Misguided policy

In his letter rebutting worries about the Scottish Government’s named person policy (5 June), Douglas Turner wrote: “I wonder if Mr (Andrew) Gray realises that these diabolic Orwellian spies will actually be teachers, health visitors, social workers and other similar professions concerned with the welfare of young 
people.”

That is precisely the point: most teachers and social workers are public sector employees who depend ultimately on the government for their wages through the funds allocated to local authorities.

Unwittingly, Mr Turner has revealed the real issue: that this policy is not about welfare but about seeking ever greater control over the lives of ordinary people.

As a policy it is an affront to democracy and human rights.

If a family needs help or a child is in danger then the state should step in but for every family to have a government spy forced upon them is something to be abhorred, not celebrated, as Mr Turner does.

One does wonder if the named person will be legally accountable or will they receive government protection in the event of errors leading to children being taken into care?

(Dr) Roger I 
Cartwright

Turretbank Place

Crieff

I fear that Douglas Turner has a naive belief in the public professions who are expected to make the named guardians scheme work.

Once the bureaucracy gears up it will exhibit the familiar characteristics we’ve seen time and again: form-filling, poor communications, back-covering and self-justification.

In years to come this tawdry legislation will be seen for what it is – one of the most misguided examples of public policy ever inflicted on Scotland.

Douglas Robin

Kilmalcolm

Inverclyde