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August 2017 start for Scotland's Named Person scheme August 2017 start for Scotland's Named Person scheme
(35 minutes later)
The Scottish government hopes to implement its named person scheme by August 2017 after a period of "intense engagement" on amendments.The Scottish government hopes to implement its named person scheme by August 2017 after a period of "intense engagement" on amendments.
Implementation of the scheme was halted after the Supreme Court ruled that data sharing provisions were unlawful.Implementation of the scheme was halted after the Supreme Court ruled that data sharing provisions were unlawful.
Education Secretary John Swinney told MSPs the government was committed to amending and enforcing the system.Education Secretary John Swinney told MSPs the government was committed to amending and enforcing the system.
The Tories want the scheme to be scrapped from the system, while Labour want children aged 16 and 17 excluded.The Tories want the scheme to be scrapped from the system, while Labour want children aged 16 and 17 excluded.
The scheme, which would assign a named person to everyone under the age of 18 in Scotland, was originally meant to be rolled out on 31 August. The scheme, which would assign a named person to everyone under the age of 18 in Scotland, was originally meant to be rolled out on 31 August, 2016.
However, after a legal challenge some provisions of the system were ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. Judges said the principles of the system were "legitimate and benign", but raised fears about information-sharing provisions which could breach the European Convention on Human Rights.However, after a legal challenge some provisions of the system were ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. Judges said the principles of the system were "legitimate and benign", but raised fears about information-sharing provisions which could breach the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Scottish government then moved to halt the planned implementation until amendments to the Children and Young People Act were made.The Scottish government then moved to halt the planned implementation until amendments to the Children and Young People Act were made.
Mr Swinney has since held talks with public sector leaders and charities to change the legislation and said the government will seek to bring the system into force "as soon as practicable".Mr Swinney has since held talks with public sector leaders and charities to change the legislation and said the government will seek to bring the system into force "as soon as practicable".
He told the BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The government is committed - as I've said on many occasions since the Supreme Court judgement in July - to the implementation of the named person scheme, but also to making sure that is done in a fashion that is entirely compatible with the requirements placed on us by the Supreme Court. 'Intense engagement'
"It's the details of that approach that I will set out to parliament today." The deputy first minister said the government would undertake a three-month period of "intense engagement" with key stakeholders and opposition groups.
He said he wanted the scheme to be put into place "as quickly as possible".
Mr Swinney said: "It is my ambition to work towards a commencement date and these provisions by August 2017."
He added: "The Supreme Court judgment provides us with an opportunity to amend the information sharing provisions in the 2014 Act in a way that improves the Named Person service and reassures parents and practitioners and the wider public.
"It provides us with the opportunity to continue in the spirit of shared purpose and consensus - to getting it right for every child."
The Scottish Conservatives said Mr Swinney faced "key questions".The Scottish Conservatives said Mr Swinney faced "key questions".
Education spokeswoman Liz Smith said she would repeat her calls for the scheme to be "scrapped", saying "it's what parents, teachers and other professionals want".Education spokeswoman Liz Smith said she would repeat her calls for the scheme to be "scrapped", saying "it's what parents, teachers and other professionals want".
She said: "The Scottish government has a lot of explaining to do about why it has found itself in this situation. In the chamber, she asked for reassurance that every local authority had been acting lawfully with the local named person schemes they have been operating.
"Councils which were already operating this scheme, prior to the August 31 implementation date, will now need to be reassured they weren't acting unlawfully. And ministers must also detail what advice they received which made them so sure this scheme was lawful in the first place." Mr Swinney replied that these councils have been told to make sure the systems they develop are within the framework of data protection and human rights rules.
Scottish Labour, meanwhile, is to renew calls for 16 to 18-year-olds to be removed from the remit of the system. Ms Smith said many legal experts had raised serious concerns about the scheme before the Supreme Court challenge, asking if the government had made a mistake by moving away from a focus on "welfare" to "wellbeing".
Party education spokesman Iain Gray said: "It is absurd that people the law says are old enough to vote, marry, and work are told by the SNP that they need a named person. 'Confidence lost'
"Simply tweaking the law to meet the Supreme Court's concern will not be enough. There has to be a complete revision of guidance and training materials, and adequate resources put in place for the professionals who will deliver the policy. Scottish Labour, meanwhile, renewed calls for 16 to 18-year-olds to be removed from the remit of the system.
"Labour is willing to work with the SNP so this policy meets its original aims - to support vulnerable families and ensure no child falls through the cracks." Party education spokesman Iain Gray said he supported the general principles of the system, but said the policy has lost the confidence of many families and that must be fixed.
He added: "It is absurd that people the law says are old enough to vote, marry, and work are told by the SNP that they need a Named Person. Simply tweaking the law to meet the Supreme Court's concern will not be enough."
Mr Swinney conceded that work would need to be done to build confidence in the system.
He said the main duty would be to address the points from the Supreme Court ruling, but added he would consider removing older teens from the remit of the system - while highlighting that 16 and 17-year-olds remain vulnerable.