EMBARGO: FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER 2017 AT 00:01 Scottish Government should revisit its approach to the Code of Practice for Named Persons information sharing proposals, says Holyrood committee

The Committee’s recommendation, if implemented, would guarantee the Scottish Parliament an opportunity to scrutinise the code of practice and vote on it before it becomes law.

Commenting on the report published today by the DPLR Committee, Convener Graham Simpson MSP said: 

“We explored the Code of Practice with the Deputy First Minister who viewed it as an explanatory document.  Our Committee considers the Code to be more significant than that. 

“It has a central role in the operation of the sharing of information about children and young people, and it places obligations upon professional people such as social workers, teachers and health care employees. 

“Given its significance we welcome the opportunity provided in the Bill to comment on the draft code, but we recommend that the Government revisits its approach to the Code of Practice.  Specifically, we want it to consider including the Code in subordinate legislation and, more importantly, giving the Parliament a vote on the final version.”