LOTHIAN MSP BACKS CHILD PROTECTION BILL
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and education spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, is backing the Children and Young People Bill, expected to be approved by Parliament today (19 Feb).
Alison, deputy convener of Holyrood's cross-party group on children and young people, has brought forward an amendment to the bill to strengthen its implementation of the UN Rights of the Child.
Alison said:
"I strongly support the many aims of this bill, from improving childcare to rolling out free school meals. I also welcome the idea of a single point of contact for every child, a system which already works in the Highlands.
"I agree that Named Persons should have to seek consent before sharing confidential information and believe it is reasonable to amend the bill to reflect that. We hear too often about children who've fallen through the gaps between agencies, and we'd regret not taking the opportunity to plug those gaps and offer Scotland's children greater protection."