PRESS RELEASE

March 3rd, 2009

Must do more for ‘invisible children’, says MSP

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has called for the Scottish Government to take responsibility for the invisible children suffering from drug-abusing parents.

He made his comments after a review was announced in to the death of tragic toddler Brandon Muir.

Mr McNeil said: “Currently, the Scottish Government doesn’t even know how many children are living with a parent who has an addiction.

“Every child living with a parent with an addiction needs to be identified and have the right to a risk assessment, and ongoing support.

“Every parent or parents with an addiction should be assessed as to their parental capability.

“If the child lacks basic necessities, is exposed to violence, or criminality, shows signs of physical neglect, we must act.

“To achieve any of this we need clear political leadership to this latest tragedy – we need a cabinet secretary to take charge.

“To my knowledge, at least four cabinet secretaries and three ministers have responsibility for drugs and children, not one of them is accountable for the issue.

“Only when one of those cabinet secretaries with influence in the Government and over the budget is prepared to step forward to accept that clear responsibility and accountability for this issue will we know that the Scottish Government is serious about the protection of children.”

ENDS