MSP attacks Swinney for attempting to influence charities

John Swinney has been accused of covering up attempts to lobby children’s charities over the controversial named persons legislation.

Special advisers spoke to organisations last October and November, as the legislation was being “fixed” after being ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.

In a response to a parliamentary question in December, Swinney admitted that he had contact with a string of children’s organisations on October 25, 26 and November 8.

Special advisers not bound by civil service rules around impartiality contacted Children 1st, Aberlour and Children in Scotland during that period.

This contact was not mentioned in an earlier response by Swinney.

Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell said: “The lack of transparency at the heart of the Scottish government’s attempts to salvage this doomed legislation is breathtaking.

“The fact we are six months down the line and are still no closer to establishing the true scale of their interference in testimony tells its own story. The cabinet secretary has serious questions to answer.”

The named person scheme makes it legal for every young person in the country to be assigned a state-appointed figure, such as a teacher or health visitor, to look after their wellbeing.

It was due to be introduced in August 2016, but has been delayed until at least next year after the committee refused to back the legislation without seeing a detailed code of practice. This has yet to be drawn up.

The groups, with the exception of Children 1st, went on to sign a letter to a parliamentary committee, on November 6, urging MSPs to back the legislation.

A Scottish government spokeswoman denied there had been a cover up. “The government has provided full and detailed information about all contact with those organisations,” she said.