Social workers in Scotland will be obliged to share information

Social workers and other professionals working with children in Scotland will be obliged by new laws to share “information necessary to protect children”, first minister Jack McConnell has said.

The move is part of an update of child protection legislation later this year, he told delegates at the Scottish Labour party conference in Aviemore.

“The one thing that has characterised too many past failures is the failure to communicate between professionals.  It is still happening today, it infuriates me and ordinary members of the public don’t understand why it happens,” said McConnell.

The first minister also said “every social worker will be re-trained in child protection”.