Is it not ironic that the SNP at Westminster criticise the Prime Minister for his "snoopers' charter" ("Cameron rushing through surveillance bill in bid to avoid scrutiny, claims MP", The Herald, March 15), while at the same time at Holyrood it is introducing "state guardians" with widespread powers to snoop on all Scotland's children and their families?

Its stance on the UK Government anti-extremism measures is untenable because its Named Person scheme would involve data collection and sharing of confidential information and will be applied on a universal basis to all children and young people.

SNP MP Joanna Cherry's statement that "such powers must always be shown to be necessary, proportionate and in accordance with the law" is right, but it can equally be applied to the Scottish Government's Named Person scheme. It is the disproportionate nature of that scheme that is of concern to many parents around the country.

Ms Cherry goes on to say that the powers being introduced by the UK Government "must not impinge unduly on the right to privacy or the security of private data". The same argument can be applied in relation to the Named Person scheme.

We have concerns about the potential unjustifiable effects of the UK's Government's counter-extremism strategy for those of religious belief who pose no security risk. Similarly, we are concerned about the effect of the Scottish Government's Named Person scheme on ordinary families where there is no welfare concern or justifiable reason for state intervention.

The UK Government's plans are designed to tackle the problem of terrorism whereas the Scottish Government's aim is to enhance the nebulous and subjective concept of wellbeing for every child in the country. If the right to privacy is to be compromised, it must surely be because of some pressing security need and not simply in the pursuit of a utopian ideal.

Dr Gordon Macdonald,

Care Scotland,

53 Romney Street,

London.