Glasgow MSP and schools campaigner, Bob Doris, has today addressed the Scottish Parliament in support of moves to tighten up the public consultation process for school closures. At present, it is almost impossible for Scottish Ministers to overturn a council decision on school closures due to the narrow criteria for ministerial intervention.

The Schools Consultation (Scotland) Bill proposes to allow any individual, including parents, to ask the Scottish Government to 'call in' the decision.

The SNP member for Glasgow today declared: "The recent round of school closures in Glasgow followed an unforgivable sham consultation in which 96% of respondents said “NO”. I could never have imagined an elected local authority running roughshod over public opinion to quite that extent but it has helped to highlight the need for urgent reforms to close this anomaly in the law of Scotland.

"Parents across Glasgow are outraged at the recent closure programme and they know who to blame. They will be encouraged to know that the SNP is doing something about it, and that any more plans for mass closure will be stopped in their tracks."

The right to request a 'call in' will mean that anyone can make a case to the Scottish Government to halt the closure of a school. It will also give wider representation for community groups and teaching staff. Bob Doris has said that he will engage fully with the debate as it goes through the parliamentary process and he will be suggesting further changes to the law to give parents and children ultimate protection.

He added: "It looks like the Council in Glasgow rushed through school closures to avoid the scrutiny that this legislation will bring. Glasgow’s Labour council are petrified of local community opinion and they know this legislation will transfer power from the council to the people the council is supposed to be representing.

"Pupils in Glasgow have just returned to school after the summer break and anger amongst parents still runs high. The Scottish Government is showing true courage and I think parents will take some comfort from this development.

"The changes will also allow school staff to speak out, many of whom felt gagged during the Glasgow closure programme. HMIE school inspectors will also be asked to look at each closure proposal and councils will be forced to provide an educational benefit statement to support any plans.

"I supported the communities of Wyndford and Cadder during their campaign to keep schools open. I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them at that time and I would say that the feeling of exclusion by the 'powers that be' was the hallmark of that whole sorry episode."

Bob Doris is not only supporting the government’s bill but is also pressing for extra measures like the independent assessment of consultations and new measures to respect the needs of those affected by school closures. During the debate in parliament he commented that the Glasgow experience was a “bolt out of the blue” for parents and that they read about their schools closing in newspapers before the council even got round to writing to them.

"Communities should be alerted BEFORE detailed proposals are brought forward and councils should enter into a period of pre consultation.

"We need an entire change of relationship between local authorities and local parents. This legislation will go some way to addressing that."