Named Person’s Scheme implementation costs: FOI release

Information requested

The Named Person's Scheme has been scrapped, as announced by the Scottish government.
What was the total cost of implementing the scheme that was created under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014?
Please include the cost of the pilot scheme in Highland region.

Response

Thank you for your correspondence in relation to the named person policy of the Scottish Government.
I would like to draw your attention to the Scottish Government's response to the Practice Development Panel's report, which was published on the 19th of September, available at this link:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/getting-right-child-girfec-practice-development-panel-report-scottish-government-response/
As you will see, the Scottish Government has, in fact, reaffirmed its commitment to the GIRFEC approach. Our commitment to the named person service remains undiminished, and will continue to be available to those families who wish to engage with their named person, without the need for underpinning legislation.

In relation to the Highland Pathfinder programme, I must point out that this was implemented prior to the commencement of the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Act 2014 and the programme was, therefore, created to assist the development and implementation of GIRFEC as a whole, and not solely the named person element.
The Highland Pathfinder was a jointly-funded development with the Scottish Government helping with the development costs and the agencies which make up the Highland Community Planning Partnership releasing staff and providing the accommodation and other resources and, as such, the majority of funding was not provided by the Scottish Government.

This is a notice under Section 17(1) of FOISA that we do not hold the information which you have requested. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The reason for this is that the Highland Pathfinder programme was initiated over 10 years ago, and we are not required to keep financial records for longer than 6 years under guidance contained within the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Some of the information you have requested is available from https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-18-01704/. This is a previous FOI release which provides details of the costs incurred by the Scottish Government for implementation of the named person policy.
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

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