TAXPAYERS are facing a £500,000 legal bill over the Scottish Government’s botched attempt to introduce a named person for every child.

The Supreme Court, which ruled parts of the scheme unlawful earlier this year, has awarded full costs against the SNP government, which had repeatedly denied it was flawed.

The ruling means the public purse will now pick up the £250,000 legal costs of the No to Named Persons (NO2NP) Group, which challenged the legislation.

The government’s own legal costs are estimated to be in the same region.

NO2NP spokesman Simon Calvert said the costs ruling was a “total and utter vindication of the legal action” by the group, which also won it the Campaigner of the Year title at last month’s Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards.

The Supreme Court ruled in July that key parts of the state guardian scheme were illegal.

The five judges said that, while the concept of a name person to ensure the wellbeing of every child, was well-intentioned, its plan to share sensitive data among numerous agencies breached rights to privacy and a family life under the European Convention

The ruling forced Education Secretary John Swinney to put the scheme, which had been due to begin in August, on hold and undertake a period of “intense consultation” on improvements.

The government said: “The nature of the ruling is that it is likely that ministers may incur costs at a level yet to be determined. Ministers remain committed to the named person service.”