Deputy First Minister announces Bill on information-sharing provisions

Date: 7th March 2017
Category: General measures of implementation

The Deputy First Minister has announced he will bring forward a Bill that will include new provisions on when and how information can be shared by and with the Named Person service.

The new provisions aim to address the Supreme Court's judgment which stated that changes were required to the information-sharing provisions within the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The intention is to introduce the Bill ahead of the summer recess.

The introduction of the Bill will involve replacing some of the provisions in the 2014 Act with new provisions requiring Named Person service providers and others involved with children and young people to consider whether sharing information would promote, support or safeguard the wellbeing of the child or young person; and requiring them then to consider whether sharing that information would be compatible with data protection law, human rights and the law of confidentiality.

In his announcement today, John Swinney set out a commitment to involve children in developing legislation and guidance for information sharing, including through an annual cabinet meeting.

• Find out more about the Bill here.
• Read the full statement from John Swinney here.