Smith condemns SNP's handling of changes to Children's hearing panel

10.08.43am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Sep 2009

Commenting after condemning in a Scottish Parliament debate the Scottish Government’s handling of major changes to the Children’s Hearing Panel, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Margaret Smith MSP said:

“The Scottish Government has botched the handling of these changes right from the beginning.

“They have ignored the Chairs of the Children Panels, failed to ask for expert advice, tried to sneak these changes through the Committee and today, the Schools Minister was caught out trying to mislead a full meeting of the Scottish Parliament.

“Every time the Minister is challenged to come clean about how many children this will affect the number changes. It started at six, shot up to 250 and now might be as many as 500. Ministers also have no idea how much this will cost.

“I can understand that the idea of kiddie courts instead of effective Children’s Panel Hearings may well appeal to the authoritarian Conservatives, but given the total lack of information about the cost, I’m amazed that they’re happy to sign their name on a blank cheque.

“We have made it absolutely clear that we want to see representation for the most vulnerable parents, like those with mental health conditions. But this regulation is hasty, flawed, ill-thought out and uncosted.

“Scotland’s children deserve better.”

Ends.