Bid to make MSPs undergo disclosure checks

MSPs could be forced to undergo disclosure checks before they are left alone with young children, under proposed new laws being voted on at Holyrood this week.

Liberal Democrat Alex Cole-Hamilton has lodged amendments to the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill. Picture: Tom Eden/PA

Liberal Democrat Alex Cole-Hamilton has lodged amendments to the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill which would bring about the change.

The issue of politicians’ relationship with young people was thrown into focus after former finance secretary Derek Mackay was forced to quit last month when it emerged he sent inappropriate text messages to a 16-year-old boy, although Cole-Hamilton’s proposals had been lodged prior to this. The Lib Dems have also been in the spotlight over revelations that former MP Cyril Smith sexually abused young boys.

Holyrood’s education committee will vote on the amendments at its next meeting on Wednesday.

The changes would make it an offence for an elected representative to partake in regulated activities without being a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. They are currently not part of the scheme.

These activities include meeting alone with children and vulnerable adults or spending time unsupervised with young people on work experience.

Cole-Hamilton said the changes are a “common sense safety move” to ensure there are proper protections in place for children and vulnerable adults.

“These checks are commonplace in sports clubs, community groups and health and social care settings,” he said.

“There is no good reason to exempt elected politicians and other powerful figures working within political parties.”

The plans would require the support of other parties at Holyrood.

The amendments could also see political parties require PVG checks for anyone who holds a position of power or influence in a political party and could spend time unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults.

This could include target seat candidates, office-bearers or other positions.

“There is often a significant power imbalance between those in elected office and those who encounter them. We know that some people can use their status to manipulate, target and exploit,” Cole-Hamilton added.

“People need protecting from that and it’s something we can put into law.”

Children’s Minister Maree Todd has previously told MSPs at Holyrood, while introducing the Bill, that the need to be a member of the PVG scheme was not reliant on their “job title, but whether there is a power imbalance and whether the person holds power over children or vulnerable groups”.