Swinney under fire over statistics

CAMPAIGNERS have accused John Swinney of misleading Parliament over a pilot of the flagship Named Person scheme.

The NO2NP group have dismissed the Education Secretary’s suggestion that the scheme was responsible for a dramatic drop in referrals to the Children’s Reporter in the Highlands.

Official statistics show the Highland fall in reports (66.2%) was roughly on a par with the figure for the rest of Scotland (65.9%).

Campaigner Simon Calvert said: “In the chamber and in front of the education and skills committee Mr Swinney claimed the reduction in referrals in Highland was a direct result of piloting the Named Person scheme. But the numbers just don’t stack up.”

Shadow education secretary Liz Smith said: “These statistics make clear that the reduction in referrals was actually very similar to falls in other council areas, including those where named person was not being piloted.”

Lib Dems’ education spokesman Tavish Scott added: “This guddle over statistics underlines the case for a wholesale review of named persons.”

The named person is intended as a point of contact if a child or parents want information or advice.

The Scottish Government said the scheme would make Scotland “the best place in the world for children to grow up”.