First Minister Jack McConnell seems to be comfortable playing the role of Mr Hyde, happily denouncing youth workers who criticise the executive's antisocial behaviour bill as having "vested interests" (YPN, 10-16 September, p5).
By comparison Euan Robson, the deputy minister for education and young people, is on the Dr Jekyll side, yet he still stands by the youth-specific elements of the antisocial behaviour bill.
"One of the key things we are trying to do with these measures is to tackle those persistent young offenders and break their persistent antisocial behaviour by intervening early enough," says Robson.
The aim of the bill is not to single out young people, he adds, laying the blame for that perception at the door of tabloid papers such as Scotland's Daily Record, with its frenzied anti-ned (ned is a Scottish word for yob) campaign.
"The antisocial behaviour legislation is aimed at a small number of young people," says Robson. "Most teenagers do not act in an antisocial manner.
Far from it. Lots are involved in voluntary work, for example. Unfortunately, the tabloid press has picked up on and emphasised the aspects just concerning young people."
The bill is causing tension between youth workers and the executive.
During YouthLink Scotland's recent annual conference youth workers talked of their frustration with the "mixed messages" emanating from the executive.
Nothing could be further from the truth, says Robson. "First of all, there is the partnership agreement between the Liberal Democrats and Labour, which has youth work and the needs of young people spread throughout," he says.
The partnership agreement, which sets out the executive's stall for the next four years, includes a number of policies specific to young people such as improving youth services and facilities. Indeed, some of the pledges have been acted on, such as a promise to simplify the funding process for projects, and work has already begun on some of the more challenging aspects.
The appointment of YouthLink Scotland as the nation's youth agency and the Dialogue Youth scheme, which aims to improve access to youth services and engage young people in their communities, are key examples of that commitment becoming reality, says Robson.
But the big change is likely to occur next year when the executive unveils its National Youth Work Strategy (YPN, 29 October-4 November, p2).
"We're at a very early stage, but we're keen to ensure there are a wide range of opportunities available to young people," says Robson. "The strategy should be ready just after the turn of the year."
A review of the children's hearings system, which provides a therapy-based alternative to the punishment-driven juvenile courts, is also on the cards.
And Robson believes the forthcoming appointment of a children's commissioner for Scotland could provide a boon to the work of the executive. "While the Scottish Executive has no direct responsibility for the role, it is obviously another person with which we can work in partnership," he says.
With so many plans in pipeline, the next six months are set to be crucial in defining the future of Scotland's youth sector, and Robson is determined that youth work will not be sat on the sidelines of youth policy. He says: "It is important that youth work is drawn into the centre of youth policy."
FYI
- Euan Robson became the MSP for Roxburgh and Berwickshire in 1999. He was promoted to deputy minister for education and young people last May
- The antisocial behaviour bill is outside the remit of the Scottish Executive's education department, but it does have responsibility for youth work
- The executive played a major role in YouthLink Scotland's transition from an association representing the voluntary youth work sector to becoming the national youth agency for Scotland, representing both statutory and voluntary groups.
