Anger over Named Person meetings

Education secretary John Swinney has been asked to detail meetings between government officials and witnesses to a Holyrood committee regarding the Named Person legislation.

The written request comes after Mr Swinney was asked to provide assurances in November over questions on whether “the Scottish Government sought to directly influence evidence to the committee”. The Scottish Parliament’s education and skills committee has written to the cabinet secretary, as some members are concerned his previous answers “did not fully address matters raised”.

The committee has now set out 16 points for Mr Swinney to address with a “detailed timeline” including dates that witnesses providing evidence were approached by Scottish Government officials, ministers or special advisers and the “rationale” behind the contact. Further details requested are whether Scottish Government officials acted unilaterally in meetings with witnesses or if Mr Swinney or his advisers gave them instruction.

The letter from convener James Dornan states: “To give parliament its place, any assurances offered to witnesses by the government on ways in which policies will be changed or supplemented should be raised with the relevant committee first.