Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Ross says it is "astounding" that we are only now getting any acceptance from the SNP that more information is required.

Mr Ross says this is why his party are asking for a pause.

Education Secretary John Swinney intervenes to say the reason the government need to improve communication with the public is because of the "atrocious" way the Tories talked about the policy during the election.

Mr Ross hits back saying his party cannot be blamed for raising serious concerns.

He says the policy must be paused to ensure it is workable ahead of being implemented. 

Holyrood voted to approve the Named Persons system by 103 votes to nil in 2014, as part of the Children and Young People Act, external.

It will see figures like family health visitors and senior teachers take on the "named person" role, which the government says will ensure children can get timely access to advice and services when they need it.

Mr Gray says the Conservative motion hides its real purpose by calling for a pause when they want the policy scrapped.

The Labour MSP accuses the Tories of the "weakest opportunism".

Mr Gray says the government has allowed "wild and willful distortions of what this policy could mean" to run unchecked.

The Labour MSP says the £500m cuts to local authority budgets has left professionals involved to question if they have resources to make it work.

He says that is why his party have called for a pause.

Mr Gray says some kind of external review is necessary,

Scottish Labour education spokesperson Iain Gray says, in the areas where the Named Person policy has been rolled out already, it has reduced bureaucracy and intrusion. 

Mr Gray says the scheme is working in the highlands and islands.

Labour has also called for a "pause" in the roll-out of the named persons system, which has been trialled in some areas including Fife and the Highlands, to reassess public support for it.  

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Here's Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray's amendment.

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says some believe this policy is an invasion into family life, but it is not.

Mr Scott says his son has a Named Person, but he can say no to that person.

He says: "Parents and carers can say thanks but no thanks."

Mr Scott says the Named Person system can protect vulnerable children and the aim is to stop an initial problem escalating.

He says a single point of contact is right, but there must be adequate resources and training.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Here is Scottish Lib Dem spokesperson for education Tavish Scott's amendment.

Mr Swinney says it is the political expediency of the Tories that has brought this issue to debate.

He says they want repeal but use their motion to call for a pause.

Image source, Thinkstock

Liz Smith intervenes and asks if the SNP will back Labour's amendment and Mr Swinney says he'll back his own.

The education secretary says he accepts confidence in the policy must be built and he says the public deserve facts, not misinformation.

He says he accepts more needs to be done by the government to this end. 

The minister says to pause this policy would be wrong. 

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins says the Named Person is there to work "behind the backs" of families.

Mr Swinney says Mr Tomkins has "fuelled the absurdity of the attacks made on this policy" and he should be ashamed of his contribution. 

Education Secretary John Swinney says the Named Person policy "embodies the principles we share as fundamental to supporting the lives of children and young people."

Mr Swinney says it would provide a timely and early offer of advice or help can stop troubles becoming crises, and in some cases, crises becoming tragedies. 

He says as a single point of contact – for families as well as for professionals – the Named Person can make that principle not just best, but common practice.

Education Secretary John Swinney says his party believes it is right for the children and young people across Scotland to have the benefit of the Named Person service, if and when they need it.

The deputy first minister says It was a deliberate, well-debated step, and one not taken lightly.

Image source, bbc

Before the debate Deputy First Minister Mr Swinney said the government was still "absolutely committed" to the system.

The education secretary said: "We know most children and young people get all the help and support they need from their parents, wider family and community, but sometimes they may need extra support.

"It is impossible to predict who will need this support or when. That is why the named person service is for every child - so concerns are picked up early. This government is absolutely committed to the named person service to ensure no one is left without support when they need it."

Mr Swinney also noted that the Tories appeared to be "backtracking" on their manifesto commitment to scrap the scheme altogether, saying they were "playing politics with this important issue".

The policy has also been backed by a group of organisations which work with parents, families and children.

Ten groups, including Action for Children Scotland, Barnardo's, the Children and Young People's Commissioner and the National Parent Forum of Scotland, signed a letter sent to MSPs ahead of the vote asking them not to pause the roll-out of the scheme.

Here's Education Secretary John Swinney's amendement.