claim the efforts made by Education Secretary John Swinney in a bid to save the legislation do not go far enough.

They believe the law has already been broken by councils and health boards which piloted the scheme.

Lesley Scott, of campaign group Tymes Trust, claimed ‘virtually nothing has changed’ since the Supreme Court ruling in 2016.

She said: ‘The Scottish Government has failed to acknowledge or address the breach of human rights that their flagship Named Person policy continues to sanction.

‘The people of Scotland deserve better and there must be an independent public inquiry. We need to know how our rights can be so easily overridden.

‘Where were the checks and balances? Why did nobody in authority resist? Where is the accountability?’

The renewed bid to save the Named Person policy – which would mean a ‘state snooper’ is appointed for every child – involves new rules and guidelines for those forced to act in the new role. Mr Swinney has claimed he cannot publish these yet – leading to a backlash from MSPs, with Holyrood’s education committee failing to back the Bill.

Now the petition calls for a public inquiry into the policy’s impact on human rights – including how it infringes on family life and privacy, and the impact it will have on relationships with healthcare providers, social workers and other public bodies.

Miss Scott and Alison Preuss, of the Scottish Home Education Forum, believe the premature rollout of the scheme led to the illegal sharing of data.

They claim to have evidence which proves ‘professional misconduct and data misuse’ by councils, NHS boards and third sector bodies.

Miss Preuss said: ‘The fact national guidance has remained uncorrected and training for professionals continues to “get it wrong” is nothing short of a scandal.

‘Victims of this destructive policy are clamouring to have their voices heard after being sidelined for years by statesponsored vested interests.’

Last night, a spokesman for the No to Named Person (NO2NP) campaign welcomed the petition, saying: ‘Named Person – and the Government’s insistence on trying to drive it through despite massive public opposition and a damning Supreme Court judgment – has done a great deal of damage to public trust.

‘No one has ever been held accountable for this.

‘It’s long past time for an independent inquiry.’

The Scottish Government said it ‘remains absolutely committed’ to Named Person ‘as a way to support children and their families’.

A spokesman added: ‘Public services must handle, store, process and share personal information in line with existing laws and guidance in relation to data protection.’