Legal challenge to Scottish 'state monitoring' of children

A controversial initiative to assign a state sponsor to every child in Scotland is being challenged in Edinburgh’s Court of Session today.

The ‘No To Named Persons’ coalition is seeking a judicial review of the Scottish Government’s ‘named person’ programme, introduced under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act.

Under the scheme, every child under 18 in Scotland will be allocated a ‘named person', such as a teacher or health visitor, who will have a responsibility to monitor the child’s welfare and raise concerns. They will also have access to medical and other confidential information about the child.

Leading human rights barrister, Aidan O’Neill QC, has warned that the scheme fails to provide proper protections against ‘arbitrary and oppressive’ use of state power. Concerns have also been raised about the impact that running the scheme will have on resources available for protecting those who are most vulnerable.

Colin Hart, Director of the Christian Institute which is involved in bringing today’s action, said: "This is all about the fight to save families. Enormous issues are at stake.

"What could be more important than the rights of mums and dads to bring up their children how they see fit, not being dictated to by the heavy-hand of meddling and interfering politicians and their army of taxpayer funded state monitors?"

The scheme is due to be rolled out in 2016.
 

Related Coverage:
Named guardian legal bid to start (BBC)